McGillin's Olde Ale House

(215) 735-5562

1310 Drury St
Philadelphia, PA 19107 39.95028 -75.16252

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Neighborhoods: Center City East, Center City

MCGILLINS.COM

Hours:

Monday To Saturday From 11:00 AM To 02:00 AM Sunday To Saturday From 11:00 AM To 12:00 AM

Last updated 8.23.11

Category:

Restaurants, Brew Pubs, Bars & Pubs

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard, Debit Card

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Notable Beer List, Bar Menu

Cuisine:

Irish, Traditional American, Californian

Bar & Club Special Features:

After Work

What People Are Saying About McGillin's Olde Ale House

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – In case you miss the neon sign reading "Est. 1860" on the way in, you'll certainly notice centuries' worth of Pennsylvania tavern licenses displayed over the bar. Located on a small street just a stone's throw from City Hall, the brick-walled and red tile-floored pub claims its fame from being the oldest continuously operating Philly saloon. The bar is filled at lunchtime for the bargains on crab cakes, soup and sandwiches.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Late at night, McGillin's is best approached from 13th Street, where street lamps cast light onto the otherwise vacant stretch of Drury.
Parking:
The bar validates for the lot under the Holiday Inn Express on Market Street.
Save Time:
The after-work crowd starts around 4pm and doesn't shuffle off until the students begin their slow creep in. Bartenders are no-nonsense and true to regulars, while the newcomer can earn their stripes with a "thank you" and a decent tip.
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/26/11

Physically Assaulted Here!

by Jeff K82 at Citysearch

Do not go here, the way this place treats their patrons is a disgrace! I was there for a total of 5 minutes - I wasn't there long enough to order a single thing - before I was physically assaulted by a bouncer. He grabbed me at the top of a large stairwell, and roughed me up for a few minutes without my doing anything aggressive against him, and I was lucky to get out of there before being shoved down the entire stairwell and being seriously injured (I've heard a story in an unrelated bar, where a patron's neck was broken in a similar incident). I was appalled and embarrassed by the way I was treated, and I will never step foot in this place again. I'm reporting this place to the Better Business Bureau, exploring my legal options, and reaching out to a Philadelphian Councilman who is speaking out against untrained bouncers in Philadelphia bars. Again, enter at your own risk - you may wind up in a hospital bed if you so much as look at a bouncer wrong in this place!

3 Star Rating: Average

01/11/10

Good for lunch, dinner is too loud

by CSMobileUser3 at Citysearch

The beer is good. The food is good as is the price. Lunch is good because it is not too crowded. During dinner hours the music is turned up too loud that one cannot carry on a conversation.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/11/10

Must try!

by CSMobileUser2 at Citysearch

Really good food at good prices and a great selection of local microbrews.

1 Star Rating: Poor

01/04/09

Smells like the oldest!!

by nephil at Citysearch

The upstairs smelled like $%#@ and urine!! Waitress was miserable and food was terrible.Spend your hard earned money elsewhere.

  • Pros: If you like bathroom smell ambience
  • Cons: Where's the Guiness and the friendly staff???
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/10/08

Love this place!

by Captain22 at Citysearch

I go to McGillin's all the time. They have a great list of regional beers and a friendly atmosphere. There's always something giong on - a party, Eagles game to watch, karaoke. I usually order the tuna melt - but lots of times they have unbelievably low priced specials on pizza, tacos, wings and beer - cheap and they taste good too. I love this place.

  • Pros: beer list, friendly crowd, affordable food
  • Cons: parking

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