Related Posts

• Buy Tickets for The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia – See 20+ Sites on a Primary Overview of Independence Park, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
• City Tavern

The unofficial meeting place of America’s Founding Fathers is back this summer!

The History

City Tavern originally opened in 1773 during a period of rising tension between the American Colonists and the British government. When the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia a year later in 1774, they officially met at Carpenter’s Hall… but unofficially City Tavern is where they often gathered. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, George Washington were just a few of the many that drank and dined at the Tavern. Washington chose City Tavern as his meeting place with the Marquis de Lafayette after he first arrived in America. Adams called it the “most genteel tavern in America.”

Nearly destroyed by a fire in 1834, the Tavern was fully demolished in 1854. City Tavern was absent in Philadelphia for over a century, but then as Philadelphia prepared for the 1976 Bicentennial the decision was made to reconstruct City Tavern in the original location where it once stood. City Tavern reopened in 1976 as a restaurant that served authentic colonial food. For nearly 30 years City Tavern was operated by famed chef Walter Staib, the host of the television show, A Taste of History. City Tavern has been closed since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

The Garden at City Tavern

In 2026 City Tavern is back as a pop-up beer garden called "The Garden at City Tavern." The Garden will operate in the lush garden located behind the City Tavern. The Garden will feature a menu of snacks, cocktails, wines, and beers. The full menu can be viewed by clicking here. But this is not just any Beer Garden, there will also be appearances from historical reenactors so that you can “meet” some of the famous founding fathers who once dined at City Tavern.

The Garden is also family friendly! There are colonial lawn games for kids to play so they can have fun like it’s 1776. There is even a kid’s mocktail, the “Lil Pony Punch” which is a citrus fruit punch served in a souvenir pony cup! 

For now, the plan is for the Garden to operate through Labor Day Weekend 2026, however depending on demand, it may continue to operate through the fall and may even return again in Spring 2027.

How To Get There

The Garden at City Tavern is located within Independence National Historical Park on 2nd Street and Walnut Street. The location is easily accessible by the Market-Frankford Line via 2nd Street Station which is only two blocks away. The Garden is located behind City Tavern and is also accessible by Dock Street.

Hours

Thursday – Sunday: 11AM- 8PM
Monday – Wednesday: Closed

Additional Information

The Garden at City Tavern
2nd & Walnut Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19106
https://historicphiladelphia.org/events/city-tavern/