Your guide to Arab & SWANA Philadelphia
Coming soon
Arab & SWANA Philadelphia

The places, people, and gatherings that make up Arab Philly.

A community-built guide to restaurants, organizations, cultural spaces, and events across the Greater Philadelphia area. Maintained by neighbors, not algorithms.

Search works in English, Arabic, and transliteration · try shawarma, شاورما, or Fairuz

Places

142 places across Greater Philadelphia · last updated 2 days ago

NORTHEAST CENTER CITY SOUTH PHILLY WEST PHILLY
7
3
5
Food & grocery Mosques & churches Cultural spaces Services

Recently updated places

Showing 8 of 142 · filters above apply
CAFE

Manakeesh Café Bakery مناقيش

West Philly · open until 10pm
Halal عربي
MSJD

Al-Aqsa Islamic Society جمعية الأقصى

North Philly · 5 daily prayers
Religious
CULT

Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture البستان

West Philly · classes & performances
Kids programs
GROC

Makkah Market سوق مكة

South Philly · open 8am–10pm
Halal butcher عربي
REST

Bitar's بيطار

South Philly · since 1973
Family-run
SERV

Dr. Layla Habib, Therapist

Center City · accepting new patients
عربي Sliding scale
CAFE

Cleopatra Hookah Lounge كليوباترا

Northeast Philly · open until 2am
Late-night
CHRC

St. Maron Maronite Church مار مارون

South Philly · Arabic Mass Sundays
Maronite

This week

14 upcoming events · 9 verified by organizers · 5 pending review

May
09
Sat

Dabke night with Firqat Al-Sham

7:30 PM · Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture · Free, donations welcome
Family-friendly All ages Live music دبكة
from @albustan_philly
✓ verified
May
11
Mon

Arabic poetry open mic — أمسية شعرية

8:00 PM · Manakeesh Café, NE Philly · $5 suggested
Arabic + English Open mic 18+
from flyer (Instagram)
⚠ unverified
May
14
Thu

Gaza relief fundraiser dinner

6:30 PM · Al-Aqsa Islamic Society · $40 ticket
Fundraiser Halal Family-friendly
submitted by community
✓ verified
May
16
Sat

Film screening: Wajib (2017, Annemarie Jacir)

7:00 PM · Lightbox Film Center · $12
Palestinian cinema Subtitled Q&A after
from venue calendar
✓ verified
See all upcoming events →

Community campaigns

Mutual aid, fundraisers, petitions, and calls to action from organizers across the community

Urgent · Mutual aid

Medical fund for the Hammoudeh family

Organized by neighbors after a sudden hospitalization. Funds go directly to the family for medical bills and rent through May.

$12,800 raised of $20,000 11 days left
Organized by Al-Aqsa Mosque sisters' committee · verified
Boycott / advocacy

Save the South Philly Halal Market

The 8th St. market faces displacement from a redevelopment plan. Sign the petition and attend the May 19 zoning hearing.

Organized by Friends of 8th Street · verified
Donation drive

Ramadan iftar volunteers (next year)

Sign up early to host or cook for community iftars in Ramadan 2027. Coordinated across 4 mosques.

Coordinated by Philly Muslim Council

The living archive

Places change. Owners retire. Communities move. We're collecting photos, oral histories, and old flyers — what was here before, and what's still here that might not be tomorrow.

Have a memory, a photo, or an old menu? We'd love to add it.

Browse the archive →
Bitar's, 1985
Bitar's Foods · S. 10th St · 1985
حفلة SAT MAY 12 · 1979
Concert flyer · 1979
Old St. Maron's
Old St. Maron's Church · undated

The week in Arab Philly

A short weekly email rounding up upcoming events, new places added to the map, and active community campaigns.

Built by the community

Know a place we're missing? Spotted incorrect hours? Saw a flyer for an event? Send it our way — by web, by WhatsApp, or by forwarding us a screenshot.

Submit a place Submit an event Suggest a correction