Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co Philadelphia
Center City / Rittenhouse
Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. is Philadelphia's most celebrated craft cocktail bar — a Rittenhouse speakeasy consistently ranked among America's best cocktail bars that presents extraordinary cocktails in the most beautifully designed bar interior in Pennsylvania. Its consistent recognition in national top-100 bar lists, its extraordinary cocktail program, and its role in establishing Philadelphia as one of America's serious cocktail cities make it the flagship of Philadelphia's acclaimed bar culture.
Ranstead Room Philadelphia
Center City West
Ranstead Room is Philadelphia's most beloved speakeasy — a Center City cocktail lounge hidden in a Rittenhouse alley presenting extraordinary cocktails in the most genuinely intimate and exclusive drinking environment in Pennsylvania. Its hidden location (accessible only if you know the address), its extraordinary cocktail craftsmanship, and its reputation among Philadelphia's bar community as the city's finest cocktail experience make it one of the most sought-after bar destinations in the mid-Atlantic.
Varga Bar Philadelphia
Midtown Village
Varga Bar is Philadelphia's most celebrated LGBTQ+ bar and cocktail destination — a Washington Square West establishment serving the Gayborhood community with exceptional cocktails, craft beers, and pin-up art in one of the most welcoming bar atmospheres in Philadelphia. Philadelphia's Gayborhood (one of the oldest established LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in the United States) and Varga's consistent quality create the most beloved LGBTQ+ bar experience in Pennsylvania.
Round Corner Cantina Philadelphia
Northern Liberties
Round Corner Cantina is one of Philadelphia's most beloved neighborhood bars — a Northern Liberties taco bar with outstanding margaritas and tequila selection that has become a gathering place for the creative and artistic community of one of Philadelphia's most rapidly evolving neighborhoods. Its extraordinary value proposition (exceptional food and drinks at genuinely affordable prices in a city known for its value dining culture) and its community spirit make it one of Northern Liberties' most beloved establishments.
Standard Tap Philadelphia
Northern Liberties
Standard Tap is Philadelphia's most influential neighborhood gastropub — a Northern Liberties establishment that pioneered the American craft beer bar concept when it opened in 1999, serving exclusively Pennsylvania craft beers alongside outstanding food sourced from local farms. Its role in launching Philadelphia's extraordinary gastropub culture and its consistent presentation of outstanding Pennsylvania craft beers have made it one of the most historically significant bars in American craft beer history.
Ortlieb's Jazz Club Philadelphia
Northern Liberties
Ortlieb's is Philadelphia's most beloved jazz venue — a Northern Liberties club presenting the finest jazz and blues musicians in an intimate atmosphere that honors Philadelphia's extraordinary jazz heritage. Philadelphia's jazz legacy (John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Pat Martino, McCoy Tyner are all Philadelphia natives) and its vibrant contemporary jazz community create one of America's most historically and musically rich jazz markets.
The Khyber Pass Pub Philadelphia
Old City
Khyber Pass Pub is Philadelphia's most beloved neighborhood bar and live music destination — an Old City establishment presenting indie and alternative acts alongside outstanding craft beers and whiskeys in a genuinely unpretentious Philadelphia bar atmosphere. The pub's extraordinary connection to Philadelphia's independent music community and its role as a gathering place for the city's creative class make it one of the most important small music venues in Pennsylvania.
Yards Brewing Philadelphia
Northern Liberties
Yards Brewing is Philadelphia's most beloved craft brewery — a Northern Liberties taproom producing the famous Philadelphia Pale Ale, Brawler Pugilist Style Ale, and Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale (recreated from a historic recipe) that have made Yards synonymous with Philadelphia craft beer quality. The brewery's extraordinary connection to Philadelphia history and its role in establishing the Northern Liberties neighborhood as a craft beer destination make it one of Pennsylvania's most culturally significant beverage establishments.
Voltage Lounge Philadelphia
Old City
Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood is the most historically significant entertainment district in American history — the birthplace of American democracy where the most important historical buildings in the United States are surrounded by a vibrant concentration of bars, restaurants, and music venues. First Friday art gallery openings, the BYOB restaurant culture, and the extraordinary density of historical sites create an entertainment atmosphere of unique patriotic resonance.
The Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia
Fishtown
The Foundry at the Fillmore Philadelphia is one of the East Coast's most important mid-size music venues — a Fishtown venue presenting alternative, indie, and hip-hop acts in a beautifully designed industrial setting that has helped make Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood the most exciting arts and music destination in the mid-Atlantic. Philadelphia's extraordinary music heritage (from Dick Clark's American Bandstand to the Philadelphia soul sound to the punk rock contributions of the Dead Milkmen and Jawbreaker) creates one of America's most historically rich music markets.
The Franklin Bar
Rittenhouse Square
The Franklin Bar is one of Philadelphia's most acclaimed craft cocktail bars — an intimate basement speakeasy below an otherwise unremarkable address in Rittenhouse Square. The bartenders are widely considered among the best in the city, and the drinks list changes regularly to reflect seasonal ingredients and classic techniques. A must-visit for cocktail enthusiasts making the AC corridor trip.
R5 Production Upstairs Philadelphia
Old City / Center City
Philadelphia's Old City cocktail lounge scene represents the most historically resonant bar culture in America — establishments serving cocktails steps from Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the most important constitutional sites in American history. The extraordinary combination of early American history and contemporary cocktail culture creates a bar experience available nowhere else in the United States.