The Center City District has just released its latest annual report on Center City’s sidewalk cafés, which found (surprise, surprise!) that, yes, Center City has a lot of them, and people seem to enjoy them. The CCD began conducting these studies in 2001, six years after then-Mayor Ed Rendell authorized cafés to have outdoor sidewalk seating. That original 2001 study, which looked at both the number of cafés and the number of chairs available to customers at each, examined the area between Vine Street to the north, Pine Street to the south, the Delaware River to the east, and 22nd Street to the west. It found 69 cafés in that area; this year, it found 209 cafés in the same area, which is 3% fewer than last year, but still an impressive net increase. This year’s study also expanded its geographical boundaries to South Street to the south and 24th Street to the west; within the entire expanded study area, there were 240 total sidewalk cafés. The study, which you can view in its entirety here, notes the many benefits of cafés in creating not only a better leisure experience for diners, but also improved security for residents and increased foot traffic for Center City businesses.

The report doesn’t go so far as to say which restaurants have the most popular or most enjoyable outdoor seating, apparently leaving that task to us. Let’s do this: Which restaurant is best place to dine alfresco in Center City?