Where to Celebrate Mardi Gras in Philadelphia
We’re coming-up quickly to that day when no fewer than ten good samaritans will let you know you have schmutz on your forehead. But let’s not rush those 40 chocolate and porn free days. We still have one big Fat Tuesday to look forward to. So grab a bag full of beads, throw on something glittery and bring your carnaval spirit to one of these ten places. You'll have a good time, we guarantee:
Bourbon Blue (2 Rector Street; 215-508-3360)
$5 Southern Comfort Hurricanes all day plus other drink specials, and spring happy hour kicks-in (5:30 PM – 7:30 PM) for half-off the snack menu, $3 drafts, $4 mixed drinks and $5 margaritas and mojitos. Live music starts at 8 PM. Stick around for the SoCo promo girls (10 PM – Midnight).
Bridget Foy’s (200 South St.; 215-922-1813)
$5 Hurricanes drinks ($20 for a pitcher), $4 Abita Turbo Dogs and specials on New Orlean’s style fare including Muffulettas, Crawfish, Blackeyed Pea Soup and Blackened Catfish.
Chris’ Jazz Cafe(1421 Sansom St.; 215-568-3131)
Listen to The Hoppin' John Orchestra ($12) while sippin’ on drink specials all day, and munchin’ on Louisiana delectables like Jambalaya, Gumbo, Crawdads and King Cake. Prices are TBA. Don’t choke on the baby.
Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House (3432 Sansom St.; 215-380-3474)
$6 Hurricanes and Abita beer (prices TBA).
Field House (1150 Filbert St.; 215-629-1520)
From 5 PM on, the Reading Terminal Market bar will serve $3 Coors light, Abitas on draft (price TBA), $5 Hurricanes, Soco Limes and shots. Lost in Paris go on at 9 PM.
Headhouse Crab and Oyster Co. (119 South St.; 215-418-0600)
Join in the Fat Tuesday shenanigans with live music at South Street’s Headhouse Crab and Oyster Co., where the bar will have Don Q Hurricanes on special, as well as $12 fried oyster po’ boys and $8 shrimp gumbo. Funk band The 9’s will have the house jumping with New Orleans grooves.
Interstate Draft House (1235 E. Palmer St.; 267-455-0045)
Starting at 7 PM, $5-6 Abita on draft (Purple Haze, Jockamo IPA, Turbo Dog), and $5 Hurricanes all night. Keep your medulla oblongata in check by filling-up on Fried Crawfish, Shrimp, Oyster, Gator or Catfish Po’ boys, Fried green tomatoes and Jambalaya.
Khyber Pass Pub (56 S. 2nd St.; 215-238-5888)
$5 Hurricanes $4-5 Abitas on draft, and other special TBA.
Kraftwork (541 E. Girard Ave.; 215-739-1700)
The East Girard hotspot is getting into the spirit of Mardi Gras with a special menu that includes Chicken Gumbo, Shrimp and Crab Hushpuppies, Crawfish, and more.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House (1310 Drury St.; 215-735-5562)
An Irish Bar? Why not? Hurricanes, Po Boys, Muffulettas and Jambalaya, plus the usual Tuesday specials: $6.50 pitchers Bud Light, $1 mugs throwback beer (5 pm 'til keg kicks), 35¢ jumbo wings and $4.50 pickle backs.
Rex 1516 (1516 South St.; 267-319-1366)
$10 Sazeracs, $9 Hurricanes, $8 specialty Chicken and Andouille Gumbo, and $8 individual King Cakes.
Sidecar Bar & Grille (2201 Christian St.; 215-732-3429)
The OG G-Ho haunt is letting the good times roll with drinks and eats fit for a Mardi Gras king. A special NOLA-inspired menu with everything from Muffuletta Flatbread, Crawfish Boil, and Beignets will be available.
The Twisted Tail (509-511 S. 2nd St.; 215-558-2471)
Six different types of Abita on draft and in cans and bottles ($4-$6). Get five in a bucket for $20, and a pin of Restoration will be in the house ($5.50 a glass ‘til it’s gone). Sop all that up with cajun classics like Po Boys, Crawfish Etouffe, a Crayfish Boil and Biegnets.
Photo: Danya Henninger
