Franklin Fountain

This lovingly renovated, turn-of-the-century-style ice cream parlor is a visual feast, boasting a handsome tin ceiling, marble countertops and a mosaic porcelain tile floor. Although it opened in 2004, the carefully recreated space is housed in a building that dates back to 1899. (After all, Old City is the oldest part of Philadelphia, as its cobblestone streets date back to the settlement of 17th-century Quakers.) It features restored fixtures that are simply breathtaking, most notably the bronze and onyx marble soda fountain, where slews of fizzy drinks, over-the-top sundaes and charming treats are created year-round.

The star of the menu is, of course, the ice cream. There are more than 20 flavors on the menu (many of them vegan), not to mention limited-time varieties that come and go seasonally. Options range from the classic, like coffee, pistachio and vanilla bean, to the unexpected, like caramelized banana, honeycomb and almond butter cherry. Even more exciting is the ample selection of toppings, which runs the gamut from house-made mint syrup to malted milk powder. 

If standard scoops aren’t enticing enough for you, note that the menu offers its fair share of sweet feasts as well. Consider Franklin Fountain’s sizable sundaes, like the fruity Peach Melba topped with fresh raspberry compote, or the retro Banana Split for My Baby, complete with peanut butter sauce and three types of ice cream. The Lightning Rod might just be the fanciest brownie sundae you've ever had: Think coffee ice cream, espresso beans, crumbled dark chocolate brownies, a mountain of whipped cream, and a salty pretzel rod to complement all the sweetness. 

To really make your experience feel like a throwback, turn to the house sodas, ice cream floats and fizzes. You can select up to two flavor syrups per drink, all of which are made in-house, or you can opt for a specialty sipper off the menu, like the Cherry Bomb (house cherry soda with chocolate ice cream) or the Orange Dreamland (house orange soda, vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream). There’s also an old-school New York Egg Cream for the purists out there. 

The vibe: old-timey Americana

The food: homemade ice cream, shareable sundaes, baked goods and novelty frozen dessert

The drink: milkshakes, ice cream sodas, Thirst-Ades, Fizzes & Phosphates

Time Out tip: Venture a few doors down to Shane Confectionery, America’s oldest, continuously running candy shop. It’s owned and preserved by the same folks as Franklin Fountain, but more importantly, it’s home to a slew of hand-crafted chocolates and buttercreams.