Passyunk Square in Philadelphia has revitalized and transformed itself into a hotbed of fine and casual dining. With such a mix of ages and cultures living in the area, we’ve found bars for a variety of budgets and tastes. Read ahead for our guide to the 10 Best Bars in Passyunk Square.
The Pub on Passyunk East (P.O.P.E)
Bar, Pub, American, Pub Grub
Known as the P.O.P.E, this neighborhood bar has a fourteen-draft rotation system featuring some of the nation’s best microbreweries, and the bottle selection also includes rare domestics and fine imports. From 4-6PM on weeknights they have half-priced drafts. Their popular rock n’ roll jukebox is a favorite with the young crowd, as is the eclectic bar menu. The darkness and stained-glass windows of the dark pub add a gothic feel.
Fountain Porter
Bar, Charcuterie, Vegetarian, Pub Grub
This sleek, rustic-chic bar is a great asset to the Passyunk neighborhood. Their beer list includes a few local and national craft breweries, like Neshaminy Cream Ale or Founder’s Oatmeal Stout, and the soundtrack is a great vinyl selection, appeasing the younger clientele. Fountain Porter is a no-frills, laid-back atmosphere, while the wooden bar table in the back is perfect under low candlelight for a date night. The menu consists of charcuterie, pickled artisanal vegetables and cheeses.
Devil's Den
With a large beer list including 17 rotating drafts and over 200 bottles of craft and imported beer, Devil’s Den is a solid beer fix, and their food menu boasts a wide variety of mussels and sandwiches. Happy hours are every weekday from 5PM-7PM and include half-off all beers and their tapas menu. The den is excellent for experiencing different beers without the trek up to Center City. An added bonus is the cozy working fireplace to cozy up to during winter months.
Located at the busy intersection of East Passyunk and 9th Street, this large open-spaced garage is a fun and lively industrial-style bar that draws in a young and casual working crowd. Their huge selection of beers ranges from domestic craft breweries to seasonal imports to IPAs, pale ales and stouts. Garage’s indoor food truck changes daily with local chefs and guests cooking a variety of different foods, artisanal and home style recipes to street food meals. The bar also has pool tables and skee-ball for a fun distraction.
Stateside
If you’re looking for a fun and wide-ranging cocktail menu, Stateside is just the place. It was rated one of the top 50 bars in Philadelphia by Philadelphia Magazine‘s Foobooz. With their infusions of all-American spirits and beers, the bar is a good stop-by before a meal at another Passyunk restaurant. However, their menu focuses on a large array of small plates and cocktail specialties, which also pair well with menu items, just ask the bartenders. Address & phone number: 1536 E Passyunk Ave Philadelphia, PA 19147 215-551-2500
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Paradiso Restaurant & Wine Bar
Bar, Restaurant, Wine Bar, Italian, Mediterranean, Vegetarian
A classic Italian restaurant, Paradiso also boasts a dignified marble wine bar. The specialty cocktails and regal wine list will have guests sipping tasteful imported wines from Italy and France among others. Most house wines are priced from $8-$9 for a glass, most bottles are under $40, and the wines range from sparkling to several whites and reds. They also have a cocktail menu with specialty martinis and boozy bourbon wonders to appease the palate.
Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar is a fun, divey karaoke bar just steps away from the Garage. The local institution gets pretty packed, but its patrons will get a view of the authentic South Philadelphia lifestyle and attitude. On Friday nights fun karaoke, is hosted by DJ Lars, the beers are always cheap, and ask for specials like the mixed drink, single or double. As its namesake suggests, if it’s a patrons birthday, they’ll get a free shot. Smoking is allowed in this bar, so be aware.
Boot & Saddle
Music Venue
The nice deal about Boot & Saddle that it features a late happy hour and delicious cocktails. Tuesdays through Saturdays (or any show night), happy hour starts from 6:30PM-8:30PM, serving half-priced select cocktails and beers. Western pictorials and themes run throughout the bar for a cool mix of rustic and elegant vintage designs. It’s nice to have a bar where you can enjoy a beer while watching some great, local musicians as well.
Watkins Drinkery
At Watkins Drinkery, the excellent happy hour is all week long. From 5PM-7PM all their draft beers are half-price. The taps are constantly rotating, so patrons will get a good mix of seasonal brews and new favorites. A pool table upstairs help to liven this cozy little joint, and you’ll gourmet fare on this warm gastropub’s menu. Address & phone number: 1712 S 10th St Philadelphia, PA 19148 215-339-0175
Townsend
Townsend is a full restaurant, but the bar deserves its own spotlight as well, as it boasts a menu of wonderful wines and cocktails. Wines range from Italian, French and Spanish Rose/Orange to Italian and Californian reds and Spanish sparkling classics. The head bartender, Keith Raimondi has gained acclaim from the Philadelphia Inquirer to Spike TV’s Bar Rescue with his exotic blends of obscure bitters. Drinks here are priced reasonably from around $10+, which is worth it for the high-end experience.
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