The Best Seats for Concerts and Theater in Philadelphia
Tips, tricks and seat secrets at some of Philly’s favorite venues
Where are the best seats to see Yannick Nézet-Séguin leading a Philadelphia Orchestra concert? We found out! / Photograph by Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images
Where can you catch a glimpse of Yannick’s dazzling expressiveness? Or find the “secret seats” at World Cafe Live? We’ve got you covered with our tips, tricks and seat secrets for some of Philly’s favorite concert venues. So, here are the best concert seats in town to …
Watch genius at work at the Kimmel
“You can power a small village on Yannick’s face during a concert,” says Crystal Brewe, chief marketing and audience experience officer for the Philly Orchestra and Ensemble Arts — referring, of course, to maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Marian Anderson Hall’s Conductor’s Circle, located behind and above the stage, lets you see him in all his ebullient glory, plus the audience and, Brewe says, the “absolute majesty of the house.”
Master the summer traditions at the Mann
Yes, the Great Lawn for the Tchaikovsky Spectacular is a no-brainer, but the greatest sliver of it for watching the grand-finale fireworks, Mann insiders say, is the top of the hill between the Crescendo restaurant tent and the Pavilion. Meantime, if you’re a Movies @ the Mann fan, the balcony seating in the Pavilion offers the best views of both the screen and the orchestra. A catch: It’s not as breezy as the lawn seats. Dress for heat.
Snag a sold-out seat at the Keswick
Show sold out? Keep checking back online or call the day-of — sometimes more seats open up after the initial sale, says Keswick marketing manager Sean Burke. (This is a good rule of thumb for most venues.) Better yet: Call the Keswick box office to get IRL help getting a seat if/when they open up.
Find your perch at Union Transfer
What’s the best “seat” at this mostly seatless general-admission venue? Expert concertgoer Paul Marin — he’s seen some 60 shows at Union Transfer — swears by the gently raised “wings” on the sides of the main floor, which boast sight lines “above the heads of most people on the floor” and a handy drink rail for leaning.
Find the secret seats at World Cafe Live
The mezzanine at WCL’s Music Hall has it all: food, tables, a private bar, easy access to bathrooms. But the best part is the blink-and-you-miss-it row of seats at the front of the mezzanine. “It’s like sitting on your couch and watching a show,” Marin says — perfect views, lots of leg room. The venue map doesn’t clearly denote these; to reserve them online or via the box office, it’s seats one through four at tables 501 through 506.
Upgrade yourself at the Met
You can go premium here, with box seats, parking, dedicated servers, and access to the Citi Grand Salle, a lounge with a private bar and bathrooms, a special menu, and tables and booths for dining. Or you can spend an extra $25 for access just to the CGS, which buys you extra space to hang and easy access to both bathrooms and a bar. Look for the CGS “add-on” option at checkout. More advice from Met-goers? Avoid the cramped back rows of the orchestra section, where sight lines aren’t great.
The best seats for a drag show at Bob & Barbara’s? The satellite bar next to the stage./ Photograph by A. Ricketts for Visit Philadelphia
Grab the best barstools at Bob & Barbara’s
Skip the big bar, and hit the satellite bar right next to the stage. There are just a few stools, but they offer the best combo of access to drinks and views of the band. Take note: For drag shows, these stools get moved to high-tops and have to be reserved.
Master the Academy of Music
Whatever performance you happen to be seeing, just being inside this crown jewel of South Broad is an experience. That ceiling! The 5,000-pound chandelier! But we’re here to make that experience even better. From the best vantage points to tips and tricks, check out our cheat sheet to the Academy of Music.
Last-Minute Seat Deals — and Where to Find Them
The Wilma Theater / Photograph by Jonathan Barkat
Arden Theater Company
Students can get $15 rush tickets (with student ID) one hour pre-show; for industry/theater folks, it’s $20 rush the day of the show. Phone or in-person only.
Forrest Theater
Enter drawings on the Forrest site two days before some performances to win $30 lottery tickets; check for $40 rush tickets at 11 a.m. the day of the show.
Kimmel Center, Academy of Music and Miller Theater
Broadway Series digital rush tickets ($35) are posted on Ensemble Arts Philly’s website the Monday (noon) of each performance week; box-office rush starts two hours before curtain. Same deal with Orchestra rush tickets ($25); check for those beginning Wednesday (noon).
Penn Live Arts
West Philadelphians can get two $15 rush tickets per household the entire week before performances — in person, online or via phone. (You just need a West Philly zip code.)
Walnut Street Theater
Right before curtain, they sell a small number of $35 standby seats — pairs and singles only — for select sold-out shows. Visit/call the box office.
The Wilma
You have a shot at $20 rush tickets at the box office an hour before showtime for some performances — call or follow their social media for the heads-up on which shows will offer them.
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Published as “A Concert-Lover’s Guide to Sitting” in the July 2024 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
