Winter Storm Grayson may have effectively shut down the city today, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay cramped up—and thirsty—in your apartment. Dozens of bars and restaurants in the city are not only staying #OpenInPHL, but they’re hosting some snow-day specials to lure in drinkers from the cold. We’ve compiled a list of standout deals below, focusing mainly on drink specials but throwing in some grub options where applicable. Look for spots in your neighborhood so you don’t have to travel too far—or just order up and Uber.
Assembly Rooftop Lounge
Take in stunning views of Philly covered in snow while you sip on a $5 Firehouse Punch, made with Appleton Estate Reserve Rum, Grand Marnier, lemon, apricot and tea.
Bar
Seven bucks at this simply named Gayborhood watering hole grants you a Jim Beam bonded hot toddy or a Swiss Minze hot chocolate made with Rumple Minze.
Bluebird Distilling
The Shops at Liberty Place location of this local spirits distillery is offering complimentary tastings all day—a perfect way to get in a quick nip before braving your journey home. Speaking of long journey: The Phoenixville branch of the distillery is doing happy hour all day, featuring $7 cocktails and pours.
Brü Craft & Wurst
The German bier hall offers up snow-day specials until 7pm, including $5 hot cider made with Big Hill fresh cider, Bluebird Distillery aged rom and spices, and an $8 brat and beer special featuring homemade bratwurst, bacon and beer kraut, and a house-brewed Captain Lawrence Oktojawn.
Cinder Copper & Lace
Photograph: Courtesy Cinder Copper & Lace
Six beers on draft are going for $4 or $5. On the food front: all pizzas are $10 and three Wild Good oysters on the half shell are going for $10, too.
City Tap House University City and Logan Square
One of our favorite sports bars in Philadelphia is offering $6 spiked cocoa and a $4 New Belgium Fat Tire.
Devil’s Den
Photograph: Courtesy Devil’s Den
Over in South Philly, take advantage of $4 Founders All Day IPAs and the Devil’s Den version of a Citywide Special for $8: Founder’s All Day IPA and a shot of Wild Turkey. The cozy double-sided, wood-burning fireplace? Absolutely free.
Dim Sum House
Photograph: Courtesy Dim Sum House
When this Jane G spot in University City opens at 2:30pm, the kitchen will offer a free small bowl of hot and sour soup with any food purchase. All drafts at the bar are only $5.
Hawthornes Cafe
Photograph: Hawthornes Cafe
Here’s a fun one: Besides half-priced drafts all day, order any burger on the menu and save $1 for every inch it snows (based on official tallies from the Weather Channel).
Heritage
A breezy $8 will get you a bowl of green chili and a pint of Boulder Shake Porter, or a potato soup with a pint of Bells Brown Ale.
Jane G’s
Slurp up half-price Dan Dan noodles while enjoying Tsingtao beer bottles for $3.
Keen
Feeling fancy? Sip on $6 rosé all day, or go for a warm apple cider and bourbon for $5.
The Little Lion
Photograph: Courtesy the Little Lion
Get toasty, plastered and positively sugar-buzzed on $7 spiked hot cocoas and s'mores hot chocolates.
Manatawny Still Works
Get crafty at this cool new Passyunk Avenue distillery by building your own hot toddy with a shot of Batch 15 “Rye-ish Whiskey” and as much honey, lemon and tea as you like. They’re also offering hot chocolate with house-spiced rum, mole bitters and cayenne, and a Rival Bros Coffee drink with whiskey and sugar topped with whipped cream. All the above goes for $9 each.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House
Philly’s oldest continuously operating tavern has seen many a snow day, so you can bet its bartenders know just what to pour up when the white stuff starts falling. Today, that's $3 Bloody Marys and mimosas and $5 Drury sleigh rides, a concoction of hot chocolate, white crème de menthe and Ryan’s Irish Cream served in a mug with whipped cream.
MilkBoy
Both locations of MilkBoy in Philadelphia are pouring up a $5 Snow Day City Wide: Straub American Lager and a shot of Heaven Hill Bourbon.
Nick’s Bar & Grille
Photograph: Courtesy Nick’s Olde Bar and Grill
Stop into this no-nonsense Old City tavern for a $12 beer bucket special featuring five 16 oz. cans of Bud Lite, Miller Lite, Rolling Rock or Yuengling Lager). The kitchen is cranking out homemade chicken tortilla soup topped with sour cream and crispy tortillas for $2 per cup and $4 per bowl.
Ocean Prime
The upscale steak and seafood chain is extending its happy hour from 4:30pm to close in the lounge. That includes Stateside Vodka “Your Way” and select red and white wine for $10, Veuve Clicquot for $12 and domestic beers for $5. Hungry? Go for the East Coast oysters at a dollar a shell.
Prohibition Taproom
Throw back $5 Citywide Specials—made the classic way with PBR and a shot of whiskey, or a homemade hot chocolate spiked with a shot of Goslings Black Seal Rum or Branca Menta for $4. Want food? You could munch on complimentary popcorn while you drink and finish up your visit with a grilled cheese and chicken chowder for $10.
Red Owl Tavern
Photograph: Courtesy Red Owl Tavern
Don’t feel like cooking? Stop into this rustic-chic tavern in Old City during lunch and dinner. They’re serving the Tavern Burger with a pint of draft beer for $15.
Silence DoGood’s Tavern
Photograph: Courtesy Silence DoGood’s Tavern
If you're in Old City today, stop into DoGood’s and get $1 off one of any six hot toddy drinks if you tell the bartender that “Ben Franklin is the bomb.” Some of the hot toddy selections include hot apple cider, salted caramel vodka, whipped cream and the s’more, which is made with hot cocoa, whipped vodka, whipped cream, chocolate chips, roasted marshmallow and graham cracker. If that doesn't warm you up, nothing will.
SouthGate
The Graduate Hospital Korean joint is serving a Happy SouthGate Meal for $12 that includes a burger or wings and a beer. You could skip all that for a boozier SouthGate Citywide for $4. That’s a Sapporo and a shot of soju.
Square 1682
The swanky hotel bar has three hot cocktails on the menu for a measly $5: The Wild One (Wild Turkey 101 bourbon, raw sugar and mighty leaf ginger twist hot tea), Apple Bottom (cinnamon-infused Bluebird Distilling sugarcane rum, brown sugar and hot apple cider) and the simpler O-G (Dewar’s White Label, honey, lemon and clove). The Square 1682 Burger is going for $10 if you want to follow that up with some grub.
Taproom on 19th
Enjoy Founders Pints for $4 all day, and then for happy hour, from 5 to 7pm, snag $2 off draughts, $1 off bottles and cans, and half-price wings and cauliflower.
Tiki
A Hawaiian tiki bar may be the last thing you’re thinking about today, but this Midtown Village spot is offering $6 on hot drinks like a spiced rum hot cider and a bourbon coffee, or you can try a Tiki old-fashioned with bourbon, falernum and charred pineapple. Ramen bowls are going for $5.
Urban Farmer
This Benjamin Franklin Parkway watering hole is serving Irish Coffee made with La Colombe Coffee, whiskey and house-made whipped cream for $5. Maybe a good after-work option for those of you who had to trek into the office today.
Walnut Street Café
Score $5 mulled wine, hot toddies and spiked hot chocolate in the cafe and dining room of this new University City fave all day.