Philadelphia’s Only Remaining Colonial Tavern

Philadelphia’s first tavern opened in 1681, and by 1744 there were more than one hundred taverns serving Colonial Philadelphia. Today only one remains along what was once bustling Dock Creek harbor. The creek has long been buried and the entire neighborhood was razed in the 60’s, but A Man Full of Trouble Tavern (c. 1759) survived and recently reopened, serving beer for the first time since the Revolution. In addition to the Pennsylvania beers available downstairs, there is a museum upstairs. Follow on Instagram for opening times.Society Hill is now a swanky, upscale neighborhood, so it’s hard to imagine that it once was a dockyard filled with taverns patronized by pirates such as Blackbeard. Today is Dock Street is an anomaly in the perfect grid system of Old City (you can see the creek on the lower edge of Penn’s 1683 map). The creek itself has been covered up since 1820 and converted to a sewer, but you can still walk the cobblestone street that marks the course of the creek.

Philadelphia has always been a beer city and it was in these taverns that the founding fathers plotted revolution. In the 19th and 20th centuries Philadelphia was home to over 90 breweries.  Prohibition brought an end to the production of beer in Philadelphia, but the resurgence of craft beer led to a new boom and now Philadelphia is considered one of the best beer cities in America. 

Yards has a line of “founding father” brews based on original recipes from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, make this a “must” stop on any Philadelphia beer tour.  They serve food and offer brewery tours.  Spring Garden, just north of Old City.

A beer tour of Philly should also include a stop at McGillian’s Olde Ale House, the oldest continuously operating tavern in the city (c. 1860). A bit touristy, but still very much a local hangout. They have their own beer, decent pub food, and a free daily help-your-self soup pot (lentil on our visit). Between the fireplace and holiday decorations, it’s a great stop during the Christmas season. Center City.