Essential Info
The combination of singles, young families and multigenerational residents infuses Manayunk’s blue-collar origins with a modern edge. Row homes that housed millworkers during the community’s late 19th- and early 20th-century industrial boom now appeal to residents as much as the trendy loft apartments and stately Victorian houses that dot the community.
The annual Manayunk Arts Festival comes to Main Street on the final weekend in June.
Getting Here
SEPTA bus routes 35 and 61 as well as the Manayunk/Norristown Regional Rail Line all travel to Manayunk.
Metered street parking is available but tight. Many merchants validate parking at several private parking lots. Valet parking becomes available at several lots after 6:00 p.m. The Manayunk Development Corporation manages lots on Main Street at Lock, Levering and Cotton streets, and where proceeds support local events.
Shopping
Those in need of retail therapy rejoice in Manayunk. Within a few blocks, shoppers can score runway designs at Nicole Miller and get gorgeous with imported high-end products from Beans Beauty . The town includes several furniture stores, such as Pompanoosuc Mills . In a nod to Manayunk’s manufacturing past, Philadelphia Woodworks offers visitors an opportunity to craft their own furniture item. The center also hosts classes for aspiring craftspeople and master woodworkers alike, where they can utilize professional tools and equipment. Cyclists of all skill levels love gear shops like Cadence Cycling and Trek Bicycle .
Major Annual Events
Each spring and fall, Main Street closes to auto traffic for the Manayunk StrEAT festival as food trucks and vendors line the thoroughfare. The event also features live music and sidewalk sales. Following the StrEAT festival, Manayunk Restaurant Week kicks off with three-course prix fixe menus priced at $15, $25 and $35.
Outdoor & Recreational Opportunities
Bikers and walkers eager for a challenge take on Manayunk’s hills, particularly “the Wall” at Levering Street. Outdoorsy types can also hike or bike the Canal Towpath.
Cycling shops in town also organize rides that will challenge various skill levels. If just looking at the water isn’t enough, Hidden River Outfitters leads guided kayak tours of the Schuylkill River. And Venice Island scheduled to open this fall, offers a “sprayground” for kids, basketball court and a 250 seat theater. Access from at Lock Street or Cotton Street.
Manayunk Canal Towpath — Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
