An Urban Oasis: Café Click’s Parisian Romance in Rittenhouse’s Corporate Heart
The seasonal, lush escape from Stephen Starr at the Comcast Center continues to thrive every summer.
In the heart of Rittenhouse’s business district, a fun transformation occurs each summer at Comcast Center: Café Click emerges like a butterfly as a seasonal pop-up that creates an unexpected French sanctuary amid the urban landscape at 1701 JFK Boulevard.
A Garden Within Glass Towers
The genius of Café Click lies in its ability to transport diners from Rittenhouse-adjacent’s bustling office area into what feels like a neighborhood bistro in Paris. This 138-seat outdoor café transforms the Comcast Center Plaza into an intimate dining destination that somehow fits into its surroundings.
Designed by New York’s Rockwell Group, the space features classic sidewalk café bistro chairs and tables arranged beneath an overhead canopy of soft linen panels. Layered foliage creates natural boundaries, while the careful placement of greenery softens the hard edges of the surrounding architecture. The result is a dining environment that feels both cosmopolitan and welcoming.
A Morning to Evening Culinary Journey
Operating Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through September’s end, Café Click orchestrates a daily evolution from casual coffee service to sophisticated evening dining. Under Stephen Starr’s direction, the menu celebrates French café culture while accommodating the rhythms of Philadelphia’s business community.
The morning begins at 11:30 a.m. with coffee service that gradually expands into lunch offerings of salads, savory crêpes, and curated selections of artisanal cheeses and charcuterie. These offerings have become the foundation for business meetings.
As afternoon transitions to evening, the café reveals an even more refined character. Low-proof Aperitif-style cocktails and wines by the glass complement heartier fare including wholesome pizzettes and thoughtfully crafted sandwiches. The menu concludes on a sweet note with a selection of French-inspired desserts that honor tradition while satisfying contemporary palates.
A Meeting Place Reborn
Starr’s intention for Café Click was to serve as a meeting place for colleagues, neighbors, and friends to come together during the week. This vision of community restoration extends beyond mere dining. In an era when remote work has redefined professional interactions, Café Click offers a space where business cards are exchanged over cheese plates and afternoon coffee breaks become moments of urban sophistication.
Architectural Storytelling
The Rockwell Group’s design creates an authentic Parisian atmosphere without sacrificing functionality. Classic bistro furniture establishes immediate recognition, while the overhead linen canopy filters harsh city light into something softer and more intimate. The layered foliage serves dual purposes: creating visual interest and providing natural sound barriers that allow conversation to flow freely despite the surrounding urban energy.
Ephemeral Excellence
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Café Click is its temporary nature. Like the best summer experiences, its limited run from June through September creates urgency that enhances appreciation. This isn’t dining as routine but as occasion – an opportunity to experience French sophistication in Philadelphia’s urban core.
The café succeeds because it understands its role in the city’s ongoing renaissance. It provides not just food and drink, but a space for reconnection in a world that has redefined how we gather. As Center City continues to evolve and workers return to offices, Café Click offers a compelling answer to the question of how urban dining can adapt to serve both business and pleasure.
In the shadow of Comcast, beneath linen canopies that flutter in the summer breeze, diners discover that sometimes the most memorable dining experiences emerge from perfect timing, thoughtful design, and the simple pleasure of good food shared in beautiful surroundings.
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