Giant cinnamon rolls, banana bread, brownies, custom cakes, pizza, and French toast all have something unexpected in common at this Philadelphia cafe. The menu is entirely plant-based and gluten-free, with a commitment to organic ingredients across the kitchen.
P.S. & Co. has been serving Rittenhouse Square since 2014, building its menu around both baked goods and substantial savory dishes. Its cinnamon rolls are roughly the size of a grapefruit, while the bakery also turns out tahini chocolate chip cookies, brownies, colorful cakes, and house-made breads.
The concept extends well beyond dessert. Diners can find cauliflower-crust pizza, savory scones, French toast, avocado toast, cold-pressed juices, and globally influenced dishes.
That makes P.S. & Co. less of a specialty bakery and more of a full cafe where the dietary restrictions happen to apply to everything on the menu.
A Sanctuary on Locust Street
Right in the heart of Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, P.S. & Co. sits at 1706 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, a fully organic, plant-based, and gluten-free cafe that has been drawing curious diners since 2014.
The interior is a thoughtful mix of reclaimed wood, Hobart mixing bowl lamps, and milk bottle chandeliers crafted by local artisans. Handmade tables sourced from Philadelphia Woodcraft Company give the space a warm, grounded character, while reddish wood floors original to the building add a quiet sense of history.
Reclaimed joists from Philadelphia scrap yards were repurposed into shelves and marble countertops, reinforcing the cafe’s commitment to sustainability at every level. The space also features an airy back room for quieter visits and a charming secret garden for those who want a little outdoor serenity.
Wheelchair-accessible facilities ensure the welcome here is genuinely extended to everyone who walks through the door.
How a Sweet Tooth Sparked a Culinary Movement
Andrea Kyan’s path to opening a restaurant was anything but straightforward. Born in Oakland and raised in southern New Jersey, her academic journey took her through physiological psychology, East Asian studies, herbal medicine in China, and Buddhist studies in India before she ever picked up a mixing bowl professionally.
Adopting a vegan lifestyle in 2007 ignited a new obsession: creating desserts that actually satisfied her sweet tooth. Late-night baking sessions at home evolved into Pure Sweets, an online business launched in 2008 that sold baked goods to coffee shops and clients across New York and Los Angeles.
Landing a Whole Foods account in 2010 pushed her to rent a commercial kitchen in East Falls, and by May 2014, P.S. & Co. opened its doors on Locust Street. The name stands for Pure Sweets and Company, a nod to those humble, flour-dusted beginnings that started everything.
The rest, as they say, is delicious history.
The Philosophy That Drives Every Dish
“Food is medicine” is not a marketing slogan at P.S. & Co. It is a deeply held conviction that shapes every purchase, every recipe, and every plate that leaves the kitchen.
The cafe operates on a strict 100% organic standard, meaning every ingredient, from cooking oils to specialty flours, must meet certified organic criteria.
No GMOs, no preservatives, no shortcuts. When local organic sources fall short, the team turns to specialty vendors like Mom’s Organic or Whole Foods to maintain that standard rather than compromise.
All menu items are prepared fresh daily, which is why their to-go baked goods are best enjoyed the same day or the next.
The kitchen is not an allergen-safe facility, and the team is transparent about that. Nuts, soy, and corn may be present, and cross-contamination is possible.
That honesty is part of what builds trust with the community of guests who return again and again, knowing exactly what they are getting.
Baked Goods That Defy Every Expectation
The cinnamon roll at P.S. & Co. is not a dainty, polite little pastry. It arrives at the size of a large grapefruit, soft and richly spiced, with a balance of sweetness that feels intentional rather than accidental.
For anyone who has ever been disappointed by a gluten-free baked good, this is the antidote.
The bakery case is consistently praised for its surprising depth. Fudgy brownies, tahini chocolate chip cookies with a genuinely pronounced sesame flavor, and colorful cakes layered with citrus curd, fresh berries, and fruit jams are all crafted using organic superfood colors instead of artificial dyes or fondant.
