Everyone can use a good happy hour, but in the age of COVID-19, heading to a hotspot to down a drink or two and munch on some snacks isn’t exactly easy to do. However, some top spots around the City of Brotherly Love have taken the time to craft different specials and offerings to make happy hour in Philly once again feel like an occasion to celebrate.
Of course, every place is also following CDC guidelines and will be implementing social distancing as well.
Here are a few spots to check out for happy hour in Philadelphia.
Fork
Old City hotspot Fork is offering a special treat for Philadelphians who are looking to hit some happy hours around the city. Every Tuesday through Friday from 4 pm to 6 pm, is dubbed “Oysters and Aperitifs” at their open-air street-styled seating. Happy hour offerings include organic, canned Ramona wine spritzers, discounted cocktails and boozy ice cream sandwiches on the spirited side (think vanilla bourbon ice cream sandwiched between two spelt chocolate chip cookies homemade from High Street on Market) plus, on the food side, oysters starting at $2. Other highlighted menu items available during that time include $5 softshell crab sandwiches, $5 blistered shishitos and more.
forkrestaurant.com
a.kitchen + a.bar
The popular eatery and bar is offering Philadelphians a way to experience a socially distanced happy hour while dining in one of the most beautiful areas of the city, Rittenhouse Square. The outside area at a.kitchen and a.bar is open-aired and spacious and the happy hour offerings span from discounted beer to specialty cocktails including the $9 Old Bay Punch and rotating variety of boozy popsicle flavors. Happy hour runs Wednesday through Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm at a.kitchen, and next door, a.bar will be offering discounted drinks to go from 5 to 7 pm every every Wednesday through Friday as well.
Walnut Street Cafe
Walnut Street Cafe recently opened and revamped their menu on their patio, which offers a secluded setting from the hustle and bustle of Walnut Street while still allowing guests who dine there to feel the landscape of the city. For happy hour, the hotspot is really pulling out all of the stops as well. Every Tuesday through Saturday from 5 pm to 7 pm, diners can indulge in ‘Golden Hour,’ which features a variety of frozen drinks and large format cocktails served in a pineapple vessel (such as the Tiki Punch, Hibiscus Lemonade Smash and White Sangria) plus a slew of bites for $5 including haloumi fries with cucumber yogurt, watermelon salad with feta and crispy wild rice, Thai sweet chili meatballs, and martini olives with Vermouth and bleu cheese crumbles and more. Also, according to the release, on top of happy hour, WSC’s weekend Jazz Brunch is back on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm. The soundtrack is provided by a local jazz group, and the menu is made up of brunch favorites including a Dutch baby, shakshuka and steak and eggs, in addition to WSC’s full menu.
Square 1682
The Center City hotspot is bringing back one of their classic specials and revamping their own version of a happy hour. Square 1682’s Surf n Turf special will be available every Monday and Tuesday night from 4 pm to 8 pm and is priced at $25 for both take-out or al fresco dining on their patio. The specialty dish includes a filet mignon, ½ pound of fresh Maine lobster, crab fries, accompanied by drawn butter and rosemary jus and additional accouterments including sesame broccoli, marsala mushrooms, whipped potatoes and fingerlings au gratin. Philadelphians can pair the dish with one of Square’s cocktails, beer or wine choices to really make the meal complete.
square1682.com
Sunset Social
Upstairs at the Cira Green, Walnut Street Cafe’s sister spot, Sunset Social is also offering their own version of Golden Hour. Every Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm, those who head to the hotspot will be able to enjoy half-off draft beer and frozen drinks on the socially distanced green including strawberry daiquiris and blood orange margaritas. Also every Tuesday, Sunset Social will be hosting a weekly event not just for Philadelphians, but for all furry friends as well. Yappy Hour will feature all of Sunset Social’s menu offerings for owners, as well as chef-made dog treats for their pups. A portion of all of the proceeds will be donated to the PSPCA and Morris Animal Refuge, both of whom will also be bringing adoptable puppies to the rooftop during Yappy Hour for on-site adoptions.
