South Street in Philadelphia – What’s it All About

South Streeet in Philadelphia – What’s it All About

South Street in Philadelphia is an unique and diverse street to explore with it’s many restaurants, bars, stores, and “Bohemian” atmosphere. The part of South Street that I am referring to is from Front Street to Tenth Street, which has become one of Philadelphia’s largest tourist attractions.

The restaurant, bar scene, and unique shops is what electrifies South Street. There are over 100 shops and more than 50 restaurants and bars that cover this area. The different types of restaurants range from American, Thai, Moroccan, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Jamaican, Irish and Japanese. The bar scene is just as diverse and the type of shops ranging from clothing stores that cater to the teens and 20 something, to gift shops, sex shops, music stores, and tattoo parlors. Besides, people watching on South Street can be just as entertaining because of the diverse groups of people. Hence why it has become a tourist area for decades and a place just to hang out for so many.

South Street over the years has been known for it’s Mardi Gras that starts at Fat Tuesday and at some of the other surrounding bars. There was a major incident back in 2001 in which the celebrating got out of hand. Today, there is a larger police force to try and keep order, while letting the celebration to continue.  But this doesn’t keep others from exploring South Street during any other time of the year.

Before leaving South Street in Philadelphia, one can not forget about Philadelphia Cheesesteaks, also known as Philly Cheesesteaks. There are several different locations on South Street that sell Cheesesteaks, but one of the more famous ones is Jim’s Steaks which is located on the corner of Fourth and South Street. There are many times that you will see long lines on the weekends, both day and night. This is not to say that this is the only place to buy a cheesesteak in Philadelphia. There are hundreds all across the city and at least ten that are “must eat” cheesesteak places.

When visiting South Street, don’t forget to head down to the Delaware river side, where the street ends on a bridge down from Downey’s Restaurant. Here you can sometimes watch artists doing their own thing, or even catch a glimpse of the Battleship of New Jersey off in the distance. The end result is that South Street in Philadelphia is a must when visiting Philadelphia. With so much to choose from, you can’t go wrong.

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