NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Outdoor Drinking

Where to find al fresco watering holes in Philly

It’s beer garden season in Philadelphia—now through mid- to late-fall. Here’s where to find some of our faves:

THE GARDEN AT CHERRY STREET PIER: You’d be hard pressed to find a restaurant with more stunning views than The Garden at Cherry Street Pier, which sits in the shadow of the hulking Benjamin Franklin Bridge and along the Delaware River. More than 200 people can comfortably fit in the open-air, industrial venue, which is outfitted with quaint sidewalk café-style seating, with towering trees and overflowing planters separating each table. The menu boasts summer-picnic fare (think pulled-pork sandwiches, salads and sides) local ales, wine and craft cocktails. For now, The Garden is open on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting, from noon to 10pm. Hours will be extended throughout the week once the weather warms up.

THE GROVE AT ASSEMBLY LOUNGE: For summer 2022, the swanky rooftop bar overlooking the Benjamin Franklin Parkway transforms The Grove, a lush tropical garden in the sky rife with exotic plants, vibrant, textured decor, and a menu featuring refreshing island cocktails 🍹. It kicks off with a bash this Tuesday night, May 24, from 6 to 9pm featuring live music and an oyster and Prosecco bar.

INDEPENDENCE BEER GARDEN: The bustling beer garden just steps from Independence Hall is back open in 2022 with 20,000-square-feet of open-air space that packs in multiple bars, drinking games like corn hole and Jenga, and a bunch of picnic tables so you can spread out to enjoy your barbecue-style grub and beer, beer, beer.

MORGAN’S PIER: This vibrant beer and cocktail garden brings live DJs, comfort food and all kinds of refreshing adult beverages to the Delaware River waterfront through fall. Grub options include a variety of snacks, flatbreads, sandwiches and seafood, while drinks range from frothy draft beers to a colorful selection of speciality and frozen cocktails and wine.

NEW LIBERTY DISTILLERY: The Cocktail Garden at New Liberty Distillery — the handy work of the distillery’s staff during the pandemic — offers yard games and a robust cocktail menus under twinkling lights and a soundtrack of surf rock and ’90s jams. (Reopens June 16.)

PHS POP-UP BEER GARDENS: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s popular pop-up beer gardens—on South Street and in Manayunk—are gorgeous urban garden oases with stunning plant and garden decorations, bars full of food and drink and, new this year at Manayunk, a new game room with foosball, Skee-Ball, pop-a-shot and more. Plan a night there around some of the events taking place throughout the season—from plant swaps, brewery pop-ups, craft nights and more.

RODIN MUSEUM GARDEN BAR: The scenic pop-up beer garden at the Rodin Museum serves beer, wine, craft cocktails and small plates in the vicinity of the famous Thinker. Dogs are welcome.

Eat and Drink

Great Philly restaurants and bars to check out right now

If you’re looking for great places to eat and drink locally, we have you covered. Check the links below for ideas about where to eat outdoors and get takeout, and what breweries and distilleries to visit when you’re hankering for an adult bev.

Guides to dining out (or eating in)

Outdoor Dining in Philadelphia
Follow our guide to outdoor dining in Philly this spring to discover spots around town for delicious food and drink in gardens, on tucked-away patios and other Insta-worthy surrounds
  • This photo of Kalaya owner Chutatip 'Nok' Suntaranon accompanies an article about the best women-owned restaurants in Philadelphia
Great Women-Owned Restaurants in Philly
Philly’s women-run restaurants are helping us all survive the pandemic. Here, some of our favorites to try right now.
  • Order cheesy pupusas from El Merkury for takeout
Philadelphia Takeout for Good
It’s no surprise that local restaurants have spent the Covid-19 crisis finding ways to give to their community. Here, 11 generous local spots you can support with your takeout order

Guides on where to drink

  • This photo accompanies a guide to the best Philadelphia breweries that have delicious beer and also give back to the community
Philly Breweries Where Giving Back Is On Tap
A guide to breweries in Philadelphia that are raising funds for locals (and more) in need. Cheers!
  • This photo accompanies
Philadelphia Distilleries Doing Good
Want to get a drink that you can feel good about? Check out these awesome distilleries in Philadelphia serving up good spirits—from vodka to bourbon to inventively flavored bitters—and good causes for the community

