This past weekend my husband and I met friends for brunch in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood. We arrived early to grab coffee and walk around ahead of our reservations.

Up first, some caffeine from Menagerie Coffee. This was our first time visiting the charming coffee shop. While we were tempted to sit and enjoy the atmosphere, we took our coffee to go so we could take advantage of the nice weather. We made our way to Philadelphia Independents, a shop specializing in handmade local gifts. My husband bought a Philadelphia Eagles-themed shirt and we picked up a couple gifts, too. With our reservation approaching, we made our way to Cuba Libre.

We arrived at the same time as our friends and made our way to the table. We all opted to sample the brunch special, which comes with a small plate, large plate and an agua fresca. To start, I ordered two beef empanadas. While these weren’t quite as good as the ones I experienced on a trip to Chile last year, they were still a tasty start to the meal. As my main entrée, I had the crab guacamole. The guacamole was made with avocados, grilled pineapple, roasted jalapeños, lime juice and olive oil. It was topped with crabmeat and plantain chips for dipping. It was hearty yet light and much too big to finish!

Instead of ordering dessert, we all decided to walk to a nearby bar for a drink. Sassafras Bar is one of our favorite bars in the city. Located less than a block from Cuba Libre, it was an obvious choice. I enjoyed a refreshing glass of Vinho Verde on special. It was a great end to a great afternoon!

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director