Here's a look at new Philadelphia eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces to open for events this fall. The new and renovated venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fund-raisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, teambuilding activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Walnut Street Café opened in the FMC Tower in University City in June. The modern venue offers both casual and fine dining areas, as well as a cocktail bar and a patio. In total, the 3,000-square-foot restaurant can seat as many as 130 guests or accommodate 200 for cocktail-style receptions, with room for 60 additional guests on the patio, weather permitting. The American menu spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with diverse offerings such as gourmet croissants, scrapple, pork belly sandwiches, pastas, and steaks.
The Washington Square West neighborhood welcomed Maison 208 in June. Helmed by Chef Sylvia Senat, a former Top Chef contestant, the restaurant serves a New American menu with French undertones. The two-story, 1,800-square-foot space features an open concept and is Philadelphia’s first restaurant with a retractable glass roof. A living room-style cocktail lounge on the second floor can be booked for private events for as many as 100 guests. Television screens and projectors are available for planners to use as needed.
A renovation of Amuse Restaurant at Le Meridien Philadelphia was completed in March. The chic French brasserie has been transformed and updated with design elements that highlight the French influence on Philadelphia. The space now features a lighter color palette, multi-purpose credenzas, back-lit acrylic panels, and a sculptural wire chandelier. The menu includes modern versions of French-inspired classics like steak frites, French onion soup, and a raw bar. Seating is available for 22 in the main dining room, 24 in a communal area, and 14 at the bar. A 750-square-foot newly remodeled space called the Gallery seats 50 or holds 65 for receptions.
Bar Amis opened at the Navy Yard in June. The unique menu draws inspiration from the rustic Italian dishes at Washington Square West’s Amis restaurant, with offerings like Sal’s Old School Meatball Sandwiches, toast topped with fresh ricotta cheese and fig jam, and cacio e pepe fries. Offering sweeping views of the Navy Yard and its harbor, the venue can be reserved for total buyouts of as many as 120 seated guests, and is divided into smaller areas that can accommodate more intimate groups. The 778-square-foot first floor can seat as many as 30 or hold 50 cocktail-style; the second-floor main dining room seats 55 or holds 65 cocktail-style; a 325-square-foot, glass-enclosed private dining room seats 32; and a 1,080-square-foot patio seats 75, weather permitting.
The Palm Philadelphia, located alongside the Hyatt at the Bellevue, completed a major renovation in July. Modern enhancements include relocating the bar as well as the 40-seat private dining room to better accommodate guests. The new design also includes a Philly-centric mural and other site-specific artwork, The Center City steakhouse measures 7,000 square feet, and the layout allows for groups ranging from 10 to 300 seated guests. In addition to steaks, seafood and classic Italian dishes round out the menu, which can be customized for events.
From the brewmasters behind Roy Pitz Brewing Company—who call themselves liquid artists—Roy Pitz Barrel House opened its doors in Philly’s Spring Arts district in June. The trendy, 5,000-square-foot brewhouse accommodates as many as 130 guests cocktail-style, with four TV screens available for use during events. A seasonal menu includes burgers, sandwiches, salads, and crowd-pleasing small bites like Bavarian-style soft pretzels and hand-cut French fries.
Enoteca Tredici, Midtown Village’s popular Italian restaurant and wine bar, expanded to Bryn Mawr in June, offering a chic option for events on the Main Line. The venue features elegant touches like 25-foot ceilings, globe lights, herringbone hardwood floors, and Carrara marble countertops. Patrons can choose from a menu of small plates like bacon wrapped dates and tuna crudo, as well as main dishes like squid ink tonarelli and lollipop lamb chops. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant accommodates as many as 200 guests for cocktail-style events or 160 seated. A private party space seats 50.
Located on Philadelphia’s Main Line, the Inn at Villanova University opened in July. The 56-room property is owned and operated by Villanova University and sits on the 32-acre site of the former Montrose Estate. Fourteen meeting rooms ranging from 400 to 1,600 square feet provide space for groups ranging from eight to 130 guests, and a 5,000-square-foot ballroom seats as many as 325.
Northern Liberties welcomed Urban Village Brewing Company in June. The sophisticated yet comfortable restaurant features communal tables, a large wraparound bar, and an al fresco lounge with fire pits. Measuring 5,500 square feet, the space seats as many as 155 guests between the indoor dining room and patio. An on-site production facility brews as many as 12 seasonal craft beers at a time, and an open kitchen with brick ovens lining the back wall allows patrons to watch their pizzas being prepared and baked.
WeWork opened a fourth Philadelphia location in Center City in February. Set on the top floor of 1900 Market St., a glass atrium at the co-working venue provides a bright, energetic vibe. The location spans 56,050 square feet, with 2,236 square feet of event space. An open floor plan allows for flexible setups for as many as 70 seated guests or 150 for receptions. Fun touches like a game room, self-serve beer taps, and koi pond create a communal atmosphere, and a projector, speaker system, and microphones are available to planners.
