Brews and Fun: Pennsylvania Beer Gardens You’ll Want to Try
Pennsylvania beer gardens allow you to drink outdoors with the gaming action nearby. The historic district and the Parx Casino area in Bensalem have some great spots. They all have their own atmosphere, beers, and food. What’s not to like about sunshine, beer, and fresh outdoor air?
Most of the beer gardens are open from April to October, except for the one at Parx Casino, which is open all year round. Gaming floors and outdoor beer gardens both thrive on social buzz and tend to draw people who want to have fun with friends.
Liberty Bell Beer Garden at Parx Casino
At Parx Casino in Bensalem, you will find a great beer garden that can comfortably seat up to 150 guests. An awesome indoor/outdoor space has a retractable glass roof that opens in warm weather, and there are outdoor patios with fire pits. American craft beers, wine, or cocktails are on offer. You can enjoy the full Liberty Bell Gastropub dining menu in the beer garden. The chefs use fresh, local ingredients in gourmet burgers and other comfort foods.
Weekends are the occasion for sing-along brunches with live music and entertainment. Dueling pianos and celebrity chats are part of the convivial experience. Happy Hour Specials are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 4 pm to 6 pm. Then there’s the casino itself, which is the largest one in Pennsylvania. When you can’t make it to the physical casino, you can access its PA online casino using a casino app on your mobile phone.
Liberty Garden at Independence National Historical Park
In downtown Philly, you can escape to Liberty Garden, which is open from April to October. It is a refreshing experience if you’re busy exploring Philly and its history. Make use of the picnic benches and sit under the shaded tree canopy. The menu is seasonal and features picnic food such as savory snacks, sandwiches, and fresh salads. All the beers on tap are local to Pennsylvania.
Liberty Garden opens at 11 am daily for anyone who wants to enjoy an early dine experience. It stays open to 9 pm from Monday to Saturday and to 6 pm on Sunday. Happy Hour is from 4 pm to 6 pm. It’s a great space for families, and you can even take your dog on a leash.
Independence Beer Garden
This beer garden is situated in a 20,000 sq. ft. outdoor space next to the Liberty Bell and a few steps away from Independence Mall. It has room for more than 300 guests with plenty of seating areas. You can choose to lounge on a granite boulder in the rock garden, chill out at a picnic area, or sip away in an Adirondack chair. The décor features reclaimed timber, distressed metals, and twinkling lights. The huge space also contains ping pong tables and a giant Jenga. Other games like cornhole and bocce make this family-friendly gathering place lively and exciting.
Forty craft beers on tap are both local and regional. The secret to a good beer is its character and complexity, and you will find plenty of that here. Refreshing craft cocktails are also available. The kitchen serves up bite-sized food like mini hot dogs and cheese curds. Also on offer are franks and cheesesteaks.
A large group can order platters filled with items like pretzel bites, wings, and pulled pork sandwiches to share. A daily happy hour runs from 3 pm to 7 pm, and on weekends the spot stays open till midnight.
Parks on Tap
Parks on Tap is a traveling beer garden you will find in Philly’s beautiful public parks throughout spring and summer. It’s a partnership between Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and FCM Hospitality. The proceeds go to the Fairmount Park Conservancy. The idea is to give back to parks and to encourage Philly families to gather in green spaces.
Families and friends can meet up and enjoy food, beer on tap, wine, and snacks. Classic cheeseburgers, loaded Mexican hot dogs, and other favorites are on offer. Sit in comfortable chairs, lounge in hammocks, or bring your own chairs and blankets. This is a family-friendly experience where your kids and your dogs are also welcome.
