Let’s explore Spring Garden, one of my favorite Center City neighborhoods. It’s rich with history and art, and has plenty of great restaurants. Shout out to HEY Philly reader Jamie W. for this suggestion!
From the archives: The corner row home on Mount Vernon and 16th street once belonged to famous abolitionist Robert Purvis. It became a key stop on the Underground Railroad and Purvis is thought to have hosted 9,000 enslaved people in his home before the end of the Civil War.
In 2019, the Spring Garden Community Development Corporation saved the site from destruction due to years of neglect.
Where to eat: Mangia Macaroni is a delightful Italian street-food inspired restaurant on 1543 Spring Garden St. The restaurant’s name comes from a nickname given to the people of Lazzaroni street in Naples, Italy in the late 1700s, who would eat pasta by the fistful with their bare heads. It translates to “pasta eaters.”
Mangia boasts a delicious menu filled with signature or make-your-own pasta dishes, fish, seafood, salads, and desserts like tiramisu and cannolis 🤤
More about Neighborhood Guides
Get To Know Sharswood
The North Philly neighborhood has undergone much change, but still preserves its history of artistry and activism.
Get To Know Queen Village
This Philly neighborhood is home to South Street and Philly’s historic “Fabric Row”
Where To Go in Manayunk
Bordered by its steep hills and waterways, Manayunk has tucked away gems in its restaurant and art scene.