If your guest list includes train commuters, there's no more convenient option than Rotisserie at the Porch at 30th Street Station. The outdoor space adjacent to the Amtrak station revamped its look and menu in May. The area is now a casual green space complete with brightly painted wooden swings, overhead festoon lighting, a variety of seating areas, and a resident food truck by MJS Restaurants. Rotisserie comfortably holds 200 guests; the dining area measures 1,500 square feet, and the entire patio is about 10,000 square feet.
The owners of South Street's popular German outpost Brauhaus Schmitz opened Whetstone Tavern in Queen Village in July. The modern restaurant and charcuterie bar serves upscale American comfort food, including an international and regional cheese list designed specifically for Whetstone by Di Bruno Bros. The bar features 15 rotating taps with craft ales and lagers as well as creative cocktails. The main dining room seats 56 guests, with an additional 10 seats at the bar and room for 28 more guests outside when weather permits. The impressive Wall of Knives displays 45 cooking knives gifted to chef Jeremy Nolan from some of the country's top chefs.
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions opened a third outpost in July in the Pocono Mountains, about two hours outside of Center City. Set on 150 acres, the resort has 457 guest rooms and suites as well as a 65,000-square-foot wing specifically for meetings and events. The Africa-theme resort can accommodate groups of as many as 2,500 guests; three fully equipped ballrooms, the largest of which measures 25,000 square feet, can be divided into 17 smaller rooms of varying sizes. The expansive complex enables guests to attend to business and family under one roof. In addition to a convention center, there are also kid-friendly amenities such as a water park and arcade. A second phase of construction, scheduled to be completed in 2017, will almost double the number of guest rooms and the size of the water park.
Marc Vetri opened a second branch of his eponymous Pizzeria Vetri in Rittenhouse Square in June. Dedicated to the art of Italian pizza making, the menu features a selection of specialty pizzas and salads, all created in house. With subway tile and communal seating, the atmosphere is casual. The highlight of the space is the open kitchen, which includes a custom-made wood-fired Renato oven. The 2,000-square-foot space seats 60 guests; a seasonal outdoor space holds an additional 16 people.
The new Joe's Steaks & Soda Shop in Fishtown opened in April. The 1,700-square-foot throwback space is furnished with retro decor. The menu features Philly classics like cheesesteaks, burgers, specialty fries, and milkshakes while also offering vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The restaurant seats 70 guests including at the counter, booths, and tables. Planners can bring their own alcohol, and tables can be arranged in a variety of layouts.
Bella Vista welcomed its newest yoga sanctuary, Bombay Yoga Company, in March. Located in a renovated second-level space, the Bohemian-style studio features a reception counter/bar and two large practice rooms that can be used for private events. The 2,500-square-foot space holds 200 people for receptions, or planners can arrange for private yoga classes for as many as 30 students.
Rittenhouse Square's supper club Vesper renovated in April, adding dark woods, reds, golds, and blacks for a sexy, speakeasy vibe. The menu offers a modern take on French cuisine which can be tailored to specific client needs. A 600-square-foot private dining room, which includes its own entrance, bar, and restrooms, seats 80 people or holds 120 for receptions. Full buyouts of the trilevel space are available for groups of as many as 500.
In partnership with Tacconelli's Pizza, Mercer Café opened a second location at the Navy Yard in May. The family-owned and –operated business serves homemade, seasonal cuisine, including pizza from a brick oven. The 3,600-square-foot B.Y.O.B. restaurant holds 150 for receptions or seats 90. The bright and modern design features open seating, a diner counter, and outdoor space.
Palo Santo Wellness Boutique opened in April. The venue, which functions as both a yoga studio and a retail store, can host workshops, classes, lectures, or other intimate events. The raw, rustic space measures 1,000 square feet, including the 500-square-foot studio, and seats 50 or holds 100 for receptions.
A rustic, casual eatery in Graduate Hospital, Ti Penso opened in the building formerly occupied by Roberto Café in June. The 1,400-square-foot restaurant offers indoor and outdoor space. The dining room seats 22 or holds 40 for receptions, while the patio seats 12 or holds 25 for receptions. All of the New American menu items are made fresh in house, and the selection of dishes rotates seasonally.
