Philadelphia: Secret Bars and Favorite Spots Walking Tour

Philly keeps some of its best drinks behind unmarked doors. This three-hour walking tour links classic Center City bars with less obvious stops, beginning near Rittenhouse Square and ending around Broad and Sansom Streets. I like the small-group social feel and the chance to let a local choose the route instead of planning every bar yourself. I also like the practical extras: no cover charges, line-skipping, and a liquor tasting early in the evening. The catch is that drinks and food cost extra, and the quality of the tour depends heavily on which guide and venues you get.

This is a bar crawl, not a Philadelphia history walk. You may hear fun facts and local tips, but the main event is moving from one drinking spot to the next, spending roughly 35 minutes at several bars. The strongest experiences have come from guides such as Matthew and Mike, while one poorly received outing suffered from thin commentary and an unprofessional co-guide. That makes the $35 fee reasonable for access and convenience, but less convincing if you expect a polished cocktail class or a steady stream of local stories.

Key points before you book

• Starts at 1726 Walnut Street: Meet your guide outside the TD Bank near Rittenhouse Square, then get acquainted with the group over the first drink.
• Four or more drinking stops: The exact bars change with group size and availability, so specific names are not given in advance.
• Drinks are extra: Your ticket covers the tour, line-skipping, and venue covers, but you pay for cocktails, food, and most drinks yourself.
• A liquor tasting is included: This comes at an early stop, though it may be connected to a purchase or venue promotion.
• Ends at 1300 Sansom Street: The final stop may be a rooftop bar or a speakeasy-style lounge in the Broad and Sansom area.
• For adults only: You must be at least 21, carry a passport or ID card, and leave large bags at your accommodation.

What this Philadelphia bar tour is really selling

At $35 per person, this experience sells access and company more than free alcohol. You get a guide, a ready-made route, no cover charges, and a way into places you might not think to visit on your own. If you are new to Philadelphia or traveling alone, that structure has real value.

The drinks are not included, apart from the early liquor tasting. Set aside extra money for every cocktail, beer, shot, snack, or meal you order. That is important because the tour description presents several stops with drinks and food, but those are purchases made along the way, not part of the ticket.

I would compare the price with the cost of arranging a similar evening yourself. You could certainly search for bars near Rittenhouse Square and Center City, but you would not have the group connection, the chance to skip lines, or protection from arriving at a venue with a cover charge. The value is strongest on a busy night or for a first visit.

The value weakens if you want detailed explanations at every stop. One disappointed participant found the guide offered little beyond announcing each location. Another felt the bars were good but not especially secret. Go in expecting a guided crawl with local pointers, not a professionally scripted tour about Philadelphia’s drinking culture.

Meeting at TD Bank near Rittenhouse Square

Your evening begins outside TD Bank at 1726 Walnut Street. This is a central meeting point near Rittenhouse Square, and you should arrive ready to walk between stops. The opening is meant to help the group meet one another and get the first Philadelphia drink underway.

That first stop matters because the group dynamic shapes the night. The tour is designed for friends, but it also invites solo participants to meet people along the route. A lively group can make an ordinary bar feel like a good night out. A quiet or mismatched group may make the same format feel less rewarding.

The first stop also includes the advertised liquor tasting. Treat this as a small bonus, not as a substitute for a full drink. One account described the included drink as a shot connected to buying another drink at the bar, so you may want to ask your guide exactly how the tasting works when you arrive.

You need a passport or ID card. A driver’s license may be accepted in practice at venues, but the supplied instructions specifically require a passport or ID card, so follow that guidance rather than taking a chance.

Rittenhouse Square and the first cocktail stop

The Rittenhouse Square portion is listed at about 35 minutes and includes a cocktail and local snacks. The area gives the tour a polished Center City opening, with plenty of places to settle in before the route moves farther through town.

Do not expect a long sit-down meal here. The snack is a small accompaniment, and the evening keeps moving. This stop is best for getting your bearings, meeting the guide, and deciding how quickly you want to order.

I like the short-stop format for a bar crawl. You get a taste of a place without committing the entire evening to it. On the other hand, 35 minutes can feel rushed if the bar is crowded, service is slow, or you want to finish a carefully made cocktail before leaving.

The stop names are withheld until closer to the event date. That preserves some surprise, but it also means you cannot check menus, prices, or accessibility details for each bar ahead of time. If you have food restrictions or strong preferences about the type of venue, tell the guide early.

Center City stops and the changing route

After Rittenhouse Square, the group visits three or four more places in Center City. The route depends on group size and availability, so the exact sequence is not fixed. This flexibility can help the guide adjust to capacity, but it also means two departures may not feel identical.

One stop includes another cocktail, while a later stop includes a cocktail and dinner. The information does not specify the meal or whether it is a full dinner, so plan for food to be purchased rather than supplied. If you need a substantial meal, do not assume a small bar snack will cover it.

The later stops may last closer to an hour, with one listed as a cocktail and free time. That gives you more room to talk, order another drink, and enjoy the room without being hurried out after one taste. It also creates the main cost risk. A three-hour crawl can become expensive once several cocktails and food are added.

The strongest reason to stay with the group is convenience. Your guide handles the route, points out where to go, and helps the party enter together. The weak point is predictability. A venue can be a fine local favorite without feeling secret, especially if you already know Center City nightlife.

The final stop near Broad and Sansom Streets

The tour finishes at 1300 Sansom Street, in the Broad and Sansom area. The final venue may be a rooftop bar with city views or a speakeasy-style lounge, depending on availability. That gives the evening a proper last act, though the exact atmosphere cannot be guaranteed.

