Start Early, Start Local
It's October, and nobody is thinking about Mother's Day. That's the advantage. The second Sunday in May is months away, and the best Philadelphia gifts reward people who plan ahead: a jeweler who needs time for a custom piece, a gallery visit you can fit into a slow weekend, or a favorite bakery you can scout now so the order is easy later. This guide is built around places you can walk into and talk to someone.
Philadelphia is a good city for this because the gifts are spread across neighborhoods, each with its own character. Chestnut Hill has flowers and sweets on a single stretch of Germantown Avenue. South 9th Street has the Italian Market. Sansom Street has Jewelers Row, and Pine Street has Antique Row. Pick the neighborhood that fits your mom and build the day around it.
Flowers, Sweets, and a Walkable Afternoon
If your mom likes a classic gift, go to Chestnut Hill. Robertson's Flowers (8501 Germantown Ave) is the obvious first stop for a bouquet. Cake shares that address, so you can cover two errands in one stop. Walk up the avenue to Night Kitchen Bakery (7725 Germantown Ave) for something to bring to the table. Then browse Greene Street Consignment (8524 Germantown Ave), a good place to look for a one-of-a-kind find.
The appeal is that you can do all of it on foot. Park once, walk the avenue, and pick up gifts without a car, a rush, or a trip to a mall. If you're taking your mom out for lunch, McNally's Tavern (8634 Germantown Ave) is also on the avenue.
In Chestnut Hill, buy the flowers last. Do your browsing at Greene Street Consignment (8524 Germantown Ave) and Night Kitchen Bakery (7725 Germantown Ave) first, then finish at Robertson's Flowers (8501 Germantown Ave) so the bouquet isn't in your hands all afternoon.
Jewelry, Antiques, and Things That Last
For a gift she'll keep, head to Center City. Jewelers Row is clustered around Sansom Street: Safian & Rudolph Jewelers (701 Sansom St), Barsky Diamonds (724 Sansom St), D'Antonio and Klein Jewelers (726 Sansom St), and Alan Paul LTD (715 Sansom St). Around the corner, Steven Singer Jewelers (739 Walnut St) and Unclaimed Diamonds (113 S 8th St) are also on the row. You can compare several shops in a few blocks, and starting in the fall leaves plenty of time if you want anything sized or customized.
If her taste runs vintage, Antique Row on Pine Street is a better bet. Try M. Finkel & Daughter (936 Pine St), Classic Antiques (922 Pine St), and Show of Hands Gallery (1006 Pine St). On the Rittenhouse side, Joan Shepp (1905 Walnut St) is a good stop for a more fashion-minded mom.
For the Mom Who Loves to Cook, Read, or Collect
Not every mom wants jewelry. If yours lives in the kitchen, the Italian Market on South 9th Street is the place. Fante's Kitchen Shop (1006 S 9th St) is a natural stop for cookware, and Di Bruno Bros. (930 S 9th St) is a good place to pull together a gift basket's worth of food. Nearby, Claudio's Specialty Foods (924-26 S 9th St) rounds out the block.
For a reader, go to Manayunk. The Spiral Bookcase (4257 Main St) is the independent bookstore, and Main Street makes it easy to turn the trip into a full afternoon. For something sweet, Shane Confectionery (110 Market St) in Old City is a good pick. If you want art, Wexler Gallery (1811 Frankford Ave) in Fishtown is worth the trip.
Several Michelin-recognized restaurants are close to good shopping. Forsythia (233 Chestnut St, MICHELIN Recommended) is in Old City near Shane Confectionery. Famous 4th Street Deli (700 S 4th St, Michelin Bib Gourmand) is a short trip from the Italian Market. Kalaya (4 W Palmer St, Michelin Recommended) is in Fishtown near Wexler Gallery. Book well ahead for Mother's Day weekend, since these fill up.
Beyond the Usual Districts
Most Mother's Day shopping defaults to Center City. These three neighborhood stops are worth a detour.
Consignment shopping suits a mom who likes to hunt for something unusual. It's on the same stretch of Germantown Avenue as the flower and bakery stops, so it fits easily into a Chestnut Hill afternoon.
Main Street in Manayunk is a good place to browse for clothing and accessories. Vamp Boutique sits a short walk from The Spiral Bookcase, so you can pair a book with something to wear.
For a mom with a record collection, or one who just likes digging through crates, this Frankford Avenue shop is a good detour. Combine it with a visit to Wexler Gallery and a meal at Kalaya for a Fishtown day.
