The 9 Best Bars and Cafes In Philadelphia

by Vanst 17 May 2025

written by Vanst 17 May 2025

It’s no secret that Philadelphians like to drink. The city’s taken part in America’s drinking culture since colonial times, with taverns serving as the place to talk shop and take sips.

A key player in the craft beer movement—with a brewery history dating back to the 17th century—as well as its ever-growing cocktail culture, there’s something for every fancy, including a booming non-alc and cafe scene. But you have to know where to look.

It’s easy to drop into Philly’s bustling Center City, where upscale bars and cocktail lounges are plentiful. Venture out and you’ll discover boîtes that keep the city’s spirit alive—from interesting wine bars to late-night havens for chai, and zero-proof third spaces redefining nightlife.

Take Olde Kensington, a warehouse district where Pray Tell winery owner Tom Caruso showcases Philadelphia grapes, making wine that pays tribute to his family’s roots.

Or the Callowhill neighborhood in Philly’s lower north district, where several bars and breweries have popped up within the last five years including Poison Heart, Triple Bottom Brewing, and the new Doom Bar, a heavy metal bar with rare herbal whiskeys and vegan nachos.

Then, there’s the emerging food and drink scene sweeping through neighborhoods like Old City and Fishtown. Almanac, the brainchild of James Beard winner Danny Childs, takes an inspired approach to Japanese drinking culture, while Bar Palmina’s Nikki Graziano uses her life experiences and past relationship with alcohol to inform her approach to zero-proof drinks.

So whether you’re sipping a Japanese whisky or enjoying a traditional chai, these nine spots reflect the city’s ever-changing landscape—one that’s as diverse, bold, and welcoming as the people who call it home.

Photograph by Paolo Jay Agbay

310 Market Street, Philadelphia
instagram.com/almanacphilly

James Beard Award–winning author (and nationally recognized bartender) Danny Childs leads the hyper-seasonal cocktail program Almanac, a project that marries American and Japanese drinking cultures with stylish results. Located upstairs from the Old City omakase restaurant, Ogawa Sushi & Kappo, Almanac honors the Japanese 24 Solar terms—which guides the availability of seasonal ingredients within 24 “microseasons”—by sourcing botanical ingredients that were grown, foraged, or farmed from within the northeast region. Signatures within the dimly lit bar include the Kasugai Sour—made with barley shochu, Midori, yuzu, lime, and Calpico—a punchy, yet delightfully smooth daiquiri with chewy notes of barley that linger after each sip. The Hey Mami cocktail embraces shun—known as the peak moment of an ingredient’s life—by blending seasonal delicacies with Japanese whisky and bourbon. Depending on the time of year, the drink has celebrated peak-season tomatoes, earthy mushrooms, and bright spring alliums.