6 Best College Bars in Philadelphia

Bar-Ly is Chinatown’s sports bar for draft beer, cocktails, casual food, and a lively game-day atmosphere. Its unusually broad menu moves from sriracha and salt-and-pepper wings to thin-crust pizza, Philly egg rolls, skewers, calamari, Vietnamese bowls, Tex-Mex favorites, and classic bar fare.

With 60 draft beers, happy-hour food and drinks, delivery, takeaway, and a spacious dine-in setup, it works for watching sports, meeting friends, or grabbing a quick meal near Chinatown, the Convention Center, and Reading Terminal. The energetic setting is designed for groups but remains approachable at the bar.

New Deck Tavern brings a traditional Irish pub atmosphere to University City, with classic pub fare, draft beer, cocktails, coffee, and a notably broad single-malt Scotch selection. The tavern occupies three renovated nineteenth-century row houses, giving the dining and bar areas a distinctive historic setting. Indoor, bar, and outdoor seating support everything from lunch or dinner to a quick drink before an event.

Its location places it close to the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel, Franklin Field, the Palestra, and nearby hospitals. Sports on multiple televisions, live acoustic music, karaoke, and long-running pub trivia add reasons to stay after the meal. Service is often described as friendly and efficient, and delivery and takeaway are available. The kitchen closes shortly before the tavern, so late diners should plan accordingly.

Ladder 15 occupies a distinctive place in Philadelphia nightlife, pairing a large bar and nightclub atmosphere with comfort food, cocktails, beer, wine, and table service. Original facade details and exposed brick arches preserve the building’s historic character while the interior works as a lively social space with screens, dining areas, and room for dancing.

Three bookable spaces—the Third Floor, Back Bar, and Nook—give private gatherings a more tailored setting. It is a natural fit for celebrations, work events, sports-oriented meetups, or an evening that needs to move comfortably between food, drinks, and nightlife.