McGillin's gets three stars because of the price, location and ambiance. Â I had to knock off two stars for the food because plain and simple it just wasn't good. Â Came in Saturday at noon with a party of eighteen girls for brunch. Â We were separated into two tables which I'm sure was easier for the waitress but annoying for us because we all wanted to interact with each other. Â We soon got over it when our waitress told us that bloody mary's and mimosas were three bucks a pop. Â I repeat, $3 each! Â This place is apparently the oldest bar in Philly and the inside was very cool. Â Rustic, pub feel with a long bar and plenty of seating. Â They were offering free gazpacho with crackers which was cool. Â The bloody marys were good. Â It is so easy to mess a bloody mary up but this was spicy goodness. Â For food I went halfsies with a friend splitting the fritatta and chicken sandwich. Â The fritatta had baby shrimp, roasted peppers and provolone cheese and it tasted funky. Â It tasted minty, I don't know why. Â The presentation for the chicken sandwich was pretty embarrassing. Â Tiny piece of burnt chicken slapped on a bun with lettuce, tomato that looked like it had seen better days and that was it. Â It was bare and boring and blah. Â I do however still recommend this place even though I didn't like my food because it's cheap and is a cool place to hang out in.
Review Source:McGillin's is one of my old stomping grounds. Especially on karaoke night. I made my epic karaoke return after a few year hiatus last night.
One of our initial concerns was grabbing a table for our group- we expected anywhere from 5-10 people. As luck would have it, a group was leaving as we were walking in. The place was already pretty crowded as its a good post-Sips location. I was actually blown away by the service. For a crowded place with lots going on, our server was unbelievable attentive. She anticipated our every liquid need and kept the water and pitchers flowing. A special shout out to the 2 for $1 tacos. I had eaten dinner prior to going out but I figured I'd give it a shot for $1. Given my expectations were very low to start for this cheap bar food, however I was pleasantly surprised. The tacos were hard shell and had a beef filling with cheese and lettuce and came with the option of salsa or sour cream. They even had slight kick to them. They had the spot for a snack, but if I wanted to make a meal out of them I would probably need to order 3-4 plates worth. Still a good deal.
Now as for the karaoke, this place is a blast! Â The regulars were just as I had remembered. Talented and quirky. At least last night, everyone who participated picked crowd pleasers. My friend and I probably didn't get our moment of fame until after 12:30- way past my normal Wednesday bed time. It was worth it though. A great night out re-living some good times and creating some new memories.
Oh McGillins, how I love thee. This is a favorite spot of mine in the city. Â Went for brunch Sunday afternoon and sat at the bar. You can't beat the $3 mimosa special, or the cheap brunch options - most options are in the $6-10 range, and will leave you feeling full and satisfied. Â I had the frittata of the day yesterday - it had sausage, swiss cheese, onions, green peppers, home fries and toast included on the side for $8.99... I went hungry and couldn't come close to finishing the massive platter. I almost ordered the breakfast burger but was told that grown men can't even finish the whopping 2 patty sandwich topped with bacon, cheese, fried egg, and a number of other things served with French fries. Â You really can't beat the prices here for beer and food - it's a great value, and not to mention it has a lot of history, a good atmosphere, and if you go at off-peak times it is not very loud or crowded if that's not your thing. Â I also love the wings here, and most of the sandwiches I've had are great too. Â They have a great selection of beers and all are reasonably priced. Â Also would like to give a mention of how nice the staff is here - all of the bartenders, waitresses, managers are super nice and cheerful. McGIllins is always my recommendation for out of towners to check out and that probably will hold true for a very, very long time.
Review Source:Whenever I'm in town, I make sure I hit this place at least once. Â Yesterday, I had the chicken cheesesteak sandwich and my co-workers had the Summer salads. Â Clean plates for all of us. Â The atmosphere is great and I love how old the place looks. Â The service is always very good. Â I would classify this place as "must" for anyone who comes to town.
Review Source:WOW IS THIS PLACE LOUD... Sorry I wanted to make sure you could hear me over all the racket, because myself and the four people I was with sure couldn't talk to each other during our visit here. It's not a dance club so I am not sure why the music is so loud making everyone have to yell and therefore making it impossible to have a conversation with anyone.
