Philly's Beer Gardens — and Other Seasonal Drinking Spaces

Drinking outdoors, whether you’re into beer, wine, cocktails or mocktails, is a fleeting, weather-dependent pleasure in Philadelphia. Our advice: Take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a rooftop bar, beer garden or patio situation while 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 OUT 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 amazing skyline views. Also, there’s dance parties and yoga classes. And, Jason Kelce’s a fan. Open Wednesday through Sunday. 800 Mifflin Street

Outdoor bar El Techo in Center City Philadelphia. — El Techo.

El TECHO is the rooftop outpost of Center City’s Condesa, a literally elevated taqueria with mezcal margaritas, zero proof refrescos, all kinds of tacos, dips for totopos, plus flan- and sour cherry-flavor Mexican popsicles — paletas. Open daily. 1830 Ludlow 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

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

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. Open daily. 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

CHILL AT 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

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, pretzel bites, spicy Caesars, cornhole, Adirondack chairs and 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.

OPENING SOON: MURAL CITY WINE GARDEN, the outdoor offshoot of Kensington’s Mural City Cellars, serves their own wines in a new outdoor spot, starting in early May. Vintner-owners Nicholas Ducos and Francesca Galarus are known for their sparkling wines, frosé and a pinot gris made from West Chester-grown grapes. 2211 Frankford Avenue

OPENING SOON: PENTRIDGE STATION is a testament to West Philly spirit. Fixed up and decorated with local art and flowers, this lovely lot opens May 5 and reopens every Friday through Sunday for live bands, DJs, guest chefs and more fun than you can imagine. Family- and dog-friendly. 5116 Pentridge Street

The outdoor deck of the Standard Tap in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. — Standard Tap.

STANDARD TAP. More of a deck than a rooftop, the Tap’s outdoor upstairs alcove makes up for its lack of skyline views with charm, local beers on tap, great cocktails and better-than-basics American fare. Above your head: A greenhouse. Open daily. 901 N. 2nd 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

OPENING MAY 4: WINE GARDEN. Mother and daughter Nazaret Teclesambet and Favian Sutton have reimagined a beer garden — for wine drinkers. It’s an elegant Cedar Park space, perfect for mimosas, rosé and a sundress. Open Thursday through Sunday. 5019 Baltimore Avenue

RELAX 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

POP UP IN PARKS

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.

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, and both are wheelchair accessible. 1438 South Street and 106 Jamestown Avenue

Rodin Garden Bar. Photo by Elizabeth Leitzell.

OPENING IN LATE MAY: RODIN MUSEUM GARDEN BAR opens on Fridays from May 24, from 4 to 8:30pm. Leashed pets and kids (not leashed) are welcome, but save the Rosé spritzers and Paloma cocktails for yourself. Free. 2151 Ben Franklin Parkway

Chinese Lantern Festival. Photo by J. Fusco.

OPENING IN LATE JUNE: 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 June 20 through August 18. $25-$28 per adult. 200 N. 6th Street

HIT UP BREWERIES AND 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 outside at long wooden tables at Frankford Hall, a biergarten in Fishtown, Philadelphia. — Frankford Hall. Photo by C. Smyth for Visit Philadelphia.

FRANKFORD HALL. This expansive, popular, gravel-floored Fishtown mainstay has true biergarten vibes, right down to its selection of sausages, giant Bavarian pretzels, sauerkraut, Stroopwafel milkshakes and massive list of German beers with names like Leipziger and Bitburger. Open daily. 1210 Frankford Avenue

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