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El Café

4.3 (18 reviews)
Closed 6:30 am - 4:00 pm

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EL CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

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the inside of a sandwich wrapped in foil
Maria-Elena T.

I had a credit of $15 because of my stay and status at the Motto by Hilton hotel. I was excited about the breakfast sandwich with chorizo, egg, cheese, and beans. I got a concha (pineapple coconut) too. Total about $18. I checked out and paid my parking across the street while I waited for my sandwich. They packed it with loving care and included the napkins. Interesting twist... The breakfast sandwich I was SO excited about was forgettable. Chorizo thin, not many beans, egg meh). The concha I got only to up my purchase was one of the best pastries I've ever had! Wow! Hard to rate this based on the disparity of the two items. Service was great.

a woman standing at the counter
Dave L.

Good hotel coffee counter run by Condesa, the Mexican restaurant inside the Motto by Hilton. El Cafe is in Motto's lobby; you can't miss them[1]. Coffee is from Reanimator. Aside from coffee products, there are Mexican-style pastries served here, made on-site. Friendly service. Credit accepted. Easy access to the SEPTA 19th Street trolley stop. [1] Unless you haven't had enough coffee. Otherwise it's pretty obvious!

View from the seating in the back
Andrew Z.

Really solid spot based on my first visit. I'd say it's one of the best new spots to have opened up recently. The staff of El Cafe and the POD hotel (where El Cafe is located in) were all extremely nice. The actual area where you order is pretty small but once you walk further back it's a huge open space where you can pretty much sit anywhere. The space across from the bar/Condesa is really chill, and honestly seems like it could be a good study or work spot to post up at. In terms of the food I only got the chorizo breakfast taco and a horchata latte. Both were really good, but I'd say the taco ($5.50 for the chorizo one) is relatively small. For the quality of the ingredients the price makes sense, but you'll definitely want to get two tacos or one of their pastries if you're hungry. Will definitely be back to try some of their other stuff.

This is not a Concha even though they advertise it as.
Lindsey M.

After living in Philly for 8 months a place finally opened that has an horchata latte. Let's start with the fact that I've tried every coffee shop between San Diego and OC that serves an horchata latte. So I'd like to consider myself a self proclaimed expert on the matter. I also just got back from Mexico City, so the taste of good horchata and conchas are fresh. Horchata Latte (2 stars) - $5 are you kidding me. At most it should be $4 or $4.50. The cinnamon is over powering and horchata taste is lacking. Also the viscosity was weird. Very syrupy. The saving grace is the stumptown espresso shots. I wonder what the horchata taste like on its own because that's an all tell of how the latte will be. I think this coffee shop has potential and maybe I'm being harsh cause they're still new but if this going to be a main feature on the coffee menu then it needs to be worked on. Vanilla Concha (2 stars) - $3.50. You can go to an authentic Mexican bakery in south Philly and get one for $1.50 that is actually a concha. This is more of just a fancy sweet bread. Not as flakey as a real concha. The flavor was there for sure but the concha texture reminded me more of kings Hawaiian bread. You can see from the photo that this concha is sad. Overall it's a cute atmosphere. I wish they were playing some cute bachata or cumbia but I don't even recall if there was music on. I'm giving it 2 stars for the time being. I'll be sure to come back in a month or so to see if they've worked on these opening jitters and maybe try a taco cause there's no way I'd ever pay $3.50 for a concha here again.

Olive oil cake
Bianca Y.

Another solid addition to the Rittenhouse cafe/pastry scene! FYI it's located on the ground floor of the new Pod Philly hotel- I walked right by the entrance on 19th Street my first time and had to double back. The main seating once you enter consists of 2 large tables with woven high chairs, though in the back it opens up to Condesa. We ordered the guava, coconut, and cheese concha, a slice of olive oil cake, ojo de pancha, and a chorizo breakfast taco. The concha was a surprise hit, we loved the coconut flavoring to the sweet bread and the guava cheese filling. The olive oil cake was moist and the perfect amount of sweetness. I would definitely recommend the ojo de pancha to banana lovers- it's like banana bread stuffed with a sweet cream cheese filling. The chorizo breakfast taco was underwhelming for $5, not sure why they charge so much for a single taco. The real winners here are the Mexican pastries, definitely worth a try for something different than your typical breakfast pastry.

