Nightlife · Philadelphia · United States
Philadelphia nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Philadelphia, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: PVSBond; cropped by Beyond My Ken ( talk ) 02:26, 19 March 2012 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Philadelphia nights centre on neighbourhood bars, craft beer, cocktail lounges and live music rather than big clubs. Bars generally serve until 2am, and game nights for the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers and Sixers fill sports bars citywide. The main areas are Fishtown and Northern Liberties, Midtown Village and the Gayborhood, Old City and Rittenhouse.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Washington Square West and Midtown Village
Where to go out
Fishtown and Northern Liberties
Breweries, music venues such as Johnny Brenda's and the Fillmore, and late bars along Frankford Avenue.
Midtown Village and the Gayborhood
The 13th Street restaurant and cocktail cluster and the city's main LGBTQ+ bars around 12th and 13th Streets.
Old City
Bars and clubs along 2nd and 3rd Streets that draw a younger crowd on weekend nights.
Rittenhouse
Hotel bars, wine bars and polished cocktail lounges around the square and on Sansom Street.
Nightlife tips
- Many bars have happy hours in the early evening with discounted local beer and snacks.
- Most bars stop serving around 2am; plan a ride-hail home if you are staying outside Center City.
- Bring photo ID; bars check it regardless of age.
Evening sights
Waterfront · Fairmount Park
Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River Trail
See the lit-up boathouses from the art museum's rear terrace or the far bank on West River Drive after sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Photo spot
- Active
Waterfront · Penn's Landing
Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing
Go around dusk on a summer evening, when the lights come on over the water.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 21°C (70°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:59 | -3°C (27°F) | 11 |
| April | About 19:39 | 7°C (45°F) | 11 |
| July | About 20:29 | 21°C (70°F) | 10 |
| October | About 18:21 | 9°C (48°F) | 9 |
Getting home late
- Walking — The grid makes navigation easy: numbered streets run north–south and tree names such as Walnut, Chestnut and Spruce run east–west.
- Metro — Use a SEPTA Key card for fares and transfers rather than paying cash.
- Bus — SEPTA buses and trolleys cover the rest of the city, including routes along the Parkway and to the Italian Market and East Passyunk.
- Ride-hailing — Uber, Lyft and taxis are easy to find in Center City and useful late at night or for South Philly and Fishtown.
Late-night bites
- Soft pretzel — Street vendors on Center City corners, pretzel bakeries and the Pennsylvania Dutch stalls in Reading Terminal Market.
- Tastykake — Every convenience store and supermarket in the region.
Staying safe at night
The main visitor areas are busy and generally comfortable, but car break-ins are common, so leave nothing visible in parked cars. Late at night, stick to well-lit streets and take a ride-hail rather than waiting at quiet subway stations, especially on the northern Market–Frankford Line.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and first-timers
Washington Square West and Midtown Village
Between Old City and Broad Street, this area mixes tree-lined residential blocks with the restaurant and bar cluster of 13th Street and the long-established LGBTQ+ nightlife of the Gayborhood. Pine Street's Antique Row is on its southern edge, and Reading Terminal Market and the convention center are a short walk north.
- Good
- Central between Old City and Rittenhouse; Lively restaurants and bars; Close to Regional Rail at Jefferson Station
- Watch out
- Busy and noisy on weekend nights; Convention weeks push up hotel rates
- Nearby
- Reading Terminal Market, Washington Square, Antique Row, Jefferson Station
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Philadelphia?
Fishtown and Northern Liberties, Midtown Village and the Gayborhood and Old City. Breweries, music venues such as Johnny Brenda's and the Fillmore, and late bars along Frankford Avenue.
+Which area of Philadelphia is best for nightlife?
Washington Square West and Midtown Village: The Gayborhood's rainbow street signs, 13th Street bars and Antique Row.