Curbed Cup 2nd Round: (3) Old City vs. (6) Washington Square West

Old City

There’s no denying the allure of Old City, the historic neighborhood that’s experienced an impressive renaissance over the past few years. Visitors and locals are charmed by its historic sites that are neighbors to a plethora of art galleries, boutiques, and increasingly more trendy restaurants like the Little Lion. But new builds are finding their way into the fabric of this neighborhood, too, from the Bridge to the One Water Street. With the opening of the Museum of the American Revolution in April 2017, there’s no doubt that this neighborhood’s popularity is far from over.

Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia

Washington Square West

There’s no denying that Washington Square West is one of the liveliest neighborhoods at the moment. On any given night, locals and tourists stream down 13th Street to gather at popular restaurants like El Vez and hip vegetarian spot Charlie was a Sinner, or browse through the many shopping boutiques mixed in between. The neighborhood is a mix of these trendy locales and lots of LGBTQ-friendly establishments (hence the name Gayborhood), as well as historic and stately rowhomes, like those along Portico Row. With its placement right in the heart of Center City, sandwiched between Rittenhouse Square and Society Hill, it’s no wonder homes here are continuing to push past the $1 million mark.