11 Best Bars in Manayunk, Germantown, and Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia

Besides serving excellent beer, Attic Brewing hosts great music ranging from funk and soul to rock and roll. A sizable outdoor area regularly hosts food trucks, and families (and dogs) are welcome.

Located about 2 miles from Manayunk along the Schuylkill River Path, the back patio caters to bicyclists and people on the trail, so the brewery is the perfect pit stop before heading back to Manayunk. You can also just drive. Try their Type A, an India Pale Ale, and User Friendly, a blonde ale, or seasonal beers like Island in the Sun, a double IPA. 

Manayunk's best live-music venue features many of the most talented local bands curated for their crowd-pleasing aesthetics and musicianship. Expect excellent sound in a cozy, laid-back, and corner bar setting that's tucked away in a residential area.

Offering a more relaxed vibe than your average Main Street bar, the Goat's Beard specializes in American bistro-style cooking, local beers, and curated spirits (especially whiskey), with an emphasis on local offerings. The Detroit-style pizza is highly recommended.

A long-running destination on the banks of the Schuylkill Canal, this brewpub offers a well-rounded, quality selection of ales and lagers brewed on the premises. Check out the patio in the spring and summer—best for snacking, as the food is so-so.

This lively, family-friendly Mount Airy favorite has a fantastic choice of craft beer on tap, plus pretty good burgers, fish-and-chips, and dinner specials.

If you head to the Mermaid, know the vibe is a little provincial, but you can hear good live music (folk, blues, rock, jazz) Thursday through Saturday. Cover charges range from $10 to $15.

A very good local brewery at a very laid-back beer garden, plan your visit to coincide with talented live music Thursday through Saturday that ranges from jazz to indie rock.

In the adjacent neighborhood of East Falls, tucked partway down a hillside, you'll find this beer lovers' gem. They don't serve food, but most days there's food trucks. Mornings, it serves coffee as Wirlybird Coffee, and Tuesdays at 7:30 am there's yoga (see website to reserve a spot).