February 4, 2022 — Combat below freezing temps by dining at heated outdoor venues in Philadelphia and beyond. Noted locales Assembly Rooftop Lounge, Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge, and Art in the Age amongst other restaurants and bars in the area offer an impressive al fresco set up fit with heat lamps, fire pits, and so on — making dining and imbibing outdoors mid-winter a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all.
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PHILLY’S PREMIER AL FRESCO DINING DESTINATIONS FOR WINTER
Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge, the eclectic Northern Liberties diner and lounge, is ready for chilly, winter temps with expanded outdoor seating including a streetery on Lawrence and café seating along Spring Garden, in addition to Silk’s magic garden – filled with art, sculpture and other visual treats from restaurateur Mark Bee’s findings in and around Philly. The space is fully covered and insulated with heat lamps and a plethora of heaters — keeping the temperature at a comfortable 65 degrees through the duration of winter. Imbibers can snag an outdoor table and enjoy a plethora of dinner and brunch offerings as well as sip on hot cocktails including Hot Toddy, Irish Coffee, and Hot Mulled Cider, and featured tipples such as Winter Fashioned utilizing Maker’s Mark Whiskey, seasonal spices, and orange.
Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge requires proof of full vaccination when dining indoors and outdoors.
Hours of operation: Wednesday from 5 – 10pm, Thursday from 5 – 11pm, Friday from 5 – 12am, Saturday from 11am – 12am and Sunday from 11am – 9pm.
435 Spring Garden Street | 215.592.8838 | https://www.silkcityphilly.com/
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Assembly Rooftop Lounge, Center City’s upscale rooftop lounge with panoramic views of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, has transformed into a cozy winter set-up, accurately dubbed Alpine Heights, a modern ski lodge-inspired pop-up running through Saturday, February 26.
Guests can enjoy boozy hot cocoa, festive winter ales, comfort food, themed décor, blankets, blazing fire pits and heat lamps, and much more, making Assembly Rooftop Lounge the ultimate winter destination for date night or àpres-work cocktails. Toasty tipples on the extensive beverage menu includes Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate, Alpine Toddy, and Mulled Hot Apple Cider, while seasonal sippers include Beet You To The Slopes crafted with Banhez Mezcal, green chartreuse, beet simple syrup, and fresh lime, and Plum Spiced Old Fashioned composed of Country Smooth Bourbon, fall spiced plum simple, and angostura and orange bitters.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday 4 – 10:30 pm
1840 Benjamin Franklin Parkway | 215.963.2723 | https://assemblyrooftop.com
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Art in the Age, Old City’s one-of-a-kind tasting room, home bar supply and bottle shop, offers imbibers a sweeping [and heated] outdoor cocktail garden for sipping sensational craft cocktails courtesy of the expert, in-house mixologists. The al fresco garden is an ideal venue for enjoying spirit tastings and cocktails made with seasonal ingredients such as Tamworth Distilling’s Skiklubben Aquavit and Damson Plum Gin, in addition to partaking in Cozy Hour, a happy hour daily from 3 – 5pm, featuring $2 off cocktails and $1 off local beer and cider.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Sunday from 12 – 6 pm.
116 N 3rd Street | 215.922.2600 | http://artintheage.com/
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ADDITIONAL LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND BARS OFFERING HEATED OUTDOOR SEATING
Devil’s Den, Philadelphia’s leading craft beer bar, boasts a spacious outdoor streetery and sidewalk patio with a smattering of heaters to assist in keeping guests warm and comfortable while dining al fresco all season long. Guests can enjoy an array of local craft brews, seasonal cocktails, and brand-new pub fare including the newly-rejuvenated weekend brunch service featuring The French Toast BLT, Breakfast Burrito, and toppling house-made Breakfast Burger, all while staying toasty outdoors.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Friday 4 – 9 pm, Saturday from 11 am – 9 pm, and Sunday from 11 am – 9 pm, with brunch service on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am – 2 pm.
