Ale Fresco: Philly’s Top Pop-Up Beer Gardens, 2025
- eileen strauss
- 16m
- 7 min read
From hoagies at the 'Linc' to hot dogs at the 'Bank,' Philly folks sure can eat---and drink. As the weather warms, bars and breweries in neighborhoods from Chestnut Hill to Chinatown, Fishtown to Fairmount start to buzz with weekend energy.
In 2025, more and more Philadelphians are swapping bar stools for park benches and bringing the party outdoors. From tucked-away courtyards and sprawling public parks to breezy rooftops and renovated riverfronts, pop-up beer gardens are blooming across the city. These seasonal havens offer cold pours, community vibes, and the perfect excuse to enjoy a bite and a beer ale fresco.
After traveling across the city checking out the endless (and growing) list of beer garden options, we've put together this guide revealing some of our favorites.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society on South Street is the site of one of the city’s most popular pop-up beer gardens, offering beer, wine, cocktails, and food from the crew behind Cantina Los Caballitos, Khyber Pass, and Triangle Tavern. When happy hour winds down and the sun begins to set, the greenery-filled garden is lit by strands of twinkle lights.
Hours: Mon-Wed 5-10pm; Thurs 5-11pm; Fri & Sat 12pm-12am; Sun 12-9pm
@PHSPopUpGardens on Instagram and Facebook
@phsgardening on TikTok and Instagram
PHS Pop Up Garden, Manayunk
106 Jamestown Av.
Vibrant outdoor venues that combine bars, restaurants, and local gardens, once barren spaces are transformed every year into unique cocktail gardens. Working with local farmers, brewers, distillers and purveyors to bring fresh, delicious food and drink to the Manayunk neighborhood, these pop-up gardens bring flavor, flowers, and fun to the heart of the city.
Both their South Street and Manayunk sites are available for special event bookings, from office happy hours to engagement parties.
Independence/Old City Beer Garden
Set across from the Liberty Bell, Michael Schulson’s Old City beer garden, gets the summer vibes just right with picnic tables made from reclaimed timber, lots of moody string lights, TVs, games, and views of Independece Hall and the Liberty Bell set inside an expansive 20,000 square-foot space.
The Oval XP
July 7 - September 4, 2023
Philadelphia’s largest beer garden, The Oval XP beer garden features 24 taps from local craft breweries, a rotating selection of pop-up menus crafted by local, minority, and female chefs, and a can't-miss giant ferris wheel. Guests can admire the site's unique décor made of upcycled materials like old building materials, park benches, and trash cans as they sip on beers and indulge in local cuisine.
Parks on Tap, Traveling Pop-Up Beer Gardens
Opens Friday, May 20, 2022
In partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Parks on Tap was created to be a traveling beer garden throughout the city's various, beautiful parks all summer long.
Benefiting each park and the Fairmount Park Conservancy, each location is collectively selected as a way to highlight and enhance the offerings that Philadelphia city parks provide. It aims for a simple aesthetic: well-kept outdoor spaces where friends and families can meet up to enjoy food, drinks, and fun in a natural green space.
Offering a variety of local craft beers, wine and cocktails, NA beer, and a full food menu , Parks on Tap is open to adults, families, and pets.
Here are a few highlighted spots:
SCHUYLKILL BANKS: 7/2 to 7/6
Located south of the Fairmount Water Works Dam, Schuylkill Banks is a Philadelphia riverfront destination that is part of the Schuylkill River Trail, a 23-mile link from Philadelphia to Valley Forge National Historical Park.
FDR PARK: 5/7 to 5/11
South Philly’s largest park and one of the city’s most important public institutions, reflecting the remarkable racial, cultural, and economic diversity of the area, FDR Park’s lakes, architecture, athletic fields, and nature trails are open for Philadelphians of all backgrounds to experience nature and enjoy the cultural expressions of South Philadelphia.
LEMON HILL : 5/7 to 6/1
Named for the lemon trees that fill the greenhouse, this pop-up beer garden takes place in an historic mansion with views of the center city skyline and the Schuylkill River.
CLARK PARK: 5/21 to 5/26 (Open Memorial Day!)
Established in 1895, Clark Park is in the heart of West Philadelphia’s University City. With more than 300 trees, it covers nine acres between Baltimore Avenue, Woodland Avenue, 43rd Street and 45th Street. The park offers a basketball court, an open field, a playground, statues, and several paths. It also hosts various events, such as music and arts festivals, a weekly farmers market, and pop-up beer garden.