Philly restaurants and bars doing good

  • A plate of pierogis at Mom-Mom's Kitchen in Philadelphia
Foodizen: Why Is Ravioli Worth More Than Pierogi?
How Mom-Mom’s Kitchen is working to spread the good word on Polish food in Philadelphia. Their latest venture on South Street is set to open this winter.
  • A spread of takeout food from Jezabel's Argentine Bakery in Philadelphia
Foodizen: Forget Back to “Normal"
Jezabel’s Argentine Bakery & BYO is doing better than ever in its 10-year history by pivoting to not just survive, but thrive during the pandemic—a start to rethinking the restaurant industry as we have known it
  • Chris Cho, chef at Center City Korean restaurant Seorabol
Foodizen: Beyond BBQ
Is Chris Cho’s Center City Seorabol the start of a Korean food empire?
  • A New York strip steak with roasted garlic on top at Alpen Rose steakhouse in Philadelphia
Foodizen: Meditations on Meat
Michael Schulson’s fabulous new Alpen Rose puts steak back on the menu. Can we find a way to make peace with meat?
  • wine samples and cheese board in front of computer for Tria's virtual wine classes
A Brand, Not Just a Restaurant
Center City’s Tria Cafe brought back its beloved Fermentation School (virtually) to help it survive the pandemic. Who needs tables anyway?
Foodizen: Breaking Bread
The next in a series on the nexus of food and culture explores Philly’s new wave of sustainable, socially-conscious bakeries at the forefront of change
This is your grandma’s coffee shop
Old City’s Frieda Cafe offers the opposite of working remotely: Human interaction across the ages
  • Saxbys owner and founder Nick Bayer holds a card showing his company's B Corp status
Business for Good: Coffee With a (Updated) Mission
Saxbys has been training young, socially-conscious entrepreneurs and uplifting local communities for years. Now, it’s “walking the talk” with its new B Corp status

Current trends on the local food and drink scene

Foodizen: What's in Your Glass?
Our series on the nexus of food and culture explores the natural wine trend that has finally caught on in Philly. Will drinking it make you a better person?
Foodizen: When Celery Was the Avocado Toast of Its Day
A Fishtown restaurant takes us on a culinary journey into Pennsylvania’s past. Waffles and catfish, anyone?
Foodizen: "What are you?”
Filipino food has lately been at the center of Twitter outrage. Our series on the nexus of food and society finds Philly’s newest cuisine can’t be unlinked from its history and culture
Foodizen: Not Cambodia Town
Our series on the nexus of food and culture explores the flavors of the South Philly area around Mifflin Square Park, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city
Foodizen: Georgian On My Mind
The next in a series on the nexus of food and urban culture takes us on a journey—to the heart of Eurasia's Georgian cuisine in the far Northeast
Foodizen: Satay in the City
The series on the nexus of food and culture looks at satay, a window into Philly’s substantial Indonesian community

Fun Philly food history

  • A black couple hold ice creams toward the camera, smiling
How Philly Invented Ice Cream (As We Know It)
It was African American chefs who created the summertime treat we consume by the gallons, right here in the city where America was born
  • Pepper Pot Soup painting
Foodizen Podcast: The Most Famous Soup You’ve Never Heard Of
The latest episode of the food history podcast examines the roots of pepper pot soup, sold by Campbell’s for 110 years. No, it was not invented in Camden

Fun Things to Do in Philly This Week + Weekend

Fun Things to Do in Philly This Week + Weekend

BY The Philadelphia Citizen Staff

Sep. 14, 2022

Print

The weather will be here, and you should be too. This weekend features a huge Night Market in Northern Liberties, Parks on Tap in Fairmount, opera like you’ve never imagined it, and the Unity Cup semi-finals.

Your choices don’t stop at events, though. Make this the weekend when you check out that local brewery or distillery you’ve always wanted to visit. Have dinner outdoors somewhere on a pretty patio or in a garden. And check our list of ongoing fall fun to see what kind of shenanigans are happening at places like Spruce Street Harbor Park and Cherry Street Pier.

Want to know what's happening later this season?
Your guide to fall in Philly — the best festivals, outdoor activities and more
By Josh Middleton

THINGS TO DO IN PHILLY THIS WEEK + WEEKEND

Parks on Tap at Mathias Baldwin Park.

🍺 PARKS ON TAP COMES TO: Fairmount, for five pop-up parties in Mathias Baldwin Park. Expect beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, savory snacks — and a line to get in. Wednesday to Sunday, September 21 to 25 (Wednesday through Friday, 4 to 10pm; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 10pm). 423 N. 19 Street, pay as you go.

“Black Lodge,” a cinematic opera.

🎶 GO TO THE OPERA. (NO, REALLY.) Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O22 lets you immerse yourself in person, or take budget-minded baby steps with shows in film and online (just $25 for all). We suggest taking your body there: There are still tickets to rare Rossini classic Otello (September 23, 25, 30, October 2) and for film-live performance mashup Black Lodge (October 1 & 2), and the nearly nightly Bearded Ladies Cabaret (September 21 – October 2). Various locations, prices.

