62 Best Bars in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Generally speaking, you can break down Philly's central nightlife hubs into four distinct areas.
Traditionally, South Street is “where all the hippies meet,” according to the 1963 hit by Philly’s own The Orlons. The area has become a little less artsy in recent years, with tourist-friendly attraction taking over for some independent businesses, but there’s still so much to see and do, particularly along the eastern half of the river-to-river street—packed bars and restaurants, tattoo parlors, sneaker stores, cafés, erotica shops, and more.
Home to the majority of Philadelphia’s historical attractions, Old City is equally popular with party people come nightfall. Like South Street, it can get packed on the weekends, with various clubs, bars, and restaurants serving as draws. The crowd is a mix of tourists and locals, with the latter group heavy on “bridge-and-tunnel” types visiting from New Jersey and nearby suburbs. Columbus Boulevard, in particular, features a high concentration of club destinations.
North of Old City lie Northern Liberties and Fishtown. Both neighborhoods have long been associated with Philly’s bohemian crowd, a target for edgy artists, chefs, and musicians. More recently, however, both enclaves and the areas surrounding them have come into their own as legitimate cultural contenders citywide with great bars and breweries.
Finally, Rittenhouse Square, in the heart of Center City, is the premier hangout for Philly’s moneyed crowd, with a slew of high-profile bars, restaurants, and clubs joining a scattering of under-the-radar gems both old-school and new-school.
Other neighborhoods of interest are University City, with all the standard (and not-so-standard) college-age bars and clubs, plus unique international options in greater West Philly; East Passyunk, a hot strip featuring hip bars and restaurants commingling with South Philly’s old-school Italian population; and Manayunk, a nightlife-heavy area to the northwest particularly popular with college kids and recent grads.
Bars and clubs can sometimes close, change hands, or turn over with very short notice, so stay abreast of the latest by following the entertainment pages and respective websites of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News (philly.com); the Philadelphia Weekly (phillyweekly.com); the Philadelphia Gay News (epgn.com); and Philadelphia magazine (phillymag.com).
In Philadelphia, last call for bars and clubs is 2 am, though there are a handful of places with special licenses that allow for legal after-hours service. Cover charges can range from free to about $12. While Philly tends toward the casual in many of its nightlife venues, there are dress codes enforced in some clubs. Best to check online to make certain if you're venturing into new territory.
People from outside the city might be surprised to see just how popular dancing is here. The persuasive DJ culture has permeated the city, especially in Old City, Northern Liberties/Fishtown, and on South Street.
Philadelphia has a rich jazz and blues heritage that includes such greats as the late, legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and current players like Grover Washington Jr. That legacy continues today in clubs around town.
Though a number of Philly rock/pop venues are owned by Live Nation, a good variety of touring bands is still represented on a nightly basis. And with the advent of the Fishtown live-music scene at venues such as Johnny Brenda's and Kung Fu Necktie, as well as the popular Union Transfer on Spring Garden, there is a greater variety of live music available than ever before.
Sassafras
A classic and classy Old City watering hole, Sassafras is a stately stop for a well-made cocktail; it's a cozy hideaway for grown-ups among the neighborhood’s more boisterous and youthful hangouts. Known for its sophisticated ambience and great service, it also offers light lunch and small bites. In addition to drinks and dinner, it hosts live jazz musicians Sunday to Thursday.
12 Steps Down
Regulars abound at 12 Steps Down, where people shoot pool, sing karaoke every Tuesday, and belly up to the bar for local and domestic beers, pours of bourbon, and plenty of classic bar snacks. During Phillies games, dollar hot dogs are served to pair with drinks and cheering on the home team.
Recommended Fodor's Video
48 Record Bar
Atop the old-school bar Sassafras, the speakeasy-style 48 Record Bar is all about vinyl and vibes. This cozy lounge was built for sound and the DJ spins music from the bar's extensive collection of vintage LPs. Sip a few handcrafted cocktails (with alcohol-free options available) while enjoying the fabulous music. A long, narrow flight of stairs is the only way to reach this bar.
a.bar
Attached to the AKA hotel and its restaurant, a.kitchen, a.bar boasts one of the most enviable views in the city, looking right out onto Rittenhouse Square. The food and drink, with its emphases on fresh seafood and cutting-edge cocktails, will encourage return visits.
Attic Brewing Company
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.
Bar Hygge
Some time at this welcoming part-industrial, part pub-cozy bar and restaurant may indeed produce the sense of comfortable well-being implied by the name, especially for those who try its clever cocktails or the creative craft beers (like a lemon meringue IPA) producted on-site by Brewery Techne. Also notable are many nonalcoholic drinks, including a popular list of mocktails. Oysters, fries, meat and vegetarian boards, burgers, and sandwiches fill out the menu, and brunch is available weekends.
The Bike Stop
A multifloor space, down a side alley, the Bike Stop caters specifically to those seeking leather-clad adventures.
Black Sheep
This handsome pub is just off Rittenhouse Square, in a refurbished town house with a fireplace on the main floor and a quiet dining space on the upper level. Beer lovers can choose from a solid selection of draft, bottled, and canned beers; the food, including U.K.-style entrées like shepherd's pie and bangers and mash, is straightforward and satisfying.
Carbon Copy
Within an old fire station, Carbon Copy provides an excellent selection of in-house brews accompanied by tasty wood-fired pizzas. The owners/beermakers have come from creating beer in numerous celebrated craft breweries from San Diego (Modern Times) to the Philly area (Tired Hands), and their beers are often defined by richness and depth of flavor.
