Mixing Business and Pleasure: Quick Escapes in Philadelphia

by  Darren Murph | Jan 29, 2013
Philadelphia skyline
Philadelphia skyline / pabradyphoto/iStock

Heading to Philadelphia requires thick skin and an even thicker coat (this time of year), but as 2013 hits its stride and the holiday hangover subsides, we're here to prepare you for any upcoming conventions and business trips to this historic and energetic city. In an effort to get you outside of the boardroom and into the warm embrace of The City of Brotherly Love, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings.

For a fine, fine night out on the town, Butcher and Singer is a must-do. It's a fabulous place to eat your cares away, but we'll confess that the atmosphere steals the show. It's a high-class steakhouse at heart, but it's dressed up in low-light Hollywood garb in order to make those dining feel as if they've shifted back a few decades. Fair warning: a mobster may very well join your table.

If you're still in the mood for style, Lolita is one of the better Mexican options near the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This place has a solid margarita and appetizer list if you're just cruising through at lunch, and there are plenty of seafood options for those who'd prefer. Best of all, the spices are practically guaranteed to make you forget all about Old Man Winter outside.

While it feels like an obvious mention, no warm-blooded American should leave Philadelphia without a glance at the Liberty Bell. Thankfully, Independence Hall is just a few walkable blocks from the concourses you may be there to visit. If you have more than a half-hour, step foot in the American Philosophical Society Library next door – the aged manuscripts in there are enough to make any budding historian blush.

While you're in the sightseeing mood, it's also worth hopping a cab to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Not only is it one of the most outstanding art museums this country has to offer, but the steps out front will certainly ring a bell. Indeed, those are the famed "Rocky Steps," and no trip to Philly is complete without a goofy Instagram shot of yourself leaping at the top perch. To be fair, there's some pretty great street vendor food and shopping nearby, and if you end up with ample time, plenty of Segway tours can be hailed from here. Might as well, right?

Before heading out, make sure you cap off a week of hard work at Vintage. A bona fide wine bar in every sense of the phrase, this venue houses wines from all over the world, and the folks behind it go to great lengths to select food that best accompanies the grapes. Local ingredients are used whenever possible, and considering that the menu rotates, you're guaranteed to have a fresh experience with each visit.

This is a recurring feature exploring must-visit locales in a variety of cities. If you find yourself traveling to a place for business, why not venture out and enjoy your surroundings?

See our Philadelphia destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

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