SugarHouse Casino’s new 30,000-square-foot event center opened in February. The space holds 1,000 guests for receptions or seats 500. The multipurpose facility has a 10,000-square-foot ballroom as well as amenities such as a box office, a coat check, pre-function space, a covered outdoor balcony, a greenroom, and Delaware River views. Built-in projectors and screens, house music, stages and risers, podiums, and lighting controls are available for use during events. Food is provided by Gibsons Restaurant Group, the center's exclusive caterer.
In January, AKA Rittenhouse Square hotel unveiled its new Penthouse Suites, designed by Nicholas Cardone to include rich hardwood floors, quartz countertops, and sophisticated furnishings. Each of the three 1,600-square-foot units features a dining room that can comfortably seat eight people for meetings or intimate group meals. In addition, the chic suites come with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a sunlit living room. Each suite is also equipped with two HD TVs, premium cable, Apple TV, USB docks, and charging stations.
The Little Lion opened in January. With 25-foot ceilings and dramatic architecture, the space offers a new option for events in Old City. Between the dining room, chef's counter/raw bar, two bars, lounge, high-top tables, and outdoor space, the 6,500-square-foot restaurant seats 200 guests. The in-house sound system can play music throughout the space, and televisions at the bar are available for visual presentations. The cuisine includes small plates and full-size entrées with Southern flair, and a specialty cocktail program focuses on seasonal ingredients. Taking a cue from the surrounding neighborhood, the decor includes a hint of Revolutionary inspiration.
Urban Farmer Steakhouse opened in December at the Logan hotel, across the street from the landmark Swann Fountain in Logan Circle. The star of the menu is the impressive selection of heritage-bred beef, but poultry, seafood, and vegetarian dishes appeal to diners who don't care for red meat. House-made pickles, locally sourced beverages, and rich side dishes round out the culinary offerings. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant, including patio space, seats 220 guests or holds 300 for receptions. The bar area fits 60 guests for happy hour, and a 14-seat audiovisual-equipped private room opens into the kitchen, making it ideal for small meetings, private meals, or chef demonstrations.
The Point Breeze section of Philadelphia welcomed Buckminster's in November. At the trendy yet casual neighborhood bar, the menu includes modernized, market-driven bistro food. The 1,200-square-foot space features a 24-seat dining room and an 11-seat bar. For buyouts, the restaurant holds 50 people for receptions.
Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar opened in Fishtown in November. The 7,500-square-foot space, which is set in a remodeled warehouse, seats 164 guests, including a 32-seat private wine room. The menu features contemporary Italian cuisine, and a TV screen and projector are available for presentations. In the coming months, the restaurant plans to add a patio with a fire pit and additional seating.
In November, acclaimed local chef Mike Stollenwerk opened 26 North BYOB in Old City. The seafood-centric menu showcases dishes like Sicilian-style calamari, pastrami-spiced mahi mahi, and skate wing with truffled spätzle. Exposed brick, subway tile, and Edison lightbulbs lend industrial charm to the dimly lit space. The venue can accommodate groups for lunch or dinner; buyouts are available for 50 seated guests or 100 cocktail-style.
Valley Forge Casino Resort debuted its new 1920s-style nightclub, the Vault, in late October. The renovated space measures 3,233 square feet and is licensed to accommodate 560 people. Dark colors, leather seating, and period-specific decor reflect the era, while the cocktail menu gives a modern twist to pre- and post-Prohibition drinks. The venue includes a new stage and professional-grade audio and computer-controlled lighting equipment.
National chain CorePower Yoga opened its first Philadelphia location in December in Rittenhouse Square. Built with green practices in mind, the venue incorporates recycled products and sustainable materials into its design. In total, the yoga studio measures 4,470 square feet, including two separate class spaces that accommodate 65 and 50 participants, respectively. Planners can reserve the space for group classes or "sweatworking,” or active networking, events. Amenities include changing rooms with showers, private lockers, and a retail boutique.
Cappelli Brothers Cigar Company is now available for catered events, with food from the brothers' new pizzeria located next door. The menu includes a selection of fresh soups, sandwiches, flatbreads, and charcuterie. Measuring 1,000 square feet, the smoker-friendly space is split into two levels: an upstairs B.Y.O. bar and a downstairs cigar den, both of which feature flat-screen TVs. In total, the venue seats 28 people, with room for an additional 17 standing guests. It originally opened in 2014 and began private event rentals in January.
