Bonner’s Irish Pub on the corner of 23rd and Sansom Streets appears, on the surface, to be your average, everyday, cool neighborhood bar.
They have specials on Miller pitchers with pretzels; host old country sing-a-longs at Christmas and rip-roaring St. Patrick’s Day parties; the Tuesday Quizzo parties are smart and fun; and if you’re looking for juicy hamburgers, like-mom-cooked fish-and-chips or corned beef-and-cabbage served as they are in Dublin, Bonner’s is home base.
Yet, in the last 10 days, Bonner’s late nights have become crowded with celebrities in comedy and music. Pennsylvania-born stand-up comedian-turned-streaming series creator Shane Gillis has made the Rittenhouse area’s intimate Irish pub his go-to joint after he’s finished holding court on stage at the nearby Helium Comedy Club.
Country music superstar Zach Bryan stopped by Bonner’s after the first night of his sold-out series of concerts at the Linc, and had such a great time that he brought his entire band and backstage crew to this Sanson Steet Irish pub after night two – with Gillis in tow. Instagram reels from Barstool Sports showing Bryan and Gillis doing a beer “chug off” at Bonner’s went mega-viral.
Do some extra digging among sources, and you find that, along with newly-minted Rittenhouse Row neighbors in players from Eagles and the 76ers making Bonner’s their go-to hangout, superstar actors such as Harrison Ford have stopped into Bonner’s for a beer or two when in town.
Is Bonner’s Philadelphia’s coolest hangout for local and visiting celebs? Though he’s humbled about winning such a moniker, bar owner Danny Bonner would like to think so.
“We take that with a grain of salt, but you’re right,” said Bonner about the klatch of celebrity that’s bellied up to his bar as of late. “Both Shane, who’s been here several times for dinner and drinks, and Zach are great guys – down-to-earth, very respectful and very generous (Danny tells me how extravagant their tips have been off-the-record). They’re wonderful people.”
Bonner has owned several bars in the city, such as the long-famous Off the Wagon and the Shamrock Pub on Baltimore Avenue. He was friendly with this 23rd and Sansom Street’s original corner bar owner Mickey Cavanaugh 30 years ago, during a time when the latter, famously, had issues with his liquor license. Bonner bought the building and eventually took over the license and the business from Cavanaugh.
“Since I turned this into Bonner’s, I think we developed it into a community – I hate to use the phrase ‘neighborhood bar’ as this area is so transitional – place for friendly service and great food at a reasonable price,” he said.
To that end, Bonner’s has developed relationships with the First Troop Philadelphia City Calvary and the nearby Armory; the Wharton Business School at Penn; and the doctors and nurses from CHOP.
“Penn Law, Aramark and several large law firms have become part of the area in the last 30 years,” said Bonner. “But I’m a working-class guy and know that many working-class people are new to this neighborhood, too. So, we treat everyone like family, old regulars and the new people. Everyone feels welcome here – all 5,500 square feet of its three rooms.”
This end of the Rittenhouse used to be a great hangout for people who didn’t want to be seen. In particular, the late David Carroll’s hot spots such as Bar Noir, Magazine and Rogue’s Gallery played host to the likes of Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis and an unending retinue of ballers on a regular basis.
“Back-in-the-day, we could say we were off-the-beaten-track in this area,” Bonner said. “But that’s not true now what with Ambrosia down the block being so popular, and the new $5 million houses across the street having Eagles and Sixers.”
Even in what is now a popular neighborhood, Bonner’s still feels dark and private, yet convivial. Couple that with a citywide reputation for being a welcoming bar, and it’s no wonder that local ball players, Gillis and Bryan – on tour for his newly-released album, “The Great American Bar Scene” – treat Bonner’s like home.
“And these are young guys, you know (Bryan is 28, Gillis, 36),” Bonner added. “They like a good time. Bryan liked being here so much, he brought everyone from his tour outfit back to Bonner’s for what wound up being like a private party.”
Harrison Ford is known to hit Bonner’s when he’s in town. “He used to be a carpenter before he became an actor and when the Armory does its antique show, Ford – who is a big collector of old original American furniture – stops by,” he said.
Celebs aside, Bonner’s is still the bar to turn to when schools in the area have fund-raisers or an Erin Express is set to chug its way through St. Paddy’s Day.
“Our pub is part of the community because we are the community,” Bonner said.
With Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven Van Zandt, Donald Glover (as Childish Gambino) and Usher coming into town in the next 10 days, let’s see who else makes a pitstop at Bonner’s Irish Pub.