“An Untitled Love.”

🎭 CATCH THE FRINGE: There’s still some time to catch some of the Fringe Festival‘s hundreds of edge-pushing theatrical performances. This week, you gotta see the evening-long dance event An Untitled Love from A.I.M by Kyle Abraham at the Philadelphia Film Center, featuring the music of D’Angelo (1412 Chestnut Street); plus Ants on a Log, cabaret, immersive theater … Through October 2. Locations citywide, various prices.

The Philadelphia Unity Cup.

⚽ WATCH PHILLY’S BEST FUTBOL: The battle for Unity Cup plays into the semi-finals — and finals at the Linc! On September 24 at 10am, it’s a North American battle between Mexico and U.S.A. At noon, multi-year champ Liberia faces first-time semi-finalist Albania. All matches are free. James Ramp Playground, 3300 Solly Avenue.

Philadelphia Polo Classic.

🐎 WEAR HATS. STOMP DIVETS. How regal is this? Fairmount Park welcomes the first-ever Philadelphia Polo Classic, featuring some of the world’s biggest champions, a hat contest and a noon divet stomp. Event planners expect 3,000 guests for this benefit for Work to Ride,. General admission ($25) tickets for lawn or bleacher seating are available day-of, and include access to tents, food. September 24 from 10am to 4:30pm. Off Reservoir Drive, inside of Edgley Drive.

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Fishtown Fall FestivALE.

🍹 DAY DRINK IN FISHTOWN. Its name is its purpose: The Fishtown Fall FeastivALE is all about the beer (and the Fishtown ice teas), and the food that tastes so good with them. Go for the Evil Genius and sour Meyers. Stay because you need a Heffe empanada or a French dip. Games and a dunk tank give it a carnival vibe. Local DJs make it cool. September 24, from noon to 8pm. Franklin Avenue between Girard and Columbia avenues, with activities on Master, Thompson and Lee streets.

Suzanne Sheer, courtesy of Zach Frate.

🥁 CATCH TROMBONE SHORTY, SUZANNE SHEER, MORE: The Navy Yard’s Marine Parade Grounds hosts a vendor village, food trucks — but mostly music, including Trombone Shorty, Chill Moody, Suzanne Sheer …  in the Philly Arts & Music Festival. Rain or shine. $35 and $60. September 24  from 1 to 8pm. 4747 S. Broad Street.

Northern Liberties Night Market.

🥤 PARTY OUTSIDE ON N. 2ND. Northern Liberties’ biggest Night Market yet has 60+ food vendors include 3 Roosters Thai, Angie’s Vietnamese Cuisine, Gigi’s & Big R, Li Ping Corn Co., plus adult bevs by El Camino, Urban Village, Standard Tap, and Snacktime in the North Bowl lot. September 24, from 5 to 10pm. N. 2nd Street between W. Laurel Street and Fairmount Avenue

Puerto Rican Festival Parade / Courtesy of Visit Philadelphia

🇵🇷 PARADE FOR PUERTO RICO. If you’re ever gonna show your support for Puerto Rico, this is the week to do it. Get to the island territory’s annual parade along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and bring your single-star, red-and-white-striped flag. September 25 from noon to 3pm.

Former Union player Sébastien Le Toux.

🇺🇦 SOCCER FOR UKRAINE. U.S. national, MLS and World Cup players, including Sébastien Le Toux and Heather Mitts, appear on the field before the Union play Mexico’s C.F. Pachuca on September 24. September 25 from 2 to 5pm, they show up at the Ukrainian American Sports Center – Tryzub for a free fan fest — where mere mortals can meet them.  events benefit war-stricken Ukraine.  1 Lower State Road, North Wales.

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QUICK HITS 👋

☮️ PEACE DAY PHILLY. Theme of this weeklong event: “End racism. Build peace” with a global minute of silence at City Hall, September 21 at noon.

📘 DIVORCE, 100+ YEARS AGO. April White and The Citizen’s Roxanne Patel Shepelavy discuss White’s brilliant book about women pioneers of American divorce, The Divorce Colony at Head House Books, September 21 at 6:30pm. 

🧤 THE BIG GIVE. Donate to Cradles to Crayons at 1 of 24 sites. Most needed: kids’ winter clothing, new underpants and new socks. September 24, 10am to 2pm. 

⛴️ DELAWARE RIVER FESTIVAL. Free RiverLink Ferry and paddle boat rides, free entry to the Seaport Museum. Penn’s Landing. September 24, 10am to 4pm. 

🐕 FLOOFA PAWLOOZA. East Passyunk Fountain hosts a dog fashion show, cat-theme photo booth and shows off adoptable pets. September 25, noon to 5pm.

 

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