Philadelphia: Secret Bars and Favorite Spots Walking Tour

Philadelphia’s best feature on this tour is the changing lineup of bars. You begin near Rittenhouse Square, then walk through Center City to several drinking spots selected for the group, the night, and each venue’s availability. The names are kept quiet until closer to the event, so this is not a fixed pub crawl with a printed menu.

I like the no-cover policy and the separate entrances, especially on a busy evening. I also like the social setup: you can arrive with friends, or use the three-hour route to meet people while a guide keeps the group moving. The liquor tasting gives you a small included sample, too.

The main caution is simple: drinks and food cost extra, and the guide quality can shape the night. Some departures have received warm praise for guides such as Matthew and Mike, while another group found the commentary thin and the stops easy to locate without a tour.

Key points to know before booking

• Four or five Center City stops: The route usually includes Rittenhouse Square and several bars around Center City, ending near Broad and Sansom Streets.
• A speakeasy-style finale: The last stop may be a rooftop bar with city views or a lounge with a concealed-bar feel.
• Drinks are not included: You pay for cocktails, beer, wine, and food yourself, apart from the early liquor tasting.
• No history lecture: This focuses on drinking spots, local advice, and social time rather than Philadelphia’s past.
• The itinerary can change: Group size and venue availability determine the exact bars.
• Good for adults who want company: You must be 21 or older, and the tour is conducted in English.

Starting outside TD Bank on Walnut Street

Meet your guide outside TD Bank at 1726 Walnut Street. This puts you close to Rittenhouse Square, one of the most useful areas in Philadelphia for an evening out, with restaurants, cocktail bars, and easy walking routes nearby.

The opening minutes are meant for introductions and a first Philadelphia drink. The guide gets the group acquainted, explains how the evening will work, and starts the social side of the outing before you move on.

Bring a passport or ID card. The age rule is firm at 21 and older, and you should not bring luggage or a large bag. Sleeveless shirts are not allowed, which is worth knowing if you are visiting in warm weather.

The route is on foot, so wear shoes you can manage for several blocks and repeated stops. The experience is listed as wheelchair accessible, though the exact mix of venues may change from night to night.

Rittenhouse Square and the first liquor tasting

The first scheduled stop is in the Rittenhouse Square area, with around 35 minutes for a cocktail and local snacks. This is a useful place to settle into the evening because it gives you a quick taste of the format without committing to a long stay in one bar.

A liquor tasting is included at an early stop. Read that benefit carefully: it is not a night of free cocktails. The tasting is a small extra, while the drinks you order at the bars are your responsibility. One account of the experience described the included drink as a shot available when buying another drink, so I would treat it as a modest bonus rather than a major part of the value.

The first stop is also where the guide’s personality becomes clear. A good host can introduce the group, suggest a drink, and offer a few practical details about the place. You should not expect a detailed lecture about the square or the neighborhood. This is a bar evening, not a Philadelphia history walk.

Center City stops with 35 minutes to an hour

After Rittenhouse Square, the group moves through Center City. The middle of the tour includes several stops, with cocktails at each and food at one scheduled location. Some stops last roughly 35 minutes, while the dinner and final portions can take closer to an hour.

That timing gives you enough space to order, talk, and notice the character of each venue. It also keeps the night from becoming a rushed race from one doorway to the next. Still, the pace depends on the size of the group and how quickly the bars can serve everyone.

The exact venues are not announced far in advance. That has a plus and a minus. You may reach a place you would not have chosen from a standard list, and the guide can adjust for availability. On the other hand, you cannot book this tour expecting a particular named speakeasy, rooftop, or cocktail lounge.

The route is described as including both classic favorites and less obvious local spots. Keep your expectations reasonable. The bars may feel new to you, but they are not guaranteed to be secret in the strict sense. One past participant felt the places were easy enough to find independently and wished for more background at each stop.

The dinner stop and the cost of ordering your own drinks

One Center City stop includes a cocktail and dinner, with about an hour set aside. That longer break matters if you do not want to drink on an empty stomach, though the meal itself is not included in the $35 price.

The base cost covers the hosted route, access arrangements, and certain extras. It does not cover the central part of the evening, which is what you order at the bar. Before booking, I would set a separate spending limit for cocktails and food.

At $35 per person, the value depends on how much you want the group structure. You are paying for:

• A local guide and a planned route
• Entry without paying venue cover charges
• Help getting past lines at participating locations
• Drink and food suggestions
• The early liquor tasting
• A social evening with four or five stops

If you were already planning to visit several bars and do not mind choosing them yourself, the price may feel less attractive. If you want to avoid researching, queues, and cover charges, the fee can make sense, particularly on a busy weekend.

The brunch vouchers for selected restaurants are another small included benefit, but they are not a substitute for dinner or drinks during the tour. Ask about their terms when you arrive, since the information supplied does not name the restaurants or state the voucher value.

What the guide adds, and where the tour can fall short

The guide is the difference between a useful local night and a simple list of bars. The best version of this experience gives you quick advice on what to order, points out the kind of crowd each place attracts, and keeps introductions moving as the group changes locations.

