by Craig Silva
in Philadelphia, Travel
09 Aug 2019
Disclosure: Media pass was provided by Visit Philly. All opinions are my own.
It’s no secret that the Rocky movie franchise is one of my favourites.
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From the build up in the 1976 original movie, to him winning the world heavyweight title in the second movie, to seeing Mr T and Hulk Hogan in the third movie, to his showdown with the Russian Ivan Drago in the fourth movie, to training and then battling Tommy Gunn in the fifth installment… there was no shortage of action and emotion. The sixth movie Rocky Balboa wrapped up Rocky’s career.
The franchise would have an unexpected extension with the announcement of Creed. Later, Sylvester Stallone said it would be a new franchise built around Adonis Creed (Apollo’s son), where he would play Adonis’ trainer and mentor.
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If you haven’t seen these movies, get on it! They are so well done, and show the life and passion of Rocky’s journey through his adult life as a pro boxer.
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If you have seen the movies, here are some of the movie filming locations in Philadelphia.
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1. Rocky Balboa’s Apartment
This is where it all began… the humble home of Rocky Balboa on Tusculum Street in Kensington.
Seen In
Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky Balboa
Location
Rocky Balboa’s Apartment is located at:
1818 Tusculum Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134
2. Adrian & Paulie’s House
This humble home on Rosehill in Kensington was home to Paulie and Adrian in the original Rocky movie, but was home to the entire Balboa family in Rocky V.
Seen In
Rocky, Rocky V
Location
Adrian & Paulie’s House is located at:
2822 Rosehill Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134-3440
3. Street Singer’s Corner – “The Neighborhood Jukebox”
A short but iconic scene at the beginning of the first Rocky movie where Frank Stallone and some of his buddies sing while staying warm surrounding a fire barrel. They were seen again in Rocky II serenading Rocky and Adrian after they got married. Street singers were common in Philadelphia around the time Rocky and Rocky II were filmed.
Seen In
Rocky, Rocky II
Location
Street Singer’s Corner is located at:
Kensington Avenue & Tusculum Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134
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4. Mighty Mick’s Gym
Unbeknownst to most, only the front of this building was used for Mighty Mick’s Gym, where the Italian Stallion trained with Micky Goldman. All interior scenes were shot in Los Angeles.
Seen In
Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky V, Rocky Balboa
Location
Mighty Mick’s Gym is located at:
2147 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
5. Little Marie’s House
This is the house that Rocky walks Little Marie to in the 1976 classic, where you hear her shout “Screw you, creepo!” to Rocky as she goes inside her house.
Seen In
Rocky
Location
Little Marie’s House is located at:
1124 Jackson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148
6. Atomic Hoagie Shop
The Atomic Hoagie Shop was the local hangout for Little Marie and the neighborhood kids in the original Rocky movie.
Seen In
Rocky, Rocky V
Location
Atomic Hoagie Shop is located at:
12th Street and Cantrell Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148
7. Mr. Gazzo’s Street
Gazzo: “Why didn’t you break his thumb like I told you to? When you don’t do what I tell you to do you make me look bad Rock.”
In the first movie, Rocky and Tony Gazzo have a conversation about the collection work Rocky is doing for Gazzo, on this cobblestone road.
Seen In
Rocky
Location
Mr. Gazzo’s Street is located at:
E. Gurney Street, between Sterner and Lehigh, Philadelphia, PA 19125
8. Pat’s King Of Steaks
Probably the most popular cheesesteak sandwich joint for tourists in Philly, Pat’s King of Steaks has been known to sell upwards of 6000 cheesesteak sandwiches on a busy Saturday. Fans of 1976’s “Rocky” movie may recognize Pat’s as where Rocky and loan shark Tony Gazzo had a bite to eat. There is a plaque on the wall that says, “On this spot stood Sylvester Stallone filming the great motion picture Rocky. Nov. 21, 1975”.
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I visited Pat’s when I was in town, and they have a pretty decent steak sandwich.
Seen In
Rocky
Location
Pat’s King Of Steaks is located at:
1237 E. Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147-5060
9. J & M Tropical Fish
This is the pet shop that Adrian worked in. It has since been demolished. If you are standing in front of Mighty Mick’s Gym, look to the right across the street. That is where J & M Tropical Fish used to be.
Seen In
Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky V, Rocky Balboa
Location
J & M Tropical Fish is located at:
2146 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
10. Ice Skating Rink
Rocky took Adrian here for a late night skate. Rocky jogged along side Adrian. They almost didn’t get in, but Rocky convinced the attendant to let them in for a few minutes.
Seen In
Rocky, Rocky Balboa
Location
Ice Skating Rink is located at:
1556 N. American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
11. Italian Market
Rocky runs through the Italian Market as part of his workout regiment.
