Drinks Center City & Penn's Landing
McGillin's Olde Ale House
A place for a drink in Center City & Penn's Landing, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Evening.
Why go
Tavern on Drury Street, open since 1860 and the oldest continuously operating in the city.
It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Center City & Penn's Landing, alongside 3 places to eat, 2 activities and 1 outdoor spot. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with McGillin's Olde Ale House and The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia.
- Type
- Drinks · Nightlife
- Neighborhood
- Center City
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 1.5 hr
- Best time
- Evening
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 6 beyond Center City & Penn's Landing. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1McGillin's Olde Ale House
Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern, open since 1860.
Drinks · Philadelphia · 0.0 mi straight-line - 2The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
Hotel in a domed former bank building on Broad Street, a block south of City Hall and Christmas Village.
Stay · Philadelphia · 0.1 mi straight-line - 3Philadelphia City Hall
The parade starts here and the judges sit on the west side by Dilworth Park, where groups stop for their full routines.
Sight · Broad Street & South Philly · 0.2 mi straight-line - 4Dilworth Park
Plaza on the west side of City Hall with an outdoor ice rink and a lit Wintergarden in the holiday season.
Activity · Philadelphia · 0.2 mi straight-line - 5Reading Terminal Market
1893 market hall with Amish bakeries and Philly sandwich counters.
Food · Philadelphia · 0.3 mi straight-line - 6Christmas Village in Philadelphia
German-style Christmas market in LOVE Park and around City Hall, with wooden stalls, ornaments, bratwurst and Glühwein.
Shopping · Philadelphia · 0.3 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
McGillin's Olde Ale House is a stop on our Philadelphia New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Center City & Penn's Landing
McGillin's Olde Ale House is our only drinks pick in Center City & Penn's Landing; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Center City & Penn's Landing guide.
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Delaware River New Year's Eve fireworks
Two free fireworks shows over the Delaware at 6 p.m. and midnight; in 2025 they launched from three river barges.
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Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Seasonal rink and lodge on the waterfront; its ticketed New Year's Eve party has live music and heated cabins.
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Race Street Pier
Two-level park pier under the Benjamin Franklin Bridge with open views up and down the river.
-
Parkway New Year's Eve concert
Free 2025 concert at Eakins Oval below the Art Museum steps, with LL Cool J and its own midnight fireworks.
-
Zahav
Michael Solomonov's Israeli restaurant in Society Hill, open since 2008 and known for its hummus and lamb shoulder.
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Amada
Jose Garces's Spanish tapas restaurant on Chestnut Street in Old City, open since 2005.
When to go: weather by month, based on Philadelphia
Our climate figures for Center City & Penn's Landing come from nearby Philadelphia. Average daily highs in Philadelphia run from 38°F in January to 86°F in July; July is usually the wettest month. For McGillin's Olde Ale House itself, we suggest: Evening.
Modelled monthly averages for Philadelphia from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Philadelphia weather by month (covers Center City & Penn's Landing).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for McGillin's Olde Ale House, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 39.95022, -75.16258
- Destination
- Center City & Penn's Landing, Pennsylvania
McGillin's Olde Ale House: quick answers
How much time do you need at McGillin's Olde Ale House?
Plan on about 1.5 hours at McGillin's Olde Ale House. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit McGillin's Olde Ale House?
Our pick: Evening. Insider tip: It gets packed on Dec 30 and 31; arrive early evening.
Which TripsCircle routes include McGillin's Olde Ale House?
McGillin's Olde Ale House appears on Philadelphia New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add McGillin's Olde Ale House to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Center City & Penn's Landing.
Plan Center City & Penn's Landing
- Center City & Penn's Landing travel guide 9 places
- Philadelphia weather (covers Center City & Penn's Landing) weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Center City & Penn's Landing
- Amada Food
- Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest Activity
- Race Street Pier Outdoors
- Delaware River New Year's Eve fireworks Sight
- Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia Stay
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.