Bella Vista

The Territory: South Street to the north, Washington Avenue to the south, 6th Street to the east, and 11th Street to the west.

As the oldest Italian neighborhood in Philadelphia, Bella Vista, which means “Beautiful Sight” in Italian, has a population of approximately 6,800, a bustling and rather famous Italian Market, Italian bakeries, a hot-and-getting-hotter restaurant scene and plenty of corner cafés, all of which make this charming area Philadelphia’s very own Little Italy of sorts. Dante and Luigi’s, long considered Philadelphia’s oldest Italian restaurant, and what seem like 100 other Italian restaurants offer their individual takes on traditional pizza and pasta, while other fine dining establishments, including the popular James, are causing more people from outside the neighborhood to consider Bella Vista a destination.

Bella Vista is home to the world-renowned Fleisher Art Memorial. This unique building provides space for art classes and a distinguished collection of contemplative and religious art and objects and is well worth a visit if you are in the neighborhood.

Bella Vista is considered a neighborhood on the upswing, and if you visit, you’ll notice a lot of new construction and remodeling among its 30 square blocks. The Bella Vista real estate market is comprised mostly of brick row homes and newer condominiums, perfect for first-time buyers. Ranging anywhere from $200,000 to $700,000, some of these residences are move-in ready, while others await “your finishing touches,” as they say in the Philly real-estate ads. Expect to see many younger home buyers choosing this neighborhood for its relative affordability and proximity to the center of town.

Learn more about the Bella Vista neighborhood at its civic association web site.

To inquire directly about Bella Vista real estate or rentals, please phone our Philadelphia real estate office at 215.735.2225 or email us.