A rooftop ending sounds appealing, but it is not promised for every departure. Think of it as one possible finale rather than a fixed feature. The same applies to the speakeasy-style setting. You should not book this tour solely for one particular room or view.

The last stop also offers free time. That is useful if you want to continue talking with the people you met or order one final drink at your own pace. It is less useful if you are hoping for a firm end time and an immediate route back to your hotel.

From the finish, you can make your own onward plans. The supplied details do not promise transportation, hotel drop-off, or help arranging a ride, so check your route before the tour begins.

Guide quality makes the biggest difference

The best praise has focused on the guides. Matthew was described as friendly and particularly good for a first visit to Philadelphia, taking the group to places it would not have found alone. Mike also received a brief but positive mention. Another participant said the guide kept the party going across four bar stops, even though that person was not much of a drinker.

That is the ideal version of this experience: a friendly local who keeps people together, explains why each place was chosen, and makes introductions easy. The tour works especially well when the guide adds small tips about what to order and how the local bar scene fits together.

The downside is a wide gap between the best and worst guide experiences. One outing involved two guides, with one described as smoking weed openly and contributing little. Another person found the commentary so thin that a quick internet search seemed just as useful. Those are serious concerns, because the guide is the main service you are paying for.

The provider is Booze Brothers Tours. I would ask at the start who is leading the evening and what kind of route is planned. If the group is very small, ask whether the same number of stops will still be made. A four-person group can be pleasant and personal, but it may also feel less energetic if the guide does not bring much to the conversation.

Line-skipping, covers, and the real cost

The ticket includes skipping lines at all venues and no cover charges along the route. These perks can save money and frustration, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. They also help the group move as one instead of waiting outside while the guide negotiates entry.

Food and drinks are not included. You receive drink and food recommendations at each location, which is useful if you are unsure what to order, but recommendations do not reduce the bill. The tour also lists brunch vouchers for select restaurants. The details provided do not say which restaurants qualify or how the vouchers work, so confirm the conditions before relying on them.

I would budget beyond the $35 ticket for several paid drinks and at least one food purchase. If you only want one or two drinks, the price may feel high compared with a self-guided night. If you plan to visit several places and would otherwise pay covers or wait in lines, the fee becomes easier to justify.

The liquor tasting adds a small extra benefit, but do not mistake it for a full round of complimentary cocktails. The core value is the route, entry convenience, and social setting.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it to a first-time Philadelphia visitor who wants an evening out without researching every bar. It also suits friends who want a loose plan and solo adults who like meeting a group rather than drinking alone.

You should enjoy it if you are happy with changing venues, paying as you go, and letting someone else set the pace. The format is also useful for people who do not care about formal history lessons and would rather hear casual local tips.

I would be more cautious if you want a serious cocktail education, fixed restaurants, named venues, or detailed Philadelphia stories. You may also prefer to plan your own evening if you already know Center City well.

The tour is not suitable for anyone under 21 or for pregnant women. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed. Leave luggage and large bags behind, and do not wear a sleeveless shirt, since the dress restrictions may affect entry.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but venue-by-venue details are not provided. If you use a wheelchair, ask the provider about the specific bars on your departure date, since the route changes with availability.

A practical way to prepare

Meet outside TD Bank with your ID ready and your phone charged. Wear comfortable shoes, since the evening moves between locations on foot, and keep your belongings small.

Eat something before the tour or be ready to order food early. The schedule includes snacks and a later dinner stop, but neither should be treated as a guaranteed full meal. If you have dietary needs, tell the guide before ordering.

Keep your expectations flexible. The bar names are not announced in advance, the number of stops can change, and the final venue may be either a rooftop or a speakeasy-style lounge. That uncertainty is part of the surprise, but it also means you are buying a format rather than a precise list of places.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start, and you can reserve now while paying later. One scheduled outing was cancelled, so keep a backup evening plan if this is your only nightlife booking in Philadelphia.

Should you book the Philadelphia Secret Bars tour?

Book it if you want a social, three-hour bar crawl with line-skipping, no venue covers, a liquor tasting, and a local guide handling the route. The best guide-led outings sound friendly and easygoing, with stops that are hard for a first-time visitor to find alone.

Skip it if you expect free drinks, firm venue names, substantial history, or a polished cocktail lesson. The $35 price is fair for access and organization, but the drinks and food can quickly push up the total, and guide quality is not fully consistent.

My advice is simple: reserve this for a flexible night with friends or an open attitude toward meeting people. If you want a guaranteed rooftop, a fixed menu, or a dependable expert talk at every bar, spend your money on a self-planned evening instead.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The tour costs $35 per person. Drinks and food are not included, apart from a liquor tasting provided at an early stop.

How long does the experience last?

The advertised duration is three hours. Individual stops generally last about 35 minutes, with some later stops listed for up to an hour.

Where does the tour start?

Meet your guide outside TD Bank at 1726 Walnut Street, near Rittenhouse Square.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes at 1300 Sansom Street, in the Broad and Sansom Street area of Center City.

Are drinks included?

Most drinks are not included. All drinks are available for purchase at the stops, and a liquor tasting is provided early in the tour.

Are venue covers and lines included?

Yes. The tour includes no cover charges at the venues and skip-the-line access through a separate entrance.

What identification should you bring?

Bring a passport or ID card. The experience is for people aged 21 and over.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.