PHS Pop Up Garden

This is the best of the beer gardens in the city. The vibe is chill, the layout is awesome. And they added a second bar this year. Check it out, especially during the day, before the big crowds arrive.

We stopped by tonight for a casual night but left as soon as we walked in. My friend handed over his PHS card and his wallet with his ID in it. He didn’t proactively take out his ID and left it in the wallet holder. We’re all over 30yr old. The employee checking IDs was clearly upset and for some reason was very angry about being handed the entire wallet. My friend said nothing during this exchange and wasn’t even aware of the following commentary. This employee then calls my friend a «f*cking f*ggot» over the issue of pulling out his ID, after he walked in. The bouncer mumbled it under his breath but well enough for me to hear clearly. He didn’t realize we were there together as a group. For reference to the management, he was the white bouncer checking IDs on September 19^th at 8:30pm. He should not ever be employed again and she be ashamed of his attitude. What an awful experience.

Yay!
This place is so quaint, picturesque, and super instagrammable. The fairy lights and flowers are really pretty and enjoying that setting with a big cup of beer is even better.
There’s a food truck with a few items on offer so that you don’t have to drink on an empty stomach either.
And when I was here, there was some botany-​related performance going on (with people in flower costumes chatting about stamens and pistils haha) which was mildly entertaining.
Also, I don’t know if it’s just because my default going out mode is New York City-​style but I thought the beers were so cheap, especially considering most were craft beers, and they were delicious.

I was only in philly for a day but one thing really stood out, Philadelphians make the most of every inch *winky face*. That could be a bad thing as NYC showed me the day prior but philly seems to aim for the green, and it’s beautiful. There are a few of these popups around the city but i say the PHS spots are worth a try just because of the organization’s purpose — further greenifying philly (amongst other green related things).
I was here on a sunday afternoon and it wasn’t crowded by any means. The beer selection was limited and the brews were all similar. I gather that they are rotated though. I had a few drinks, including a cocktail (something about bees — it was extremely sweet) which was nicely tended. Beer prices ranged from $ 4 – 8 and they’re served in plastic cups. Unfortunately i came with a full stomach and couldn’t bring myself to try the eats.
Now, the drinks didn’t do it for me. What i really love is how they turned what would’ve been an eyesore of a lot into a little alchy haven. Ultra casual with string lights all up and down this joint and pendant lights classing it up — balance. There are wooden picnic tables, ultra euro chairs, modern stools, and all sorts of other clashes in styling around here. Great place to bring good company and unwind.

This pop up beer garden is larger and a little more classy than the one near Passyunk. The cocktail n beer menu had a better selection also. We were lucky to find this spot on a night that wasn’t too crowded :)
A must try drink is the Strawberry Whiskey Sour (with strawberry purée)

This place is cooool. I came here on a really nice Saturday afternoon with my girlfriend and a couple of friends. The décor here is on point, lots of rustic outdoor furniture that feels perfectly at home amongst the plants. Drinks are standard pricing, $ 6 — $ 7 for a beer and about $ 9 — $ 12 for a cocktail. The food wasn’t bad, I tried the Phily hotdog and some parmesan fries. The hotdog was nicely topped, but tasted pretty standard. The fries were good, but I’d have preferred them to be a little thicker.
The only real improvement I would suggest would be to have some staff to clear off the tables as people leave. Eventually someone came to move the cans and plates and stuff that were left in our seating area from the previous guests, but only after we had been there for an hour. It wasn’t a huge issue, it just would have been nice if that stuff was gone a little sooner, but I do understand that it was a busy time of day for them.
LIttle annoyances aside, I had a great time and I’ll definitely be back before the summer is over.

