1. Graffiti Bar 124 S. 13th Street Getting There: Take the Market–Frankford Line; get off at 13th Street.
As warm weather quickly approaches, so does outdoor bar season. Spend happy hour enjoying spray–paint art from Philly artists Distort, A Lot and Rune. Don’t let the capricious weather stop you: there are heaters hanging over the tables for those chilly nights and a clear enclosed ceiling for the rainy days.
Check Out: The graffiti-covered tables and walls.
2. The Farmers’ Cabinet 1113 Walnut Street Getting There: Take the Market–Frankford Line; get off at 11th Street.
This speakeasy style raucous beer hall features a prohibition–era aesthetic that will leave you feeling like a character on Boardwalk Empire. You can’t go wrong with rustic décor paired with a diverse European craft beer collection. Walk in the door and take a step back in time as you enjoy the 1920s atmosphere. After all, “The Farmers’ Cabinet” is a metaphor for the handpicked supply of the farmer’s finest goods.
Check Out: The banjo–strumming ragtime band.
3. North Bowl
909 N 2nd Street Getting There: Take the Market–Frankford Line; get off at Spring Garden.
Make the trek out to Northern Liberties and check out this 17-bowling lane sports bar, located in a former mechanics garage. Another time warp, this bar places you in the 1950s with retro benches reminiscent of old bowling alleys and stylized prints from The Big Lebowski adorning the walls.
Check Out: The glass–enclosed pod overlooking the lanes from the upstairs
lounge.
4. Tattooed Mom 530 South Street Getting There: Take the 40 bus down Spruce; get off at 6th & Pine.
Loud, dirty and utterly charming, this punk rock bar is covered in paint and overflowing with color. Tattoo–style graffiti and paintings of skulls are everywhere you look, with walls and tables covered floor-to-ceiling. Sit in a bumper car and admire the graffiti while enjoying a cheap drink; it’s the epitome of a South Street bar.
Check Out: The upstairs billiards room.
5. The Arts Garage 1533 Ridge Avenue Getting There: Take the Market–Frankford Line to 15th Street. Transfer to the Broad Street Line; take it north to Fairmount Avenue.
This revamped warehouse is a bar, music venue, and an art exhibit. Check out murals and paintings or a night of music while enjoying a drink at the bars on both floors. Only a short subway ride away, the Arts Garage exhibits a wide variety of local Philly artists in a venue different from most Philly bars.
Check Out: Live art on the upstairs stage and a full bar.
