MEDIA, DELAWARE COUNTY’S CHARMING COUNTY SEAT, calls itself “everybody’s hometown.” And with good reason. Media is one of the region’s most welcoming suburban hideaways. The borough’s leafy streets and historic homes surround a pedestrian- friendly Main Street lined with shops and restaurants.

Only 30 minutes from Center City, Media’s understated dining scene is plenty vibrant. You’ll find family-friendly Italian and pizza joints as well as cute brunch spots. There’s also a sommelier-owned restaurant replete with natural wines and places to drink interesting craft beers, too. (Though if that’s your thing, don’t drive: Take the 101 trolley or the Media/ Elwyn line of the regional rail). Whatever you do, come hungry and use this agenda to eat your way through “everybody’s hometown.”

9AM

COFFEE AT CAFÉ ISLA
 

Start your day in Media with a coffee on the photogenic Plum Street Mall. Café Isla has all the coffee, tea (including matcha), and espresso drinks you’d expect, plus a big food menu with egg sandwiches, bagels, and a vegan wrap. Enjoy it outside on the brick-lined, pedestrian-only mall complete with a fountain and benches.

Crème brûlée pancakes at Bittersweet Kitchen

10AM

BRUNCH AT BITTERSWEET KITCHEN
 

There might be a wait for brunch at Bittersweet Kitchen, but it’s worth a few extra minutes for the restaurant’s crème brûlée pancakes—a short stack layered with vanilla bean cream and a crackling sugar shell torched onto the top. On the savory side of the menu, try the breakfast enchiladas or the Southern Pileup that features the kitchen’s fresh biscuits under sausage gravy and eggs.

Lamb and beef gyro at Yia, It’s All Greek to Me

NOON

LUNCH AT YIA, IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME
 

I’m a big fan of the bold flavors in Mediterranean fare and especially Greek food. That’s why I hope fast-casual Greek restaurants like Yia, It’s All Greek to Me become a trend. For lunch, go with a lamb and beef gyro served on a tender, warm pita with tzatziki. It comes with fries, so get a homemade spread—like spicy feta or eggplant—for dipping. Try the baklava for dessert.

Cape May Birdhouse at Tyler Arboretum, part of the Tree Houses Exhibition 

2PM

STROLL THROUGH TYLER ARBORETUM
 

No matter how big your appetite is, you’re probably going to need at least a short break from eating. Take a quick drive to Tyler Arboretum, where you can stroll under the tall trees through a lilac garden, magnolias, and lots more. For foodies, the Edible Garden is a treat. Walking through the rows of plants is a great education in how our food—including cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, and herbs—is grown.

5PM

JUICE AT JACO JUICE
 

Head back to Plum Street Mall for a refreshing afternoon juice or smoothie. In addition to a dining room, Jaco Juice has a cute takeout window right on the mall. With dinner still on your agenda, I recommend going with a less-filling juice, like orange with carrot and ginger—think of it as a zero-proof aperitif!

Cheese and more Italian treats at 320 Market Cafe

7PM

DINNER AT 320 MARKET CAFÉ
 

My favorite place in Media is 320 Market Cafe. This ambitious restaurant offers an impressive collection of natural wines. (One of the owners is also a level 4 sommelier.) Scan the bottles of natural, biodynamic, organic, and unfiltered wine—the friendly, knowledgeable bartenders can help you choose, too. For dinner, start with the lime chips and pico (it has avocado in it!) and a cheese board before moving on to a burger, tacos, or flatbread.

9PM

BEER AT STERLING PIG BREWERY
 

Finish the day with a beer flight at Sterling Pig Brewery, which is open until 1am. If you want to try all eight or nine beers that the brewery makes, share a double flight with a friend, but you also can’t go wrong with a full glass of the flagship pilsner, Shoat. Still hungry? Get some barbecue, especially the brisket.

YOUR DAY AT A GLANCE

CAFÉ ISLA
24 S. Plum St.
610.627.2077
www.cafeisla.co

BITTERSWEET KITCHEN
18 S. Orange St.
610.566.1660
www.eatatbittersweet.com

YIA, IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME
300 W. State St.
610.565.3000
yiamedia.com

TYLER ARBORETUM
515 Painter Rd.
610.566.9134
www.tylerarboretum.org

JACO JUICE
21 W. State St.
484.444.2839
www.jacojuiceandtaco.com

320 MARKET CAFÉ
211 State St.
610.565.8320
www.the320marketcafe.com

STERLING PIG BREWERY
609 W. State St
484.444.2526
www.sterlingpig.com

QUICK TIP
 

Bring a cooler. It'll make bringing home leftovers, beer or juice a little easier.