New Food in Philly – The Bourse Food Hall in Old City’s Historic District

The Bourse Philly 5th street entrance
Philly XOXO sign outside The Bourse Food Hall Philly
The Philly XOXO sign outside of the Bourse Food Hall in Old City’s Historic District

There’s a new food hall in Philadelphia and it’s at The Bourse in Old City’s Historic District across from Independence Mall and Liberty Bell Pavilion and next to the Hotel Monaco Philadelphia on 5th Street.  The newest entry in the Philadelphia dining scene is hitting on all cylinders to satisfy the food cravings of locals and tourists.  I visited The Bourse Food Hall after lunch on a Saturday and it was better that way because otherwise I would have been paralyzed with too many food decisions because I wanted to eat everything!  The curation of the food vendors and international food offerings is quite good in my opinion.  Plus there a new chocolate shop, Chocodiem, for me to indulge in (the owner is from Antwerp) authentic Belgian Chocolate goodness which is sorely needed in the city.

The History of the Bourse Building

The Bourse building, like so many in Old City, began its life serving a different purpose, in this case as a commodities exchange.  Old City was closer to the water in the early days and ships would arrive with products that found their way to the many exchange buildings in the neighborhood. The building was designed and modeled after The Bourse in Hamburg, Germany.  The terra cotta coloring outside is what you will notice first, in my opinion, at the Victorian building then the columns and the carving of Philadelphia Bourse name above the entrance.

The Philadelphia Bourse building entrance 5th street
The Philadelphia Bourse building entrance

The building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has housed offices for years and the lobby level at one point had some luxury shopping vendors before the souvenir shops moved in to serve the tourists visiting across the street. I’ve not been inside The Bourse in over twenty years if not longer. For years, it fell out of favor until the new owner (from D.C.) poured money into the building to upgrade the offices, add co-working space and add this food hall to serve more than tourists.

The Bourse Building Philadelphia
The Bourse building exterior on 5th street across from Independence Mall and Liberty Bell

The Philly Food Hall at the Bourse

As we entered the food hall, I looked up and remembered visiting in my youth and appreciating the interior design and architecture.  Look up to see the architectural detail and the railings on the stairs are lovely. It’s a building that was in need of love and through food, it’s found it.

The Bourse Building Christmas Decor
The architecture of the Bourse building is really iconic

I entered from 4th Street (the more popular entrance is on 5th street across from Independence Hall Park) and was met with the directory pointing to Bourse food vendors right and left. With the various food vendors in the food hall at the Bourse, I think you can satisfy your fast casual food needs and those of your family, including the picky ones!

The Bourse Food Hall Philly Vendors
Entry signage at The Bourse Food Hall Historic District food in Philly

**Note that Caviar is the delivery service so you can order from your hotel room or house to satisfy food cravings. If you order with the link below I may earn an affiliate commission**

 

Desserts at the Bourse Food Hall Philadelphia

Of course, dessert is my favorite in any food hall around the world.  At the Bourse Food Hall Philadelphia, there are three dessert options – chocolate, bakery and ice cream – all ready to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Chocodiem at the Bourse – Luxury Belgian Chocolate in Philly

We started walking on the right and didn’t get too far when I saw the Chocodiem shop with displays full of chocolate truffles which looked (almost) too good to eat. On the other side were the colorful French macarons that are from a French vendor in New York City.

Chocodiem Bourse Food Hall Chocolate in Philly
Belgian Chocolatier Chocodiem at The Bourse
Chocolate truffles Chocodiem Bourse Food Hall Old City
Beautiful truffles almost too pretty at eat at Chocodiem at the Bourse Food Hall
Macarons Philly Old City Chocodiem Bourse Food Hall
Fancy a macaron? Chocodiem at the Bourse Food Hall has so many flavors to choose from

Next to the counters, I saw the bar serving chocolate martinis with a liquid chocolate wall display in the center.  I already knew I was going to like it here.  I met the owner, Jean-Paul Hepp, who was happy to talk about his background (PhD in Science who left the Pharma industry) and how he opened his chocolate shop and in four years had won acclaim (Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America list in Dessert Professional Magazine) and my recent chocolate trip to Bruges where he and I agreed that Pierre Marcolini Chocolates are fantastic.