Seen In
Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky V
Location
Italian Market is located at:
919 S 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
12. Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art plays host to two elements of Rocky lore… the stairs he runs up, and the iconic Rocky statue.
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Ever since I saw Rocky III in 1983, I wanted to visit Philadelphia to see the bronze statue of Rocky Balboa. That dream came true when I was in the City Of Brotherly Love.
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I also jogged up the famous stairs that Rocky ran at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It was tough, and quite a hot morning. Once at the top, I celebrated this victory, and knocked another item off my bucket list.
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These two ladies from Virginia also climbed the Rocky steps, and wanted to pose with me at the top to celebrate!
Seen In
Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky V, Rocky Balboa
Location
Philadelphia Museum of Art is located at:
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130
13. Bonwit Teller & Co.
This department store is where Rocky and Adrian pull up to right after he buys his car. He pulls up on the curb, gets out of the car, walks up to the jackets in the window and says to Adrian, “Yo Adrian, look at this here! Tell me that wouldn’t look great on ya, huh? This coat here? What about that one huh? Think it would look good on me? Is that great? Look at this black thing here with the tiger on the back. You like animals? I love animals. Black, I like black. Black’s kinda my favourite colour. You wanna buy em? I say we get em before someone else buys em. What do ya say? Cone on Adrian!”
Seen In
Rocky II
Location
Bonwit Teller & Co. is located at:
SW Corner of S. 17th St. & Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
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14. Rittenhouse Square
Rocky and Adrian walk through Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square after they find out that Adrian is pregnant.
Seen In
Rocky II
Location
Rittenhouse Square is located at:
210 W Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103
15. The Philadelphia Zoo
Rocky: “Whadaya think yer doin’ for the next 40 or 50 years?”
Adrian: “What do you mean?”
Rocky: “I was wondering if, ah… you wouldn’t mind marrying me very much.”
Adrian: “What did you say?”
Rocky: “If you wouldn’t mind marrying me too much.”
Adrian: “Yes. I’d like to marry you.”
The Philadelphia Zoo was where Rocky proposed to Adrian.
Seen In
Rocky II
Location
The Philadelphia Zoo is located at:
3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
16. Rocky & Adrian’s House
This is the 6-room home in South Philly that Rocky and Adrian bought together.
Seen In
Rocky II
Location
Rocky & Adrian’s House is located at:
2313 S Lambert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145
17. Car Dealership
He was making money from commercials now, and needed some wheels to get around. Even though his driving skills were questionable, his choice in automobiles was not.
Seen In
Rocky II
Location
Car Dealership is located at:
337-341 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
18. St. Thomas Aquinas
This is the Catholic church where Rocky and Adrian were married, and where Rocky visits Father Carmine for a blessing before his fight with Apollo.
Seen In
Rocky II
Location
St. Thomas Aquinas is located at:
1719 Morris Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145
19. Independence Hall
Rocky is seen running and hurdling benches in the park in front of Philly’s Independence Hall.
Seen In
Rocky II
Location
Independence Hall is located at:
520 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
20. Robert’s School
Robert goes to a pretty rough school when the Balboa family moves back to Philly after Paulie mismanages their money. Although, the school is not located in the area they moved back to.
Seen In
Rocky V
Location
Robert’s School is located at:
1501 S. 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
21. Andy’s Bar
Looking for respect, Tommy Gunn seeks out Rocky for. fight. He finds him across the street from Mighty Mick’s Gym at Andy’s Bar, now Stelio’s Pizza. What starts out as an unsanctioned boxing match without gloves turns into an epic street fight, that Rocky ultimately wins, leaving Gunn a bloody heap in the street.
Seen In
Rocky V
Location
Andy’s Bar is located at:
2201 Emerald Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125
22. Rocky & Paulie’s House
Rocky and Paulie lived in this Kensington area home after Adrian passed away.
Seen In
Rocky Balboa
Location
Rocky & Paulie’s House is located at:
3089-3091 Emerald Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134
23. Little Marie & Steps’ House
Now all grown up, Little Marie now lives in this humble home on Jasper Street in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood with her son Steps.
Seen In
Rocky Balboa
Location
Little Marie & Steps’ House is located at:
2745 Jasper Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134
24. Robert’s Irish Pub
Robert and his work mates have a few beers while watching the computer animated dream fight between current champion Mason Dixon and Rocky Balboa.
Seen In
Rocky Balboa
Location
Robert’s Irish Pub is located at:
2007 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
25. Robert Balboa’s Office Building
Rocky meets with Robert in the lobby of the building he works at. Robert is about to brush off a coffee invite from Rocky when his boss walks up and introduces himself, and asks Robert to take a picture of him and Rocky together.
