Philly doesn’t do rooftop bars well. We have so few of them, and many are owned by the hotels, so they’re kinda lame. El Techo? With its perfect pitchers of margaritas? And its retractable roof? And its squid and long hot pepper tacos? Not lame. Not lame at all. Read More »
1826 Ludlow Street, Philadelphia, PA Website
It’ll be hard to walk past the tools, bitters, syrups and shrubs in this boutique, but don’t stop till you arrive at the blissfully quiet copper-topped back bar, where chill bartenders are waiting to mix you drinks with all the goods that are for sale. Read More »
116 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-922-2600 | Website
Remember how excited you were when BOK Bar first opened, with its cool unfinished vibe and expansive views? Well, this is just like that — only with excellent cocktails, Mediterranean small plates and table service. Read More »
800 Mifflin Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-693-6206 | Website
Whoever came up with the notion to build a playground inside a brewpub — with video games, a projector, Skee-Ball, and bunnies and chickens outside — deserves so much more than a Best of Philly. How about a Nobel Prize? Read More »
901 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA | 267-297-2072 | Website
We love the library of more than 800 games. And the beer list. But we adore the staffers who referee disputes. Is “qi” really an acceptable Scrabble word? Yes, yes it is. Read More »
1642 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA | 215-765-2679 | Website
There’s still plenty of libidinous activity at the Pool at Harrah’s, but the young and tanned crowd at this open-air beach bar on the sand has it beat. Read More »
3001 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ | 609-345-6633
Quizzo, live music, dollar taco nights, weekend DJs, Skee-Ball and shuffleboard — a.k.a. things that are better than studying for midterms. Read More »
129 South 30th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-353-8521 | Website
Bars with food trucks inside. Bars with strict dress codes. Bars with 18-ingredient cocktails that take 15 minutes to make. Blah, blah, blah. When it comes time to watch the big game–or any game, for that matter–the only place I want to be is at any of the dozen or so area locations of Chickie’s & Pete’s. You and your too-cool friends can roll your eyes at my vulgar plebeianism, but while you’re at your tin-ceilinged, Edison-bulbed speakeasy, I’ll be sitting happily amidst an ungodly number of huge TVs with sound, drinking cheap beers and scarfing down crack-like Crabfries. If you come to your senses and decide to meet me for the next game, don’t ask the waitress if she has that $14 single-cask goat-tears-infused craft beer, or you might get stomped. – Victor Fiorillo Read More »
After all these years, Dock Street can still turn it on. Proof: Dock Street Cannery, a tiny, lounge-y bar built inside a small garage space on the backside of the brewpub where the cocktails are smart and refreshing, the beers are, you know, Dock Street and great, and the bar itself is an easy place to while away an evening. Read More »
701 South 50th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-639-4334 | Website
Sometimes you want a trendy bells-and-whistles bar (see below for that), and sometimes you want a low-key neighborhood joint with $2 draft beers, plenty of fried food, a busy pool table, and a crowd of friendly regulars who would never dream of spending their Friday night in a boozy ball pit. Read More »
4901 Catharine Street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-432-1082 | Website
If you’re a soccer fan, you’re waking up early on Saturdays. You’re trekking to South Philly’s English pie shop, and you’re ordering at least one pie stuffed with egg, beans and ham. You’re sitting with all the other Tottenham jerseys, and you’re screaming at Stargazy’s single TV, just like they are. That is, if you’re a real soccer fan. Read More »
1838 East Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA | 215-309-2761 | Website
The Chinatown cocktail joint’s mysterious owner, known simply as Lê loves to ban people from his bar, and the not-welcome-back list is currently hovering at nearly 3,000. Among the infractions that can get you ousted: snapping photos, talking on your phone, or under-tipping your bartender or server. You’ve been warned. Read More »
1029 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA Website
A beautiful, plant-filled, twinkly-lit oasis in the middle of a very drab block of the city. The food is far better than it needs to be, and the drinks are designed to be consumed five at a time. Find a good nook and stay a while. Read More »
31 South 18th street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-886-8552 | Website
When it comes to rooftop bars, it’s all about the view. And at Bok, you get the full vista—river to river—which is pretty rare for a watering hole. Pair the panoramas with great snacks (this year, dumplings!) and well-priced drinks, and you’ll develop a new appreciation for Philly just by looking at it. Read More »
800 Mifflin Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-220-6815 | Website
Tiki in spirit, neighborhood corner bar in practice, Burg’s lives up to its name. Quiet, tucked-away and comfortable (thanks to the good-natured staff and cheap-eats menu), the Point Breeze newcomer has quickly established itself as a welcome—downright necessary, in fact—escape from city-living snobbery. Read More »
1200 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-271-6627 | Website