We came here on Fourth of July and it was crazy busy but the servers and staff were working their butts off. Drinks were great and the appetizers were had were alright. We came here more for the experience than the food and left happy. The bar is two stories and the bathrooms were clean but on the second story for anyone that needs to know. The second story has another bar and seating up there as well. read more

Irish pub, nearby City hall Philly First time being here for the food and watch the superbowl game. The place was packed but was able to get a seat at the first floor. The guard checked my bag and said that the upstairs wasn't open. It was very loud and can barley hear much. The three of the sampler beer were hoppy and tasty but the other three I didn't like. The fish & chip was good. The server didn't bring us any utensils or ketchup so had to ask for them. The TV weren't big enough so came back to the hotel to watch rest of the game. The price of the food was reasonable. read more

See all

There's a reason McGillin's Olde Ale House has been around since 1860. Places don't last that long unless they're doing something right--and McGillin's does just about everything right. It's a little hard to find at first since you enter through an alley, but that's part of the charm. The city grew up around this place, not the other way around, and once you're inside you feel the history immediately. We went for lunch and started with the fried Brussels sprouts, one of their specialties. I would never order Brussels sprouts on my own, but I'm very glad I did here--crispy, flavorful, and absolutely worth it. I had the open-faced roast beef sandwich, which was classic, filling, and done right. My wife ordered the shepherd's pie, which was hearty and comforting, exactly what you want in a place like this. We had a couple of craft beers, and when the bill came, I honestly did a double take. It was about what you'd pay at a fast-food restaurant, except here you're getting great food, great beer, and sitting in one of the most historic bars in the country. McGillin's doesn't chase trends. It doesn't need to. It's welcoming, authentic, and delivers every time. I can't recommend this place highly enough. If you're in Philly, this should be on your list. read more

See all

Been patronizing McGillins for years. Comfortable welcoming environment. Was able to get seated during a World Cup playoff game, service was not slowed or diminished at all. Food was as good as ever. We had classic pub fare, the home made roast beef and au jus always hits the spot. Basket of fries to share was fresh. One of my favorites quirks is the sampler for beer, six generous portion eight oz pours. Reliable and comforting. read more

Came by on a Friday before catching a show at the Philly convention center, and it was packed! Great beer selection and amazing loaded fries! Very reasonably priced too. read more

McGillin's Olde Ale House - Irish Pub Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Had a great time at the oldest bar in PA and the food was delicious as well. We came on a Wednesday and they were having karaoke upstairs was poppin off with cool jams. Fun place to hang out, definitely coming back read more

See all

Hubs found this gem online as it was just a few blocks from our hotel, and he knows I never need any persuasion to visit an Irish pub. And once he mentioned McGillin's historical status, I walked faster! Even with Google Maps, we still got a bit confused about where the entrance was but only because it's actually in what looks like an alley. I now know this is Philly's oldest pub, and I'm so glad we went. Inside, we enjoyed the ambiance, although the tables are super tight. They weren't very busy on this Saturday afternoon so I'm not sure why we were seated so close to another table of two. It just felt awkward, and so many other tables were open. That aside, I loved gawking at the history on the walls & ceiling. Christy was our server & she was absolutely fantastic. We never wanted for a thing as she was always nearby & hustling. As that weekend in June was much chillier than forcasted, we asked about any available long-sleeve merch and she was so helpful in physically walking us out the back door to direct us to their store around the corner, and also reminding us that our receipt would get us 10% off our purchase. I wish I remembered the name of the store clerk because she was also wonderful & even threw in a couple of postcards with our shirts. For our lunch, we started with the draft beer sampler. First of all, it was ridiculously cheap for 6 rather large samples. And then it came out on a spinning metal contraption, set upon a laminated beer guide. To be honest, half of the beers were too hoppy for my palette, but I loved being able to try such a variety of locally brewed beers. And the laminated beer mat was super helpful in reminding us which beer was which as we sampled. Of course I went with the Shepherds Pie for my meal. McGillin's iteration was amazing & I loved the au jus style gravy on top. And I don't typically like gravy. My only note is that that I almost wish I had a bit more mashed potatoes... but that's actually a compliment on the amount of meat & veggie proportioning. I ate everything, so the portion size wasn't huge but definitely filling for me. Hubs got a steak of some kind... he also ate all of his meal, so it must have been good. I definitely hope we can return to McGillin's on a future visit to Philadelphia. They're such a special piece of history in Center City. One visit isn't enough! read more

See all

Busy, worth waiting for a table - the food is wholesome and hearty. The appetizers and my fave - Fish & Chips - yes with Malt Vinegar! Love love love. A tad loud and noisy - and then how important is that - really? read more

