PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia's pastry scene is about to get significantly sweeter—and a lot flakier. For months, Center City residents have been keeping a close eye on the prominent corner of 16th and Walnut Streets, waiting to see what would take over the former Republic Bank space. The wait is finally coming to an end. Somedays Bakery, the wildly popular, Queens-born artisanal pastry shop, is officially making its Philadelphia debut. The highly anticipated Rittenhouse Square location is scheduled to open its doors in September 2026.
This marks a major milestone for the brand, as the Philadelphia outpost will be its very first location outside of New York and New Jersey.
A Cult Following Built on Butter
If you aren't familiar with Somedays Bakery yet, prepare to become obsessed. Founded by Peter Phillips, who is also known for co-founding the massively successful Chip City Cookies, Somedays has built a fiercely devoted following for its visually stunning, handcrafted pastries.
The bakery's ethos centers around high-end, from-scratch baking. Their signature sweet-and-savory croissants are painstakingly hand-laminated each morning with premium European and New Zealand butter to achieve a shatteringly crisp exterior and a soft, airy center.
"Outside New York City, it's rare to find a good high-end pastry, especially something that's handcrafted and made on-site," Phillips noted regarding the brand's broader expansion goals. For the Rittenhouse location (1601 Walnut St.), franchise owner Dino Porfyris will be at the helm, ensuring that the same obsessive level of quality makes its way down I-95.
What to Order: Sweet, Savory, and Soft Serve
While Somedays Bakery excels at the traditional butter croissant, its menu is a playground of inventive flavor profiles and elevated lunch options.
The Sweet Side
Pastry lovers can expect a rotating menu of daily baked goods, but standard heavy hitters include:
- The Pistachio Lattice: A gorgeous, bi-color pastry filled with pistachio frangipane, raspberry jam, and white chocolate ganache.
- Black Sesame Tahini Croissant: A twice-baked marvel featuring tahini frangipane and a topping of crunchy black sesame brittle.
- Pain Suisse: Classic croissant dough wrapped around smooth pastry cream and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
The Savory Side & Sandwiches
You don't have to have a sweet tooth to wait in line. Somedays treats their savory menu with equal reverence:
Morning Classics: Start the day with a towering Bacon, Egg & Cheese Croissant or a Smoked Salmon Croissant layered with house-made lemon crème fraîche and pickled onions.
Croissant Sandwiches: The lunchtime crowd will flock to the Apple Chicken Salad Croissant (made with local Gala apples) and the Prosciutto & Gruyère Suisse, seasoned with black pepper and cornichons.
Even better? Phillips has teased that the Philadelphia location will feature a city-specific exclusive. "We'll definitely do something as an ode to Philadelphia—maybe a take on some kind of Philly cheesesteak croissant," he shared in a recent interview.
Beyond the Pastry Case
To complement the rich pastries, Somedays Bakery will serve coffee from beloved local roaster La Colombe. For a late-afternoon treat, the bakery also serves house-made soft serve ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, or a twist), available in a cup or affogato-style, drowned in a fresh shot of espresso.
The Rittenhouse Renaissance
Somedays Bakery's arrival in September 2026 is part of a larger, exciting trend in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, which has recently seen an influx of nationally recognized culinary concepts and high-end cafes setting up shop.
If the bakery's New York locations are any indication, Philadelphians should expect lines out the door on opening weekend. Get your coffee orders ready, because the city's croissant game is about to change forever.
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