Morgan's Pier Backyard Beer Garden
Sit back, relax, and enjoy summer vibes at Morgan’s Pier’s backyard beer garden on the waterfront, a sprawling spot with views of the Ben Franklin Bridge, a lively crowd, and events all summer long. Day or night, diners can sip on refreshing ales and cocktails while people-watching or getting in some breathtaking views of boats passing by on the Delaware River.
A 6,000-square-foot brewery and brewpub, Evil Genius opened under the El in Fishtown in 2017, bringing with it some serious ’90s vibes and an innovative selection of cocktails with funky names, like the ubiquitous Purple Monkey Dishwasher Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter.
Before greeting the gorillas this summer, visitors to the nation’s oldest zoo can grab a few quick bites and a refreshing beer at Urban Garden, a true urban oasis with a 200-seat dining area and boardwalk-style pathway connecting the food trucks and the seating area. The space also features a 132-foot mural, beach umbrellas for shade, play spaces for kids, and a vertical farm located inside a shipping container that will grow produce as feed for the zoo’s animals.
PHS Pop Up Garden at City Square
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has transformed a vacant lot in University City into laid-back spot for relaxing outside, beer in hand. The theme is urban orchard, with apple trees and flowering vines, and the food is from Jose Pistola’s crew.
Pentridge Station
Opens June 3, 2022
Complete with music, movie nights, games, and food, the owners of Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurant Dahlak run this kid-friendly beer garden in West Philly. The Pentridge Station Pop-Up Beer Garden, billed as “for locals, by locals,” is coming back to West Philly Friday through Sunday nights starting on June 3rd. The community-built location features a family- and dog-friendly play area with lawn games, a dine-in school bus with rotating local food vendors, and a stage hosting live music, DJs, and karaoke. Various events also take place throughout the season, including comedy open-mic nights, movie nights, and yoga classes.
Conshohocken Brewing Company
Conshohocken Brewing Company’s Bridgeport brewpub attracts crowds to its spacious dog-friendly outdoor beer garden for al fresca brews and bites during the warm-weather months. Visitors can play yard games while enjoying one of six Conshy beers at the “tap trailer,” cans and white wine, and good eats from the Puddlers Kitchen food truck.
Located north of Penn’s Landing, Cherry Street Pier extends beautifully into the Delaware River, featuring both mouthwatering views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and an extensive seasonal beer garden. Occupying the far end of the covered pier market, the 20,000-square-foot scaffold-covered space serves cocktails, wine, and featured beer in a lush green setting.
The wine experts at Jet Wine Bar on South Street turned a parking lot next door into an urban oasis. Along with the red, white, and rosé, there are cans of beer and cider, summery cocktails, spiked water ice, and snacks, like truffle and black pepper popcorn.
Frankford Hall
Fishtown’s lively Frankford Hall takes its cues from German biergartens with communal tables, beer served in liters, and a menu of wursts, Bavarian pretzels, and wiener schnitzel.
A family- and dog-friendly beer garden, Chestnut Hill Brewing is the perfect destination for a casual drink, lunch, happy hour or dinner. Open year-round, guests can enjoy environmentally-regulated outdoor seating that stays cool in the summer and toasty in the winter.
Reopening for the summer season on May 24th, no article about Philly’s drinking scene would be complete without the Spruce Street Harbor Park. Becoming the waterfront's most iconic outdoor destination, offering live music, al fresco dining, and unparalleled views of the Delaware River, Spruce Street is known for its unique blend of entertainment, dining, and relaxation.
An ideal space to gather, meet new friends, and create summer memories, Spruce Street Harbor Park features colorful hammocks, floating gardens, stunning technicolored lights, local craft beers, and delicious food from some of Philadelphia’s most popular restaurants.
Take Away
Whether you’re sipping a lager under twinkle lights or grabbing a bite with friends in the shade, Philly’s pop-up beer gardens prove that summer tastes better outside. Cheers to cold pours, warm nights, and the city that knows how to do both right.
FAQs
When do Philly’s pop-up beer gardens open?
Most pop-up beer gardens open in late spring (May/June) and run through the summer, with some staying open into early fall, weather permitting.
2. Do beer gardens in Philly serve food too?
Yes! Many beer gardens partner with local restaurants or food trucks to offer everything from bar snacks and BBQ to tacos, hoagies, and vegan fare.
3. Are Philly beer gardens family-friendly?Many are! While some cater to a 21+ crowd, plenty of beer gardens welcome families and dogs, offering lawn games, live music, and casual outdoor fun for all ages.
By Eileen Strauss
