3 Best Nightlife in Old City and Historic Downtown, Philadelphia

Even restaurant and nightlife mogul Stephen Starr had to start somewhere—the Continental was his very first restaurant, and it continues to be one of his most popular. The retro-fied former diner draws an interesting crowd, a mix of energetic twentysomethings and longtime regulars. The design, featuring lots of stainless steel and campy lighting fixtures, goes well with the martini-driven cocktail list and global small-plates menu.

The wine bar at Ristorante Panorama, a polished northern Italian restaurant in the Penn's View Inn, stands out for its staggering vino selection—more than 150 wines are available by the glass, thanks to a cruvinet preservation system touted as the largest in the world. Other oenophile hooks include "Wine Wednesday" specials and personalized flights.