Nearby Neighborhoods: Center City, Fitler Square, Graduate Hospital
Known for: Rittenhouse Square Park as well as being one of the most prestigious, leafy neighborhoods encompassing beautiful and stately homes.
Rittenhouse Square is one of the original five, open-space parks planned by William Penn and Thomas Holme back in the late 17th Century. Today the park is filled with people whose families’ have for generations been denizens of the neighborhood, young families and students from nearby University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University enjoying every bench and lawn-space. With a beautiful reflecting pool, a number of beloved sculptures -look for the infamous goat - and plenty of places to sit and eat your lunch on a sunny day, it’s no surprise that it is a favorite for residents and tourists alike.
Rittenhouse Square is an address of prestige that is home to families, professionals and retirees. Many individual homes that date back to the 1800s have been converted to lavish condos and rentals. Newer luxury high rise apartments and a five-star hotel surround the park. Residents can step out their front door for gorgeous meals at one of the fine restaurants lining 18th Street on the East side of the Square. You might also head to the weekend Farmers Market , the annual Fine Arts and Craft Shows and other community events held at the park. The Rittenhouse Row Festival attracts thousands showcasing the food, arts, fashion and entertainment of the neighborhood. Friends of Rittenhouse Square , Rittenhouse Row and Center City Residents Association are three organizations that bring the community together to support events, volunteer opportunities and neighborhood news.
High- end retail shops line Walnut Street, which borders the North side of the park, with numerous cafes, Just another block North of Walnut, you’ll find Chestnut Street, which was redeveloped in the 1990’s, showing off more shops and fooderies offering all you might have a hankering for. Cocktail bars and lounges allow for the fun to continue into the night.
As a central area, you can get almost anywhere via walking, biking, bus, train or even the PATCO high -speed line to NJ.
With a central location that is walkable in all directions, it is no wonder that Shana and Scott found a little slice of paradise among the streets of Rittenhouse. They invited us inside their home that was built in the 1800s, just in time for the magnolia tree to be in full bloom!