Mcgillin's is always a good time! With a GREAT beer selection and wonderful specials you can't go wrong. The menu has something for everyone and their drink specials can't be beat. We have been several times and I never met a server that we didn't like! : read more

I visited this place twice within two days and both times it was very nice to be there. I didn't eat either time and ordered only beer which was delicious. The drinks come out quick and the service was good both times. The beer was crisp and cold! It is definitely a place to come out with a few friends and talk. When I went the first time it was busy and it seemed everyone was having a good time. The place is not bright, it's slightly dimmed which seems appropriate for the location. Overall, I enjoyed both my visits and will be returning. read more

McGillin's Olde Ale House - Irish Pub Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Fun stop for drink or food. Gets very busy on an Eagles game day however the vibe inside is VERY FUN! Do not skip out of seeing the place. It's one of the top 10 oldest bars in the US! read more

See all

Historic and delicious spot. Hard to believe they got started in 1860! It's a great vibe inside and manages to be packed even on a Tuesday (which is wing night)! The prices are also super reasonable and the portion sizes are huge. We got the buffalo and old bay wings, which were yummy. The old bay ones were a bit dry but buffalo was great. The mussels in white garlic sauce were also divine, and the fish and chips were well seasoned and very crispy. It's a bit crazy inside and I do not know how the staff does it! The service manages to be quick and friendly even amidst the big crowds, Need to come back for: Shepherd's Pie and their sandwiches. read more

See all

This popped up in every list of must-see dives in Philadelphia. It is apparently the oldest and the decor and history is definitely worth a visit. Coming from Boston, the drinks and food are shockingly cheap. Like three people get food and drinks and the tab was $50. But for me the reason you go to a dive is the vibe and conversation. This didn't feel local. Everyone was sticking to their group and not sparking fun chat. read more

McGillin's Olde Ale House - Irish Pub Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The deels are phenomenal. $12 for 6 small beers of their samplers. While none of the beers were amazing, it was great to have a little bit of a tone of options. The pints were a great price as well. While I'm sure busy crouds and semi long waits are par for the course at places like this, it makes it tricky if you want a quick drink. The staff is friendly but super swamped and even with how much they fly through orders, the place is huge so it took a while to get the bill. Overall a great Irish bar. read more

McGillin's Olde Ale House - Irish Pub Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We stopped in on a Thursday night and were able to get a table. The vibe in the restaurant is fun. The music was very confusing as it changed regularly for very different styles which didn't seem to go over well with the crowd. We only had a couple of drinks and a hummus plate which was tasty. It appeared there were a lot of people who popped in briefly rather than sticking around. read more

See all

This was a fun place! Definitely recommend going here with friends. I loved the decorations and the atmosphere.

Very nice bartenders. Tons of historic paraphernalia. Lots to read. Nice bathrooms. I had the raspberry limoncello martini. We didn't eat but would come back to :) read more

See all

What a cool ambiance and building! So much to look at inside. The food was really good too. It's definitely loud inside so don't go if you're looking for a quiet atmosphere but it was a great place to grab dinner and drinks. The service was good. read more

The food and drinks were good. The music was super loud, but it made for the atmosphere.

Great historic pub! The service is great. There's a lot of cool things to look at inside. The beer & liquor are fairly priced & the food is great. A must go to spot in Philly. read more

See all

Always had a fun time here, but very off putting when I sat at a table downstairs with strangers who said I can wait there for my uber while I was alone and a waitress very candidly told me that I can only sit there if I was ordering from her. Understand the demand to not go up to the bar when you have a waitress (been there) but I was just safely trying to get home. Very off putting and made me re-consider going back. read more

We had a nice time at McGillins. The staff was friendly and didn't have any issues. We popped in on a Sunday afternoon for drinks. My wife got a cocktail she really enjoyed. I did the beer sampler. The value was great I think $11 or so for the sampler with you get to choose a few of those. I'm not a huge beer guy in general and didn't love any of the beers but enjoyed the experience. Think they could've been a little colder. We did get a koozie for our collection and the vibes were great inside. Definitely worth checking out. read more

See all

Christy and Tammy just hit it out of the ball park today as they ALWAYS do ! great service ! We just love coming here ! The food speaks for itself ! Amazing!!! Thank You so much and we can't wait to come back 'n read more

