Living in Fairmount provides residents with a vast selection of art, museums, beautiful green spaces, and a variety of restaurants and bars. The Fairmount neighborhood is often referred to as the “Art Museum Area” because of its close proximity to The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute, Rodin Museum, and Barnes Foundation. Fairmount is continuously expanding and many young families move here to enjoy the thriving scene while living in close proximity to Center City.
Food & Drink
Urban Saloon – Urban Saloon offers a diverse menu of pub food with daily specials in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere. Their twelve taps and 60+ bottles/cans are constantly rotating. They even offer private dining space perfect for birthdays, wedding receptions, graduations, bridal/baby showers or any other special occasions.
Bar Hygge – If you’re looking for a house-made burger alongside a local brew, look no further than Bar Hygge. This brewpub offers several house-brewed drafts along with many shareable appetizers like boards of veggies, meat, and cheese.
Kite & Key – Of course named after Benjamin Franklin’s famous experiment with electricity, this spot offers craft and imported beers for you to enjoy. Their menu selection is great to grab a quick bite or enjoy a night with friends in the beer garden.
Osteria – This Italian restaurant offers house-made pasta, thin-crust pizzas, and wood-grilled meats and fish. They also offer a large list of exclusive Italian wines.
Pizzeria Vetri – Award-winning chef Marc Vetri’s pizzeria serves traditional, Neapolitan-style pizzas with an array of premium toppings. Guests can also choose from a variety of beverages on tap, including beer and wine.
Sabrina’s Cafe – This restaurant has patrons lining up at the door. This is the perfect place for Sunday Brunch or really any day of the week. You won’t want to miss out on trying their famous stuffed challah French toast and other mega-portioned plates. Their Fairmount location is one of its few locations that also serves dinner!
Umai Umai – This Japanese BYOB is serving up fresh and unique sushi rolls, which is why many of the neighbors can’t seem to get enough of this small sushi spot. People rave about the Spartan roll, made with miso-marinated beef tenderloin, cucumber, mozzarella cheese, shrimp tempura and paprika aioli, as well as the Nemo featuring snow crab, avocado, spicy mayo and crunch wrapped in cucumber.
Attractions
Philadelphia Museum of Art – This iconic museum sits beautifully on a rise at the end of the city’s famous Benjamin Franklin parkway. The vast collections of this temple of art make it one of the largest art museums in the country — and an absolute must-see on the city’s cultural circuit.
The Rocky Statue and Steps – Whether you’re visiting Philadelphia or a local resident, it is inevitable that you need to check out the infamous Rocky Statue and Steps. Fitness enthusiasts and millions of film junkies can go up the seventy-two steps to lead them to the beautiful Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Fairmount Water Works – Fairmount Water Works is an environmental center at the river’s edge behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Its interactive, user-friendly exhibits share information about the water in our world.
Rodin Museum – This museum houses one of the largest collections of works by master sculptor Auguste Rodin outside of Paris and greets visitors with The Thinker and The Gates of Hell.
Barnes Foundation – The Barnes Foundation is home to one of the world’s most impressive and important collections of African sculpture, impressionist, post-impressionist and early modern paintings. The collection includes works by Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso and Van Gogh, all displayed as the late collector intended. The gallery space is part of a 93,000-square-foot building, which also includes a changing exhibition gallery, conservation lab, auditorium, library, cafe and gift shop.
The Franklin Institute – The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most beloved science museums in the country. This museum offers hands-on learning through exhibitions and theatrical experiences expressing a passion for science.
Free Library of Philadelphia – Parkway Central and Rare Book Department – If you’re a book lover, this library offers an incredible collection of rare books, special collections, and media to feed your brain. Not only can you check out books on your own, but also sit in on author readings and lectures and enjoy special exhibitions and events!
Logan Square – One of city founder William Penn’s original five squares, the park contains one of the most striking features of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway — the Swann Memorial Fountain, where large Native American figures symbolize the area’s major local waterways: the Delaware River (a man), the Schuylkill River (a woman) and Wissahickon Creek (a girl).
Eastern State Penitentiary – Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers. This prison once held notorious lawbreakers including, “Slick Willie” Sutton and “Scarface” Al Cappone. Check out there website to schedule tours and grab your tickets!
Parks & Recreation
Fairmount Park – This massive urban park spans both banks of the Schuylkill River and is an outlet to go to a quiet landscape for residents to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. With more than 2,000 acres of rolling hills, gentle trails, relaxing waterfront and shaded woodlands, Fairmount Park keeps a wealth of natural landscapes in East and West sections of the park.
Schuylkill River Trail – Philadelphia’s newest riverfront destination is perfect for playing, living, working, and having fun! The Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk offers a breathtaking, 2,000-foot-long pathway that extends the Schuylkill River Trail from Locust Street to South Street. The scenic expanse allows pedestrians, runners and cyclists to literally walk or ride over the river to some of the best skyline views around.
Azalea Garden – The four-acre, fan-shaped garden was designed by landscape architect Frederick W.G. Peck, and features over 150 species of azaleas and rhododendrons planted in kidney-shaped planting beds adorned with colorful annuals and perennials, including irises, daffodils, crocuses and tulips.
The Spring Gardens – The Spring Gardens is an urban community garden in Spring Garden, Philadelphia built by neighbors in 1995 and helps families grow food and flowers for themselves and for donation through City Harvest. If you’re looking to get out of the house be sure to check out their cooking workshops, gardening classes, farm bike tours, and so much more!
Green Street Dog Park – Green Street Dog Park provides dogs and dog lovers with a safe, secure, quiet, attractive off-leash dog park and green space for socialization and exercise. In addition to beautifying the Spring Garden community, the Park is committed to remaining a respectful and conscientious neighbor, and serving as a social venue in one of the most economically and ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the City of Philadelphia.
Schools
Apart of the Philadelphia City School District:
Masterman School – Grades 5-12
Franklin Learning Center – Grades 9-12
Mi Casita Spanish Immersion Preschool
Laura W. Waring School – Grades K-8
Bache Martin Elementary Schools – Grades K-8
Spring Garden Academy – Preschool
Science Leadership Academy – Grades 9-12
Benjamin Franklin High School – Grades 9-12