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Beer Gardens (and Other Outdoor Drinking Spots) in Philadelphia

Pop-ups and other seasonal spots in Philly to have cocktails, wine, beer, mocktails and a nosh or two out of doors

Beer Gardens (and Other Outdoor Drinking Spots) in Philadelphia

Pop-ups and other seasonal spots in Philly to have cocktails, wine, beer, mocktails and a nosh or two out of doors

BY Lauren McCutcheon

Jul. 17, 2023

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There’s a point in summer when it feels like it’ll last forever. Don’t be fooled. It won’t. Nor will spring. Or fall. Our advice: Take advantage of the warm weather while it’s here. Do all the outdoor things as much as you can.

This should not be a chore. This is not exercise. (Although riding a bike sounds like fun.) This is fun. To that end, here are some of our favorite places to drink outside, while in Philly: beer gardens, pop-up bars in parks, rooftop oases, restaubars by the river. Spots to enjoy as time flies.

HANG AT ROOFTOP BARS

People gather on an outdoor rooftop bar at Philadelphia's Bok Building. Visible: the Philadelphia skyline.
Bok Bar. Photo by A. Ricketts for Visit Philadelphia.

BOK BAR. On the eighth floor of an old tech school, this South Philly spot serves Philly-style cosmos, watermelon gin drinks, tequeños, arepas — and great skyline views. Also, there’s drag brunches and yoga classes. And, Jason Kelce’s a fan. Open Wednesday through Sunday through October 29. 800 Mifflin Street

Three smiling women seated on a picnic blanket atop a green lawn atop the Cira Center, a skyscraper in West Philadelphia.
Sunset Social at Cira Green.

SUNSET SOCIAL. A lawn — Cira Green — grows atop a West Philly skyscraper, which, once you ride the elevator up, offers unparalleled views, burgers and fries, cold drinks, happy hourx, movie nights. Open daily. 129 S. 30th Street

Victory Brewing Taproom

A band plays on the edge of the rooftop bar of the Victory Brewing Taproom in Philadelphia.
Victory Brewing Taproom.

This brewery’s rooftop patio has stunning Parkway views, serves 30 beers on tap, plus seltzers, hard ciders, burgers and sandwiches, salads, and homemade soft pretzels. 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (445) 223-1130

SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD OUTDOOR BARS

This photo of American Sardine Bar accompanies an article about the best and most beautiful places to eat outdoors in Philadelphia
Photo courtesy American Sardine Bar

AMERICAN SARDINE BAR in Point Breeze puts lawn chairs and umbrellas on its backyard patio — South Philly block-party vibes. On the menu: wings, Jersey tomato sandwiches, salt and pepper fries, sardine sandwiches, local beers. Open daily. 1800 Federal Street

People lean over a picnic table, reading to take shots of sake balanced inside beers (sake bombs) at Chinatown Beer Garden in Philadlephia.
Chinatown Beer Garden.

CHINATOWN BEER GARDEN. Two Philly entrepreneurs turned a vacant spot fun with a great Japanese beer list, sake, cocktails, salt-baked wings, dumplings, and game day specials. Open Wednesday through Sunday. 212 N. 11th Street

Scorpion Bowl at Graffiti Bar.

GRAFFITI BAR. Washington West’s least-best-kept-secret bar in the alleyway behind Sampan has a 3-story-high mural by Ali M Williams, graffiti-covered tables, and crowds. Order a Scorpion Bowl cocktail (if you dare), and some satay, dumplings, and bao buns to hold you down. 124 S. 13th Street

People sit in Adirondack chairs around an unlit firepit, among plants and trees. In the background, more people sit at covered area. The scene takes place next to what seems to be a large office building.
Independence Beer Garden. Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia

INDEPENDENCE BEER GARDEN, 20,000 square feet across the street from the Liberty Bell, has dozens of beers on tap, double cheeseburgers, everything pretzel bites, spicy Caesars, cornhole, Adirondack chairs, many picnic tables. Open daily. 100 S. Independence Mall West

A green fence connects two brightly painted buildings on South Street in Philadelphia. Beyond the fence: the garden of Jet Wine Bar.
Jet Wine Bar.

THE GARDEN AT JET WINE BAR serves international wines from a between-buildings courtyard with a drink hut, umbrella tables, and foliage galore, including a big old tree. Open Tuesday through Saturday. 1525 South Street

People sit and stand outside amid picnic tables on a gravel lot that's the temporary home to Mural City Wine Garden in Philadelphia.
Mural City Wine Garden.

MURAL CITY WINE GARDEN, three blocks from the future (Kensington) location of Mural City Cellars, serves their own wines from a retired SEPTA trolley car. Owners and vintners Nicholas Ducos and Francesca Galarus have become known for their sparkling wines, frosé, and a pinot gris made from West Chester-grown grapes. Open Thursday through Sunday. 2211 Frankford Avenue

Pentridge Station.

