City Life

The 10 Best Bars For Live Music In Philadelphia

Philadelphia is home to music venues such as the Wells Fargo Center and the Trocadero. However, many bars and restaurants offer live music in some capacity. These venues offer an intimate experience with musicians and allow for excellent seating. Here are the 10 best bars for live music in Philadelphia.

1. Johnny Brenda’s

Johnny Brenda’s is one of Philadelphia’s most popular musical bars. It is located on Frankford Avenue and they offer a wide variety of bar food and brunch. Like any bar, they have a variety of wine and beer on hand for people to enjoy responsibly.

2. Hard Rock

The Hard Rock Café is located at 12th and Market. While there is restaurant seating on and around the stage, employees shift chairs around to make the restaurant into its own venue. This venue hosts a variety of musicians, from rock to Celtic and more.

3. Bourbon and Branch

Bourbon and Branch is located on 2nd Street in Northern Liberties. They offer restaurant seating downstairs and a music venue where shows are held upstairs. They also offer delivery and takeout for food. Shows can usually be heard, though muffled, from the downstairs area.

4. The Plough and the Stars

The Plough and the Stars is located on 2nd Street in Old City. It is an Irish pub and it holds weekly Irish music jam sessions. It also has live music, sometimes for free. The late, great George Donaldson of Celtic Thunder fame used to perform solo shows here.

5. Voltage Lounge

The Voltage Lounge is located on 7th Street, right next to the Electric Factory. They have local brews on tap, food, and a happy hour. There are some shows that are age restricted, but each show is different and the information for each show will include age restrictions.

6. Ortlieb’s

Ortlieb’s Lounge is located on 3rd Street in Northern Liberties. They have a Tex-Mex menu until midnight and seating in a dining room or at the bar. Ortlieb’s offers beer, wine, and signature cocktails. They also have music almost every night from a wide variety of genres.

See Also

7. Heritage

Heritage was established in 2015 and is located on 2nd Street in Northern Liberties. They have jazz and live musicians every night, and weekly jazz jams. They also offer a wide selection of beers and wines in addition to seasonal food.

8. South Kitchen and Jazz Parlor

South Kitchen and Jazz Parlor is located on North Broad Street. They offer live jazz performances six nights a week from local and national acts. They also have a variety of southern appetizers and shared plates and a wide selection of beverages.

9. MilkBoy Philadelphia

MilkBoy is another popular bar and music venue among Philadelphia locals. It is located on Chestnut Street in Center City. They offer a wide selection of food and wines, beers, and cocktails and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10-2. They also have a wide variety of music each week. There is a great variety when it comes to the best bars for live music in Philadelphia!

10. Fergie’s Pub

Fergie’s Pub, a TV-free Irish Pub, is located on Sansom Street. They offer a selection of pub food, including traditional Irish dishes, and a variety of alcoholic beverages. They also host a wide variety of events, including a traditional Irish music session on Saturdays.

Let us know what you think of these best bars for live music in Philadelphia in the comments below!
Featured image source: weheartit.com
Ashley Paskill

Ashley is a recent graduate from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA with her Bachelor's in journalism. She love writing articles about music and Philadelphia. Ashley would love to pursue a career in journalism in New York City.

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