10 New Philadelphia Venues for 2019 Summer Entertaining and Events

Alpen Rose, restaurateur Michael Schulson’s modern interpretation of a classic steakhouse, opened its doors in Midtown Village in March. Planners can reserve the 1,200-square-foot restaurant for events for as many as 40 seated guests, who can enjoy dry-aged steaks butchered in house and cooked on a wood-burning grill. Entrees, appetizers, and sides like stuffed lobster, bone marrow toast, roasted mushrooms, and tuna carpaccio round out the menu, while the refined decor includes mismatched chinaware and wood-paneled walls lined with books.

The Westin Philadelphia, a 275-room hotel at Liberty Place in Center City, will complete a multimillion-dollar renovation of its Grand Ballroom and Georgian Room in June. These two multipurpose event spaces have been reimagined with watercolor-style wall coverings, leaf-motif carpets, and other inspiration from Philadelphia’s natural and historical world. Measuring 7,437 square feet, the Grand Ballroom can accommodate 720 guests theater style, 450 classroom style, 700 for cocktail receptions, and 540 for banquets. The 2,746-square-foot Georgian Room fits 120 theater style, 100 classroom style, 200 for receptions, and 170 for banquets. The hotel’s in-house food and beverage team focuses on innovative American cuisine, as well as healthy options from the “be-well” menu. Audiovisual setups are provided by P.S.A.V.

Stina, a casual Mediterranean-inspired B.Y.O., opened in May in the Newbold/West Passyunk section of the city. The 900-square-foot restaurant seats 24 guests, with space for as many as 50 for cocktail-style events. Recycled, reclaimed, and discarded vintage items like doors, windows, photo frames, and mirrors give the dining room an eclectic look and feel. The menu offers small plates, salads, sandwiches, from-scratch breads, house-made pasta, and wood-fired pizza made with locally sourced ingredients. Each month, a portion of daily sales is donated to a different local non-profit community organization.

In April, the Deacon breathed new life into a former Baptist church in Graduate Hospital, transforming the space into a modern boutique hotel and event space. The Gothic, Revival-style building now features eight stylish bedrooms, eye-catching artwork, original stained-glass windows, and other thoughtful touches. At the center of it all is a cavernous common area that measures just under 2,500 square feet and can accommodate as many as 140 guests for seated meals, 120 for seated events with a dance floor, 175 for cocktail receptions, and 140 theater style. The venue’s preferred caterers include 12th Street Catering, Brulée Catering, and Constellation Culinary Group.

Located directly across the street from Rittenhouse Square, longtime neighborhood staple Rouge completed a major renovation in March. By moving the central bar to the back wall, the 800-square-foot space is now brighter and more open, with seating for 60 guests at tables and 15 at the bar. The New American menu includes sumptuous dishes like chicken liver mousse, poached sea trout, and the famous Rouge Burger, while the bar serves cocktails made with freshly squeezed fruit juice, along with beer and wine.

Binchō opened on South Street in Queen Village in May. The robatayaki grill and sushi restaurant serves contemporary Japanese fare like skewered beef, chicken, fish, and vegetables cooked over binchotan charcoals, along with exquisitely prepared sushi and sashimi. Measuring 1,800 square feet, the restaurant seats as many as 46 guests and features a U-shaped bar where guests can watch the chefs preparing their food.

The Philadelphia Zoo debuted the Urban Green a half-acre open-air dining destination and urban oasis, in April. The venue, which can be reserved for private events, offers the feel of a neighborhood park within America’s first zoo, complete with a vertical farm, a children’s play area, and relaxation areas. Design elements like a boardwalk, a 132-foot mural, logs and trees, and colorful café umbrellas create a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere with seating for 200 guests for both daytime and evening gatherings. The Urban Green is serviced by three food trucks: The Fry Bowl (fried favorites), Root to Leaf (vegetarian dishes), and Pressed (paninis and wraps), all of which also serve craft beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.

To find Blume, look for the giant butterfly mural that adorns the front facade of the restaurant, which opened in April in Rittenhouse Square. The interior design is energetic and colorful, with 2,300 roses on the back wall, more than 200 live plants lining the ceiling, 88 gem-colored mirrors, and colorful oversize banquettes. Measuring 2,400 square feet, the restaurant seats as many as 100 guests inside, with 12 additional sidewalk seats. The menu features elevated yet approachable versions of classic cuisine, including shareable dishes like kung pao calamari and deviled eggs, entrées like gnocchi and cauliflower steak, salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads. At the bar, guests can order creative cocktails and a curated selection of natural wine, beer, and cider.

In June, Northern Liberties debuted Piazza Pod Park, a mixed-use destination with 35,000 square feet of outdoor space, nearly a dozen dining outlets, seating for 300 people, retail shops made from recycled shipping containers, and play areas for kids, among other features. A stage makes the venue ideal for concerts and live performances for more than 500 attendees, while a bi-level, climate-controlled dining pod with a roof deck can also be reserved for parties of as many as 40 guests. The park also includes two massive art installations from internationally acclaimed artists: BEBOT, a 33-foot-tall robot sculpture, and ThinkCubes, made from 185 interconnected water storage containers and more than 100,000 LED lights.

Headhouse Square welcomed Bloomsday Café in May. The combination café, wine bar, and bottle shop offers a chic, low-key vibe, with inviting design elements like a moss wall, lounge seating, and a working fireplace. Measuring 1,000 square feet, the main dining room can host as many as 50 seated guests or 80 for cocktail receptions, while a 600-square-foot event space accommodates 28 seated guests or 40 for receptions. The menu features fresh pastries and sandwiches made with seasonal ingredients, along with natural wines, beer, cider, meads, and cocktails. Planners can use the venue’s projector and Sonos speaker system for events.