Sounds odd, but we selected this spot after a street person recommended it to us. It's the oldest bar in Philly, so how could we miss it??? We arrived in Dallas Cowboys garb on the day after an ugly Cowboys loss. There was some good natured ribbing, but we were welcomed in just the same. Husband ordered a cider, and I tried a Poinsettia. The Poinsettia is my new favorite beverage! Cranberry juice spiked with orange liqueur and champagne. It came in "mix your own" style which was very fun. Where has this been all my life??? read more

McGillin's Olde Ale House - Irish Pub Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

My friend and I were limited on time and it was super packed (Saturday after Thanksgiving), so we were only able to stay for 1 drink. There were no seats available, so we were standing behind the seated people at the bar, but the bartender still acknowledged us right away. As soon as he finished the drinks he was working on, he actually came around from behind the bar to take our order so we wouldn't have to shout over the people seated at the bar, which I thought was a really nice thing to do. It seems like such a small thing, but I don't recall the last time any bartender anywhere went out of their way like that. I was stoked to try the O'Hara's stout (delicious!), and my friend got the house lager (also delicious, she said!). We really dug the vibe and would like to come back when we have more time, and could try some food, too. Can't go wrong with the oldest bar in town! It's still there and still packed for a reason. Very cool spot. read more

McGillin's Olde Ale House - O'Hara's stout. - Irish Pub Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Nestled down an alley is this cute ale house. There's a ton of history in this place- they even have prohibition documents framed on the wall. While I was only interested in grabbing a beer, they also offered food. This seems like the type of place that is a gathering place for some sports teams. read more

See all

Called ahead to see if the kitchen was still open after getting in late on a flight. Kitchen closes at 1am, so I walked over from my hotel on a Tuesday night. It was my first time in Philly, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Ambiance was great! Sat at the bar and ordered buffalo wings. Bartender asked "5,10,15 or 20"? Ordered 10 and they were plenty. Food came out fast and hot. Wings were cooked perfectly. Good size and great flavor. Good selection of beers and the bartenders were on top of it. I'll be back for sure! read more

Ok so this place sports the oldest pub in Philly. Cool. The beer was local and not too bad. Plenty of selections. Food was ok I'd say above par for pub food. Portions were good and everyone on my 6 people party were satisfied! Place was packed and the server was doing her best to keep up with everything. Bartenders were friendly and to be honest, service was good. Two levels to this place. Upstairs had karaoke going on and people were having a blast! This is a solid place to go if you want good bar crowd music vibes and good food. And of course a nice pint of beer!! Two thumbs up here! read more

Definitely one of my favorite places in Philadelphia. The fish and chips are on point and the beer is cold! It definitely gets crazy on the weekends so be prepared for standing room only. The servers do the best so be patient. read more

Been to McGillin's only twice in my days as a Philly resident and I find it to be a good time. A little too loud, a little rough and tumble, but a good time nevertheless. I brought an out of town friend last night and we were pleasantly surprised to see there was karaoke on the ground floor. We got in, she sang, we enjoyed some bevs, and were able to depart before the flood of conference tourists in lanyards walked through the door. Service here is minimal and you'll need to speak up. I thought I was losing my mind because I KNOW I've been to the upstairs bar here and people kept telling me there was no upstairs. Maybe they meant it wasn't open, because there absolutely is an upstairs bar which I think also has karaoke from time to time. More space to spread out as the downstairs area can get crowded. I don't really trust the cleanliness of taps here so I always opt for a mixed drink. As a 30 something, I do find the crowd to be a bit younger. The decor is super fun and the pre-Super Bowl celebratory atmosphere was amazing. I am fairly stuck between a three and a four here because I really do recommend going and I also have heard the food is decent. 20% gratuity was auto-added to my bill so be sure to look out for that if sitting at a table. A proud piece of Philadelphia history! read more

It is seemingly the oldest and the decor and history is well worth visiting. The food and drinks are appallingly cheap, and come out of Boston. Three people had a drink and food and the bill was 50. However, to me the vibe and conversation is what you go to a dive. This didn't feel local. No one was going out of his or her group and no one was creating fun chat. read more

Ate there today- late lunch. Not terribly busy and seated right away. Server was pleasant and took our drink order. The 2 beers took a long time. Had to ask for water refill several times before bringing. Food took a long time - over 20 minutes. 2 in my party ordered soup that came out with the entrees and they were both cold. Everyone's food was cold- 1 sent it back to be warmed. The only hot item were the French fries. Took several minutes and 2 requests to get the check, and the server was pleasant. That famous Shepards Pie? Not very warm and very bland. My advice? Go for the beers, great atmosphere and fries. Eat somewhere else. read more

Absolutely unbelievable rude and unresponsive and unreasonable service. Advertised as one of the best bars in Philly but far from it. Total shit hole. read more