Nestled in a retrofitted South Philly school, Bok Building morphs from classrooms to creative hub with rooftop views, vibrant eateries, and artisan shops.
"The city’s coolest roof deck is set atop a former public high school in South Philly with panoramic views of the skyline and a lineup of events, from pop-up dinners and chef residencies to guided meditation. The space is seasonal; get up there from April through October." - Ernest Owens, Eater Staff
"Machine Shop’s traditional French pastries are ultra-fresh and expertly laminated. Every pastry from this bakery in South Philly’s Bok Building has a delicate, crusty exterior that gives way to airy, buttery layers. The most popular item here is the croissant, naturellement, but if you’re looking for a more savory breakfast, snag the jammy egg pastry with mushrooms and Gouda. Doors open at 9 a.m. Thursday through Sunday." - Ernest Owens, Kae Lani Palmisano
"When the retail cafe of the Machine Shop pop-up opened in the beginning of 2022, lines formed out the door instantly. Eager Philadelphians gathered at the Bok Building to get a taste of pastry chef Emily Riddell’s quince kouign amann, twice-baked almond croissants, lemon tarts with toasted meringue, and sourdough breads. Every pastry at Machine Shop is worth the wait. Just get there on the early side — Riddell frequently sells out." - Ernest Owens, Eater Staff, Sarah Maiellano
"When the Southern Italian restaurant Irwin’s first debuted in the spring of 2021 at the Bok Building in South Philly, I was a regular at the bar who’d sit and chat with staff for hours. But less than a year later, both Esquire and Bon Appétit named Irwin’s to their best new restaurants in America lists." - Alisha Miranda
"The Bok Building is a shuttered Vocational High School in South Philly, built in 1936 with funds from FDR’s Public Works Administration. After the school closed in 2013, urban development and design firm Scout transformed the absolute behemoth of a building—clocking in at 340,000 square feet of retrofitted former classrooms, an auditorium, and a rooftop—into a magnet for some of Philly’s most talented independent makers and creators. Among the dozens of artists, designers, printmakers, ceramicists, jewelers, florists, tattoo artists, and sculptors, there’s one of the world’s foremost clarinet repairers Atelier Jacobi, two sisters behind Second Daughter Baking Co. making the city’s (maybe even the world’s?) best brownie, and Moore Vintage Archive, where you can peruse tightly-curated racks sourced from Parisian markets and beyond." - Regan Stephens, Devra Ferst