Germantown Avenue is the spine of Northwest Philadelphia, one old road that climbs from Mt. Airy up into Chestnut Hill, lined with the bakeries, taverns, shops, and corner spots I point people toward all the time. This is my running list of favorites, south to north, the same walk I'd take you on if you were new in town. Tap any stop on the map to read why it made the list, or just scroll down and read the whole thing straight through.
Explore the Avenue
A Walk Up the Hill
One old road climbs the ridge from Mt. Airy into Chestnut Hill. These are the stops I keep coming back to. Tap one to read on.
Below is the full walk, south to north. Everything on the map is written up here too, so you can tap a stop to jump in or simply read down the page.
Mt. Airy
The walk starts in Mt. Airy, on the lower blocks of the Avenue. This is where I'd begin.
Scoopful Delights
7060 Germantown Ave · Mt. Airy
There's nothing like a few scoops on a warm summer evening, and Scoopful is the spot for it. Hand-dipped cones and cups, super-premium flavors. Their website promises 'pure happiness in a cone,' and ten out of ten, I can confirm.
Töska Restaurant & Brewery
7136 Germantown Ave · Mt. Airy
Home of the Hot Roni, and in my book one of the best pizzas on the whole Avenue. Get the Hot Roni, wash it down with one of their house beers, and thank me later.
La Trattoria
7131 Germantown Ave · Mt. Airy
Walk too fast and you'll miss it. This little Italian BYOB does house-made pastas in a room that actually feels intimate, and it never disappoints. Worth slowing down for.
Bar Lizette
7152 Germantown Ave · Mt. Airy
A French-inspired bar and restaurant just off the Avenue, and a must-visit. The food menu is great and the cocktails are better. You really can't go wrong here, but do yourself a favor and order one of the beer cocktails.
McMenamin's Tavern
7170 Germantown Ave · Mt. Airy
My kind of neighborhood bar: fantastic drafts on tap, a solid menu, and a great spot to catch a game. The move is the wings. Classic buffalo and BBQ are always there, but the specials, like the mango habanero, hit hard.
Brewers Outlet
7401 Germantown Ave · Mt. Airy
A Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill institution. Brewers is THE place to find great beers and beverages, and one of the best distributors in the area. Not close. If you're stocking up before people come over, start here.
Chestnut Hill
Cross the Cresheim valley and you're in Chestnut Hill, climbing toward the top of the hill. This is the long stretch, so take your time.
Chestnut Hill Farmers Market
7640 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Make this part of your Saturday morning. Fresh local produce, meats, and breads in abundance, plus local farm-raised trout that's worth the trip on its own. And if Kismet Bagels is set up that day, do not skip them.
Mermaid Inn
7673 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Summer weekends wouldn't be the same without live outdoor music at the Mermaid. The place is drenched in character, and it's just as good a spot for a night out with friends as it is with family.
Night Kitchen Bakery
7723 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Awesome cakes, pastries, and coffee. Simple as that.
CinCin Restaurant
7838 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Awesome Chinese, dine-in or takeout, and you really can't go wrong. It's been on the Avenue for years. Well known, well trusted, and still delivering.
BNB Cigars
7920 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
I'll be honest, I'm not a cigar person, but BNB is a genuinely cool, unique spot. If you're into cigars or just looking for a different kind of experience on the Avenue, it's worth a look.
Cider Belly Hard Cider
8005 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Newer to the Avenue but not to be missed. Cider Belly is a local cidery, and a very cool place to post up. The Wissahickon and the Pastorius are my two personal favorites, though you can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
Baker Street Bread Co.
8009 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
You guessed it, they do bread, and they do it very well. Highly recommend it for breakfast and lunch.
Bredenbeck's Bakery
8126 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
If you've been to a birthday party within 30 or 40 minutes of Chestnut Hill, you've had a Bredenbeck's cake. Their cakes, pastries, and assorted confections are known and hungered for by everyone around here. In the summer, hit the ice cream parlor for a cool treat while you're exploring the Avenue.
Hideaway Music
8232 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Tucked away below street level, Hideaway is Chestnut Hill's own record shop. A huge selection of vinyl with some CDs and cassettes mixed in, spanning every genre. A must-visit for any music enthusiast, or anyone just looking to add to the collection.
Market at the Fareway
8221 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill · off the Avenue
You name it, they probably have it. Great food selections and beers from Chestnut Hill Brewery, plus outdoor seating. A great spot to sit by the fire with friends.
Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach
8400 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
My office. Not much to say here, really. Stop in or keep on walking. We sell houses.
