Where to Drink Around the Delaware River Waterfront This Summer

Every Philadelphia summer eventually turns into a waterfront summer.

The very second the weather breaks, people start migrating east like they’re being summoned. The Delaware River stretch has become one of the easiest places in the city to build an entire night around without the need to travel. You can bounce between beer gardens, giant decks, cocktail spots, outdoor hangouts, and bars to your heart’s content.If you’re anything like the masses, suddenly everyone wants a frozen drink outside with a view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge instead of standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a dark room pretending it’s still January.

Sourced via Lucky Duck’s Instagram

Morgan’s Pier Is Where Philadelphia Summer Officially Starts

At this point, Morgan’s Pier feels like a Philadelphia summer tradition with their giant outdoor setup, and it still delivers exactly what people want once the weather gets warm. Happy hour turns into sunset drinks, sunset drinks turn into DJs, and quiet often, everyone’s staying longer than expected. 

And somehow, every summer, Philadelphia collectively decides to do it all over again.

Cavanaugh’s Riverdeck Feels Like a Giant Backyard Party That Escalated

Ahh, Riverdeck. There’s something wonderfully unserious about the whole place. And unlike some bars that get quieter as the night goes on, Riverdeck keeps stretching outward, with more and more people arriving, more conversations starting. Pure summer bliss. 

Especially on weekends, River Deck becomes the spot where you’re almost guaranteed to run into people you know.

Liberty Point Is for People Chasing Golden Hour

There are bars you go to for drinks and there are bars you go to because the light is magic around 7:30 PM.

Liberty Point is the second one.

Everything there is built around lingering, from their huge multi-level setup, to the incredible river views, to the expansive open air. And it feels almost suspiciously good during golden hour.Almost like Philadelphia accidentally became a coastal city for two hours.

Cherry Street Pier Is Philadelphia’s Creative Brain on Summer Mode

Cherry Street Pier feels less like a nightlife destination and more like the city itself hanging out.

You’ve got artists selling things next to people drinking beer next to live music next to someone chilling with their dog. It should not work as well as it does, but somehow it totally does. 

You wander.

You sit for a while.

The energy here is slower, but sometimes you just need that, you know?

Lucky Duck’s Patio Is the New Waterfront Wild Card

Lucky Duck is still new enough that it feels like a little bit of a secret, but probably not for long.

Its patio brings a more relaxed, neighborhood bar experience to the waterfront, which makes it a nice switch up from the bigger, louder deck spots nearby.

That’s what makes Lucky Duck such a good addition to the Delaware River lineup: it gives you another way to do the waterfront. A little more casual, a little more lowkey, but still very much part of the summer night.

Craft Hall Is the Sleeper Pick for Groups

Craft Hall doesn’t always get mentioned first in waterfront conversations, but we think it should.

Huge outdoor space, plenty of seating, solid beer selection, food that holds up, and enough room that you do not feel packed in – and because of that, it works especially well for bigger groups, which truly deserves its own award in Philly.

And if your waterfront plans eventually turn into something a little louder, darker, and later in the night, you should also check out our article on Bastet, Philly’s newly opened nightclub on Spring Garden.