2011 List of Philadelphia's 50 Top Bars

The website Foobooz.com, which covers all things food and drink in Philadelphia, recently released its 2011 list of Philadelphia's top 50 bars. I posted about last year's list here, and thankfully a lot of my favorites still made the list along with some notable newcomers.

My nearest neighborhood joint, the South Philly Taproom jumped up to #2 this year (from #5 in 2010), and the newly revamped Khyber Pass Pub took the top spot after missing last year's list altogether - it has been totally re-conceptualized after all. As far as the bars on the list with a real focus on whisk(e)y, there are quite a few. Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. (#4) makes some mean rye and bourbon cocktails, as does The Farmer's Cabinet (#9), another newcomer to the Philly bar scene. If you're looking for a massive and diverse whisk(e)y list check out Southwark (#13), Village Whiskey (#17), or Fiume (#40). Finally, if you want to try the bar that I think will make a big jump up this list by next year check out Kennett (#47). They have a soli selection of whiskey, beer, and cocktails along with some really great pizzas, friendly people, and there's always a seat at the bar...for now.

List of Philly's Top 50 Bars Includes Some Whiskey Joints

Interior of Pub on Passyunk East

The website Foobooz.com just released its 2010 list of Philadelphia's top 50 bars as selected by a "who’s-who of Philadelphia’s drinking scene." I was glad to see both of the bars that I've reviewed for this blog on the list - Royal Tavern at #10 and Village Whiskey at #14, and several of my other favorite haunts also made the list including my go-to spot, Pub on Passyunk East aka POPE at #4. Bars on the list with notable whiskey selections include Southwark (#3), Chick's Cafe (#9), Oyster House (#22), and Devil's Den (#43), all of which I will eventually get around to reviewing for this blog.

In addition to the list there's also a great map of all 50 bars that makes it a piece of cake to plan a good bar crawl in the City of Brotherly Love. If you're into history, you might find it interesting to compare this year's top 50 to the 2009 version - there are plenty of newcomers, but also a good helping of the classics that should be on the top 50 list for decades to come.