Very nice, PHS, very nice.
Your ability to host, and the ambiance in your digs are so nice that I, killer-​of-​weeds-​through-​neglect-​rather-​than-​competence, am likely to visit you when you have your regularly prescribed amenities going on.
As for your pop-​up garden, what’s not to love? A good selection of rotating beers on tap, easy payment options given the venue, and relatively tasty food that isn’t cheap but won’t break the bank? Yes to all of it.
My only complaint is that the place is too popular. There are rarely places to sit, and you may be waiting in line for food for a while if there are more than three people in front of you. No matter. It’s so nice there that even standing around is relaxing. Stop on by and chill out.
Also, it’d be that much better with board games.

This has been my favorite pop up so far. It is absolutely beautiful. The Philadelphia Horticultural Society put a lot of work into this pop up. It’s an enclosed space with separate ‘rooms’ of the tables in it for a little bit of privacy. Most of the draft are my favorite types of fruity beers and ales. PERFECT summer beers. Honestly, I was looking around thinking of how beautiful of a wedding reception place it would make. :) I only wish they had a better food selection.

Pop Up gardens are awesome additions to the Philly summer scene! This location is no exception. Great atmosphere, open seating, and pretty tasty bites from local vendors.
This year’s arrangement created more ground space to accommodate more guests, but my stamina for standing long periods of time was low which detracted from the overall experience.
Drinks were tasty but really overpriced. Got a sangria drink in a (very) small cup for $ 8, $ 12 for a larger upgrade. Fortunately, the food was a redeeming factor. Ordered two specialty hot dog banh mi which were both very tasty with some parmesan fries. Really affordable and filling.

What a remarkable place! RJ won tickets for the Vance Joy private concert here and brought me with him. I can’t believe this cute little garden is in the middle of the city. The event was outstanding, very well organized and a lot of fun. The only thing lacking was mixed drinks. There was plenty of beer, but I don’t like beer! I would love to attend another event here.

Pleasant, nice in the evening, plenty of outdoor seating. I didn’t try the food but I tried the Sly Fox Pilsner. It was alright. Fun night out with friends. They set aside a reserved area for our large group, which was great. Waitress was very helpful, though scantilly clad. Dogs allowed, yay.

This little hideaway is such a great spot. Kudos goes to the planners and PHS team that brought this together.
We’re headed back– this time for some Jamaican food and even craftier beers.

First time to a pop up garden and I loved it! Great environment, a good enough selection of drinks (maybe more than 3 wine options for the night when wine will do the trick?) but a neat, clean and pleasant place to step out of the bar and into the garden! Looking forward to trying more of these!

I recently visited the pop up beer garden and was more impressed than I was last year. Last year, the décor was pretty lackluster, the drinks were cash only and limited, and the seating was sparce. This year, I had heard that they made some improvements, so I went to check it out. My friend and I made our way over to the bar area after signing up (yet again) for a PHS membership (at least it’s free). I noticed immediately that the bar line was way less than last years and I was happy about that. They also had many more drinks to choose from and a decent list of beer. Unfortunately, the beer I saw on the menu that I wanted was kicked. The bartender said that the list was not updated, because they run out of different types too fast. that is still something that can be worked on. I ordered my 2^nd choice which was a saison and it was pretty good. Prices were right on target, 5 – 7 dollars for craft beer depending on which type. I used cash but appreciate that you can now use a credit card.
The seating is much better than last year and kind of reminds me of IBG with the picnic tables in the middle. We found a seat pretty fast, even thought the place was crowded. Bathrooms were decently clean and set up in a makeshift trailer. there was no line which was nice. I’m glad they made some positive changes to tthis pop-​up and I would definitely come back this year and try other drinks!

What a cute pop up garden in the city!!! They have 2 food venues that are always on site. They have a decent beer selection and cocktails. The drinks are a little more pricey but I think it’s worth it for the scenery. So relaxing and unique.

