Fairmount Park - Philadelphia, PA Area Guide

The neighborhood of Fairmount Park, originally located outside the Philadelphia city limits, became incorporated into the city in 1854. During the early 19th century, innovative institutions evolved due to the urban expansion of the area. The Fairmount Dam and Water Works, Eastern State Penitentiary and Girard College all represent the changes made with a growing population.

Today the Fairmount neighborhood, commonly known as the Art Museum Area due to its proximity to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is home to young families and a vibrant food scene. The Fairmount Art Crawl in April showcases local artists and businesses, with plenty of entertainment for the entire family.

Night Market, a neighborhood street food festival, takes over Fairmount Avenue in May with over 60 food and beverage vendors and live music. It’s the perfect venue to check out everything food-related in the neighborhood.

When a restaurant consistently has a full house, you know the food must be good, and Sabrina’s Café doesn’t disappoint. A great place for brunch, Sabrina’s serves a stuffed French toast made with huge slices of challah, cream cheese and bananas; if you like, you can have it made with peanut butter and strawberries instead. Sabrina’s also has a dinner menu, and the locals favor the stuffed Mediterranean chicken, grilled and roasted marinated chicken breast with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach and gorgonzola cheese with a tomato sauce.

La Calaca Feliz on Fairmount Avenue features authentic Mexican cuisine from chef-owner Tim Spinner. Diners can choose from three different guacamole dishes to begin the meal: traditional, fig and bacon, or crab. A variety of tacos prepared with ingredients such as brisket or pork belly provide a fun twist on the traditional taco. Diners can also select grilled chicken mole, served with a plantain waffle with poblano mole, or grilled shrimp accompanied with tequila grits and a corn-bacon salsa.

A perfect neighborhood dive bar, Krupa’s Tavern serves cheap beer and often has a game on TV for visitors. Locals of all ages enjoy hanging out and listening to great tunes on the jukebox, and friendly bartenders make sure you don’t wait long for a refill.

Inside the Urban Saloon on Fairmount Avenue, Bye Bye Liver: The Philadelphia Drinking Play leaves visitors laughing about the experience for days. Talented Philadelphians expound the pitfalls of drinking, and no less an authority than the Chicago Sun-Times states the show puts the cast of "Saturday Night Live" to shame.

Getting around Fairmount Park by bike or by walking is simple for residents and visitors to the area. Daily errands can be easily accomplished via bike, although few streets have specific bicycle lanes. The neighborhood has been ranked as the 10th-easiest Philadelphia neighborhood for walking to restaurants and shopping locations.

Public transportation conveniently offers 10 bus routes, one subway line and one light rail line to the Fairmount Park area, and residents can also choose car-sharing programs through RelayRides and Zipcar. Another easy travel option for residents has been Uber. Though approximately 30 percent more expensive than local taxi service, Uber provides quick service throughout the Fairmount and downtown Philadelphia areas.

A highlight namesake of the neighborhood, Fairmount Park has 9,200 acres of woodlands, waterfront, hiking trails and bike trails for residents and visitors to enjoy. Residents can go horseback riding, have a picnic or go fishing inside the park. The Dell Music Center can be found within the park, and summer concerts in the open-air amphitheater provide locals with wonderful musical entertainment all throughout the summer. Visitors can visit the Horticulture Center and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, also conveniently located inside the park.

Clemente Park and Playground allows dogs to run off-leash, and children enjoy the playground equipment and spray-fountain water feature. Bring a ball to play a game of hoops on the basketball court, or organize a team for a baseball game on the park’s diamond.

The cost of living for residents of Fairmount Park ranks 26.3 percent higher than the surrounding Philadelphia area and 32.7 percent higher than the national average. A gallon of gas in the neighborhood averages 6.7 percent higher than the national average, although the price to travel to downtown Philadelphia by public transportation costs $2.25 for a one-way trip or $91 for a monthly pass. The median monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Fairmount Park runs approximately $1,100, and a beer at a local bar will set you back around $3.

Retail shops can be found throughout Fairmount Park. Bookhaven on Fairmount Avenue houses books of every variety from classics to new releases. Books seen stacked from floor to ceiling invite you to sit down and relax, and the shop cat just might curl up beside you while you read.

Whether you need to repair an old bike or need a new bike and accessories, Philadelphia Bikesmith does it all. Helpful staff can easily fix your bike while you wait or shop nearby stores. The customer service comes highly recommended by the locals as being top-notch.

Open 365 days a year, Old Philly Ale House stocks hundreds of beer varieties, from Belgian to English and microbrews to Pennsylvania’s Pride. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, the helpful staff will be happy to put in a special order for you.

Located nearby on Bryn Mawr Avenue, Produce Junction features affordable fresh produce and flowers throughout the year at its indoor location. Great deals can be found on seasonal produce, but bring cash as credit cards aren’t accepted.

Many residents choose to shop at the neighborhood grocer Klein’s Supermarket. Everything you need can be found in this fifth-generation, family-run business, from fresh produce to fresh meats. The store also provides a catering service, so you can plan the perfect party with Klein’s supplying the food.