Decor
Carrie H.

I was really excited when I saw this place open up as I am always looking for good coffee and pastry options in the Rittenhouse Area! The seating area is quite limited - just two long tables up front, but it opens up the Pod hotel lobby in the back where you can sit as well. The decor is clean, modern, and beautiful. I had the guava, coconut, and cheese concha, which I loved! The combination of flavors seemed a bit random at first, but I thought the flavors complemented each other so well with a perfect mix of savory and sweet. To be honest, this and the ambience would probably be the only things I would come here for. The breakfast taco was good, but nothing mind-blowing or spectacular enough that I would want to pay ~$5 a taco for it again. The horchata latte sounded like it could be unique and good as well but I found it somewhat lacking in spice and too watered down. If I could give this place, 3.5 hours stars I would. 5 stars for the concha and ambience, 2-3 stars for the tacos and horchata latte. I'll be back, but only for the conchas!

Concha
Angélica M.

The best pastry I have had in a long time. The nostalgia when I saw conchas was immediate. I'm Mexican, but there are not many options for conchas In my neighborhood. None of them are worth the drive or the calories. These conchas are exactly as spongy as they should be. I dare say, they might be better than what I've had in Mexico for texture at least. The guava concha was unexpected, a remix, but AMAZING. The spongy treat is filled with guava and has a crunchy, coconut topping that adds an amazing contrast in texture. I foresee me wanting to travel back to Philly for these!

Breakfast tacos

This is a new spot that deserves a little more love so I'm here with my first Yelp review. I've been here twice and plan to pop by in the future for casual meet ups. The quiet unassuming feel of the place tied in with the lovely decor and open space makes for a great ambience to start your day. The breakfast tacos are delicious and their pastries - tasty and different from any other you'd find around the neighborhood. Space: 5/5 Food: 4/5 Wouldn't make a long trip solely to head to this cafe but I do recommend you stop by.

Vanilla Concha with Chocolate Sauce

I didn't know what to expect when I walked in. The atmosphere is incredible at first sight. I ordered a Breakfast Taco with a fresh house made Tortilla, crumbled chorizo, sunny side up egg, and a cojita cheese blend. I was met with the best taco I've ever had. The tortilla was amazing, the egg soft and runny, not too burnt or overrun with whites, the chorizo with a incredible layer of heat and meatiness. Then, the cheese. It is simply, the best. Next, I ordered a Concha, which is a mix of a croissant and a cake, with chocolate sauce. It was amazing. The concha was soft, flaky, and sweet with a hint of vanilla. The chocolate was amazing, freshly made, with chocolate, herbal, and fruity notes. Simply put it, El Cafe is the best cafe. Note: The service is impeccable.

Iced horchata late & gluten free chocolate pastry

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K'Far Cafe - Blackberry Mascarpone Toast

K'Far Cafe

4.4(751 reviews)
0.1 miRittenhouse Square, Penn Center
$$

Due to unfortunate travel circumstances, we ended up stuck overnight in Philadelphia without any of…read moreour belongings. We were determined to make the most of it and found this coffee place the next morning on yelp and we're so happy we did! Instantly brightened what was a terrible situation. Please open a K'Far in Austin, TX!! Pistachio sticky bun - Absolutely delicious! Egg and cheese Jerusalem bagel - Delicious! Crispy, flavorful, slightly spicy. Yemenite iced coffee - So good! Like a spiced Vietnamese coffee. Sachlav - Loved! Like a cappuccino but with less milk. It wasn't as sweet which was a nice contrast to the sticky bun. We got in as a walk in without a wait on a Sunday morning. The server was nice as well. Definitely recommend if you're in the area!

