Philadelphia's Italian Market and South Philly food guide

The Italian Market runs along South 9th Street in South Philadelphia, roughly from Fitzwater Street to Wharton Street. It is a place where people buy their groceries, which is part of its charm. Butcher shops hang meat in the window, produce is stacked on the sidewalk, and bakeries open early. It is also one of the oldest outdoor markets in the United States, and still a working neighborhood market.

How did the Italian Market begin?

The market grew from the late 1800s, as Italian immigrants settled in the neighborhood and the area developed informally around them. Vendors sold from pushcarts and curb stands, and merchants later moved into brick shops. The market was not only Italian: Jewish merchants were part of it in the early years, and in recent decades Mexican, Vietnamese and other businesses have opened beside the Italian ones.

What should you eat and buy?

Start with the cheese. Family cheese shops have sold cheese on this stretch for generations, and a number of other cheese and specialty shops sell olives, cured meats, pasta and olive oil. Visit a butcher or a fish shop even if you are not cooking: these counters are the heart of the market. Pick up bread, cookies or Italian pastries from a bakery, and grab a sandwich from a deli counter for a picnic. Many visitors treat the market as a morning of nibbling, not one big meal.

Where does the cheesesteak argument happen?

At the southern end, where 9th Street meets Passyunk Avenue. Two famous steak shops face each other across the corner. Locals argue about which is better, and some prefer a third place altogether. Our guide to cheesesteaks, roast pork and hoagies explains how to order at either window.

Does the market have a good day to visit?

Saturday morning is the liveliest, and the market is open most of the week, though individual shops keep their own hours, and some are closed on Mondays. Many butchers and produce vendors work early, so go before noon for the best selection. On Sundays some shops are closed or open short hours. Parking on and near 9th Street is tight; the 9th and Wharton area has some lots, and the Broad Street subway and several buses serve South Philadelphia. Check the market's calendar for festivals, including the annual street festival in warmer months.

What should you not miss if you have only an hour?

Walk the length of 9th Street from Washington Avenue to Christian Street and back. Look in the windows of the butcher shops and the cheese stores, watch the produce stands, and step into a bakery for a cookie or a slice of sheet pizza. Taste something you cannot find at home: a particular cured meat, an aged cheese, a tray of fresh pasta, or a hot pastry filled with ricotta. If the weather is good, eat standing on the sidewalk, as locals do. The market works best with a loose plan and a hungry appetite, and it rewards a second visit.

Should you bring cash?

Yes, at least a little. Not every vendor accepts credit cards, and some small stands and bakeries prefer cash. Many shops now take cards, but a minimum purchase may apply. Bring some small bills for a pastry or a sandwich, and a reusable bag. If you buy cheese, meat or seafood, ask the shop whether it can pack it with ice for the trip home, and do not leave perishable food in a hot car.

What else is in South Philadelphia?

South Philly is a large, varied part of the city. Passyunk Avenue, a few blocks from the market, has become a dining street with Italian, Mexican, Vietnamese and contemporary American restaurants. East Passyunk is known for its restaurants and bars. Further west, parts of Washington Avenue have a Vietnamese and Cambodian food scene with banh mi shops, noodle restaurants and grocers. The Italian Market itself includes taquerias and Mexican bakeries, which reflect the area's newer arrivals.

How do you handle booking, walk-ins and groups?

Most market counters take no reservations. Sit-down restaurants in South Philadelphia range from casual neighborhood Italian places that welcome walk-ins to popular spots on East Passyunk that fill up on weekends, where booking ahead is wise. Several of the city's small restaurants are BYOB, which means you bring your own wine or beer, and a reservation is often necessary. Read our guide to BYOB dining before you go.

Yes. The market is walkable and outdoors, and children enjoy the cheese samples, the bakeries and the street energy. For groups, pick a meeting point, since the sidewalks are narrow and busy. Plan a coffee or gelato stop, and take a break in one of the nearby parks if you need a rest.

Go to the Italian Market with a plan and an empty stomach. Walk the full length once before you buy, decide where to eat, and buy the cheese and cured meat last so that it stays cold. Bring a bag and a few small bills, because some stalls and bakeries prefer cash. Saturday morning is the liveliest and the most crowded, and a weekday gives you more room to talk to the people behind the counters. Many shops close early in the afternoon, so aim for the morning and ask about holiday weekends.

How do you plan a morning of nibbling on South 9th Street?

A market this size is easiest when you decide what you are collecting. In the Mosey app, start a list called South 9th with sections for cheese, cured meat, bakery and lunch, and add a line to each stop about what to buy and when to go. Send the invite link to the friend who always knows the butcher, and follow the people whose shopping you trust to see what they rate and save.

Rate what you eat as its own dish, whether it is a sheet-pizza slice, a ricotta pastry or a deli sandwich eaten on the sidewalk. Rate Italian places and the Italian badge counts how many different ones you have tried, which suits a neighborhood where the next counter is always a few steps away. East Passyunk and the Vietnamese and Mexican shops nearby deserve their own sections, so the list grows with the neighborhood.

Before you carry the bags home, rate your best bite in the Mosey app.

More guides to read next:

• Philadelphia Chinatown food guide: Race Street, dim sum and late night
• Reading Terminal Market guide: how to eat well and avoid the crowds
• Best brunch in Philadelphia (2026): how to choose and when to go

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.