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
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
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
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. 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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. 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
MORE DINING AND DRINKING IN PHILADELPHIA