Came to K'Far for a quick lunch - it was a random weekday so luckily there was no line! I opted to…read moreeat on the lovely little patio. I got a chai latte with oat milk and a Shakshuka (which, they told me is not a traditional Shakshuka but rather reimagined as a pasty). It was delicious! The chai latte had great depth and spice flavors, and the Shakshuka pastry was a great mix of flaky puff pastry and strong tomato and egg flavors. Just knocking off one star because for a $5.75 latte, they only filled the glass halfway up. I also got one of their famous pistachio sticky bun to take to go!

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K'Far Cafe - Inside the cute cafe

Inside the cute cafe

K'Far Cafe - Yemenite iced latte, chocolate rugelach, potato boreka

Yemenite iced latte, chocolate rugelach, potato boreka

K'Far Cafe - Take out counter

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Take out counter

Cafe Square One

Cafe Square One

4.5(66 reviews)
0.6 mi
$$

This is my first yelp review, but I absolutely loved this place! The food, coffee, and smoothies…read morewere amazing, the staff was friendly, and they played such good music and had such a cozy environment with a wall of paintings of pop culture and meme characters! Overall the experience was amazing and I would love to come back. If you are in Philly and looking for a great cozy place with great food for breakfast or lunch. I would strongly recommend café square one

While in Philadelphia for work, my office ordered lunch through Seamless, and I'm so glad we chose…read moreCafé Square One! This was my first time actually trying it and it definitely lived up to the hype of the Yelp reviews. My wrap had chicken, hummus, lettuce, and feta, and it was so delicious. My chicken was very good, very tender and seasoned well. It also had a great creamy hummus to tie all the other ingredients together. The feta added just enough saltiness to balance out the rest of the flavors. All of the ingredients were very fresh, and my wrap was extremely soft, yet still maintained its form completely as I ate. I also ordered a Nutella hot chocolate. It was delicious! It was my fist time having a Nutella hot Chocolate. I usually just get a normal hot chocolate. The pita chips served as an additional side item with this sandwich and proved to be quite enjoyable. The pita chips had a good crunch and were able to pair with the wrap very well. I ended up eating all of the pita chips! It was a great lunch and I enjoyed my wrap! I would likely order from Café Square One again in the future, especially, if that wrap is still on their menu!

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Cafe Square One
Cafe Square One
Cafe Square One

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Urban Farmer Philadelphia

Urban Farmer Philadelphia

3.9(845 reviews)
0.3 miLogan Square, Penn Center, Art Museum District
$$$

My wife and I reserved a table for 9 on Easter Sunday. We attended my Nieces Wedding last night at…read morethe Crystal Tea Room and I recommended Urban Farmer to my siblings. Ratings were high on Yelp so I was sure we'd have a great brunch experience. Boy did they deliver. We shared an order of monkey bread which came with icing on the side. Big JGI's with everyone. I ordered eggs Benedict (pictured). Everyone else raved about their meals. Service was friendly and helpful. I'll definitely be back when in center city.

Atmosphere: Urban Farmer is conveniently located inside The…read moreLogan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton, making it an easy and comfortable spot for breakfast if you're staying at the hotel. The space feels rustic yet warm. Service: We arrived right when they opened in the morning, and we got personalized 1:1 service. The staff was welcoming, happy to answer our questions, and offer recommendations. Food: Over a few days, I sampled both their sweet and savory options: 1. The strawberry French toast is topped with roasted strawberries, cream cheese icing, and sliced almonds. It was super filling with generous portions and just the right balance of sweetness. 2. The crab omelet with grilled onions, local mushrooms, and béarnaise sauce. A unique combination that oddly worked really well together. 3. The classic two-egg breakfast with crispy potatoes and a biscuit. Simple and a great traditional option. Overall, Urban Farmer is a great place to grab breakfast in Philly, whether you're visiting or local.

