Morgan Schaffner's Perfect Day in Old Richmond
We asked a local (and dear friend) to give us a category and her five favorite picks. She chose to talk about her local neighborhood and the spots she loves.
Morgan Schaffner is music marketing specialist and Philadelphia resident living in the Olde Richmond neighborhood. When not working on social media plans or press releases for bands at a record label, you can usually find her record shopping, doing yoga, or walking her very good boy Fisher the German Shepherd mix.
"What is Olde Richmond, Philadelphia? When folks who aren’t super familiar with Philly ask me where I live, I usually say, “it’s basically Fishtown” or “kinda between Port Richmond and Kensington” some folks even call it “Port Fishington”. However when talking to someone who actually knows Philly well – I can share that it’s a neighborhood located in the River Wards section of Philly, is part of the 19125 zip code area, and the neighborhood is generally bounded by Lehigh Avenue to the north, Trenton Avenue to the west, York Street to the south, and the Delaware River to the east. Anyway, here’s my favorite spots. :)"
2518 Cedar St.
Pacific Yoga is hands-down the best yoga studio I’ve ever been to. The yoga instructor / studio owner Nicole has been teaching yoga for 25 years, and it really shows – each practice is rooted in breath and she is able to intentionally tailor the flow exactly to the needs of the students in the space. Just incredible!!
2331 E Cumberland St.
What a gem! Meetinghouse is a modern,casual pub type eatery that recently made the New York Times' "50 best in America" and for good reason! Between the perfect Guiness pours, the extensive dessert list, the simple yet addictive green salad, and the insanely light yet crispy waffle at brunch service (dare I say…. The best waffle I’ve ever had??), it’s just the ideal setting for any occasion.
2532 E Leigh St.
Little Susie’s Coffee & Pie shop on Lehigh Ave is legit the best. It’s the original location of Little Susie’s, where all the pies get *actually* baked, and you can taste the extra freshness. Plus this location is a take-out window that offers free, handmade, pie crust treats for dogs. The perfection of a warm glazed cherry handpie and an extra large iced coffee (think: big gulp sized) remains unmatched.
2513 Tulip St.
Beyond the notoriety of the Instagram-famous square thick crust pizzas of “Pizza Gutt” really lies so much heart and insanely delicious food! Plus, this small business is run by the sweetest people on the planet. You can order ahead (yes, either a circle pizza or a square pizza), maybe throw in some “Griddy wings” and a salad, and now you’ve got yourself a perfect Friday night.
2546 E Lehigh Ave.
This spot rules. It’s an OG dive bar that’s been in the neighborhood since 2007, serving up awesome pierogi, burgers and fries. Looking for Friday night karaoke? Check. Looking for cold bevvies? Check. Looking for nostalgic pop-culture decor & a pinball machine? Check. Looking for outdoor seating and neighborhood corner bar vibes? CHECK! :)
Got a better take?
Disagree? Think we missed something?
Email us at [email protected] (subject: OLD CITY) and put us on.
More Local Picks
This guide is part of The Local's List — a series where we ask people who actually live here to share their favorite spots, routines, and opinions about the city. This is our first one, but there’s more coming.
Know someone who should be featured?
Nominate someone (or yourself) to share their favorite spots around town.