Banana bread here regularly outperforms traditional versions, described by first-time visitors as moist and deeply flavorful in ways they did not expect. Every single item is made from scratch using 100% organic, plant-based, gluten-free, and kosher parve ingredients.
And if the pastries alone have you curious, wait until you hear about the custom cake program.
Custom Cakes Worth the Seven-Day Wait
Couples have ordered their wedding cakes here. Parents have brought their children’s birthday celebrations to life through P.S. & Co.’s custom cake program, and at least one guest traveled six hours home with a carefully ice-packed creation for her mother’s 80th birthday.
The cakes here carry real weight, emotionally and culinarily.
Options include chocolate, vanilla, and organic carrot cake bases, with fillings like coconut pecan caramel, blueberry cream, or vanilla cream. Cream cheese buttercream and semi-naked frosting styles are both available, and all decorations are hand-applied by pastry artists using organic superfood colors.
No artificial coloring, no fondant, no edible paper.
Standard custom orders require at least seven days’ notice, though the team can sometimes accommodate rush requests via their custom orders email. The chocolate chip cookie cake is a beloved alternative for those who want something a little less traditional.
Every creation is made to the same rigorous organic, plant-based, and gluten-free standard that defines the entire menu.
Savory Dishes That Prove Plants Mean Business
Plant-based dining often gets typecast as salads and smoothies, but the savory menu at P.S. & Co. tells a far more interesting story. The mushroom meatball cauliflower pizza arrives loaded with two types of house-made nut cheeses, while the kale pesto pizza features a basil pine nut sauce, spicy arrabiata, and crispy kale chips layered on a crust made from organic millet, brown rice, and quinoa flours.
Breakfast and brunch options are equally creative. Savory scones like the jalapeno and cheese or scallion mushroom varieties have developed devoted fans, and the French toast, made with house-baked bread, consistently earns high praise from guests who have no dietary restrictions whatsoever.
Sweet potato fries and Old Bay fries, lightly cooked in organic cold-pressed olive oil, offer a satisfying side that feels indulgent without the guilt. The avocado toast, piled generously on hearty house-made bread, and the organic hand-cut nachos round out a savory lineup that surprises and satisfies in equal measure.
Cold-Pressed Juices and Beverages Done Right
Each bottle of cold-pressed juice at P.S. & Co. contains five pounds of produce. That number matters because the cafe insists on 100% organic ingredients for every juice, which means no pesticides or waxes are concentrated into your glass alongside all those nutrients.
Flavor combinations range from the “Bangkok,” a bright blend of pineapple, lime, lemongrass, and peppermint, to the earthy “Mohegan Bluffs,” built on beet, lemon, orange, and ginger. Smoothies are crafted with the same attention to quality, and fresh young coconuts are cleaved open to order so guests can sip the natural juice directly before scooping out the tender meat.
Coffee comes from Vibrant Coffee Roasters, a partnership chosen to reflect the cafe’s overall commitment to excellence in sourcing. A curated tea selection provides a calming alternative for those who prefer something warm and gentle.
The beverage program here is as thoughtfully constructed as the food menu, ensuring that every sip contributes to the overall sense of vitality that defines the P.S. & Co. experience.
Flavors Rooted in Family and Far-Off Places
Some of the most beloved items on the menu did not come from a cookbook. They came from Andrea Kyan’s mother’s kitchen in Burma.
The Mohinga, a Burmese Chickpea Curry, is a direct tribute to that heritage, offering a flavor profile that feels both deeply personal and genuinely distinctive in Philadelphia’s dining scene.
The famous house-made chili sesame oil, drizzled across various dishes, is another family-inspired creation that guests frequently mention as a standout detail. These cultural threads are woven throughout the menu, giving it a richness that goes beyond ingredient sourcing or dietary philosophy.
