Restrooms. One thing I learned growing up by NYC: When you’re in the city and you have to use a restroom, the trick was to go into a restaurant, sit at a table and ask to see a menu. Order water. Ask for the restroom. Go. Come back, leave a buck tip and scram. You would think the nation's largest, most populous and wealthy city would have public restrooms. Sadly, no.
I have scoped out the public restrooms here in Philly. After performing this arduous survey, a child was raped in a Public Library restroom. As a result many restrooms were closed to the public throughout the city.
- The southeast Corner of Independence Square, a National Park, has a public restroom on the corner of 5th Street and Chestnut. It closes at 5:00PM
- Franklin Court (Orianna Street) is on the south side of Market Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. There is a bench to sit down on in an open court yard and a Men's and Woman’s room. [I don’t know if they are unlocked]
- The rotunda housing the statue of Benjamin Franklin at the Franklin Institute -- the only privately held national monument. The entrance is flanked by restrooms that are usually open to the public from to 9:30AM to 5:00PM 7 days a week.
- Public Libraries – you will likely have to ask for a key. See above.
- Hospitals. Usually near the main entrance and elevators.
- If you’re a restaurant patron, most sit-down establishments have restrooms, even Starbucks &Boarder’s Books - top floor. Barnes & Noble, 2nd Floor. Marriott next to Starbucks on Market Street.
- Supermarkets: Super Fresh and Whole Foods Market on South Street, and elsewhere in the city.
- Allegedly every major train station has them: The underground pedestrian concourse at Market East Station has restrooms. 30th Street Station has them. Reading terminal Market has them toward the back. I suspect the SEPTA office plaza at 1234 Market Street has one, but I have been unable to locate it.
- Major shopping complexes. Basement of the Bellevue on South Broad.
Liberty Place - 2nd floor, between Market & Chestnut and 16th &
17th Streets, The Gallery on east Market Street. The Bourse downstairs
- located between Market and Chestnut and 4th & 5th.
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