Upstares & Sotto Varalli Restaurant is located on the Northeast corner of Broad and Locust Streets in Center City Philadelphia.

“Kitty-corner” from the Academy of Music “on the Avenue of the Arts.”

Established in 1989, Upstares & Sotto Varalli is a two-story restaurant. The first floor dining room is called Sotto and the second floor dining room is called Upstares. Both Upstares and Sotto have private rooms in addition to their main dining room. The cuisine is gourmet Italian and Seafood with many Mediterranean twists. Varalli has been a real favorite with locals, theatergoers and visitors to Philadelphia because of its wide and varied menu.

Upstares is spelled u-p-s-t-a-r-e-s, as in “don’t stare junior-it’s not polite.” This play on words emphasizes Upstares' spectacular view of one of the most interesting intersections on the Avenue of the Arts. In Upstares' dining room you are surrounded by floor to ceiling windows and giant oil canvases of three of the world’s most famous houses of music: La Scala in Milan, the Paris Opera House, and the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. As patrons sit in the dining room and stare out the windows, they see the treasured Philadelphia Academy of Music.

The first floor "street level' dining room is known as Sotto. Sotto, means beneath or below in Italian. The decor is sophisticated, yet playful – from its hand-blown starfish pendants and waterwalls to its giant squid, which floats over the bustling bar. It also features floor to ceiling windows as in Upstares' dining room for people watching on the Avenue. Large, high-backed booths make for intimate dining for groups up to six. Sotto is decorated with many fine pieces of original art; most from local Philadelphia artists. Both Upstares' and Sotto' dining rooms are ringed by one of the world's largest lit glass-fused mosaic.

Press Release

Upstares & Sotto Varalli Restaurant is now introducing two new ways to enjoy their award-winning cuisine: a $33 “Beat the Crowds” Menu and a $45 Tasting Menu.

Joseph Varalli, owner, stated that he is finding more and more patrons are interested in Prix Fixe and Tasting menus. “We have been testing our two new menus over the last couple of months and have found the response to be overwhelmingly positive. The $33 Prix Fixe menu is perfect for those diners who can arrive early and enjoy a real value. The $45 Tasting Menu with optional wine pairing is how I personally like to dine. It enables you to taste many selections from our ala carte menu and sample various wines from our list. This way of dining is very leisurely and more like a journey than just a meal. A true culinary adventure.”

The $33 “Beat the Crowds” menu is available from 4:30 to 5:45 PM Monday through Saturday (Not available on Sundays). Come in early, beat the crowds, and enjoy a four-course meal from soup to dessert! Menu choices and details for the $33 “Beat the Crowds” menu can be found on Varalli’s web site at: "http://www.varalliusa.com/prixfixe.php"

The $45 Tasting Menu is available at all times. The Tasting Menu features five-courses of Varalli Menu favorites. An optional Wine Pairing is also available to compliment the Tasting Menu. Please allow at least two hours for dining with this menu. Menu choices and details for the $45 Tasting Menu and optional Wine Pairing can be found on Varalli’s web site at: "http://www.varalliusa.com/tastingmenu.php"

Varalli restaurants offer an array of rooms and spaces from its first to second floors that are versatile and flexible for your  dining and meeting needs.

Owner: Joseph Varalli

Chef: William Carroll

Special Events Coordinator: Brian A. Datesman

Dining Room Manager: Madelene Desmarais

General Questions and
Information requests: varallidining@aol.com