A 3 ½ star review that could be a 5 with some significant fixes. But I have to upgrade to 4 because of the serene beauty and ample seating of the beer garden itself.
I’ve walked by this version of the PHS Pop Up Garden on a couple occasions (and really wish that I knew of last years edition a lot sooner!), only to curse the fact that I was en route to another location. So when I had some time to kill in South Philly I decided to stop over and take in the serene garden landscape that I’ve glimpsed views of through the fence. Jamaican Jerk Hut had a lavish outdoor yard space before, but combining forces with Philadelphia Horticultural Society for this project has really transformed it as far as greenery and seating spaces are concerned.
While I do enjoy Beer’s like Flying Fish’s FU Sandy, and cocktails like a Dark & Stormy, I did find that the limited drink options left a bit to be desired. I don’t expect an outdoor beer garden to be a Devil’s Den or Franklin Mortgage, but at the same time 2 taps was kind of a downer. But being able to order off of the Jerk Hut’s full menu and take in the occasional visiting food truck does make for a major win.
The main flaw of the garden that is need of some serious upkeep is the bathroom. The tiny bathroom stall made a giant like myself feel more than a little bit claustrophobic. But the big kicker was when I lathered on soap to wash my hands, only to find an out of order sink and no paper towels. Really? Really!
Still while Spruce Harbor, Independence, and Fergie’s beer garden might be better options overall, the fact that this one is for a worthy cause like PHS, and adds on a serene bit garden beauty on South Street, does make it worth the visit.

Being a first-​timer to the PHS Pop Up Garden, I came in with a fresh slate and was pretty pleased.
The registration was a little annoying but I understand it was needed based on the pop up garden «loopholes». I arrived a little after 8 on a Friday night and the entrance process only took a couple of minutes.
My group already snagged a bench but with the coming and going of other groups, I was easily able to fit comfortablely. Throughout my visit there were a few groups to changeover, so it seemed easy enough to get a spot without getting there early.
I was able to easily walk up to the bar and order a beer. There was no line and the bartender helped me out right away. It was a little disappointing that they only had two beers on tap but I happen to like Yards IPA so it was a suitable option. I’m sure you all know by now, it’s cash only.
It was a really cool place to hang out. The umbrellas, trees and lights combined for a relaxed vibe. The moon was out last night and added an extra special element to the scene.
For a pop-​up bar, I think they did a pretty good job. I hope to get back there before the summer ends.

I visited this year’s PHS Pop Up Garden yesterday and left a lot less impressed than I was last year. Drinks are now cash-​only which is inconvenient. Also, the beer seemed to be pouring very slowly which was causing a major back-​up in the line. The move from bottled beer to draft beer somehow also came with a one dollar mark-​up over last year’s prices.
Food is available through the Jamaican Jerk Hut and rotating food carts. I really liked the offerings from last year’s Garces Catering truck — there were some healthy items available, which was great.
Unfortunately, the bathrooms were lacking both soap and paper towels on my visit.
I’m sure I’ll be back at some point this summer, but with the plethora of other outdoor beer gardens this year, I’m not rushing back.

A really cool place to hang out. Everyone was super friendly, the garden is set-​up really nicely, and the portable bathrooms were even kept surprisingly clean.
The downside: I’m a little unsure how this can be called a «beer» garden. When I arrived on Friday night the only two beers on tap were Yards and 21^st amendment watermelon, and they had just ran out of yards… it was replaced with Corona Lite a little later on. There were more non-​alcoholic beverages for sale than all of the alcoholic ones combined!
Despite this, I definitely recommend checking it out before our esteemed PA reps convince the LCB to shut it down.

This location on Broad street made me laugh. How did I not see this?!? It was very pleasant outside. Try the spiked root beer drink! It doesn’t even taste spiked. Dangerous!!! There are lots of picnic tables and a fun «wall» of stadium seating with cushions.
The bathroom trailer is kick-​ass. I know my enthusiasm for a bathroom is odd, but this is a nice 2-​stalled CLEAN and COOL bathroom! It is air-​conditioned and glorious for a «porta-​potty.» Yes, they flush. So, when you decide to break the seal after your many beverages, no worries.