Matthew has been singled out for being friendly and helpful to a first-time Philadelphia visitor from London. Mike has also received a warm mention after a successful evening. Guides can change, so you should not assume either person will lead your departure.

The tour does not promise a historical talk. That is important. If you want stories about Philadelphia’s colonial past, architecture, or famous residents, book a dedicated history walk instead. Here, the useful information is more immediate: what to order, where to sit, how the route works, and what kind of night each stop offers.

Guide quality has not been perfectly consistent. One small group felt its host offered little beyond announcing each location, while a separate departure was criticized for an unprofessional co-guide. That does not mean every evening will have the same problem, but it does make this a tour where the human element matters more than the written plan.

The final stop near Broad and Sansom Streets

The evening finishes around Broad and Sansom Streets, at 1300 Sansom Street. The finale may be a rooftop bar with city views or a lounge with a speakeasy-style mood.

This is a smart area for the final stop because you are still in Center City, surrounded by places to continue the night or make your own way back. The final scheduled portion includes a cocktail and free time, with about an hour allowed in the broader itinerary.

Do not assume the last venue will be a grand rooftop every time. The supplied plan presents both a rooftop and a speakeasy-style lounge as possibilities, not fixed promises. The final choice depends on availability and group conditions.

I like having free time at the end instead of being hurried straight to the meeting point. You can talk with people you met, order another drink if you wish, or leave after the formal route finishes. Just remember that anything you order after the included tasting is still your expense.

Group size, social energy, and the right expectations

This is a group tour, and the social side is central. You can come with friends, but the setup also works if you are traveling alone and want company for the evening.

The group size can affect everything. A smaller group may move quickly and make conversation easier. A larger group can bring more energy, but it may also mean slower ordering and less time speaking directly with the guide. The stops are selected partly around group size, so the exact feel of the night is not fully predictable.

I would choose this tour if you like changing venues, meeting other adults, and making decisions as you go. I would skip it if you want a carefully planned cocktail education, guaranteed famous bars, or substantial included food and drink.

The current score is 4 out of 5 from 27 ratings, which fits the mixed picture. Many positive experiences focus on friendly guides, good company, and finding places that the visitor would not have chosen alone. The lower scores focus on weak commentary, unclear value, cancellations, or a night that felt like a basic bar crawl.

Practical details that affect your evening

The advertised duration is three hours. The route includes four or five stops, though the listed stop times add up to more than a strict three-hour schedule. In practice, walking, ordering, and venue entry will affect the pace, so think of the time as an evening framework rather than a precise minute-by-minute promise.

The tour includes line skipping and no cover charges at the participating venues. These perks may matter more on Friday and Saturday nights than on a quiet weekday, when entering a bar is usually easier.

Food and drinks are available for purchase at every stop. The guide provides suggestions for both, but you choose and pay for what you order. If you do not drink much, the format can still work because the focus is social and you can order selectively. One positive account came from someone who was not a regular drinker but still enjoyed the group atmosphere.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps you from paying at the time of booking. Check the available start times before committing, since the schedule changes with availability.

Who should book this Philadelphia bar crawl?

I would recommend it most strongly to an adult visiting Philadelphia for the first time who wants an easy night out without researching every bar. It is also a good fit for friends who want a ready-made route and solo visitors who prefer company.

The experience is less suitable for anyone under 21, pregnant people, or anyone hoping for a quiet, food-focused evening. Large bags are not allowed, sleeveless shirts are prohibited, and unaccompanied minors cannot join.

The English-speaking guide and wheelchair-accessible format make the tour practical for many visitors, but the changing venues mean you should ask ahead if you need details about a particular stop. The supplied information confirms accessibility for the activity, not a fixed list of venue layouts.

Should you book the Secret Bars and Favorite Spots Tour?

Book it if the appeal is company, convenience, and several different bars in one night. The $35 fee is reasonable when you use the line skipping and no-cover benefits, especially at busy venues, and the guide’s recommendations may save you time.

Pass if you want every drink included, a guaranteed famous speakeasy, or strong historical storytelling. The best departures seem to depend heavily on the guide, the group, and the night’s bar selection.

My practical advice is to treat the liquor tasting as a small extra, budget separately for drinks and dinner, and remain open to a flexible route. With those expectations, this can be an enjoyable way to get your bearings in Philadelphia’s evening bar scene. If you need certainty about specific venues, this is not the right booking.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet your guide outside TD Bank at 1726 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.

Where does the tour finish?

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

How many bars will I visit?

The tour visits three or four stops after the starting location, for a total of four or five bar locations depending on group size and venue availability.

Are drinks and food included?

No. Drinks and food are available for purchase at each stop. A liquor tasting is provided early in the tour, but regular cocktails, other drinks, and meals cost extra.

Is the tour suitable for people under 21?

No. People under 21 cannot join, and unaccompanied minors are not allowed.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card. Do not bring luggage or large bags, and note that sleeveless shirts are not allowed.