Chocolate Wall at the Chocodiem Bar Bourse
A wall of liquid chocolate cascading is a sight at Chocodiem at the Bourse Food Hall
Chocodiem Chocolate Martini Philly Old City Bourse Food Hall
Chocodiem Chocolate Bar serves Chocolate Martinis with a truffle at the Bourse Food Hall

Jean-Paul uses locally sourced ingredients (where applicable) from Pennsylvania and New Jersey farms.  The chocolates are gorgeous – really pretty and my favorites included sea salt caramel and wine truffle (wine + chocolate = LOVE).  The stall has two walls filled with chocolates in small packages which are easy to buy and quick to consume (so buy a few extra).  Chocodiem has an online store for chocolate gifts, business gifts and offers special event chocolates to order.  If you can’t visit their Philly location, online is the next best thing.

Chocolate gifts Philly Chocodiem
Chocodiem gift boxes of truffles in the Bourse Food Hall

 Barry’s Buns – Bakery at The Bourse

This all natural from scratch bakery got our attention with the gourmet sticky buns (my friends favorite), cinnamon rolls and my favorite, coffee cake (seriously could you walk past this display and not stop to at least look?).  The cakes on display were a sugar fantasy and I didn’t even have time to peruse the other display filled with cookies.  This is the only bakery in the Bourse Food Hall and in the neighborhood so find your favorite cake or cookie and indulge.

Barry's Buns Coffee Cake Sticky Buns The Bourse Food Hall
I couldn’t pass Barry’s Buns without buying coffee cake at The Bourse Food Hall
Barry's Buns Bakery Old City Historic District The Bourse Food Hall
So many cookies to choose from at Barry’s Buns Bakery at the Bourse Food Hall in Old City

 Scoop DeVille – Ice Cream near the Liberty Bell

Scoop DeVille has been a local Philly favorite for over twenty years (they have a store on Chestnut Street).  When I worked in the city, my co-workers and I would visit a few times a week for sweet treats – they enjoyed the ice cream and I would often find a chocolate covered something to enjoy.  This location is easy to find when entering from the Liberty Bell/Independence side of the Bourse (5th Street), it’s the first stall on the left.  So if you have kids with you and they are screaming for ice cream or milkshakes, Scoop De Ville is the place to go.  The brownie bowl ice cream is out of this world.

Ice Cream near Liberty Bell at Scoop DeVille
Ice Cream options at The Bourse Food Hall Scoop DeVille across from the Liberty Bell

Food at The Bourse Food Hall Philadelphia

As we wandered about we marveled at the specificity of the vendors, they have limited menu options and focus on pretty much one theme (similar to a food truck concept)– there is a chicken soup shop called Prescription Chicken (from Washington, D.C.) and they only sell chicken soup in a variety of options.

Chicken Soup Philly Old City The Bourse Food Hall
Chicken Soup for the soul at Prescription Chicken in the Bourse Food Hall

There’s #GetFried Fry Cafe that focuses on fries (four types – hand cut, coated straight cut, waffle and sweet potato) and fried foods like the Mac N Cheese Crunch rolls. I will take issue with the Cheesesteak bowl (Rocky Balboa) as cheesesteaks DO NOT have peppers and mushrooms (see my Philly Cheesesteak post).  Another family friendly option is Mighty Melt Shop which specializes in Grilled Cheese.  Think you know grilled cheese?  Think again as they assemble a plethora of flavor on sourdough (note: the beef fat fries with parmesean, garlic and sea salt sound fantastic, sorry GetFried).