The cold-pressed juice menu reflects similar global wanderlust, with the “Bangkok” blend nodding to Southeast Asian flavors through lemongrass and peppermint. Local farms like Cecil Creek in South Jersey supply hand-picked organic strawberries, anchoring global inspiration in regional produce.
The result is a menu that travels widely in spirit while staying firmly grounded in the organic, plant-based values that make P.S. & Co. so singular.
An Atmosphere Designed for Lingering
The back room at P.S. & Co. has a particular kind of quiet energy that makes it easy to settle in for a long time. Guests have described it as ideal for smoothie-fueled study sessions or unhurried conversations, and it functions as a genuine retreat from the pace of Rittenhouse Square outside.
Beyond the main dining area, the cafe features a secret garden and a private dining room available for events. These distinct spaces give the cafe a layered quality, where different moods and occasions find their natural fit.
The overall design vocabulary, reclaimed wood, whimsical lighting, original floors, creates a setting that feels both lived-in and carefully considered.
Hobart mixing bowl lamps and milk bottle chandeliers, created by local artisan Ian Chapin, cast a soft glow that makes the space feel warm regardless of the season. The cafe is also wheelchair-accessible and openly affirming of LGBTQ+ guests, so the invitation to linger is extended without condition to every person who arrives at the door.
Ethics Built Into Every Layer of the Business
Paying staff above industry standard is not a footnote at P.S. & Co. It is a deliberate business decision rooted in the belief that employees are partners rather than overhead.
Flexible yet reliable schedules are part of the same philosophy, creating a work environment that the owner describes as genuinely supportive.
On the environmental side, the cafe has been actively reducing plastic packaging, shifting to non-coated paper bags and gluten-free paper straws from Aardvark. Plastic straws are available only upon request, and food scraps are repurposed or recycled wherever possible.
These choices reflect a consistency between the cafe’s values and its daily operations that is not always easy to maintain at scale.
The cafe also fundraises for animal rescues, inspired by Tuffy, the owner’s pitbull and honorary Head of HR. Tuffy’s story, as a once-overlooked shelter dog, fuels the cafe’s Yappy Hour events and its broader message about compassion extending beyond the plate.
Every layer of this business seems to ask the same question: how do we do this better?
What to Know Before You Visit
Weekday mornings at P.S. & Co. begin early. Monday through Friday the cafe opens at 7 AM and closes at 6 PM, though Tuesday hours end at 3 PM.
Kitchen service for prepared meals runs from 9 AM to 2:45 PM on weekdays, so timing your savory order matters if you are arriving later in the day.
Weekends follow a brunch-friendly schedule. Saturday hours run from 9 AM to 6 PM with kitchen service from 9:30 AM.
Sunday closes slightly earlier at 5 PM, with the same 9:30 AM kitchen start. Reservations are not required but are recommended on weekends when the space fills quickly, particularly for brunch.
The cafe accepts credit cards and offers both full table service and counter service depending on the time of day. Custom cake orders need at least seven days’ notice.
The phone number is +1 215-985-1706, and the website at psandco.com is the best place to check for seasonal menu updates or hours changes before your trip.
Why This Cafe Keeps People Coming Back
There is something quietly powerful about a place where guests with celiac disease can order waffles without anxiety, where a first-time visitor with no dietary restrictions leaves raving about the pesto grilled cheese, and where someone drives six hours home with a birthday cake packed in ice just to share it with family.
The monkey bread, the tempeh bacon, the amaranth porridge topped with fresh fruit and maple pecans, and the Elvis smoothie have all developed their own devoted followings. The menu evolves with the seasons, which means repeat visits rarely feel identical.
P.S. & Co. has maintained a 4.3-star rating across more than 900 reviews, and the owner responds personally to feedback, offering context, apologies when warranted, and genuine warmth throughout. That level of involvement from a founder is rare, and it shows in the texture of every interaction at this cafe.
The food is the draw, but the care behind it is what turns first-time visitors into regulars who stop by every time they are in Philly.
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