Where to Drink in Fishtown
Dives, dancing, date picks, and a cabaret club for good measure.
La Serpiente at R&D / Photograph by Alexandra Jones
Fishtown was once the center of Philadelphia’s shad-fishing industry (shocking news based on its name and fish-shaped trash cans, surely). But now the area is a key part of the city’s drinking scene. The next time you’re walking around the neighborhood in search of a bar, use this guide to help find your spot. The list — which ranges from classic dives to first-date picks and a modern cabaret club — focuses on each place’s drink selection and why you’ll like hanging out there. You’ll also find some restaurants with great bar programs and destinations for non-boozy options, too.
Happy drinking, Fishtown.
R&D
Best for: A superstar bartending staff, date night, trying new cocktails.
The bar program at R&D is focused on creative cocktails that use seasonal ingredients, meaning a lot of the drinks here only stick around for a limited time. It’s always hard to pick just one thing from their cocktail menu, and we usually rely on the staff to help make thoughtful recommendations. One standout cocktail to try? The crystal-clear Paloma Milk Punch. R&D hosts happy hour on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. 1206 Frankford Avenue.
Les & Doreen’s Happy Tap
Best for: Drinking at a dive bar, exciting food pop-ups.
You could say Les & Doreen’s Happy Tap is the quintessential dive, and you’d be both right and totally wrong. This time capsule of a bar has video poker, karaoke nights, easy-drinking lagers on special (available in bucket form, naturally), and an interior that hasn’t changed in over 20 years. Les and Doreen Thompson are the second owners to run the narrow rowhouse bar. An adorable fun fact: They originally met at the bar prior to operating it. 1301 East Susquehanna Avenue.
Middle Child Clubhouse
Best for: Daytime hangs, coffee, and non-boozy options — something for everyone.
Middle Child Clubhouse is a coffee shop, bar, restaurant, and neighborhood party all in one. When you’re here, expect to find a number of cocktails on tap, all of which are designed to account for the proper dilution ratio that you’d get from a shaken or stirred cocktail (so the bartenders don’t have to worry about that extra step). The bar program was developed by industry veterans and always includes seasonal offerings, classics, frozen and large-format cocktails, as well as a diverse wine list and a concise beer menu that incorporates options for everyone. MCCH also offers a full coffee program, plus non-alcoholic drinks made with fresh juice. If you work from home, this is a great place to post up — start with a coffee and end with a cocktail. 1232 North Front Street.
Kostas
Best for: Citywides, picklebacks, late-night Greek food.
If you’re from or live in Fishtown, you don’t just know Kostas — you know it well. Located right in the heart of the neighborhood, this Girard Avenue spot is perfect for the last stop of your evening. Drinks cost around $3 to $10, the service is fast, and they offer a huge menu of Greek food that you can snack on (like dolmades or spicy whipped feta cheese and pita). 15 West Girard Avenue.
Clover Club at Next of Kin / Photograph by Patterson Watkins
Next of Kin
Best for: Upscale dive atmosphere.
Best of Philly winner for Best Restaurant for a First Date, Next of Kin earned our praise for serving well-made cocktails “with ingredients you can actually identify.” The neighborhood cocktail bar in the one-time Nunu space is walk-in only, keeping the vibe casual, while the drink menu leans into classics with fine execution. We’re into their silky-sour Clover Club. 1414 Frankford Avenue.
Lloyd Whiskey Bar
Best for: Feeling like you’re drinking at someone’s house.
Lloyd Whiskey Bar will slightly remind you of your grandparents’ basement. That’s by design. In honor of the owner’s father, this neighborhood bar features the best in Dad Drinks. Think: variations on the Old-Fashioned, local beer and whiskey galore, and citywides. Try a Jack & Wendy with Jim Beam Black bourbon, sweet vermouth, apricot jam, fresh lemon, and sage. (There’s also a non-alcoholic version called the Good Time.) While whiskey is in the name and heart of the bar, there are a number of fantastic cocktails if you prefer gin, mezcal, tequila, and amaro. 529 East Girard Avenue.
Fabrika
Best for: A big night out with a date or your friends.
Fabrika made a big splash when they opened at the beginning of 2020 as a modern cabaret club in a once-empty warehouse space. Now, their weekly live shows continue to bring local and touring burlesque, singers, dancers, drag, and circus-style performances. While the artists certainly steal the show, the drinks are really what make nights at Fabrika feel a little sexy. Try the creamy Toasty Colada with dark rum and spiced pineapple. If you’re looking to have a night where you get dressed up and splurge on cocktails, carefully selected wines, or even bottle service, let Fabrika be your excuse. 1108 Frankford Avenue.
Johnny Brenda’s
Best for: Live shows.
Johnny Brenda’s has been a staple of the neighborhood for over 15 years. It’s where you should go to see live music in Fishtown, certainly. But they’ve also been at the forefront of the craft beer movement since opening, featuring breweries located within a short drive of the city (even before craft beer was easy to find). Find a show that sounds cool to you, then start with something like a local lager and throw in JB’s Veggie Burger made with cooper sharp and harissa mayo. 1201 Frankford Avenue.
Caletta cocktail lounge and piano bar / Photograph by Suzannah Zee
Caletta
Best for: Ultra-creative drinks and cheffy bites in a swanky space.
