Chestnut Hill is lovingly, and appropriately, known as the Garden District of Philadelphia. It is a stunningly green area with loads of ancient trees, lots of well-kept gardens, and green space galore!
Chestnut Hill was originally part of Mt. Airy (which was originally part of Germantown)! Chestnut Hill was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia in 1854 with Mt. Airy and Germantown.
The area definitely leans more towards single family homes, though there are a fair amount of twins and row houses in the neighborhood.
Chestnut Hill is well-known for its magnificent and unique homes. Estate-level homes are a dime a dozen in the area, and many of them are incredibly historically significant.
In Germantown, most of these estates are owned by non-profit organizations and are open to the public, however, in Chestnut Hill, most of these homes are in private hands.
Because of all the mega-estates in Chestnut Hill, property values are among the highest in Philadelphia.
Like Germantown and Mt. Airy, life in Chestnut Hill is centered around Germantown Avenue. In Chestnut Hill, loads of adorable shops and restaurants line the Avenue. There are lots of antique stores, great places to buy gifts, and many restaurants of varied cuisines!
If you find yourself in the area, take a walk around Laurel Hill Gardens. Whether you have space to plant or not, this nursery is an enchanted space filled with beautiful plants. Perfect for wandering through on a sunny summer day.
Be sure to stop in for some brunch at Cake, which sits in an old greenhouse! Pop by Gravers Lane Gallery to check out some art, or head over to the Philadelphia Print Shop where you can find historic maps of the area, and other beautiful prints.