Weavers Way Co-op
8424 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
For a lot of people in this part of Philadelphia, Weavers Way is the grocery store. A great selection of high-quality groceries and seasonal produce, all member-owned. The co-op is just a good thing to have on the Avenue.
Matines Café
23 W Highland Ave · Chestnut Hill · off the Avenue
Matines is a whole experience, French vibes all the way through. Really good breads and pastries, and breakfast sandwiches you shouldn't miss. Dining in is the move.
Kilian Hardware
8450 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Every town should have a hardware store like Kilian's. They have literally anything you could possibly need, and as an old-house owner myself, I can tell you that matters. A true mainstay, and everyone's favorite hardware store.
Char & Stave
8441 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Coffee by morning, cocktails by evening. Great-tasting drinks in a relaxed, upscale room that shifts from coffee shop to cocktail bar as the day goes. Good at both ends.
Robertson's Flowers
8501 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Robertson's has been on the Avenue a long time. It's the go-to for flowers, plus a great spot for fun Philadelphia-themed gifts.
Cake
8501 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
An upscale breakfast and brunch spot in a really cool, unique room. The food is great. Worth a sit-down.
Booked
8511 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Every neighborhood needs a bookshop, and Booked is Chestnut Hill's. Definitely worth a stop.
Chill on the Hill
5 E Highland Ave · Chestnut Hill · off the Avenue
Self-serve frozen yogurt just off the Avenue on Highland. Grab a cup, load it up from the wall of toppings, weigh it, and go. It's a family spot through and through, and the perfect cool-down on a warm afternoon of exploring the Hill.
Sakura Ramen & Sushi
8605 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
When the craving is ramen or sushi at the top of the hill, Sakura is the answer. A warm bowl on a cold night or a fresh roll any time of year. It covers both, and does it well.
Lovat Square
184 E Evergreen Ave · Chestnut Hill · off the Avenue
Tucked into the courtyard off Evergreen, right by the Evergreen Cheese Shop, Lovat Square is one of the Hill's newer gems. A wine shop and tasting room built around small-production bottles, with wine by the glass and a few good snacks. Seek it out, and keep an eye on it as it grows into a full wine bar and restaurant.
Chestnut Hill Coffee Co
8620 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
A proper coffee stop near the top of the hill. Beans roasted with care and a good cup whether you're grabbing it to go or settling in for a while. A reliable place to plant yourself and take in the Avenue.
Cosimo's Pizza Cafe
8624 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
Your slice shop up here. Quick, easy, and exactly what you want when you need a slice on the go or a casual bite with the family. No fuss, just good pizza.
McNally's Tavern
8634 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
This is the one. McNally's is the home of the Schmitter, the legendary sandwich that was born right here in Chestnut Hill: steak, grilled salami, cheese, onions, and a special sauce piled on a kaiser roll. People can describe it all day, but you have to eat one to get it. Order it with a Guinness, settle into this old family-run tavern, and you've got one of the best meals on the entire Avenue. You might spot a Schmitter at the ballpark these days, but the original lives here, and there's no substitute for having one at the source.
Tavern on the Hill
8636 Germantown Ave · Chestnut Hill
A true neighborhood tavern to cap off the walk. Cold drinks, an easy crowd, and the kind of unpretentious local feel that makes you want to stay for one more. A good place to land at the top of the hill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best way to explore Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy?
Germantown Avenue runs uphill from Mt. Airy into Chestnut Hill, and the easiest way to take it in is on foot, walking south to north. Start around the 7100 block in Mt. Airy and head up toward the 8600 block at the top of Chestnut Hill. Along the way you pass bakeries, taverns, a hardware store, record and book shops, coffee bars, and the Chestnut Hill Farmers Market. This guide maps 31 of my favorite stops in that order.
Where does Mt. Airy end and Chestnut Hill begin?
The boundary between Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill follows the Cresheim Creek valley, along Cresheim Valley Drive, which crosses Germantown Avenue near the 7600 block. South of that seam is Mt. Airy; north of it, climbing the hill, is Chestnut Hill. On Germantown Avenue the change is gradual, and a few spots right near the line feel like they belong to both.
What is the Schmitter, and where can you get one?
The Schmitter is a sandwich born in Chestnut Hill at McNally's Tavern, 8634 Germantown Avenue: steak, grilled salami, cheese, onions, and a special sauce on a kaiser roll. It has become well known enough to turn up at Phillies games, but the original is still served at McNally's, the family-run tavern where it started. Order it with a Guinness.