That said, the food is ok, the drinks are cheap, so if you want to talk only with hand gestures and get wasted and make bad decisions this is the place to go
McGillin's, as I know it, is a Philadelphia institution, having been around since the dawn of modern civilization. Or before. I've been here a couple of times, never for the food, though I must admit, the hot wings looked delectable when I visited last. I've come to McGillin's for beer, and beer they do well. I've gotten single craft beers, flights, and most recently just plain old pitchers of Yuengling. The selection is great, the service has always been top notch, and they aim to please. It can get crowded, but with the option to sit upstairs, you have plentiful seats to choose from. A bonus - you can control the jukebox music with an app on your phone. Apparently, they're all around Philadelphia. Who knew? All in all, McGillin's is worth a trip out for the history, the beer and the ambiance. Check it out!
Review Source:Finally came to the oldest bar in the U.S. Umm as I said that to a friend. Â I was quickly corrected. I believe it the oldest bar in Philly anyway very reminiscent of ever friggin bar in Hoboken. 100% sure is the City of brotherly love when first enters here. And 100% hook up bar. It took forever to get the oldest bartender's attention to get a drink.
Didn't have any food, but the patron at the bar in front of us was having some sort of meat loaf. I ordered a pitcher of PBR was 6.50. Ale house has great conversation, Great food, Great old place with a bunch of college kiddos falling out of its seams.
I don't know what the hype is here. It's an ok bar but nothing too great or memorable.
The food was ok, it was bad but it wasn't mind blowing either.
The service was good I give them that but it's also because it was a Sunday evening and not so packed.
The atmosphere of the place is what I really loved. It was a great and friendly place to be at. They had karaoke, the bartenders and waitresses were singing along to the DJ, it was a lot if fun. It makes for a great hang out spot.
The alcohol is why I'm only giving it 3 stars. I ordered a Long Island ice tea and it was horrible. My wife got a Fuzzy Navel and I swear it was missing the alcohol. Thinking it was maybe a mistake we have them another shot at it. We got another round and nope, same thing. IDK if its maybe because I'm not from around here and in California they make things stronger but these guys need to up the alcohol content in the drinks.
Showed up at this spot on our trip to Philly, definitely had to be gay night! The place was jam packed, even getting a stool was a struggle. My husband and I tried to be bold and jump into some Karaoke but the DJ said the queue was filled for the rest of the night; it was three hours from close! They just had the same six shitty singers in a loop all night. The bar itself is totally badass but that DJ & an endless loop of tone deaf booze bags; what a drag!
Review Source:Stopped by here for a drink while wandering about. Decent size bar and a ton of tables for kicking back and enjoying a beverage or two. This looks like a place just to hang and drink. Prices were cheap. Good service, decent place, variety of patrons from locals to wandering tourists. If you need some drinks cheap and decent place to hang this is it.
Review Source:Ridiculous drink specials and each day of the week, there are food specials too. Example? Wednesday, when I went, is $1 for 2 tacos night (in addition to $5 pitchers of domestic beer, and karaoke). Crazy! I've been here before and didn't think the food was that great, but let's be honest...you don't come here for the food. That said, this time I ordered the wings, and they were delicious. I would have preferred them a touch crispier, but a huge pile of buffalo wings, hot sauce everywhere, and lots of beer kind of fit the vibe of this place. It gets really crowded though, so don't expect to flag down your server very easily. You can rent out the upper level space for private parties as well.
On a completely unrelated note, the staff here are really kind. There was a woman in the ladies room who had apparently vomited all over the floor, but the bar staff treated her with great dignity (even when it was obvious that she was incredibly drunk). They tried to find her group of friends, asked her where she lived, etc., but did it all in a way that suggested compassion and not liability. They also managed to clean up the vomit fairly quickly, so kudos to them.
I've been here my fair share of times and have always had a great time. It's cheap, the atmosphere is fun, and the space is huge. I've come here with friends and have shared pitchers, and managed not to break the bank ($6-$9 per pitcher). There are two floors, both with a juke box which never gets old. The best times I've had here is grabbing a table and posting up for a couple hours. The volume is perfect. It isn't too quiet but it also isn't so loud that you can't hear each other talk.
I love this place and probably end up here at least every other weekend.
Some people love McGillin's, other people hate it. I am somewhere in between. At times this place could be really crowded, insanely noisy, and full of overly intoxicated/obnoxious people. Â Other times it's a really nice place to grab a cheap beer and wings. Their food is actually decent and I recommend trying the French Onion soup or the mussels. Both are much better than you'd expect from an Irish Ale House. They run specials and serve pitchers making this an attractive spot for large groups. The place is split up into two floors but the 2nd floor is really small and has a small bar too. Sunday nights they host karaoke and even though it's the same singers week after week, it's entertaining and a good way to end the weekend.
