Society Hill

Location

Society Hill is located along the Delaware River and runs west to 8th street and north to south from walnut street to Lombard street. It’s just south of Old City and is part of Historic Philadelphia. Society Hill is a quiet and residential area, but it’s just east of Washington Square West and Center City so you can quickly step into the big city feel when you want to. It’s easily accessible by the 5th and 2nd street septa stops and it also has easy access to I-95 for longer commutes.

The Vibe

Society Hill is an elegant neighborhood with gorgeous architecture. It’s mostly residential with a lot of history, beautiful parks and gorgeous streets. It embodies the true spirit of Philadelphia with quaint cobblestone alleys lined with beautiful trees, historic sites but now it has a modern flair. It has a range of architecture from historic trinities, to rows of brick town homes from the 18th and 19th century, to modern homes designed by I.M. Pei, and luxury high rise condos.

When you live in Society Hill, you have so much American history right outside your door. Society Hill lets you step back in time and imagine what life might have been like during the Revolutionary War. It’s a very family friendly area - it has great schools like St. Peter’s private school and McCalls Elementary school, huge parks that you rarely find in such a big city, it’s close to the Delaware River waterfront and has a restaurant scene that’s to die for.

There’s only a few large commercial businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies, so it’s a true local neighborhood feel but has all the conveniences you’ll need. You could wander through Society Hill for days and still find new hidden gems you didn’t see before.

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Things to Do

Headhouse Square - this is the oldest surviving marketplace in the United States and was a pivotal part of developing the American farmer’s market. It was a huge wholesale market in the 1800s and today you can enjoy the farmer’s market here every Sunday. And in this area is where you’ll find a lot of the local restaurants and shops.

Washington Square Park - this is one of the 5 original squares that William Penn laid out for the city of Philadelphia. It has beautiful tree lined paths with benches and large grass patches to enjoy the open air or have a picnic. There’s a beautiful fountain in the center and a tribute to George Washington and an eternal flame at the tomb of the unknown soldiers of the American Revolution. Just a few blocks away is Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and many other historical sites that are a must see and a great activity.

3 Bear Park - this is the perfect neighborhood park. It has a playground, picnic tables, beautiful trees and is perfect for kids or adults to enjoy a day outside. It’s located on Delancey Street between 3rd and 4th streets.

Waterfront - you are so close to the Delaware River Waterfront and all that has to offer. That includes the Spruce Street Harbor Park, Penn’s Landing, waterfront restaurants and more.

There’s also theaters in the neighborhood to enjoy a film or a show including the landmark ritz 5 and the society hill playhouse.

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Restaurants & Bars

Pizzeria Stella
Zahav
Positano Coast
Cafe Frida
Malbec Argentinian Steakhouse
Bodhi Coffee
Talula's Garden
Cavanaugh’s Headhouse Bar

Real Estate

Society Hill is one of the most sought after residential neighborhoods in the city. Like I mentioned earlier, the architecture in this area is truly astounding. You have some of the most beautiful row homes tucked away on tree lined streets that were home to some of the most pivotal people in Philadelphia and American history. It can range from 600 square foot historic trinities to brand new multimillion dollar condos.

Society Hill is also where you’ll find designs by I.M. Pei - you might recognize that famous name since he designed the pyramid at the Louvre in Paris. The Society Hill towers, the iconic matching three skyscraper condo buildings, are the work of I.M. Pei as well as 37 modern townhouses with arched entry ways and beautiful courtyards. In the 50s and 60s, Society Hill was a crumbling neighborhood. But with the help of I.M. Pei and Edmund Bacon who is actually the actor Kevin Bacon’s father, Society Hill was revitalized and turned into one of the most desirable and beautiful neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

So Society Hill is made up of townhomes, trinities, historic homes, converted lofts and even luxury brand new high rise condo buildings like the society hill towers and the 500 walnut.

This is some of the most expensive real estate in Philadelphia. As of January 2024, the average sales price in Society Hill is $488,000 with 126 days on the market.