Best Philly Nightlife

Description:

Opened with tremendous fanfare in December 2001, Rafael Vinoly's dramatic glass-and-steel vault along the Avenue of the Arts encompasses Verizon Hall, a 2,500-seat cello-shaped concert hall built specifically to house the Philadelphia Orchestra; and Perelman Theater, a 650-seat hall for chamber music, dance, and drama with a turntable stage. Other features at Kimmel include an interactive education center; "black box" theater space; a daytime cafe and gift shop in the plaza along Spruce Street; and parking and restaurant facilities. Above all, there is space, acres and acres of it -- space designed to sparkle and amaze, unlike anything else in the area.

With its comfortable mahogany interior, four levels of seating, and excellent acoustics, Verizon Hall is a pleasure. Perelman's design is also nice, with a metal-clad exterior and light woods and warm fabrics within.

Most of the jewels in Philadelphia's cultural crown -- the city opera, orchestra, and ballet companies -- perform either at Kimmel or at the historic Academy of Music (which is affiliated with Kimmel and located 1 block north). Visiting talent in music and dance and an incredible jazz series presented by the Kimmel Center also use the venue frequently. Tickets for both locations are sold during the day only at the Kimmel Center box office. The Kimmel also presents frequent free performances by jazz artists, DJs, singing groups, folk ensembles, and more in its main Commonwealth Plaza, usually in the early evening or afternoon.

Description:

In addition to being a world class music venue, World Cafe Live also features extensive and eclectic menus both upstairs and downstairs with daily lunch specials, nightly chef specials, great music and the hottest Happy Hour west of Liberty Place.

Description:

Monk's Cafe is dedicated to bringing you the best, most hard to find beers in the world. They offer one of the finest selections of beer in the entire United States and sell quality beers at moderate prices. They also offer a large selection of Belgian Ales on Tap in the United States and a great selection of Single Malt Scotch, Small Batch & Single Barrel Bourbon, and Premium Tequilas.

Description:

A Rittenhouse Square version of Stephen Starr's popular Old City martini bar. This restaurant and bar offers a wide variety of Asian fusion dishes and a creative martini menu. There are two floors inside (including a second-floor balcony with swinging basket seats) and a popular rooftop bar with a modern fireplace.

Description:

This finger-snapping hip café is nestled just around the corner from the Bellevue Hotel and just a few blocks walk from the Convention Center in Center City. It is a perfect stop for relaxing and enjoying live jazz six nights a week. Winner of two "Best of Philly" awards, this is a serious jazz club featuring serious talent—the place jazz musicians go to hear jazz. It also serves an outstanding dinner menu which includes crab cakes and grilled ahi tuna.

Our Local Expert Says:

A romantic and cozy wine and cheese bar. The menu offers a page each of well-described wines, cheeses, and beers. Menu selection changes periodically. The menu also includes light sandwiches and snacks, which shouldn't be overlooked.

Description:

Tria offers its guests a relaxing and intimate environment. It is a mixture between a small bar and a café. On Philadelphia's warm nights, they open the candle-lined bay windows. There are numerous, inexpensive items on the menu ranging from salads to sandwiches. The dessert selections nicely accompany Tria's wine list. This bar-café sets itself apart from other noisy venues in Philadelphia by offering a cozy setup that would be ideal for a date or a relaxing night.

Our Local Expert Says:

A see-and-be-seen spot on Philadelphia's stylish Rittenhouse Square. Get a seat by the window or, better yet, a sidewalk table, and you'll be among Philadelphia's oft-envied socialites.

Description:

Located on Rittenhouse Square, the outdoor seating at Rouge offers a fresh environment to dine on French fare and sip a glass of fine wine. Wines of exquisite vintage enhance the delicate entrees of traditional and contemporary French seafood, poultry and beef dishes. Prices tend to be on the high side but are not exorbitant for a restaurant in the Rittenhouse area. Popular day and night, the casual yet elegant Rouge appeals to sophisticates and culture-seekers of all ages for lunch, dinner or drinks. Restaurateur Neil Stein has given locals a hip spot to enjoy the park's greenery.

Our Local Expert Says:

A cool and funky small dance spot. If it's your style, check out (and dress up for) Sunday night's punk/glam-rock theme, "Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control."

Description:

This quintessential Philly club has love for all musical genres -- and all manner of talented DJs. King Britt, Josh Wink, and ?uestlove (the Roots' drummer) spin here regularly. The second-floor space is small, but somehow, everyone seems to fit. Techno, rock, punk, glam, new wave, hip-hop, and electronic music all have their nights, as do accessible funk, Motown, soul, and reggae mixed with house music. The entrance is an unmarked door in the alley just off 4th Street, above the Latest Dish.

Description:

Located on busy Market Street, Drinker´s adds to the popular nightlife of Old City. Drinker´s has two floors with a wood decor, huge bar and ample seating. Enjoy a game of pool with your friends at the pool table, admire the Elvis memorabilia, and play your favorite songs on the jukebox, which has been rated best jukebox several years running.

Our Local Expert Says:

For several years, this was THE spot to be in Northern Liberties. It's still a hot spot, though many of the local hipsters have moved along.

Description:

Known locally as the "700 Club," this converted two-story house offers plenty of drinking and dancing to anyone wanting to mingle with people of the trendy club/underground/art scene. The first floor contains a large wooden bar and standing room only, while the upstairs is strewn with vintage, and not so vintage, couches and chairs. A converted kitchen serves as 700's second-floor bar.

Description:

As winners of three Grammies, the orchestra has consistently maintained the renown they've earned for more than 100 seasons. This is the orchestra featured in Disney's film Fantasia.) Performances are held at the Academy of Music and, in the summer, outdoors at the Mann Center in Fairmount Park.

Description:

Though it doesn't actually sell lids, Lucy's Hat Shop, does provide intimate dining as well as a trendy socialite bar in Philadelphia's Old City. After beginning with, among others, the Grilled Quail over fresh red grapes, you can choose such contemporary dishes as the vegetarian Portobella steak or the N.Y. Strip Steak. After 10pm, the kitchen closes as locals convene in this converted millinery, filling up chairs, antique couches and floor space.