My friends tend to always start/finish the night here so it's inevitable that I'll be back.
I've probably waited too long to write this review nevertheless...I attended McGillin's on a Sunday night in February. I was taking a girl out for the second time with a group of her friends and I had another gentleman with me. The bar itself was very fun, vibrant, great beers, fun people etc. We sang Karaoke and had a stellar time.
The bill came it was 29.00 and some change so I offered to pay the tab. I handed the money to a waitress with long dark hair. I gave her 40.00 and handed her the small tab itself. I waited, I waited , I waited never got my change back. (I didn't want to make a big deal about an extra few dollars on a second time meeting a girl out.) So I let it go. No big deal. My friend and I were going to leave earlier than the girls so we kindly said our goodbyes forgot about the change... NO BIG DEAL?
About fifteen minutes later the girls call me from the bar asking me who I paid? I clearly specified the waitress I paid. The waitress comes on the phone, tells me she never received a payment...Then I get the night-shift manager on the phone she also advises me "My waitress is one of our best, she'd remember an 11.00 tip on a 29.00 order" etc Funny I spoke to the day manager, much more professional advised me the waitress was only working for two weeks.... I paid cash, horrendous mistake on my behalf. So with three girls thinking I left them with the tab, they REPAID the tab out of sheer humiliation (Not to consider the humiliation this place put me through to this point now anyway).
I knew I was right, I insisted to speak with the owner who refused to show me the camera (which was the giveaway) showing the transaction where I gave the waitress the money.. He neglected to show me the footage. He advised me he'd personally refund the girls their money and he gave me $11.00 back (my tip)... Mind you the loop I had to go through just to get that. Clearly the film would've showed me handing the money to the waitress, that is unless the cameras are as old as the bar is, which may be possible.
The night shift management expressed poor customer service skills. Foremost , the customer is always right, even when they are wrong and in this case I knew I was right. The waitress who was working at night who double charged the girls and myself honestly deserved to be barbecued over this, sorry Courtney or whatever your name is.
The owner could've handled it better. He WAS kind but far from genuine. I really really had a nice time at McGillin's but I'll never return to this establishment due to pathetic customer service and poor management.
I know McGillins is my kind of bar considering I seem to repeatedly suggest it as the waterhole to meet at no matter the day of week or the time of day. Sure it has that oldest bar thing going for it but for me finding a place in the heart of center city where I can walk a hat and drink $7 pitchers is what's really important to me.
The problem is the secret has been and continues to be out about this place. Despite being down a random alley, I have never seen this place not bustling with other people tying one on. Although this makes for a lively environment, expect to be bumping up against people while standing. In addition, if you sit at a table you will basically be sharing the table with your neighbors. And when you are lucky enough to get the attention of one of the busy servers, just order another pitcher for yourself because who knows when you will get the next chance.
Viva McGillins for another 100+ years!
The oldest continuously running bar in the city with a great tap list, great lunch specials, and totally passable bar food. It's great to be here. Best thing about it? Every beer on tap comes in pitchers.
Don't expect to be wowed by taplist, service or food, but it accomplishes everything a bar should pretty well.
I've been here for a handful of happy hours and late nights. I dined here for lunch recently for the first time a week ago. The place was DARK - I had suggested that my co-workers and I go here so I was worried I would lose a little lunch spot picking cred based off ambiance. However the food made up for the odd lighting. I ordered a turkey club sandwich off the specials menu. Halfway through my meal I realized I was eating chicken and not turkey, I didn't say anything because it was still a great sandwich (plus I was slightly embarrassed I ate half a sandwich before I realized the error). Overall- quite large portions and inexpensive. I'd come back for lunch but happy hour is my favorite time to visit.
Review Source:You may not need yet another review of McGillin's, but I'm an out of towner so I'll give my two sheckles. Its true what they say about the food- we had mussels and hot wings and boy did they hit the spot! Prices are fair for bar food and they had a $6.50 pitcher special on a SATURDAY night.
Crowd seemed to be early to mid 20's, lots of blondes that night, and a few drunk boys. My boyfriend and I were thoroughly entertained by a drunk dude and his friends who were enamored by his Sonic the Hedgehog tshirt. The waitress apologized to us for his behavior (they must be regulars?), but was gracious towards everyone.