1148 South 11th Street | 215.339.0855 | http://www.devilsdenphilly.com
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Philadelphia Brewing Company, the city’s largest and oldest brewery located in Kensington, holds an expansive beer garden open for service year-round with picnic tables galore available for patrons to take a seat, grab a pint (or six pack) of Walt Wit, Working Cat, or Kenzinger, and BYOF (bring your own food — or order from nearby Martha, Zig Zig BBQ, Pizza Brain, etc), in addition to a heated and covered sidewalk patio. Bonus: the beer garden is pet-friendly too!
Hours of operation: Monday through Saturday from 11 am – Midnight, and Sunday from 11am – 11 pm.
2440 Frankford Ave | 215.427.2739 | http://philadelphiabrewing.com/
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Royal Boucherie, Old City’s lively neighborhood bistro, offers a well-curated craft cocktail and French-forward wine selection in addition to a robust dinner and brunch menu helmed by Executive Chef Matt Buehler. Guests can indulge in contemporary takes on classic French dishes such as Steak Frites prepared with grass-fed Bavette steak, arugula-anchovy butter, and frites, and the famed Grass-Fed Boucherie Burger crafted with bone marrow, watercress, and gruyere, all while dining outdoors at the covered and heated sidewalk streetery, and flourishing, intimate second-floor garden – one of Philadelphia’s most hidden gems.
Imbibers are welcome to sip on a tasty tipple such as the À La Philly, composed of Northbound Rye Whiskey, Bénédictin, sweet vermouth, absinthe and Peychaud’s, at one of the many outdoor tables.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Sunday from 4 – 10 pm
52 S. 2nd Street | 267.606.6313 | https://www.royalboucherie.com/
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Stella of New Hope, located in the heart of bustling Main Street overlooking the Delaware River, is the ultimate outdoor imbibing location with a sweeping deck boasting stellar views of the river, the Bucks County Playhouse, and adjacent quaint small town Lambertville, NJ, rife with an on-site outdoor wood burning fireplace for guests to stay warm and cozy through the season. Diners can enjoy an array of seasonal, refreshing cocktails, wine, and local brews, and a deluxe selection of fare from Executive Chef Michael O’Halloran including Beef Tartare, Pan Seared NY Strip Steak, and Pan Roasted Day Boat Sea Scallops on the expansive deck while taking in the crisp, cool air and unparalleled views of New Hope, PA.
Hours of operation: Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 4 – 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 4 – 10pm, and weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 2pm
50 S Main Street | 267.740.2691 | https://www.stellanewhope.com/
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The Twisted Tail, popular Southern-inspired restaurant and bar on Headhouse Square, offers visitors and locals a sweeping sidewalk patio in the charming Society Hill neighborhood, ideal for enjoying dinner, brunch, or drinks al fresco year-round. The spacious streetery is surrounded by various heat lamps allowing guests a toasty experience while sipping on delicious libations including the Cargo Plane, composed of bourbon, orange, cardamom, Amaro, and Aperol, the signature Mint Julep, with Maker’s Mark, mint, and sugar, and winter-inspired cocktails such as Smokestack Lightening, crafted with mezcal, orange, lemon, sweet vermouth, and cherry.
Hours of operation: Monday through Thursday 4—10pm, Friday 4—12am, Saturday 11—12am and Sunday 10—10pm
509 S. 2nd Street | 215.558.2471 | http://thetwistedtail.com/
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Urban Farmer, Logan Square’s modern American steakhouse, has a picturesque outdoor patio with stunning views of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway fit with heat lamps and heaters bringing comfort and warmth to each and every guest. Diners and imbibers can reserve an outdoor table during breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch service and enjoy seasonal starters such as Pan Roasted Pork Belly, locally-sourced Cheese Plate, house-made Charcuterie Board, and superior steak offerings including New York Steak Tasting, Dry Aged 1855 Beef, Joyce Farms Ribeye, and much more. An array of hot, chilled, and no proof cocktails are available for sipping including a Mezcal Mule composed of mezcal, lime, pomegranate, falernum, and ginger beer, and Yuzu 92 crafted with Bluecoat Gin, yuzu, gentian, rosemary, and sparkling.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday from 8am – 9pm, and Sunday from 8am – 3pm
1850 Benjamin Franklin Parkway | 215.963.2788 | https://www.urbanfarmersteakhouse.com/philadelphia-happenings/
-Nicole Schofield