Wynnefield - Philadelphia, PA

The name of this historic neighborhood honors Thomas Wynne, William Penn's personal physician and the individual credited with building the first brick home in the colony on Front and Chestnut Streets. St. Joseph's College, located in the neighborhood, was founded in 1855. The demographic of the residents shifted gradually throughout the years.

Although the largest museums and most prolific galleries call Center City home, you have easy access to several museums and cultural attractions, including the Please Touch Museum and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, both located in nearby Fairmount Park. Another nearby option is the Barnes Arboretum on North Latches Lane in Merion. Open from May through November, this small museum stands as an example of the landscape designs popular during the early part of the 20th century.

Wynnefield area restaurants tend to be smaller establishments, such as Mediterra Grill on North 63rd, which serves up a flavorful menu with items that range from lamb shawarma and baba ghannouj to hoagies and burgers. The friendly staff at Mediterra accommodates special requests and provide fast service. When you’re hungry for a satisfying slice of pizza or an authentic Philly cheesesteak, you don’t need to travel far. Overbrook Pizza Shop on North 63rd never disappoints. This tiny restaurant serves up huge flavors that caught the taste buds of hometown celebrity Will Smith. Huge platters of chicken fried in olive oil, creamy macaroni and cheese, perfectly seasoned collard greens, moist cornbread and fall-off-the-bone ribs characterize the no-frills, flavorful soul food served at Debreaux's, located at the nearby Overland Station on North 63rd Street. This tiny establishment cooks everything to order, with a hefty helping of love thrown in the mix. Expect to be seated in a crowded dining area, and don't be surprised by the length of time it takes to get your order.

For a slightly more upscale dining experience, drive just outside of the neighborhood to Pescatore on Bala Avenue. This BYOB restaurant specializes in rustic Italian cuisine with menu items such as pork chop Milanese, braised short ribs, Nonna's Sunday gravy and a mixed ocean grill with lobster, scallops and shrimp. You can expect a variety of daily specials, friendly staff and a cozy atmosphere, perfect for a romantic evening out or dinner with friends.

Wynnefield's nightlife scene leans more toward sleepy than hopping, so locals typically jump in the car or catch a train into Center City with its variety of hotspots to explore. When you feel like sticking around the neighborhood, you can choose from a handful of bars and lounges, such as Bala Inn on City Line Avenue. Practice your billiards techniques, dance along to thumping DJ music and enjoy tasty bar food such as crispy fried chicken. The bar looks a bit dive-like from the outside, but it has a dark, warm ambiance with friendly staff and a fun clientele. Strap on your dancing shoes before heading over to Elzina’s Touch Of Class on Master Street. Elzina's boasts multiple televisions to catch the game and a large dance floor for rocking out to the DJ or periodic live entertainment.

Wynnefield also lacks music venues, although you can choose from two located right outside the neighborhood, including The Mann Center on 52nd and Parkside. This outdoor venue has some seats under cover and a jumbo screen so that you always have a good view, even from far away. Plan to eat before the show; food at The Mann costs a pretty penny. You can also catch live music at the Dell Music Center on Strawberry Mansion Bridge Drive. This open-air amphitheater sits in a lovely park, giving it wonderful ambiance. Parking can be very tricky, so be sure to arrive well in advance of your event.

Wynnefield’s proximity to key roadways makes it easy to get around the area and connect with major roadways to travel outside of Philadelphia. For example, City Avenue connects Wynnefield with other Philly neighborhoods such as Penn Wynne, Overbrook and Wynnefield Heights. You can also take City Avenue to get onto major arteries like the Schuylkill Expressway, Interstate 476 and Route 1. Although Wynnefield's distance from Center City translates into a lack of pay-to-park lots and garages, you can still steer your way into an on-street residential parking spot or off-street parking, which many area apartment complexes feature.

Although most people in the neighborhood drive to get to and from work, you also have easy access to public transportation. Located on Wynnefield Avenue, the SEPTA station has rail and bus service to help you get around the city. You can also walk, hail a taxi or bike around the area. Philadelphia boasts a higher population of bicycle commuters than New York or Chicago, and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia works to maintain bike lanes and promote bicycle safety throughout Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

Although the bulk of Fairmount Park's 9,200 acres rests outside of Wynnefield, the west-central corner juts right into this urban neighborhood, giving you easy access to its walking and biking trails, waterfront area and rolling hills. The park welcomes leashed dogs, features multiple playgrounds for children and major Philadelphia attractions, including the Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, all located toward the Center City side of the park. The park also hosts annual events, such as outdoor concerts, the Woodford Orchard Strawberry Harvest Festivals in summer, a fall harvest festival and holiday tours from late November through early December.

A short drive from Wynnefield to Overbrook brings you to Morris Park, a 147-acre oasis with walking trails, community programs and seasonal events such as yoga and outdoor concerts in the park during spring, summer and fall, along with caroling and visitations with Santa in the early winter.

Living in the Wynnefield area typically carries a comparable cost of living to that of Philadelphia, which comes in higher than the national average. Although prices for single family homes consistently stay above the average for West Philadelphia, you can expect to pay an average of around $900 to rent a one-bedroom apartment and roughly $4 to $5 for a pint of beer at the local bar.

Gas prices typically stay approximately one percent higher in Wynnefield than the national average. SEPTA fare into the center of Philadelphia generally runs around $3.25 for a one-way trip.

If you’re looking for more variety and high-end stores, take a quick drive on City Avenue toward Bala Cynwyd, which houses stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor. If you're looking for a boutique store, you need to travel into the city to visit specialty shops such as The Children's Boutique, a family-run business since 1966. Browse through toys, sweaters and other baby gear from designers such as Aiden and Anais, Petit Bateau, Les Touts Petit and US Angels.

Grab groceries at Shop Rite grocery store located on Parkwest Town Center on North 52nd Street. Smaller neighborhood markets include Bills Market on North 63rd Street and Overbrook Market on North 63rd Street. Even though all of the farmers' markets are located toward Center City, you can still browse through a great selection of well-priced produce and plants at Produce Junction. Be sure to check it out on Bryn Mawr Avenue Parkwest Town Center on North 52nd Street.