Seen In
Rocky Balboa
Location
Robert Balboa’s Office Building is located at:
2929 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
26. Adrian’s
In the fifth movie, Rocky is seen running his own restaurant, which he named after his wife Adrian. The actual restaurant used in the movie is The Victor Café. In probably one of the best scenes of the franchise, Rocky gives his son Robert the speech about winning:
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that! I’m always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You’re my son and you’re my blood. You’re the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain’t gonna have a life.“
Seen In
Rocky Balboa
Location
Adrian’s is located at:
1303 Dickinson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
27. Laurel Hill Cemetery
Laurel Hill Cemetery is where Adrian was laid to rest. In Creed, we find out that Paulie has also passed on, and is laid to rest right beside his sister.
Seen In
Rocky Balboa
Location
Laurel Hill Cemetery is located at:
3822 Ridge Avenue, East Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA 19132
28. Robert Balboa’s Apartment
Rocky visits his son Robert’s apartment to tell him that he is going to fight Mason Dixon.
Seen In
Rocky Balboa
Location
Robert Balboa’s Apartment is located at:
2014 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Enjoy Visiting the Rocky Filming Locations
There were a lot more filming locations outside of Philadelphia. Los Angeles is prominent in several on the movies, as was Las Vegas in Rocky Balboa for the Italian Stallion’s last fight against heavyweight champ Mason Dixon. In Rocky IV, Mormon Row in Moose Wyoming portrayed the snowy Russian countryside where Rocky lived and trained for his Christmas Day showdown with Ivan Drago.
Please remember that some of the locations listed above are private homes, where people currently live. It’s not like the people now living there don’t know their homes were in the movies, but it has to be annoying having tons of Rocky fans show up and be disruptive. So, be respectful, and brief. Take in the moment, snap a quick pic, and be on your way.
Enjoy your self-guided Rocky tour in Philadelphia, and be sure to pick up a steak sandwich while there.
Cheers,
Big Daddy
If you would like me to review your product, service, restaurant, or travel destination, please send me an email at craig@bigdaddykreativ.ca or tweet me at @BigDaddyKreativ
28 Rocky FilmingAdrian’sAndy's BarApollo CreedAtomic Hoagie ShopboxerboxingClubber LangCreedFather CarmineFrank StalloneHulk HoganIce Skating RinkIndependence HallIrish PubItalian MarketItalian StallionIvan DragoKensingtonLaurel Hill CemeteryLittle Marie's HouseMason DixonMicky GoldmanMighty Mick's GymMr TMr. Gazzo's StreetPat's King of SteaksPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Museum of ArtRittenhouse SquareRobert Balboa's ApartmentRobert Balboa's Office BuildingRobert's Irish PubRobert's SchoolRockyrocky balboaRocky Balboa's ApartmentRocky FilmingRocky IIRocky IIIRocky IVRocky StatueRocky StepsRocky VSouth PhillySt. Thomas AquinasStelio’s PizzaStreet Singer’s CornerThe Neighborhood JukeboxThe Philadelphia ZooThe Victor CaféTommy GunnTony GazzoTusculum StreetVisit Philly
Craig Silva
Craig is a passionate and seasoned travel, food, and lifestyle writer, whose words paint vivid pictures of the world's most captivating destinations. His work not only inspires others to embark on their own adventures but also fosters a deep appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our world. He captures the essence of each locale, offering readers a glimpse into the cultures, landscapes, cuisine, and experiences that make travel so enriching. Craig is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Travel Writers Alliance (ITWA). If you are a PR agency or brand and would like Craig to review a travel destination, vehicle, restaurant, product or service, please send him an email.
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Comments
Claude Poulin : June 21, 2020 at 8:48 am Great piece here! I’ve always wanted to see Philly in person but not able to do so as of yet. I had to settle on a virtual Google Maps tour. Still fun! Was surprised you could see Rocky’s house from the first movie from Marie and Steps house on Street View when you spin it around. Thanks again for the blog.
Reply
- Craig Silva : June 25, 2020 at 2:35 pm
It was an amazing trip to Philly. If I had more time, I would have loved to visit all of the locations.
Reply
Run the Stairs – From Screen To Life : December 5, 2022 at 8:03 pm
When you finish your cheesesteak the last place where I recommended that you go to is where Rocky took Adrian on their first date. He took her to the ice-skating rink to go ice skating. But he didn’t skate he just ended up running beside her.
Reply
- Craig Silva : December 5, 2022 at 8:25 pm
The skating rink location seen in theoriginal Rocky movie was located across the country in Santa Monica, California. Unfortunately, it no longer exists. The lot seen in the Balboa movie (that is supposed to be the location of the demolished skating rink) is a construction site for multi-level housing.
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Claude Poulin : Leave a Reply
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