Beer Garden Season Officially Starts This Month

A true sign of spring is finally here: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society announced the opening dates for its Pop Up Gardens. The South Street and uCity Square beer gardens will both open Thursday, April 26, followed by grand opening events with a Cinco de Mayo theme on May 3. Both beer gardens were in the same spots last year — PHS doesn’t move them around as much as it did during the first few years of this popular summertime project designed to make good use of otherwise empty lots.

As always, these beer gardens are also solid spots to eat. The pop-up at 1438 South Street will have food from the crew behind Royal Tavern, Cantina Los Caballitos, Khyber Pass Pub, and Triangle Tavern. Expect options from each of the restaurants, which likely means plenty for vegans and vegetarians too. The cocktail list will be “inspired by the fragrant botanicals and herbaceous plants of the season,” according to PHS.

When happy hour winds down and it starts to get dark, the beer garden will be lit up by Morrocan-style fixtures, strands of lights, and glow-in-the-dark plants.

Rob Cardillo

In University City, the beer garden at 36th and Filbert streets has more of an orchard design, with trees, strawberry plants, and grass. The food is from the guys behind Jose Pistola’s, so look for Mexican eats. There will, of course, also be margaritas.

Both gardens’ hours are Monday to Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. They’ll wind down in October.

Look for additional beer gardens to open in the coming months.

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