Chris' Jazz Café
An intimate hangout off the Avenue of the Arts (aka Broad Street), Chris' showcases top talent Tuesday through Saturday. The jazz club stays accessible by doing the simple things right—friendly service, fair prices, great performers. The lunch and dinner menus feature some light New Orleans–style touches.
Comedy Sportz
Anything goes during Comedy Sportz's nights of improvisational comedy, formatted as a high-energy competitive sport. The troupe hosts two shows every Saturday at the Adrienne Theater, while a minor-league troupe performs on Sunday. Audience participation is essential to the experience.
Conshohocken Brewing Company
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.
Continental Mid-town
The Continental Mid-town spreads the cocktail and global small-plates concept across three whimsically appointed floors, including an indoor-outdoor rooftop space. The items on the comprehensive food menu run the gamut from cheesesteak egg rolls to lobster macaroni and cheese.
Dawson Street Pub
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.
Dirty Frank's
Its outside walls decorated with famous Franks throughout history (Frankenstein's monster, FDR, Sinatra, Zappa, etc.), Dirty Frank's is a Philadelphia classic. A glorious mixture of students, artists, journalists, and resident characters crowds around the horseshoe-shaped bar and engages in friendly, beer-soaked mayhem. Cash only.
Dolphin Tavern
A constant stream of DJs rolls through the Dolphin every month, with something for everyone, from throwback nights featuring only vinyl to house music or soul. The drinks are dive bar standards: beer, simple cocktails, and plenty of them.
Doom
Right next to Franklin Music Hall, Doom is a cocktail and mezcal bar with an epically delicious hot dog and a very good plate of nachos. The name refers to their inspiration from doom metal, but it's more easygoing than that would suggest.
Fergie's Pub
Fergus \"Fergie\" Carey is the jovial proprietor of this casual, cozy, and beloved bar, which has been around longer than most establishments of its ilk in Philly. The taproom, which serves solid craft beer and comfort food, hosts regular entertainment, including music, poetry, Quizzo, and even live theater. There are no televisions on the premises, as Carey believes in the lost art of conversation.
The Fillmore Philadelphia
Since its opening in 2015, the 25,000-square-foot Fillmore has seen sold-out shows featuring everyone from local musicians to top-40 singers. The venue is the first of its kind in Fishtown, introducing a rock club experience for the 21st century. Three raised balconies provide solid sight lines for as many as 2,500 concertgoers, with a secondary club, the Foundry, holding about 450 for smaller concerts and late-night dance parties.
For Pete's Sake
Pete's, in Queen Village, could easily be mistaken for just another neighborhood watering hole, but the menu is eclectic, featuring a regularly changing lineup of creative food alongside the requisite wings and burgers.
Frankford Hall
Stephen Starr's big, loud, and lively beer garden brings a bit of Bavaria to Fishtown's nightlife scene. Large groups are welcome, and you and your crew can sit outside at one of the large picnic tables, or hang indoors when it's too cold for the heat lamps. Draft beers, many of them German, come in half or full liters, accompanied by rib-sticking pretzels, wurst, and schnitzel. TVs show major sports games, and yard games are a popular pastime. Reservations are welcome, and a good idea, as space fills up for big games and events.
The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co.
One of the city's premier bars for cocktail lovers, the sexy Franklin is named after a cover business established by infamous Philly gangster Max \"Boo Boo\" Hoff. Bartenders whip up potent and elaborate cocktails in a narrow parlor in the back of the Franklin Hotel that often requires a wait; make a reservation to bypass that issue. The location is a little tough to find, but the payoff is worth it.
Franklin Music Hall
Hip-hop artists, singer-songwriters, rock bands, and more regularly perform at Franklin Music Hall, formerly known as the Electric Factory. With room for 3,000 guests, the venue offers a not-too-big, not-too-small viewing experience, within a historic venue to boot.
Franky Bradley's
A former supper club that attracted movers and shakers of yesteryear, the updated Franky's is now under the watch of Mark Bee, architect of North 3rd and Silk City. A kitschy dining room decorated with Bee's Technicolor flea market finds gives way to an upstairs performance space used by DJs and live acts. Food is served until 1 am on Wednesday and Thursday, 11 pm on Sunday, and 2 am on Friday and Saturday.
The Goat's Beard
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.
Good Dog Bar
Locals and visitors alike flock to Good Dog Bar for a friendly environment, tons of local beers, and a surprisingly elevated food menu. Check out their signature burger, try a vegan cheesesteak, or share a plate of wings and macaroni and cheese while you work your way through the draft and cocktail list.
Helium Comedy Club
Everyone from major comedians to comedy's up-and-comers stops at Rittenhouse Square's Helium Comedy Club, a cozy space where every seat in the house is a good one. In addition to shows featuring big names, the club also hosts open-mic nights, stand-up workshops, and more.
Hop Sing Laundromat
Run by the mononymous owner Lê, a one-of-a-kind personality known for berating customers for breaking the bar's house rules, Hop Sing is a spirituous haven for bargoers who prefer their cocktails clandestine. Hopeful patrons wait in front of a nondescript door in Chinatown, adhering to a strict no-phones policy to gain admission. Once inside, the high-end spirits and creative cocktails flow in a moody, mismatched, haunted-library-esque room unlike any other in the city.
Johnny Brenda's
Fishtown's \"cool kid\" vibes are felt all throughout Johnny Brenda's, a neighborhood original that has grown with the neighborhood's evolution without losing its first-on-the-street edge. Part bar-restaurant, part music venue, the Frankford Avenue hangout offers visitors a space for drinking local beer and eating the better-than-regular-bar-food fare—think fresh oysters and solid burgers—as well as a space for playing billiards and listening to the diverse lineup of performers booked for the upstairs stage.