Seems like a friendly place, although like other reviewers said, not quite a bar for solo drinking. Bring a few buddies.
Good drinks at a good price.
Come here every so often to get a few PA beers and eat my sweets from Philly Cupcake. Staff is nice, space is...spacious, and the food is decent (I recommend the crab cake)
Just a note: wish I could make my own sampler, the price would probably go up, but I want to try different things.
McGillin's is where you need to be! This bar is a classic, there are many to choose from in Philadelphia but this is one you MUST grab a beer at. It's the oldest bar in the city, and it's still around for a reason. It's located on a very small side street which kind of adds to the mystique of this place. It's got everything one would want for a day of drinking with friends or just hanging at the bar all day. Sports... They got that covered, a couple of big screens and some smaller tvs to cover every sport. Food... Some of the best bar food you can get, I go for the hot wings. Great flavor, great sauce. Need a place for a large party, they got the room for it with a second bar/party room upstairs.
Now for my favorite part the beer. Cheap pitchers of beer from as little as $6! Good luck finding a beer in any other bar in the city for less. Plenty on tap from the norm to the excellent. The have their own beers too, a favorite of mine being the 1860 IPA, crisp and refreshing.
All in all you will get great drinks, great food and great hospitality (very friendly bartenders) always with a funny story to tell. Do yourself a favor and spend a day at McGillin's, you will thank me for it!
Great spot downtown. Established in 1860! Came in for some dinner during Karaoke night and it was a bit loud and rowdy - perfect after a long day's work. Â The bangers were excellent as were the side dishes. Â We tried several different beers - all of which were very good.
Next time I'm in Philadelphia on business I'll be back for sure.
5th oldest continuously running bar in America and my favorite bar in Philly (possibly the world). Don't think I have frequented any other bar more than McGillin's. I have many things to say, but I'll attempt to keep it short.
Friendly atmosphere from patrons to servers to bartenders. Some of the female staff are attractive, the guys (bartenders and bouncers) are cool.
This is a great neighborhood bar and what I mean by that is you can go in almost any night and have a good time.
The booze is cheap, always some sort of pitcher on special for $7.50 and the mugs they provide make any pour, no matter how bad, a good one. Just let the foam settle for a min or two.
Food is also cheap and decent. I wouldn't say the whole menu is outstanding, but the wings are a must and their turkey melt on special is pretty amazing. I believe i had pork schnitzel a few months ago that really surprised me.
Hang out downstairs, the upstairs usually has space, but its kinda awkward. Be friendly and ready to have a great time and McGillin's never disappoints. There's a reason this place survived prohibition.
EXCELLENT! That doesnt even begin to describe my excitement for Mcgillins. Giving it 5 stars isnt even enough. Honestly there isnt anything about this bar that makes it extra special, it is just the combination of everything you could want. There is plenty of seating, however because how busy it gets its sometimes hard to find a spot. The food is your standard bar menu, but a little better. You wont come here and get a full entree of food but it is the perfect spot if you want to get an assortment of things.
By far my favorite is the $6 Pitchers of PBR. It's good to go to a bar in Philly and not spend an arm and a leg for beer you could buy at $20 a case. Most Pitchers are usually on special for anywhere from $6-$8 per. And the fact that I have come here before and they have served me pitchers individually like they were normal 8 oz drinks doesnt hurt either.
The wings are a must. They are absolutely delicious and not your standard bar wings that have been sitting under a heat lamp all night.
Mcgillins is also always hosting some sort of event. They value their customers and you can usually find some sort of festival here.
The only down side I can say about them is their lack of NFL games during the season. They do not have an NFL package so the only games on are the Fox and CBS games. But even as fanatic as I am about sports that really isnt an issue.
Check this place out if you are in the city, it is a MUST! Plus it being one of the oldest Ale Houses in the country you will get treated to a historical side as well.
This is a great place to stop in any time. Â There are always people in there at any time it's open, day or night. Â The food is consistent (it's just bar food, but it's up to par for the place that's serving it), the prices are good, if not great, and it overall has a great atmosphere. Â It's divey, but if you're into that, you'll enjoy everything about this place.
I'm always impressed that even with a large group you can find some place comfortable to be. The place is huge and has both and upstairs and downstairs bar. Â The tables are picnic-style, so it's not unusual to be sitting at a table with another group. Â I don't know if this still goes on, but at one point they had karaoke on Friday nights -- it was excellent with a great little stage and a lot of audience enthusiasm. Â
Also, I have to say, no matter the time of night and the size of the crowd, the ladies' room is generally clean and maintained. Â I know this may not be as huge a deal to some people (particularly depending on how "festive" your night has become), but I'm always expecting the worst and am usually pleasantly surprised here.
