Fishtown craft cocktail bars, dive bars, live music venues, and the South Philly spots locals actually drink in.
Philadelphia's bar scene is one of America's most underrated. The city that gave America its first brewery (in 1683), its first bartender's guild, and a beer-drinking culture that predates independence has developed a modern craft cocktail and craft beer scene that rivals cities with far more national recognition. Fishtown — the neighborhood along the Delaware River waterfront north of Old City — has replaced Center City as Philadelphia's most interesting bar district and is now one of the best bar crawl neighborhoods in the Northeast.
Fishtown runs along Frankford Avenue and Girard Avenue north of the Ben Franklin Bridge and has been Philadelphia's most rapidly evolving neighborhood for the past decade. The combination of affordable real estate (relative to Manhattan and Brooklyn) and the city's creative community produced a bar scene that's genuinely distinctive.
1210 Frankford Avenue
A massive German biergarten that has become one of Philadelphia's most beloved bars. Communal long tables, excellent German and American draft beers, excellent pretzels, and a crowd that ranges from families at 5pm to a proper bar scene by 10pm. The outdoor area in summer is one of Philadelphia's great warm-weather bar experiences.
1201 N Frankford Avenue
Fishtown's most important music venue — a beautifully restored bar with an upstairs stage that books the emerging acts that become major names within two years. The burger is one of Philadelphia's best and the beer program is excellent. The combination of great food, great beer, and great live music makes Johnny Brenda's one of the most complete bar experiences in the city.
2113 E Fletcher Street
Fishtown's best cocktail bar — a small, warm room with a menu that changes seasonally and a bartending team that has been recognized among Philadelphia's best. The wine selection is exceptional and the natural wine program is among the most interesting in the city.
1355 N Front Street
A converted whiskey blending factory that has been transformed into one of Philadelphia's most beautiful bars and restaurants. The whiskey program reflects the building's history — an extraordinary selection of American whiskeys in a room that feels like a genuine expression of the spirit. The cocktails are exceptional.
2401 E Norris Street
Fishtown's most popular casual bar — a Mexican-inspired spot with excellent margaritas, cheap beer, and a genuinely fun atmosphere. The patio fills on weekend evenings and the combination of frozen margaritas and Fishtown's generally excellent crowd makes this one of the neighborhood's best middle-of-the-crawl stops.
BarCrwlr's Philadelphia bar crawl covers Fishtown's walkable bar scene, the city's most beloved dive bars, and insider knowledge of where to find the best cocktails and authentic Philly culture.
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