West Mount Airy - Philadelphia, PA Area Guide

Mount Airy was named after the summer estate and mansion established in 1750 by prominent Philadelphia merchant and chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania, William Allen. The surrounding area eventually adopted the mansion’s name.

For a sample of some local culture, The Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill is your closest and best bet. This historic art museum showcases paintings, sculptures and photographs from artists from all over the Delaware Valley area, all housed in a 19th-century Victorian mansion.

The Mount Airy Street fare is a recent installment that lets local restaurants, musicians and artists band together for a night of food trucks, live music, art and fun. The street fare now happens every fall, allowing Philadelphian chefs, musicians and artists to have the spotlight for a sparkling night of revelry.

A relatively recent influx of new businesses has made West Mount Airy a culinary hotspot, boasting an eclectic food scene that is continually expanding. From gastropubs, where native Philadelphians gather to cheer on their prized sports teams over craft beer and juicy burgers, to finer dining of all different ethnicities, West Mount Airy has it all. Take a stroll to McMenamin's Tavern to get a taste of one of Philadelphia's best sleeper restaurants. Unhinge your jaw and chow down on its famous portobello burger, or get traditional and crunch your way through the savory fish and chips. Take a load off and chat with the bartender as he describes all of the great local craft beers available on tap. McMenamin's Tavern is not only a neighborhood favorite, but a city-wide gem. Even with a regular full house, the friendly, attentive staff offers fast, efficient service with a genuine smile.

If you want a quieter setting, head over to Bacio Wholesome Italian Cucina, where the cozy, Italian BYOB offers a more intimate dining experience. Pour yourself as much vino as you would like as you watch the head chef work his culinary magic in the open kitchen. Work your way through the antipasto to whet your appetite for fresh, hearty Italian classics, including melt-in-your-mouth sweet potato gnocchi and chicken picatta entrees.

With Philadelphia's metropolitan area a short drive away, nights out can be as wild or mellow as you want them to be. If you decide to stay close to home, one of West Mount Airy's charming taverns will keep your whistle wet. Head five minutes north to Chestnut Hill's famous Germantown Avenue, where you can find families licking their way through Bredenbeck's Bakery and Ice Cream Parlor's heaping waffle cones. If bass-thumping nightclubs or boisterous bars are more your style, an easy train or car ride will get you to an oasis of nightlife, as Philadelphia has plenty for adults after the sun goes down.

Most West Mount Airy residents either use their bicycles or motor along in their environmentally conscious Priuses or Subarus. But if you are looking for some cheap and easy public transportation to get you where you need to be, the bus and regional rail system are the fastest and most convenient modes of transportation.

Two SEPTA rail lines, Chestnut Hill West and Chestnut Hill East, connect West Mount Airy to Center City with stops at Upsal, Carpenter, Allen Lane, Mount Airy, Sedgwick and Stenton stations. No matter which section of West Mount Airy you live in, there is rail station within walking distance. SEPTA also serves West Mount Airy by bus routes, 18, 23, 53, H and L.

Hailing a cab in West Mount Airy is a rare occurrence. A better bet to get you where you need to be is Uber, which serves all of West Mount Airy. Street parking is not a problem, as the majority of the neighborhood is residential and does not require parking permits. It takes a short drive from West Mount Airy to get to the major arterial highways like Route 1 and the Schuylkill Expressway. Philadelphia International Airport is no more than a 30-minute taxi, train, bus or car ride away.

Philadelphia’s premiere parks ensure West Mount Airy residents can get moving during the spring, fall and summer. The closest park, located around Allens Lane Art Center, acts as a day camp during the summer. The park has a full playground, tennis courts with lights, a basketball court, and a large open grass area where you can usually find a parent-run, softball, soccer or ultimate Frisbee game in full stride.

If you are trying to get away from hectic city life, Valley Green in Wissahickon Park will help you reconnect with nature or help you shave a minute or two off your mile time. With a long stretch of gravel road, Valley Green is the ideal place to run, walk, hike or bike. It is dog friendly if you keep your canine on a leash, but watch your step for evidence of horse riders. The park is free and open to the public and is a great place to get some exercise or just to enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of cascading forest trails.

If you like to let your four-legged companion run wild and free, Pastorius Park is the place for you and your furry friend. The park is a self-proclaimed dog park during the day, but also holds theatrical and musical events such as Shakespeare in the Park or free concerts with local bands.

The cost of living in West Mount Airy is 10 percent higher than Philadelphia’s city average. It costs no more than $5 via regional rail to get to Center City Philadelphia and no more than $2.25 to ride the SEPTA bus from West Mount Airy. The median rental rate of a one bedroom apartment is $921, and the typical price of a beer at a local pub runs between $3 to $6. The neighborhood gas average of West Mount Airy is 1 percent lower than the national average.

West Mount Airy is certainly not a shopping mecca, yet its specialty and boutique stores help evoke the charming nature of the neighborhood and its residents. The neighborhood’s shopping nucleus is located around the cross section of Carpenter Lane and Greene Street.

Posted on the corner of West Mount Airy’s shopping hub is Weavers Way Co-op, a member-owned cooperative grocery store that helps satiate West Mount Airy’s residents. The grocery is fueled purely by the energy and commitment of its members, who take turns stocking the shelves and working the register. If you are less health conscious and are looking for variety of food options, Chestnut Hill Farmers Market offers everything from whole chickens rotating on rotisserie spits to tacos and burritos and is quick drive from West Mount Airy. ACME is also a viable option for your food shopping needs and is located in West Mount Airy.

The Big Blue Marble Bookstore, an independent bookstore is small, cozy and friendly to boot. The knowledgeable staff are always eager to help you find the paper or hardback that you have been hunting for. The Big Blue Marble holds weekly readings and has a great children’s section.

Walk out of the Big Blue Marble Bookstore, and you’ll find yourself face to face with another one of West Mount Airy’s shopping gems: Philadelphia Salvage. This one-of-a-kind shop sells vintage pieces of furniture as well as various items and materials that are screaming to be repurposed. If you are searching for furniture that is full of history and character or are looking for your next DIY project, Philadelphia Salvage will not disappoint.

To get to a thriving, high end shopping area, residents of West Mount Airy need only take a short trip to the bordering neighborhood of Chestnut Hill. “The Hill," as locals affectionately call it, offers boutique jewelry, craft and clothing stores, along with an array of restaurants, hardware and appliance stores.