It's close enough to Market East (about a five-minute walk) that it's a good place to grab a beer if you have time to kill before your train. Â I wouldn't be into going here alone (some bars are inviting for a solo drinker -- not so much McGillin's), but it's great under almost any other circumstance.
I stopped in last night at the recommendation of a patron at Moriarity's. Occupying a large space on a narrow side street, McGillin's features a full length bar along one wall and ample seating throughout. The fake fireplace was a nice touch, and the place was all decked out for the holidays. I enjoyed a glass of McGillin's lager as I watched the regulars and caught a little bit of the Monday Night Football game. I also watched the bouncers at the front door, knowing that there are reasons they are there...
All-in-all a nice place, and I will visit again.
Apparently one of Philly's oldest continuously-running bars, McGillan's offers a great combination of the old and the new. I went here with some friends on a Saturday night. A great place if you're looking for a rowdy to place to start your night with a great group of friends.
There's usually a line to get in, but the bouncers are usually pretty fast and since there's no cover, the line is a breeze. Upon entering, you can choose between their lower and upper level floors. Drinks are very reasonably priced (so much so, my friend from NYC insisted on paying for several rounds because prices were just too ridiculously cheap), although if you're ready to stand your ground at the bar, it's hard to get your order in.
We found a nice corner to hang out and chill and people watch. You have a good mix of people, ranging from younger college-aged kids to slightly middle-aged folks. The music is definitely more popular, with lots of top 40 hits. I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking that bar between pre-gaming and hardcore dancing. Still not sure about what it's like during off times, but will definitely keep it on my list!
Only have $10 to spend and want to have drinks and food? Head to Mcgillins! On Wednesdays $6 will buy you a pitcher of PBR and $1 will afford you two tacos leaving money left over for tips!
A fun place to go that ALWAYS has specials. I have been here when pitchers of Mad Elf were $12 each, they have a $35 cent wing special some nights.Food is reliably good, nothing fancy, everything reasonably priced. Last night there was a chicken, strawbeery gorgonzola salad that looked delicious. Some nights mugs of beer are only one dollar!
Fun place, laid back, and easy on the wallet. My aunt claims there is a good lunch special.
My favorite bar in Philadelphia, with great Karaoke nights. I am not sure what it is that draws me to McGillins... but it can be really crowded and noisy, boisterous, and I always have a lot of fun! It's so alive, great atmosphere... and they have pretty cheap food beers.
It's definitely not the place for a quiet get together, but it's a nice place to hang out with friends if you're not looking for quiet! I think it's also the best place to be in Philly on St. Paddy's Day! You get people of all ages too, though age takes a back seat here. My friend had this 2 hour long conversation with a guy 3x his age (in spite of the noise level) and left smiling.
Solid spot to grab a drink with your buddies. The pitchers were cheap! I was surprised. The music is a bit loud and there isn't much room to dance, although I see people are itching for some place to bust out their moves.
You can't beat the prices of the beer especially for the area (at least so I think). Definitely a good spot to check out.
As my family physician, Dr. Seuss would say:
I do not care for attitude
I am usually a laid back dude
But cross me once and I declare
I might just pull your bleeping hair*
That's what I wanted to say to the battle-ax waitress who was so unnecessarily unpleasant on my recent visit to McGillin's Olde Ale House. Â She seemed put out by taking a drink order, taking a food order, delivering food and delivering a check. Â
Despite that, I had a decent meal here. Â It's a cool old place (allegedly oldest tavern in Philly) and I like the coziness of the bar/dining area. Â Bathrooms upstairs were very clean. Â Beer was good although they didn't have the first one my friend ordered. Â My curly fries were good, as were my Old Bay chicken wings. Â Juicy and meaty, just the way I like them (and many other things as well).
This place is sort of hidden down an alley but it's cool and definitely worth a trip, as long as you do not get the same waitress we had.
You'll find this is a pleasant place
If you don't have to punch someone in the face*
_____________________________
* please note, I would never pull anyone's hair or punch them and I am not advocating physical assault on any wait staff
** additional side note- a manager from the place messaged me privately and apologized for the service which was very nice, so I take this as proof this place isn't all bad
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