2 Philly Bars Among Best In America, New List Says

PHILADELPHIA — As winter takes hold for real, there’s nothing like the warm cordiality of a favorite watering hole, which The Daily Meal called “the great socioeconomic equalizer” in its roundup of “The 150 Bars in America for 2019.”

And two spots in Philly made the cut.

Members of The Daily Meal’s editorial staff have been compiling the list since 2011, explaining the process: “The Daily Meal walks into a bar and — we peruse the menu, the clientele, and the drinks list; we scrutinize the drink, the place, the vibe; we take mental notes. Then we decide to grab a wad of cocktail napkins and start scribbling notes for a list like this. …”

The list includes everything “from simple beach bars and swanky cocktail lounges to innovative houses of ‘molecular’ mixology to dusty dive bars and dens of iniquity,” The Daily Meal said.

Among “The 150 Best Bars in America for 2019” were Monk's Cafe and McGillin's Old Ale House.

Monk's came in at No. 31 on the list, and McGillin's at No. 93.

Here's what Daily Meal says about Monk's:

Pennsylvania’s Monk’s Café is a Belgian beer emporium with a repertoire of rotating beers on tap and hundreds by the bottle, from the limited-supply Chimay Dorée and the drier Tripel Karmeliet on tap to Achel Blond and Westmalle Tripel by the bottle. The Philadelphia bar also stocks locally made Belgian-style brews, so there is something for everyone. The hearty sandwiches, burgers, and mussels pair well with the beer.

And here's the write up on McGillin's

Going strong since 1860, McGillin’s Old Ale House is Philly’s oldest tavern, and also one of the city’s very best, frequented by locals, including city politicians and visitors alike. The Pennsylvania bar has 30 draft beers, many from local microbreweries, as well as bottled beers. European ales, lagers, and pilsners are also available, and McGillin’s serve three house specialties: McGillin’s Real Ale, McGillin’s Genuine Lager, and McGillin’s 1860 IPA. Be generous to your server: The ship’s bell behind the bar tolls for good tippers, great singers at karaoke, and when the home team scores.

The Office in Chicago was listed at the No. 1 bar in the country.

Bars “are ubiquitous and unifying,” the site said, adding: “Nearly anyone of legal age can enter a bar, pull up a stool and buy him- or herself a refreshing glass of liquid luxury in its many forms: from a budget ice-cold brew to a fine wine to a potent shot to a classic cocktail to a spectacular modernist creation.”

See the Daily Meal's full list here.

What are your favorite places to drink in and around Philly? Let us know in the comments here and on Facebook.

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