When you want to have fun in the City of Brotherly Love, you’ve got plenty of options. While you may attend a Phillies or Eagles game now and then, you also want to make sure you participate in one of the city’s bar crawl events. Gaining in popularity each year, these events allow you to explore Philly’s great variety of bars and pubs, make new friends, and have plenty of fun along the way. If you’re ready for the ultimate Philadelphia bar crawl, here’s everything you need to know.
Pick a Theme, Any Theme
One of the best things about participating in a Philly bar crawl is that you can find one that always has an interesting theme that will pique your curiosity. When you’re ready to party with people as passionate about pubs as yourself, you can choose from popular bar crawl themes such as Ugly Sweater, Tacos and Tequila, and even more traditional ones such as St. Patrick’s Day or Halloween. Whether you dig through your closet to find the ugliest sweater you own or put on your scariest face at Halloween, a themed bar crawl is always a great adventure.
Crawling Off the Beaten Path
When you partake of a bar crawl in Philadelphia, don’t expect to simply hit every tourist trap bar and pub in the city. Instead, you’ll go off the beaten path to discover some of Philly’s best-kept secrets regarding its pubs and bars. If you’re into karaoke, you’ll love finding your way to the El Bar on Monday nights to belt out your favorite tunes.
Should you want to hit the Italian Market area of Philly, make sure you have a margarita during happy hour at Blue Corn. Before calling it an evening, head to 12 Steps Down and shoot a game or two of pool to see if you can win a buck or two.
Pace Yourself Accordingly
If you’re new to the bar crawl scene, be sure to pace yourself accordingly early on so that you don’t drink yourself out at the first bar or pub you visit. Always remember that if the first bar you visit is great, chances are the next ones on your list will be even better. Once you get your wristband for the evening at the first bar on your list, which is the check-in bar for the crawl, the remaining bars you’ll visit will always have food and drink specials awaiting.
When all of this is combined with the DJs, light shows, and dance floors that are so unique to the Philly nightlife scene, it won’t take long for you to understand why you need to sample a little bit from each bar or pub so that you can truly appreciate what each stop has to offer.
Pubs and More Pubs
If you’re really into pubs, a bar crawl in Philly will have you yearning for more once you’ve visited the many included on a typical crawl. Some of the best include Oscar’s Tavern, located below ground level and features one of the largest cheesesteak sandwiches in the city. Another popular crawl destination is Fergie’s Pub, where you can drink some great beer from local breweries and chow down on the pub’s famous burger and fried pickle chips.
Bring Your Cash and ID
One important thing to remember when preparing for your bar crawl in Philly is that some bars and pubs are cash-only, meaning you won’t be able just to whip out your credit card to pay for everything. Also, remember that even if you’re signed up for a crawl, most bars and pubs will still want to see some ID, especially if you are barely past age 21 or look years younger than you are in reality. Remembering these two important things allows you to have fun no matter where you wind up.
A bar crawl in Philly is an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Featuring bars and pubs that can appeal to anyone, you’ll have a fantastic time sampling beer, cocktails, and great food.
