Prepare for Spring with Great Outdoor Bars!
The weather lately has been nothing shy of a rollercoaster, feelin’ like springtime one day and hitting us with an insane wind chill the next. Those few days we’ve had in the 60’s, though, are enough to make us thirsty for springtime. Slowly, but surely, it’s on its way.
Who doesn’t appreciate the little things in life, like sipping a springy pale ale in a nice outdoor area during the first nice days of the season? If that’s not taunting enough, here are the best places in the city to grab a brew and sit outside.
Frankford Hall
Grab your Lederhosen and head over to Frankford Hall!
Frankford Ave in Fishtown is home to a great stretch of awesome bars, but during the spring, Frankford Hall tops the charts. We all know that Stephen Starr can hardly do wrong, and this widely-loved biergarten is proof. The outdoor courtyard provides communal picnic tables that seat 240 comers-and-goers – it’s the perfect set up for making new friends over a game of Jenga, which is provided by the bar. If you’re not already sold, know this: the draft beers – of which there are usually nine or so on tap – are sold in half-steins or steins. After drinking one or two of those, you’ll work up an appetite for the cuisine, which includes schnitzels, spaetzle with gravy, Bavarian pretzels, and more. It’s the true biergarten experience with a modern edge.
Standard Tap
Slightly hidden upstairs at Standard Tap is this amazing deck
There’s no better brunch and/or late lunch location than the roof deck at Standard Tap in NoLibs. Nestled in the heart of Liberty Walk, standard tap is unassuming from the outside, and on the inside, it’s your run-of-the-mill gastropub. However, climb a set of stairs and round the corner to find that you have access to an upstairs, outdoor deck that overlooks 2nd street. Enjoy the breeze while sipping on one of their many craft beers or handmade cocktails. And, don’t worry, you’re protected with a roof if it rains.
Backyard at Opa – Drury Beer Garden
Perhaps the most solid Center City outdoor option
If you’re looking for a neat outdoor place to grab a drink in Center City, the Drury Beer Garden is a solid choice. Shabby-chic milkcrates make for chairs while construction spools are tables, which make for a quaint seating area. Ropes of dangling lights set a fairytale-esque scene. Like Frankford Hall, this beer garden has Jenga and ping pong to offer if you’re looking for entertainment while you wait for indoor seating. The coconut-oil drenched chicken fingers and French fries are a neighborhood favorite, which can be washed down with relatively cheap beers or sweet sangria.
Cantina Los Caballitos
Chips, Taco, Margarita’s…’nuf said
Head on over to East Passyunk for some outdoor food and drink at Cantina Los Caballitos – it’s what all the cool kids are doing. Part dark-Mexican gastropub, part sunny outdoor bar, you can’t beat a spot with awesome blood orange margaritas and free chips and salsa. If you’re worried about it being crowded, Cantina is the place to go since it has a larger outdoor seating area than anywhere else in the neighborhood. It’s a great place to grab 5 friends and go for cheap brunch or have some tacos.
Coming This Summer: Independence Beer Garden!
Not open yet, but the mock up looks awesome!
We can’t say much about a spot that isn’t open yet, but we can say that it’s exciting. Chef Michael Shulson has recently made a deal with the owners of One South Independence Mall West, which means that sooner rather than later, there will be a beer garden with a view of the Liberty Bell, just like there was during the days of the founding fathers. The plan is to open on the 4th of July, when tables will be placed under a large tent, newly-planted trees, and the big archway (in case of rain). In true beer garden form, there will also be shuffleboard and other games to play.
