Best of Philly

Best Music Venue

2026 Best Jam Session

Jamey’s House of Music

Blues music is underrepresented in the Philly scene, but this Delco institution maintains a robust schedule of shows (beyond the blues, too). Our favorite? The Sunday blues brunch and jam, where you’re welcome to join the fab band on stage, as many do. The intimate 60-seat venue is run by West Philly resident and bassist Jamey Reilly. His wife, Suyun, holds down the kitchen — you’ve gotta try her fried rice. Read More »

32 Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, PA Website

2025 Best Intimate Music Venue

The Fallser Club

This cozy, 200-person club may be a nonprofit, but the production values are what you’d find at some of the bigger for-profit clubs. The music at what was once a silent film theater leans into the acoustic, world, and alt-folk realms, with some open mics, film screenings, and drag shows thrown in. Don’t miss the Philly Music Fest’s night here on October 18th, featuring local acts Catie Turner, the Lunar Year, and Chioke. Read More »

3721 Midvale Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Website

2022 Best Underutilized Concert Venue

The Dell Music Center

We know the city has a lot on its hands right now, but we wish it would do more with this lovely 6,000-person Fairmount Park amphitheater managed by Parks & Rec. There were only 12 (12!) concerts scheduled for all of July and August. Maybe the city shouldn’t be in the concert business? Read More »

2400 Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA Website

2022 Best Reason to Go Back to the Mann Center

Downstage @ the Mann

This season, the Mann debuted a brand-new seating option: onstage. That’s right. For select shows, the regular seats and lawn are closed off, and the audience sits right up there with the performers. There’s only one Downstage @ the Mann show left this season (sorry; you just missed Nigerian Afrobeat master Femi Kuti), but you can still get tickets for the Resistance Revival Chorus on October 7th. Read More »

5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Website

2022 Best New Music Venue

Anchor Rock Club

If you like the aesthetic and programming of Johnny Brenda’s and Union Transfer, you’ll love this indie venue within feet of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the brainchild of South Philly Tap Room and American Sardine Bar owner (and now Atlantic City developer) John Longacre. This month, look for Guided By Voices (August 20th), the Mountain Goats (August 29), and Philly’s own Low Cut Connie (August 27th). Read More »

247 South New York Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ Website

2020 Best Music Venue We’re Surprised We Like So Much

City Winery

A chain music venue? In the glorified mall that’s the Fashion District, née the Gallery? With a name like City Winery? Yeah, we were skeptical. But the fact is, this place offers an intimate, high-quality experience — with pristine sound and excellent production standards — like no other in the city. Oh, and the wine is great, too. How often can you say that about a music venue? Read More »

990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-479-7373 | Website

2019 Best Small Music Venue

The Living Room at 35 East

Imagine if a professional sound crew turned your favorite hangout room into a spot where impressive local acts and touring musicians liked to stop by and jam. That’s this place. (And it’s BYO, too!) Read More »

35 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA Website

2019 Best Reason to Go to the Met

Its 25 Bars

Finally, a music venue figured out how to not have us stand in line for 20 minutes to pay $13 for a domestic beer. The answer was quite simple: Have lots of bars. Read More »

858 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA Website

2019 Best Cultural Institution

The Philadelphia Orchestra

The upcoming season is one helluva barn burner, with opera great Placido Domingo kicking things off in September; the new series WomenNOW, featuring female composers, conductors and instrumentalists; and the entirety of Bach’s majestic Mass in B minor. Totally subscription-worthy. Read More »

| 215-893-1900 | Website

2018 Best Way to See Big Acts Up Close

The Borgata’s Event Center

This intimate venue is relatively small–only 2,400 seats–but the acts that perform here are anything but. Last month, headliners included Britney Spears and Barry Manilow. This month: Stevie Wonder and Cher. Good luck getting tickets! Read More »

1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ | 609-317-1000 | Website