Where to drink well in Philadelphia by the glass and the bottle: natural, classical, and worth the cab fare.
Wine bars in Philadelphia. natural, classical, and the grower-focused rooms worth the cab fare.
Bloomsday in Philadelphia is the Headhouse Square natural wine bar, cafe and bottle shop at 414 S 2nd, run by Zach Morris and chef Kelsey Bush since 2019.
Signature pour: Whichever Loire grower is on tap that week
Wine focus: Natural and grower wines
Food: Small plates and full lunch and dinner menus
a.kitchen + bar in Philadelphia is the AKA Rittenhouse hotel restaurant on 18th Street, with sommelier Eric Walker's award-winning list and a daily wine-by-the-glass programme.
Signature pour: A glass of Champagne or Chenin from the curated list
Wine focus: Old World classics and natural-leaning new world
Food: Lunch and dinner menus, snack bar
Vernick Wine in Philadelphia is Greg Vernick's bottle-shop wine bar next door to the flagship on Walnut, with a tight 18-seat counter and a curated by-the-glass list.
Signature pour: Bourgogne by the glass from a rotating list
Wine focus: Burgundy and natural French
Food: Snack menu shared with Vernick Food & Drink
Friday Saturday Sunday Bar in Philadelphia is the upstairs walk-up bar of the Rittenhouse townhouse, with the natural-wine list run by Hanna Williams and the full menu from downstairs.
Signature pour: Whichever Loire or Jura by the glass on Hanna Williams's list
Wine focus: Natural and biodynamic wines
Food: Full FSS menu
Tria Cafe Rittenhouse in Philadelphia is the 18th Street corner wine bar since 2004, with a focus on by-the-glass pours, artisan cheese boards and a weekly Tria special bottle.
Signature pour: Whichever bottle is on the weekly five-buck Tria special
Wine focus: Old World classics by the glass
Food: Cheese, charcuterie, small plates
Panorama Wine Bar in Philadelphia is the Penn's View Hotel Italian wine bar on Front Street in Old City, with 120 wines on a Cruvinet preservation system since 1989.
Signature pour: Whichever Barolo or Brunello is on the by-the-glass machine
Wine focus: Italian, with 120 wines by the glass
Food: Italian small plates and pastas
Good King Tavern in Philadelphia is the Bella Vista French wine bar and bistro on 7th near Bainbridge from Bernard and Chloe Grigri, a Parisian-style room with a deep Loire list.
Signature pour: Whichever Loire is on the chalkboard, by the carafe
Wine focus: French wines, growers and Burgundy
Food: French bistro menu
Alpen Rose in Philadelphia is the Schulson Collective Alpine wine bar on 13th Street, with mountain wines, cheese fondue and raclette as the centrepiece of a small dinner programme.
Signature pour: Riesling by the glass from the Mosel
Wine focus: Alpine and German wines
Food: Charcuterie, fondue, raclette
Peak food season in Philadelphia is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Philadelphia rewards trust.