July 1, 2020 – The Fourth of July is right around the corner! And while we may not be able to congregate for parades or fireworks and party the way we’re used to this year, there are still some safe options when it comes to having a festive Independence Day in Philadelphia. See below for a list of socially distant activities including outdoor dining, delicious take-out offerings and make-your-own cocktail kits perfect for the home bartender.
I. Kick Off The Festivities With Outdoor Dining
This year, before streaming concerts, virtual historic museum tours and even fireworks, consider supporting local businesses and dine outdoors with one of your favorite restaurants. The Twisted Tail, The Bourse Food Hall, Devil’s Den, Jet Wine Garden, Urban Farmer, Assembly Rooftop Lounge, and Seaview are excited to serve guests on gorgeous patios, quaint sidewalks, and new “streeteries” while following extensive guidelines from both the city and state to secure the well-being of all diners.
The Twisted Tail, the popular Southern-inspired restaurant and bar on Headhouse Square, is inviting outdoor diners to lounge in a garden that spills into the area surrounding The Twisted Tail. The restaurant’s current hours are as follows: Wed and Thu, guests can order takeout starting at 12 pm, with dinner served from 4-9 pm (restaurant closes at 10 pm). On Fridays, takeout starts at 12 pm, with dinner from 4-10 pm and a close at midnight. On Saturdays, brunch runs from 11-4 pm, followed by dinner from 4-10 pm, with another midnight close. Finally, the Sunday brunch crowd can linger from 10-4 pm, or stay for dinner from 4-9 pm, followed by the restaurant’s close at 10 pm.
509 S. 2nd Street | 215.558.2471 | http://thetwistedtail.com/
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The Bourse, Old City’s modern artisanal food hall, is welcoming guests back into the building for to-go ordering as well as expanded outdoor dining. Six vendors are currently opened, including Abunai Poke, Freebyrd Chicken, Scoop DeVille Ice Cream Parlour, Prescription Chicken, Marino Brother’s Cheesesteak and Grubhouse. Menagerie Coffee, Bluebird Distilling and Barry’s Buns will be re-opening in the near future. The Bourse Food Hall’s updated hours are Mon – Sat from 7 am – 10 pm and Sun from 9 am – 6 pm.
111 S Independence Mall E | 215.625.0300 | http://www.theboursephilly.com
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Devil’s Den, one of the city’s best bars for serious beer lovers, holds court on the corner of 11th & Ellsworth Sts., with plenty of sidewalk space, and welcomes groups up to six guests per table, with reservations only. Devil’s Den is currently open Wed – Fri from 4-11 pm (kitchen open until 10 pm), Sat from 12-11pm (kitchen open until 10 pm) and Sun 12-9 pm (with kitchen service until 8 pm). Hours of operation and days of service will expand later.
1148 South 11th Street | 215.339.0855 | http://www.devilsdenphilly.com
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Jet Wine Garden, Jet Wine Bar’s adjacent outdoor summer oasis, will be operating table service as opposed to ordering at the bar. In addition to outdoor table service at Jet Wine Garden, Jet Wine Bar will continue to operate as a bottle shop, with wine, beer, sangria, and cocktails to-go — available for curbside pick-up or online order. Opening hours are Mon-Thu from 4-9 pm, Fri-Sat from 12-10 pm, and Sunday from 2-8 pm. Reservations are not required.
1525 South St. | 215.735.1116 | jetwinebar.com
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Urban Farmer, Logan Square’s modern American steakhouse, welcomes guests to its breezy and expansive patio from Tue through Sat, with happy hour from 3-5 pm and dinner service from 5-10 pm. The restaurant will also continue its carry-out service during operation hours with $1 from each take-out order being donated to Feeding America’s COVID-19 first responders. Weekly Beer-B-Q specials with local brewery partners will be communicated on Urban Farmer’s social channels. Reservations for outdoor dining are highly recommended.
1850 Benjamin Franklin Parkway | 215.963.2788 | www.urbanfarmerphiladelphia.com
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Assembly Rooftop Lounge, Center City’s favorite rooftop lounge, currently operates Thu-Sat, with expanding hours coming soon. Guests can look forward to happy hour specials from 4-6 pm and a full menu of light fare, cocktails, wine, and beer through close while enjoying rooftop views of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
1840 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy | 215.963.2723 | https://assemblyrooftop.com/
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Seaview, the recently renovated seaside resort near Atlantic City, invites guests to take a break and indulge in delicious food options on the outdoor terrace, to lay by the outdoor pool and to hit some balls on Seaview’s world class golf courses, all while enjoying the sea breeze – perfect for a local 4th of July getaway.
401 South New York Road, Galloway, NJ |609.653.1800 | seaviewdolcehotel.com
II. Celebrate With A Delicious Cocktail At Home
If all this time at home has helped you find your inner bartender, consider experimenting with Art in the Age’s newest cocktail kit featuring Tamworth Distilling’s new Thai Chili Gin or upgrade your at-home BBQ with a classic flask cocktail courtesy of Bluebird Distilling.