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Urban Farmer Philadelphia - Baked Mac n' Cheese

Baked Mac n' Cheese

Urban Farmer Philadelphia
Urban Farmer Philadelphia

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City Tap House

City Tap House

3.8(628 reviews)
0.2 miPenn Center, Logan Square, Art Museum District
$$

Dear reader, We went…read moreto City Tap in Philly with a large group just for drinks and had a thoroughly good time. The $10 martinis on Friday were an excellent deal and definitely one of the highlights of the evening. A well-priced martini always sets a promising tone, and these did exactly that. The bartenders were helpful and kept things moving impressively well, even with a group our size, which was much appreciated. The space itself is huge and very clean, with plenty of tables and seating, so it was easy for everyone to spread out, settle in, and enjoy themselves without feeling packed in. A major point in its favour is the setup for watching sports. They have a massive wall of TV screens, plus more TVs throughout the space, which made it very easy to keep up with multiple games at once. No awkward craning for a view, no fighting for the one good seat, just a very solid setup for a group outing. Overall, it was a fun experience and very much in line with the good times we have had at other City Tap locations in DC. A lively, well-run spot for drinks and groups, and one we would happily return to.

Visiting Philly, we really wanted to go small business, micro brewery, but City Tap was one of the…read moreonly locations where I could find a gluten-free menu & they offered a lot of local brews on draft options- so we settled in. We ordered the ten-spice wings- and a gluten-free pizza- both were hearty, delicious, well-flavored devourable. The flight price on the menu says $14 for a local flight, but this has changed- it's priced per beer- viewable on Untapped App- so a flight is more like $18-20, because of the increased price- I opted for a pint, but the bartender was super friendly about allowing a few sip samples before deciding. The place had a great ambiance- the bar had sports tvs playing, the side tables had very happy hour chat vibe, and the back tables had a more intimate feeling. Overall, would recommend- it was a nice experience.

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City Tap House
City Tap House - Tuna poke bowl

Tuna poke bowl

City Tap House

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Skyhigh - Fried chicken and wild rice

Skyhigh

4.1(397 reviews)
0.2 miPenn Center, Logan Square

My girlfriend wanted to come here to watch the sunset for her birthday, and it turned out to be a…read moregreat choice. Since it was the weekend, we had to wait in the lobby downstairs for about 15-20 minutes. Luckily, we made it up just in time to catch the sunset and take some amazing photos. We were also fortunate enough to find seats at the bar, but if you want guaranteed seating, it's definitely better to make a reservation in the main seating area. Overall Ratings Atmosphere - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Food - 5/5 Parking - Valet / Nearby Parking Atmosphere - The view is absolutely the star of the show. Watching the sunset over the city from this height creates an unforgettable experience, especially for a special occasion. The space itself feels upscale and lively without being overwhelming. Service - The service was excellent. Our bartender, Michael, made sure we were well taken care of throughout our visit. He was attentive, friendly, and added to the overall experience. My girlfriend especially appreciated the complimentary olives, which was a nice touch. What We Ordered - Old Fashioned (Very well balanced and smooth) Cucumber Martini (Refreshing and perfectly crafted) Final Thoughts - This was the perfect spot to celebrate a birthday. Between the stunning views, great drinks, and attentive service, it made for a memorable evening. I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone looking for a great lounge experience in Philadelphia.

Overall food is mid but honestly you're there for the views. The elevator itself is an experience…read moretoo so pay attention. Dress code is on the website. Food (7/10) - Mediocre food for a four seasons place. Found two thick bones in my sea bass and a thick branch that you can't chew in the veggies. Pasta was decent but nothing to rave about. Popular trout sushi is overrated - ratio of crispy rice and trout isn't right. Service (10/10) - top notch! Ambiance (10/10) - Romantic, relaxed. Beautiful 360 skyline view all around Philadelphia. We got there before sunset and got to enjoy all colors of the sky. Hope you get the window tables but it's not guaranteed.

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Skyhigh - Dining room

Dining room

Skyhigh - Mushroom shrimp risotto, grilled octopus, and black truffle and fontina pizza - amazing!

Mushroom shrimp risotto, grilled octopus, and black truffle and fontina pizza - amazing!

Skyhigh - Espresso Martini 60ft in the air

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Espresso Martini 60ft in the air

El Café - coffee - Updated May 2026

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