April isn’t cruel. In Philly, it mostly means pop-up booze gardens and new kinds of meat on a stick.With weather forecasts drifting into the 70s and Phillies baseball in the horoscope, Philadelphia joins the Shore as a destination for sunny-day day-tripping. A wealth of food and beer pop-ups are open starting April: burgers and beer on the river, boozy slushies in plant-nerd paradise, and tacos by the Liberty Bell. One of the most expansive and diverse open-air Asian food markets in the country kicks off this month as well.Here’s the rundown of seasonal outdoor beer gardens and food coming soon.
Boozy slushies in a plant-filled Eden: PHS Pop-up Gardens
South Street: 1438 South St.; Manayunk: 106 Jamestown Ave.,Opened April 1. Evenings Monday-Thursday, afternoons and evenings Friday-Sunday. phspopupgardens.com
Come for a drink, leave with a plant.
In a pair of edenic pop-up city glades, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will offer wine, beer and cocktails that range from boozily slushy (South Street only) to a vodka-fueled “Woodermelon.” Food includes bagel-spiced popcorn, chicken wraps, and burgers both Impossible and beefily possible. Dogs will also be fed.
But really, it’s all about lounging tipsily amid an arboretum’s worth of plants. On first Mondays in Manayunk and first Tuesdays in South Street, PHS also sponsors a plant swap among patrons — and seed giveaways abound. Large groups can reserve tables at resy.com.
Vibrant, world-hopping flavors in a park: The Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park
FDR Park, 1500 Pattinson St. at South BroadOpened April 1. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. fdrseamarket.com
From its beginnings as a home primarily to Cambodian street food, the Southeast Asian Market in South Philly’s FDR Park has expanded into one of the largest and most diverse outdoor Asian markets in the country.
This can mean spicy and meaty Indonesian rendang, pad thai or Cambodian lort cha noodles cooked up freshly on the flat-top while you watch, Lao or Vietnamese meat jerky and seemingly every version of spring roll or meat on a stick.
On the veggie front, expect the earthy sugar-smack of fresh cane juice, fiery papaya salads, sauces aplenty, produce both fresh and dried, and twelve ways to eat a banana.
Brews by the Liberty Bell: Independence Beer Garden
100 S. Independence Mall WestOpens April 12. Afternoons and evenings, Wednesday to Sunday. 215-922 -7100, phlbeergarden.com.
Nothing says freedom like 40 beer taps.
This massive, 20,000-square-foot beer and cocktail garden pop-up kicks off its season on April 12, in a thick-greeneried outdoor patio located between the U.S. Census Bureau and the eternal line of horses parked out in front of the Liberty Bell.
Expect tacos, burgers, cheesesteaks, giant jenga and cornhole — but no dogs. Sorry, furballs.
High-flying food on a South Philly roof: Bok Bar
800 Mifflin St. (atop Bok Building)Open evenings starting April 13. 445-223-1607, bok-bar.comIn low-slung old South Philly, an eighth-floor rooftop might as well be the Space Needle: 360-degree views of the skyline, the stadiums, the river and beyond. And as of April 13, the rooftop of the Bok Building will also host a wide array of drinks alongside food from a rotating selection of chefs.
This year’s chef roster isn’t announced, but last year’s options ranged from soul food plates to Venezuelan arepas to Thai food from Philly hotspot Kalaya. But whatever you eat, it’s on a roof: Booze on a roof. Wine on a roof. Fried chicken on a roof. Noodles on a roof. Arrive early, or it’s crowded: You’ve been warned.
Frozen daiquiris by the river: Liberty Point
211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.Opens April 13. Afternoons and evenings daily. 215-315-9023, libertypointphilly.com
Liberty Point is all about the river, and all about the numbers: three levels, five bars, seven event spaces, 25,000 square feet and a capacity of 1,400 people. It’s the largest outdoor restaurant in Philadelphia, and operators FCM Hospitality promise Delaware River views from pretty much everywhere you sit.
The food menu is mostly pub fare, with some raw bar items and Mexican influence. DJs and music arrive on weekends, and dogs are free to lounge on the first level. Drinks include craft pints from nearby Mainstay brewing, as well as $11 mules and frozen daiquiris.
On April 20, FCM Hospitality will also open their somewhat more boisterous seasonal riverside bar, Morgan’s Pier, a few blocks north next to Dave and Buster’s.Matthew Korfhage is a Philadelphia-based reporter for USA Today Network. Email him at mkrofhage@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @matthewkorfhage.
