Where to Celebrate Bastille Day in Philadelphia
Liberté, égalité, fraternité ... and lots of macarons and wine.
Celebrate Bastille Day around Philly. / Photograph courtesy of Good King Tavern
Commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison during the Revolution, le quatorze juillet (July 14th) is France’s celebration of independence.
For so long, Bastille Day in Philly was synonymous with the Bearded Ladies Cabaret at Eastern State Penitentiary. John Jarboe, dressed as iconic chanteuse Édith Piaf, would headline a whimsical retelling of the French Revolution, complete with a person dressed as a baguette, Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” rewritten with lyrics about the revolution, and la pièce de résistance: Marie Antoinette ordering hundreds of Tastykakes to rain down from the prison. Nothing will ever fill the Krimpet-sized hole in my heart.
But if the Francophile in you still longs to get your liberté-égalité-fraternité on, here are your best bets around Philly.
Block Party at The Good King Tavern
For the ninth year running, Good King Tavern is shutting down the streets with live music, French street food and drink specials, games, a raffle giveaway, and more fun. The restaurant itself will also be open for (walk-in only) dining. Pay-as-you-go, July 13th, noon-6 p.m., 614 South 7th Street.
Alliance Française’s Bastille Day Picnic in FDR Park
Bring your own picnic and meet at FDR Park for a fun, family-friendly afternoon including fun, games (including a “waiter’s race”), and juggling from Andrew’s Big Show. Pre-register online. (Alliance Française will also have a flag raising ceremony at City Hall on Monday, July 14th at 11 a.m.) $10, July 13th, 2-5 p.m., FDR Park (picnic area #19), 1500 Pattison Avenue.
Matines Café
The Parisian cafe in Chestnut Hill is celebrating with live music, food and drink specials, local vendors, a prize wheel and more.
Pay-as-you-go, July 13th, Matines Café, 89 Bethlehem Pike.
Photograph courtesy of Parc
Parc
Bastille Day is also Parc’s (17th!) birthday, so naturally the French restaurant goes all out with food and drink specials, live music and more. Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society will be performing live jazz throughout the day, and there will be face-painting, balloon art, a photo booth, and more surprises. As for food and drink specials? Their adorable ice-cream and macaron cart will be parked on the sidewalk, selling treats to restaurant guests and passersby alike till 5 p.m. (Think “tricolore” macarons and pâte à choux.) Pay-as-you-go, July 14th, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 225 South 18th Street.
Bastille Day celebration at Parc / Photograph courtesy of Parc
Bastille Day at Café Click
The Parisian-style cafe on Comcast Center’s plaza hosts a special Bastille Day pop-up with live jazz, a free build-your-own bouquet bar, and special menu items and cocktails in collaboration with Juliette peach liqueur. Pay-as-you-go, July 14th, 4-8 p.m., 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
Liberté Lounge at the Sofitel
To celebrate the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, Liberté Lounge will offer unlimited French fries for — you guessed it — $17.89. Plus, special pricing on champagne, and a pear-infused twist on the French 75 called the Liberté. Pay-as-you-go, July 14th, 4-11 p.m., 120 South 17th Street.
Bastille Day offerings at the Sofitel include all-you-can-eat fries for $17.89. / Photograph by Eleni Sterious
Forsythia
Chef Chris Kearse’s Old City French restaurant will host an extended Bastille Day happy hour featuring food and drink specials, including tempura frog legs with fennel marmalade and Aleppo pepper. Then, later that night, Kearse will be at Next of Kin for a special late-night party. (See below.) Pay-as-you-go, July 14th, 233 Chestnut Street.
Bastille Day Party at Next of Kin
After Forsythia’s happy hour, chef Chris Kearse keeps the celebration going at Fishtown’s Next of Kin. There’ll be food from Forsythia, and Chartreuse cocktails flowing till late! Pay-as-you-go, July 14th, 9 p.m.-“late,” 1414 Frankford Avenue.
