McGillin's Olde Ale House
Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern. Open since Lincoln.
McGillin's opened its doors in 1860 — the same year Abraham Lincoln was elected — and it has poured pints every single year since. It has outlasted Prohibition, two world wars, and the entire modern history of the city of Philadelphia.
The bar sits down a tiny alley (Drury Street) between 13th and Juniper, a block off Walnut. Blink and you'll miss it. Inside: pressed-tin ceilings, wooden booths, and the original liquor license from 1860 hanging behind the bar.
St Patrick's Day at McGillin's isn't a party — it's a pilgrimage. Locals line up before open. The Guinness flows, the corned beef is house-cured, and the pipers arrive at noon sharp.
Line up by 9am for open. Order McGillin's own '1860 IPA' or a Guinness. Corned beef and cabbage plate is the classic — house-cured for 10 days.
Philadelphia's longest-running St Patrick's Day bar crawl. 30+ bars, free cover, free t-shirts.