At the corner of Second and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia, the Founding Fathers of our nation used to meet for drinks, dinner, and to discuss important political issues. John Adams, George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson frequented the corner City Tavern.
It was originally built in 1773 as an extravagant pub and meetinghouse, and the tavern quickly became an important part of Philadelphia... and the entire nation! The country's very first Fourth of July celebration was held here, and George Washington hosted foreign ministers and dignitaries at the tavern. On March 22, 1834, the building was partially destroyed by a fire and was demolished in 1854.
Not wanting to forget the history of this important Philadelphia landmark, the building was re-created to original specifications for the 1976 United States Bicentennial celebration.
You can dine and celebrate just like the first Philadelphians did!
Located in Old City, you can find City Tavern at 138 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Walking inside is like stepping into a time machine!
You'll notice the classic colonial decor, and the entire building is lit only by candlelight. Staff are also dressed in period clothing.
There's a good chance you'll run into Ben Franklin or Thomas Jefferson drinking after a day on the town.
Even the food is historically accurate!
You'll start with breads and brews, including sweet potato biscuits made with Jefferson's own recipe.
Tofu was first brought to America by Ben Franklin, who wrote about "Chinese cheese" in a 1770 letter to Philly's John Bartram.
All of the food here is made from historically accurate recipes.
The braised rabbit is a popular dishes, and you'll find several other game-centric meals on the menu as well.
Their award-winning turkey pot pie is the best dish on the menu, with a flaky crust made perfectly every time!
It's served with City Tavern's unforgettable egg noodles and gravy.
With food so good and an unforgettably unique atmosphere, it's no wonder that City Tavern was named one of our 17 Restaurants You Have To Visit In Philadelphia Before You Die! How many have you tried?
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