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Updated Sept. 24: Independence Beer Garden is no longer pet-friendly and has since been redacted from the original list.
Ever since canine and human decided to pair up, dogs have been considered an ideal buddy for the bar.
People around the world have been partying it up with four-legged pals since almost Paleolithic times, as depicted in numerous paintings from a myriad of cultures. Somewhere along the way, things like “hygiene” and “allergies” and “customer satisfaction” were prioritized, and pets became less welcome in social spaces.
Enter the beer garden, modern society’s answer to the pooch party conundrum.
Last summer, Philadelphia was ranked as one of the least dog-friendly cities in the U.S. by WalletHub, but whoever conducted that research clearly hasn’t set foot here. As long as they’re on the leash and not in other folks’ business, most people in this city are seriously amped up about dogs.
Proof? Here are nearly two dozen spots that’ll welcome you AND your furry best friend.
Barks on Tap
Multiple Locations
Run by Parks & Rec and Fairmount Park Conservancy as part of their roving Parks on Tap program, the dog-friendly version will be popping up every Thursday in June, July and August from 4 to 7 p.m. in different parks throughout the city. The first one happens Jun. 7 at Seger Park.
Bok Bar
800 Mifflin St.
Sundays at Bok Bar are for the dogs (and the kiddos). Every Sunday through Sep. 28, you can bring your pooches from 2 to 11 p.m.
Brews and Views at Parkway Central Library
1901 Vine St.
Thursdays from May 18 through Jun. 29, 5 to 9 p.m., you and your woofer can catch a gorgeous sunset while cracking open a beer. Well, I mean, you’ll be cracking open the beer.
Center City Sips at Dilworth Park
1 S. 15th St.
It’s the moooooost scary happy hour tiiiiiime of the yeeeeaaaaar. Center City Sips is back, and at Dilworth Park, peeps taking advantage of the discounted drinks and apps can bring a dog along. Sips at Dilworth starts on Jun. 6 and ends on Aug. 29. It’s open from 5 to 7 p.m.
Dragon Beer Garden at Franklin Square
200 N. 6th St.
If your dog is brave enough to slay a dragon — or thinks they are — then this is the beer garden for you. Get there fast, though: the pop up is part of the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, which closes Jun. 30. The beer garden operates Sunday through Thursday, 7 to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 6 to 11 p.m.
Drury Beer Garden at Opa
1311 Sansom St.
This hidden Midtown Village spot is open every day of the week for the season, which will make both you and your dog want to howl OPAAAAAAAAA. The garden opens Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. and has a later start on Saturdays and Sundays at 12 p.m.
East Falls Beer Garden
4024 Ridge Ave.
East Falls Beer Garden pops up every third Thursday from May until October. Programming for includes live music, vendors, comedy acts and poetry slams for you and your pet to enjoy. Thursday hours are from 6 to 11 p.m.
Evil Genius Brewing Company
1727 N. Front St.
Now you can debate the references behind inventive beer names with your friends while your loyal friend lays at your feet (or, on your lap, we won’t judge). The beer garden is open for the summer and shares the same hours and schedule as the brewpub.
Fishtank at the Fillmore
23 E. Allen St.
Fishtank opens Sunday, Jun. 2, and, per the official FAQ, will be dog-friendly. This pop-up (right across from Goose Island Brewpub but not connected) will be running the whole summer, serving sips, grooves and treats (the human kind) on Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight and Sundays from 5 to 10 p.m.
Fishtown Hops
1001 N. Delaware Ave.
Though SugarHouse Casino’s backyard beer garden may permit dogs, operators unfortunately won’t let the pooches inside to gamble. Guess it’s a toss-up? Psh. (Was that even a question.) Hours vary, check the link above.
Haas Biergarten at La Peg
140 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
For the good boys and girls that enjoy al fresco bone chewing. La Peg Brasserie’s beer garden is open (along with the Seafood Shack) seven days a week, but hours vary, so make sure to check the site.
Hop Angel Brauhaus
7980 Oxford Ave.
The beer garden that practically goes on from dawn to dusk is the perfect place to tire out your excitable dog. It’s a good place to crack open a cold one and mellow out too. Hop Angel Brauhaus is open every day at 11 a.m., going ’til midnight Monday through Thursday, 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 p.m. on Sundays.
Memphis Taproom
2331 E. Cumberland St.
Yeah, so, @dogsofmemphistaproom is a thing. ‘Nuff (ruff) said. The garden at Memphis Taproom is open at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, open at 11 a.m. Friday to Saturday and closes every day at 2 a.m.
Morgan’s Pier
221 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
This river deck next to the Ben Franklin Bridge has over 500 seats, which means that it could technically potentially hold 500 dogs. Wouldn’t that be a sight! Morgan’s Pier is open for the summer, from Monday through Thursday at 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Dogs are invited to come once a month during Yappy Hour, which benefits the PSPCA.
Old City Beer Garden
240 Market St.
No offense to cat people, but this reporter agrees with @lbloombergg’s note below. You can find your dog person at Old City Beer Garden, and bring your dog while you’re at it too (we’re claiming the rights to this Philly spinoff of Must Love Dogs). Old City Beer Garden by Sto’s is open for the season every day except Mondays and Tuesdays from 12 p.m. to midnight.
Parks on Tap
Multiple locations
If you couldn’t get enough of drinking at the park with your dog from Barks on Tap, then Parks on Tap is the answer to your dilemma. Parks on Tap (which, like Barks on Tap, is owned by FCM Hospitality), runs from now until Sep. 30, at multiple locations with varied hours. Check out the link above for more information.
PHS Pop Up Beer Gardens
Multiple locations
The uCity and South Street outposts of this OG pop-up are dog-friendly, but your pets need to be respectful of the flower beds and to the garden. One time, said manager Cristina Tessaro, they had a cute baby Mastiff that knocked over one of the planters and “a bunch of plants died in the accident.” Yikes. You’ve been warned! Hours vary, but both gardens are open seven days a week. Check out the site for details on the event programming at both locations (and stay tuned for the next Billy Penn Quizzo).
Pennsport Beer Boutique
242 Wharton St.
PB Beer’s doorman is a dapper Dobermann Pinscher but, a word of caution: He’s a total flirt. Pennsport Beer Boutique is open every day starting at noon, closing at 10 p.m. on Sundays, 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday and Saturday at midnight.
Pentridge Station
5110-5120 Pentridge St.
We’ve written about Pentridge Station’s greatness before, so this is our yearly reminder that it’s a diverse, all-inclusive place (canines included) in West Philly’s Cedar Park neighborhood. Open Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m until Sep. 16.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
301 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
Who can resist a dog swinging in a hammock? Spruce Street Harbor Park is open until Sep. 30, and hours vary depending on where you’re planning on grabbing brews or bites from.
The Oval+ at the Parkway
2451 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
There are EIGHT acres here of space where your furball can zoom while you trail behind with a drink in hand. Programming here includes way more than just a beer garden, like free fitness classes, movie nights and live music, which means that you can truly make a day chock full of activities for you to participate in (and for your dog to support you through).
Uptown Beer Garden
1735 Market St.
Most people come here after being stuck in a cubicle or freezing office space in Center City, and don’t have time to make it home to get the dog. But, for those of you fortunate souls with office puppies, you can take your favorite coworker out to celebrate the end of a workday at Uptown Beer Garden. Hours vary. It’s closed on Sundays.