Grilled Cheese Philly Bourse Kids Food Liberty Bell
Mighty Melt Grilled Cheese at the Bourse Food Hall

As for the other vendors?  Travel the world with your taste buds and choice.

  • Italian at Bronze Table and Rustica Rosticceria
  • Tacos at – Rebel Taco and the Korean Taco shop
  • Indian Street Food – Hawaiian Poke – Egyptian Food (kiosk ordering) – Filipino Comfort Food
  • Ramen – Chinese Dumplings – Fried Chicken
  • Grubhouse (All Day Breakfast in Old City)
  • Cheesesteak shop to taste the iconic Philly sandwich (but why oh why are there green peppers and mushrooms?)
All Day Breakfast Philly Old City Grubhouse The Bourse Food Hall
All day breakfast and comfort foods in Old City at The Bourse Food Hall
Bourse Food Hall Seating
Seating areas at either side of the Bourse Food Hall
Philly Italian Old City Rustica Bourse
Rustica Rotisserie at the Bourse Food Hall Philly
Egyptian food Philly Old City The Bourse Food Hall
Ka Moon Egyptian cuisine self service order kiosk at The Bourse Food Hall Philly

Drinks at The Bourse Food Hall

There are three bars inside the Bourse Food Hall – a small bar at Chocodiem (chocolate martinis anyone?), the Bar by Bluebird Distilling with craft cocktails and full bar and the Taps Fill Station which has kegs full of beer, cider, wine and other (bring your own growler or buy one here).

Bluebird Distilling Bar at The Bourse Food Hall
One of three bars at The Bourse Food Hall in Old City Historic District

There is a specialty tea bar, coffee shop and juicer for your non-alcoholic drink needs.

Philly Bourse Food Hall Tea Shop
The tea shop at The Bourse Food Hall

Specialty Gifts at the Bourse Food Hall

When you enter the Bourse Food Hall from 4th street, you will be welcomed by the floral displays of Bonatsos for fresh flowers and plants.  If you fancy olive oils and vinegars then Olive with a Twist is the place to go for specialty cheese and charcuterie as well as the signature olive oils (I did an Olive Oil tasting in Barcelona and it was quite interesting).  Now that you have flowers to set the table and charcuterie and olive oils for the appetizers, your next stop should be Penzey’s Spices to add some flavor to your cooking.

Flowers in Old City at the Bourse
Flower vendor in the Bourse Philly

Final Thoughts – Bourse Food Hall Philadelphia

My friend remarked that she didn’t see a salad only place.  Don’t worry, you can get your lettuce on at a number of spots as many vendors offer their own salad options.  We also didn’t see soft pretzels which are a fantastic Philly snack staple (for those go to Philly Pretzel Factory on 7th & Chestnut).  Other than those two items, the Bourse Food Hall has pretty much everything you can want to enjoy a fast casual meal with friends and family in Philadelphia.

The only concern I have is that it opened in late fall/winter (slow season) and the tourists won’t really arrive en masse until May so its quiet now as local residents and workers in the area continue to learn about it.  I’ve seen so many other iterations of the space fail over the years so hopefully this will be the successful venture the building and neighborhood needed. Fingers crossed.

There was a bit of local grumblings about the lack of Philly vendors (and rent pricing) but honestly, it was nice to learn about other vendors from D.C., Baltimore and elsewhere (I think Reading Terminal covers the Philly only scene quite nicely).  Philly has so much food to taste, enjoy and experience that we have room to welcome everyone to the city.  That’s kind of our thing anyway right?  City of Brotherly Love.

Philly Food Court Bourse Food Hall
Welcome to Philly Bourse Food Hall

 

Visiting:

Building Hours (individual vendor hours may differ)

Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Friday/Saturday 7 a.m. – midnight

Sunday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Parking – On Street Meters (meterUP app) or Bourse Parking Garage (enter on 4th street)

Delivery Service – Caviar delivers from a few (six)  of the 30 vendors at the Bourse Food Hall