Philadelphia is so rich with American history it deserves to be shown off, which is exactly what Visit Philly accomplished with a recent press trip. Visit Philly hosted a group of travel writers, journalists and history buffs for three days of dining, touring and shopping in the historic district of Philadelphia. Visit Philly was kind enough to extend an invitation for me to join them for dinner at Moshulu, which I happily accepted. Being new to the area, I was thrilled at the chance to explore Philly’s amazing dining scene, and Moshulu is a quick walk from my apartment.

Built in 1904, Moshulu is the world’s oldest and largest four-masted ship still afloat today. After years of sailing cargo from one port to another, Moshulu now resides on the water at Penn’s Landing overlooking the Delaware River as a unique staple in Philadelphia’s dining scene. The ship is impressive by day but truly special at night. With lights strung from each mast creating a halo of light around the ship, I was looking forward to checking out the interior. Once inside I was directed to my party upstairs, above deck, at the outside bar. I highly recommend having a cocktail before dinner, especially on a beautiful June night as we had.

The weather was perfect, and the bar was lively while not being overly crowded. Our group headed back inside, below deck, to our table. We were seated in the middle of the dining room by the piano and, thanks to the many large windows on the side of the ship, we still had a great view. The menu is contemporary, classic American cuisine and offers a variety of options. Our group started with the Philadelphia roll because . . . when in Rome. Cream cheese in a sushi roll is an acquired taste, so I moved on to the mac and cheese option. I had the halibut with lump crabmeat, asparagus and potatoes.

The portion was pretty large, which was the only thing stopping me from eating the entire thing, since it was pretty great. Overall, Moshulu is a landmark restaurant destination for scenery, history and a unique dining venue. The ship itself was the draw for me, but the food, service and company made the night an enjoyable way to check a Philly dining experience off my list.

— Angelique Platas, assistant sales and marketing coordinator