PENTRIDGE STATION is a testament to West Philly spirit. Fixed up and decorated with local art and flowers, this lovely lot opens Friday through Sunday for live bands, DJs, guest chefs and more fun than you can imagine. It’s family- and dog-friendly too. 5116 Pentridge Street

In a previous vacant lot, plants bloom and picnic tables are laid out for a Walnut Garden, a new beer and cocktail garden in Philadelphia.
Walnut Garden.

WALNUT GARDEN. On a vacant plot in Rittenhouse, restaurateur Avram Hornick has opened a family-friendly outdoor beer (and cocktail) space. Open daily. 1706-1710 Walnut Street

CHILL BY THE WATER

With the Ben Franklin Bridge in the background, the outdoor Haas Biergarten at Fringe Bar shows its umbrellas and tables of patrons.
Haas Biergarten at Fringe Bar.

FRINGE BAR AND HAAS BIERGARTEN. This three-tier space facing Race Street Pier serves drinks from a hut and post its menu (tostones, falafel smashburgers, crab dip, shrimp cocktail) on a chalkboard. Open Wednesday through Sunday. 140 N. Columbus Boulevard

Morgan’s Pier. Photo by A. Ricketts for Visit Philadelphia.

MORGAN’S PIER. Next to the Ben Franklin Bridge, this super-popular bar is open daily through Halloween. Morgan’s hosts trivia nights, live bands, and dancing whenever you want. 211 N. Columbus Boulevard

Children and a grown-up sit in front of a colorfully-lit barge at Spruce Street Harbor Park.
Spruce Street Harbor Park. Courtesy of the Delaware River Waterfront Corp.

SPRUCE STREET HARBOR PARK. This seasonal Penn’s Landing park put its beer garden on a barge. Nearby are lawn games, weekend markets, reserve-able hammocks, technicolor lights, and ice cream, daily through September 24. 301 S. Columbus Boulevard

POP UP IN PARKS

Chinese Lantern Festival. Photo by J. Fusco.

DRAGON BEER GARDEN, part of the Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square, is a ticketed affair, but when else can you sip a microbrew among fantastical light-up silk sculptures? Open nightly August 13. $22-$25 per adult. 200 N. 6th Street

The Oval XP, a beer garden in a pop-up park in Philly.
The Oval XP.

OVAL XP. The this summer-only spot put its pop-up beer garden in a pop-up park. Across the street from the art museum, two dozen taps pour locally brewed beer for people sitting in Adirondack chairs. Also: It’s the only beer garden with a Ferris wheel. Open through August 20. 2451 Ben Franklin Parkway

A crowd of people sit on the grass and at picnic tables on the bank of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, where there are so many things to do.
Courtesy of Parks on Tap.

PARKS ON TAP.  Combining public drinking, city parks, and some yummy plates,, Philly’s roaming outdoor bar pops up in green spaces across Philly, through September. usually Wednesday through Sunday. Check calendar for updates.

Photo courtesy of PHS

PHS POP UPS. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) hosts two seasonal pop-up gardens: one on South Street and another in Manayunk. Both planted (obviously) al fresco venues combine a bar, restaurant, plants and games — open daily through October. 1438 South Street and 106 Jamestown Avenue

Rodin Garden Bar. Photo by Elizabeth Leitzell.

RODIN MUSEUM GARDEN BAR opens every Friday, from 4 to 8:30pm, through August 25. Leashed pets and kids (not leashed) are welcome, but save the Rosé spritzers and Paloma cocktails for yourself. Free. 2151 Ben Franklin Parkway

BREWERIES — WITH BEER GARDENS

People sit in Adirondack chairs at night behind Attic Brewing Co. in Garmantown, Philadelphia.
Attic Brewing Co.

ATTIC BREWING CO. Behind this environmentally and socially responsible Germantown brewery: 9,000 square feet of lawn games and Adirondack chairs. Food trucks visit, and Deke’s Bar-B-Que is always next door. Open daily. 137 Berkley Street

People sit on red benches on a covered platform beneath a rail bridge at Love City Brewing Co's "Gardens" in Philadelphia.
Love City Gardens.

LOVE CITY GARDENS. Spring Garden’s approachable Love City Brewing opened its across-the-street gardens beneath a rail bridge. There’s covered and uncovered seating for Eraserhood IPAs and food from visiting trucks. Open Friday through Sunday. Across from 1023 Hamilton Street

People sit at picnic tables with striped umbrellas outside Philadelphia Brewing Co., a brick brewery in Fishtown, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Brewing Co.

PHILADELPHIA BREWING CO. This longstanding Fishtown microbrewery has picnic tables out front, cafe tables out back for chilling with a Kenzinger lager or a Walt Wit. Food trucks visit often. Open daily. 2240 Frankford Avenue

Two poured beers flank small hamburgers (sliders) in a paper tray. behind them: Plants. At the Wissahickon Brewing
Wissahickon Brewing Company.

WISSAHICKON BREWING COMPANY. Coffee and kombucha in the morning, beer and food trucks by evening. This park-side (and railroad-side) spot has lots of space indoors and out to enjoy all the things. 3705 W. School House Lane

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