First came the artists, then the musicians, then the enterprising new chefs, and just like that, Philly’s low-key working-class neighborhood of Fishtown (so-called because of its history as the center of the shad fishing industry) evolved into the city’s latest hub of cool. The focus of this area’s renaissance? Really good food (and drinks too).

Like Brooklyn’s Williamsburg did five years ago, under-the-radar Fishtown has become home to nationally acclaimed restaurants (including a pizzeria deemed the best in the country by Bon Appétit) and lively bars. Here, a field guide to the very best spots to eat and drink in Philly’s coolest new hood.

Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Williams

Wm. Mulherin’s Sons1355 North Front StreetThe latest addition to the Fishtown dining scene is this rustic Italian eatery helmed by chef Chris Painter (who worked for years with famed Philly-based restaurateur Stephen Starr). Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century whiskey bottling and blending factory, the restaurant offers a menu of wood-fired pizzas and delicious pastas as well as an extensive cocktail list. With its cozy banquettes and standout bar, consider this the perfect place to post up for a late-night dinner date. And coming soon: an industrial-chic four-room hotel right upstairs, for when you inevitably start to slip into that post-dinner food coma. Eventually, a second restaurant concept will open up next door too.