Art in the Age, Old City’s one-of-a-kind tasting room, home bar supply and bottle shop, just launched its third DIY cocktail kit: The Fresh Cut Make-At-Home Cocktail Kit contains everything imbibers need to step up their Independence Day game, including the tools, mixing ingredients and of course, the booze. The kit helps hobby bartenders to create the perfect Thai Chili Gin “Fresh Cut” made with Emshika’s Garden Thai Chili Gin and includes a 750 mL of Thai Chili Gin ($55),Kinsey Triple Sec (750 mL, $29.99), The Brothers Jasmine Water ($8), El Guapo Lime Cordial ($16), Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters ($10), Koriko Weighted Shaker ($24), a Hawthorne Strainer ($8) and Japanese Jigger ($18). The kit can be shopped in person or ordered online.
116 North 3rd Street | 215.922.2600 | http://artintheage.com/
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Bluebird Distilling, Phoenixville’s award-winning grain-to-glass distillery, is the perfect place to stock up for the at-home Independence Day party this year. Their locally-made spirits are available for pick up at the Phoenixville distillery, select Fine Wine and Good Spirit stores or can simply be ordered via their online shop. In addition, Bluebird Distilling just launched To-Go Cocktails in reusable flasks. Imbibers are invited to stop by the distillery or simply shop the flask cocktails online and choose between an Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Negroni, Boulevardier, and Gin Martini. All five cocktails are $20/each and good for two servings. Bluebird Distilling will ship their cocktails, spirits and merchandise to anywhere in Pennsylvania. All orders over $145 receive free shipping.
100 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460 | 610.933.7827 | https://bluebirddistilling.com/
III. Feast From Your Couch
If you’re not ready to dine out yet or just don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen prepping your Independence Day meal, choose some take-out options in the city. Perfect for a laid-back celebration at home, Café Ynez, Rex 1516 and Khyber Pass Pub offer some of the city’s best fare including various vegan options that will make anyone feel festive.
Café Ynez, the all-day Mexico City-inspired BYOB diner on Washington Ave, is open for online ordering and pick up. Guests can celebrate Independence Day Mexican style and indulge in tacos, burritos, and tortas before finishing off the night with delicious churros
2025 Washington Ave. | 215.278.7579 | http://cafeynez.com/
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Rex 1516, Philadelphia’s home for elevated Southern cuisine, knows the best way to celebrate is with half fried chicken, shrimp & grits and their notorious hamburger boasting house grind, bacon, spicy pimento cheese, crispy red onions and bibb lettuce. Foodies interested in starting the day with a decadent brunch can also look forward to French toast, chicken and waffles benedict and order their favorites for delivery or take out.
1516 South Street | 267.319.1366 | http://rex1516.com
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Khyber Pass Pub, the renowned Southern-inspired bar and restaurant located in historic Old City, is open for take-out seven days a week. The restaurant known for its Southern, cajun and creole cuisines is the perfect spot for Independence Day feasting, offering delicious jambalaya, gumbos and a variety of vegan dishes.
56 S. 2nd Street | 215.238.5888 | http://www.khyberpasspub.com/
IV. Swing Your Clubs At Some Of The Country’s Best Golf Courts
Spend some time outdoors this Independence Day and socially distance while hitting some golf balls at the Seaview Hotel and Chubb Hotel & Conference Center‘s ACE Club. Jersey Shore’s historic and freshly renovated Seaview Hotel just re-opened daily service, now with expanded outdoor fun for the summer and a new golf-friendly treat to enjoy on the course – the Jersey Burger Dog!
Seaview Hotel, the historic and newly renovated 106-year-old resort just west of Atlantic City, sporting two renowned world-class golf courses, is putting additional capital behind enhancing and adding even more outdoor activities to its lush 670-acre facility. Besides golf, guest can look forward to refreshed tennis and basketball courts as well as a new horseshoe pit, shuffleboard court, and corn hole set on the expansive front lawn. Those heading to the greens might want to grab a Jersey Burger Dog, available at the golf shop and on the course, while golfing. The new handheld offering is a delicious beef patty, shaped to fit a hot dog bun (for easy one-hand eating) and paired with pork roll, cheese and a pickle for extra flavor. This novelty bite is available for $9, or can be paired with a domestic beer for $12.
401 South New York Road, Galloway, NJ 08205 | 609.652.1800 | https://www.seaviewdolcehotel.com/
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Chubb Hotel & Conference Center, Lafayette Hill’s award-winning event venue boasting 42 meeting rooms and 120 guest rooms, is currently working on a COVID-19 response program to secure the well-being of all guests. Their world-class golf course, designed by Gary Player and operated by the ACE Golf Club, is open for business and members however and therefore the perfect place for a quiet Independence Day weekend. Get a membership and spend the rest of the year conducting business on one of Americas top golf courses.
800 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA 19144 | 610.825.8000 | https://www.chubbconferencecenter.com/
V. Celebrate With A Cocktail For A Cause
Devil’s Den is extending the Fourth of July celebrations this year by offering a month-long cocktail with a cause. The “Star Fruit Sparkler” ($10 a cocktail // $30 per quart) will be available the entire month of July and all proceeds will be donated to the Starfruit Project, an organization that supports radical healing and brilliant growth through creative writing and performance programs centering queer and trans people of color.
1148 South 11th Street | 215.339.0855 | http://www.devilsdenphilly.com
-Tobias Fischer