The newest and chicest place to drink comes from one of the region’s most highly regarded chefs, Tyler Akin. He just opened Bastia, a coastal Mediterranean restaurant that takes its cues from Akin’s travels through Corsica and Sardinia, in the glamorous new Hotel Anna & Bel. And then came the 24-seat bar, Caletta, located just off of the pool and twinkle light-covered patio. Here, you’ll enjoy a rich cocktail selection dotted with unique, infused liquors and enough Italian-leaning small plates to make a meal or serve as a fun snack. Plus, there’s a piano for entertainment. 1401 East Susquehanna Avenue.
Bottle Bar East
Best for: Picking up drinks for later, adult slushies.
When you walk into Bottle Bar East, a line of coolers greets you with a giant selection of beer, wine, canned cocktails, and seltzers. Don’t stress about the potentially overwhelming number of options; their knowledgeable staff is ready to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. If you’re sticking around, there’s also a full bar available for draft beers, wine, plus straightforward cocktails and fun shots. Enjoy your drinks in the bar area, in the upstairs seating area, or outside in their beer garden. But this place is also useful for stocking up on bottles and cans to drink later. 1308 Frankford Avenue.
Fette Sau
Best for: Die-hard whiskey fans.
If you love the combination of whiskey and BBQ, Fette Sau is the place for you. Broken down into Bourbon, Tennessee, Rye, Corn, Sour, Canadian, and Bottled-in-Bond, their whiskey menu features detailed explanations of each category, and you can easily find a pour around $11 or splurge for something over $70. We like to opt for a flight — which costs between $18.50 and just under $30 — or the featured tasting selection of the week. In news that won’t surprise anyone still reading this, the cocktail menu mostly features whiskey (however there are always gin and vodka options, including the standout Blackberry Whiskey Punch made with blackberry, lemon, lime, and agave). 1208 Frankford Avenue.
Fishtown Iced Tea at Interstate Drafthouse / Photograph by Patterson Watkins
Interstate Drafthouse
Best for: The famed Fishtown iced teas.
Interstate Drafthouse is still mourning the loss of the original version of their Fishtown iced tea after the tea brand’s discontinuation. However, the popular drink lives on, even without its classic cardboard Arctic Splash container. In addition to Fishtown iced teas, Interstate Drafthouse has an extensive beer menu with stalwarts like Sly Fox, Mudhen, and Evil Genius, as well as rare and hard-to-find beers. There’s always a secret menu of selections that you have to ask the bartender about, usually with drinks from well-regarded breweries in the United States, Belgium, and beyond. 1235 East Palmer Street.
The International Bar
Best for: International drinks, daily DJs, boozeless and low-ABV options.
As the name suggests, this bar — which happens to be run by the people behind Johnny Brenda’s — highlights drinks and snacks from faraway places. Try something new-to-you while a DJ plays every day of the week on the first floor. You should know that the upstairs bar is secretly the best spot in the house: it has a few tables, a cozy bar that’s fashioned to look like a plane’s wing, and a number of wines and vermouths on tap. (In case you’re looking for something with low levels of alcohol or no alcohol whatsoever, The International Bar has plenty of drinks that fit those categories as well.) 1624 North Front Street.
Murph’s Bar
Best for: Casual drinks paired with the best Italian food.
Yes, this is a list of places to drink, and though Murph’s Bar has become known for its classic Italian dishes (cooked by Francesco Bellastelli of Puglia, Italy) this spot did start out as your average neighborhood watering hole. So swing by to crush some cans Tröegs Perpetual IPA, take in all of the Elvis Presley decor, and order some lobster ravioli. Don’t forget to bring cash! 202 East Girard Avenue.
Barcade
Best for: Feeling like a kid again (but you can drink).
Most people know about Barcade — the NYC-based chain of bars filled with arcade machines — but you might not know that they collaborate with breweries to make beers exclusively for Barcade locations and have been doing so since 2010. (A past standout was the Rye Score 2.0, a German-style Roggenbier from Victory Brewing Company.) Barcade’s Fishtown location has a small list of recommended cocktails and three wines to choose from, but the beer selection is definitely where this bar shines. 1114 Frankford Avenue.
Vanessa Wong of Fishtown Social / Photograph by Mike Prince
Fishtown Social
Best for: A thoughtful bottle selection.
Wine can seem intimidating sometimes. But Fishtown Social makes everyone feel welcome, inviting drinkers to explore their carefully selected biodynamic and natural wines. (These sound like buzzwords, because they sort of are.) The staff often finds wine produced by even the smallest makers, who often use less-popular grape varietals from around the world. Every week, they host Mystery Monday, where you get to try a glass of mystery wine for $10. Guess what it is, and you win a free bottle! 1525 Frankford Avenue.
Frankford Hall
Best for: Weekday beers, humongous groups, outdoor hangs.
To some, Frankford Hall is synonymous with Fishtown itself. Those might be the same people who patiently stand in line on the weekends for their spot to get inside. But we think the best time to enjoy this place is during the week when it is quieter. Frankford Hall looks like it was transplanted straight from Germany, complete with imported, malt-forward beers and hoppy American styles served in your choice of half-liter or liter steins. Grab some friends, order a stein, and enjoy the beer hall-style seating in the outdoor courtyard or around their fire pits when the weather is just right for that. 1210 Frankford Avenue.
Garage Fishtown
Best for: Skee-Ball.
Go to Garage to play and drink. A great spot to watch the game, it’s also got Skee-Ball that comes with actual tickets. Win a bunch and exchange them for a nifty prize. (Seriously!) Bring a few extra dollar bills to play. 100 East Girard Avenue.
