Also known as the “city of brotherly love”, Philadelphia is a city that prides itself on its hospitality and eclectic personality. This university city caters to a younger crowd but also has a penchant for live jazz and a growing market for craft beers. There’s not much you can’t do here.
From the outer reaches of Broad St. in Northern Liberties down to Queen Village in South Philly, and out to West Philly, this city is chock-a-block full of vibrant neighborhoods. Within them are a whole lot of bars that would make the perfect venue for your next party.
The best part is that Giggster has the lowdown on every budget-friendly bar venue in the city, so you can throw a big party even if you don’t have the cash flow to match it.
Don’t let your weekend pass you by! Start seeking a private Philadelphia bar for a fun night of drinks with friends a la Giggster instead.
Say goodbye to boring event spaces with watering holes in all of the city’s hottest neighborhoods: Midtown Village, Spring Garden, Old City, and the list goes on! Our team has put together a list of Philadelphia gems like nothing you’ve ever seen before:
Why not host a pop-up bar at one of Philly’s artsy lofts or white-walled modern art galleries? It will require a bigger budget, but that extra dough will afford you an exclusive, VIP feeling you can’t replace.
Kick back and relax at an unfussy pub. Beer on tap, good eats, and a private location to get a little rowdy with your mates…what more could you need?
With striking architecture, sophisticated decor, and fine pours, wine bars will elevate anything from a bachelorette to an anniversary. It’s a boozy bash all grown up!
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Don’t spend your weekend stuck in the house. Gather the crew and head to a cocktail lounge filled with natural light or a smoky karaoke bar instead. From Sansom Street to Center City, Giggster has 63 of the best bars in Philly with a private room- perfect for a Friday night full of good cheer.
Hassle-Free Booking: We make booking budget-friendly options easy. With transparent pricing and great value, our rentals start at just $20/hour). You won’t even miss the game day specials at your neighborhood brewpub back home!
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Don’t get hit with hefty financial penalties due to unexpected changes! Our free cancellation policy will allow you to cancel a booking for free within 24 hours of confirmation, provided the booking is made at least 48 hours before the event.
Platform Protections: We all have that one friend who parties a little too hard. Add our premier protection plans to your reservation and you can enjoy bars like Approachable, No-Frills Neighborhood Corner Bar across Philly without having to babysit all night. Liability, disruption management, and damages are concerns of the past!
Everybody loves a trip to Philadelphia, but planning a party at one of the city's bars is a bit different from visiting as an everyday tourist. Before you make the final call and book one of our top-rated venues—here’s a few things to consider:
Advantages
The availability of superb public transportation options means a safe way home for guests.
Philly is optimized for those who wish to walk or bike.
Philadelphia bars are licensed to sell six-packs of beer! For a fun afterparty, just add one to your tab before heading back to the hotel.
Disadvantages
Philly traffic is highly congested. With other transportation options aplenty, we’d recommend you don’t try to drive a personal vehicle.
Center City crime rates are high in some areas so you’ll want to reference a crime map before planning a grand adventure through the streets after dark.
Whether you want to pull up a seat at the local bar and drink the night away or wine and dine at local restaurants with excellent service, we have a wide array of Philly venues for you to choose from. Better yet, you can choose between private rooms and full buyouts to cater to your group size:
Local Tavern – Great Beer and an Unpretentious Dining Room. When looking for the best bars in town, it’s always a good idea to defer to the locals. Kick off the weekend with a trip to the good ol’ dive bar or friendly neighborhood pub. This is a fantastic option for drinks and dinner with friends and you get bonus points if it's karaoke night! Be sure to ask about their drink specials and standard tap pours before you make your final decision.
Breweries and Beer Gardens – An Easy and Approachable Night Out. It’s always happy hour at these spirited indoor/outdoor venues. The industrial, spacious nature of a brewery allows you to bring in a larger crowd or play some live music. Not to mention, an endless supply of craft beer on tap and small plates are sure to be crowd-pleasers. There's no food like microbrewery food!
A Classy Restaurant with a Cocktail Bar – Good Food and Good Times. A full buyout of a restaurant is the perfect party idea for the host who wants to pull off an impressive happy hour event without as much effort. These beautiful restaurants don’t need much in the way of decor, plus, expertly crafted libations courtesy of the bartender and a chef-curated food menu will be the star attraction so you don’t need to plan extensive activities for your guests. Score!
From lining up live entertainment to hand-selecting every snack and drink on the menu, curating the right mood for your party is hard work. If you want to get your guests talking about your party planning prowess, be sure to add some of our pro tips into your repertoire:
Book Extra Time – When renting a party space, you'll want to give yourself a wide enough window for setup and cleaning after the party wraps. Avoid day-of stress, embarrassing moments (you don’t want guests arriving as you get the key from the property owner), or even financial penalties by planning for at least one hour on either side.
Use Social Media as a Springboard – Try to use social media as a source of inspiration rather than imitation. Once you get a sense of what you like, make sure to give yourself a chance to get creative with it. Remember that this is YOUR party, so it should be infused with a heavy dose of YOUR personality.
Review Every Little Detail- Don’t leave last-minute mixups to chance. Give yourself an hour to email or call each of your vendors and confirm every order, pickup timeline, and price. A week ahead of your party date is a good time to ensure all your ducks are in a row.
Let’s be honest. Stressing about the cost of hosting a party can spoil some of the fun. But what if we told you it doesn’t have to be that way? Here are some of our favorite ways to cut back on expenses without compromising on your dream bar experience:
Rent instead of buy.
Especially if your event is on the larger side with an elaborate theme, the cost of decor, linens, and even dinnerware can eat up a budget in no time. Consider renting from a reputable local vendor instead of purchasing just for your event. This is also eco-friendly and could save you some clean-up (many dinnerware rentals will even do the dishes for you!)
It takes a village.
Guests hate showing up empty-handed! There’s no shame in taking a few key attendees (like close family members) up on the offer to handle the odd item. Even if you only offload the tiniest of purchases like ice, napkins, and balloons, these costs add up. Spreading out the costs will make a very small difference for those asked to do the favor and will make a big difference for the host carrying the financial burden of the party.
DIY Printing Press.
If you really don’t want to give up on old-school paper invites, consider printing them at home. With a little creativity, an online design platform like Canva, and a pack of card stock, you can have 100% custom invitations at a fraction of the cost.
Karaoke nights, dance parties, and a morning-after brunch all need Giggster because we have the hotline to the best bar venues in Philly. From a lowkey pub to a lounge with the best cocktails in the city, we’ll help you find the perfect space for all your private events.