10 New Venues in Philadelphia for Spring 2020 Meetings and Events

Wonderspaces, an experiential interactive arts venue, opened at Fashion District Philadelphia in January. The 24,000-square-foot gallery features a rotating selection of 14 participatory installations—each focused on a unique theme—created by artists from around the world. The space can be reserved for private receptions for as many as 550 guests. A full bar is available on site, and catering can be arranged through the venue’s preferred caterer or a vendor of the planner's choosing.

Wine Dive, a wine-focused dive bar and bottle shop, opened its doors on South Street in Graduate Hospital in January. In addition to offering 20 different wines and champagnes by the glass and 215 by the bottle, the bar also serves beer, hard cider, hard seltzer, sake juice boxes, sangria, kombucha, and custom cocktails. Patrons can even go home with “wowlers,” a version of a growler designed for wine instead of beer, which are available in 12.7 ounce and 25 ounce jugs stamped with the Wine Dive logo. To complement the extensive beverage menu, the kitchen churns out a small selection of dishes ranging from crab rangoon to veggie tacos to beef chili. The 2,500-square-foot space, which seats as many as 50 guests, features eye-catching 1970s-style decor, including wood-paneled walls, Salvador Dali-inspired graffiti art, a retro TV set, vintage mirrors mounted on the ceiling, and a jukebox.

After completing a multimillion-dollar renovation, the hotel formerly known as Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill reopened in January as the Philadelphia Marriott Old City. The 364-room property in the city’s Historic District features decor that blends the Colonial history of the area with contemporary amenities and aesthetics. The property boasts 18 event spaces totaling 21,039 square feet, including the 7,800-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which seats 900 theater style and 700 for banquets; the 4,500-square-foot Hamilton Room (pictured here), with space for 300 for receptions, 160 for theater-style presentations, and 60 classroom style; and the 12-seat, 396-square-foot Boardroom. Elsewhere on the property, guests can enjoy the city’s first M Club lounge for Marriott Elite and Titanium members, a 4,000-square-foot fitness center, and the Society Commons restaurant.

As of February, Fishtown is home to Fabrika, a venue that offers a combination of a restaurant, entertainment venue, and private dining space. Equipped for a wide range of events, the two-story venue features nightly variety-style performances, a built-in hydraulic stage, state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, three bars, and a V.I.P. viewing area on the mezzanine level. Spanning 9,800 square feet, Fabrika can accommodate as many as 550 guests for buyouts, while smaller gatherings can be held in the 1,000-square-foot private event room, which seats 50, and the 260-square-foot boardroom with seating for 20. The menu features Mediterranean-inspired mezze dishes like beet falafel, grilled octopus, and dumplings filled with ground lamb.

In January, Midtown Village welcomed Bodega Bar and Kitchen, a colorful restaurant, bar, and live music venue. Reminiscent of a welcoming cantina, the venue features design details like original art, giant murals, ornate tile floors, smoky glass, shimmering walls, and 20-foot-high ceilings. The from-scratch menu focuses on Latin flavors with Asian and Middle Eastern influences, offering options like Cubano sandwiches, tasso and corn beignets, chorizo-wrapped monkfish, and duck pot pie, while the bar features an organic-heavy wine list, canned and bottled beers and ciders, and unique, fun cocktails. Spanning 950 square feet, the intimate space can seat as many as 50 guests in the dining room and 13 at the bar. A tree-laden outdoor patio and garden, complete with its own bar and an additional 50 seats, is scheduled to open later this year.

With a name pulled from Greek mythology, Leda and the Swan opened its doors in Midtown Village in January. At once a chill cocktail lounge and music hideaway, the 2,500-square-foot venue can accommodate as many as 68 seated guests or 150 for cocktail-style receptions. The bar program features a seasonal list of nine specialty cocktails, four types of old fashioneds, bottled and dessert cocktails, and wines and champagnes. Equipped for live music and DJs, Leda and the Swan offers an upscale, chic space accented with rich velvet banquettes, scripted wallpaper, velvet curtains, and a cherry blossom-covered ceiling. A soon-to-open second-floor mezzanine will add 900 square feet of private event space, and catering is available from sister restaurants Raw and Vesper.

The Fairview, a neighborhood gastropub, opened in Fairmount in October. Exuding an ambiance that blends bright and airy with funky and comfortable, the space is adorned with details like a 30-foot bar, dark-wood tables, light-colored walls, and Tiffany-blue booths. The 2,400-square-foot restaurant seats as many as 60 guests inside—plus 28 additional seats are available outside when weather permits. The menu includes internationally inspired comfort food like smoked pork tacos, wild mushroom ravioli, and Japanese-style fried chicken, as well as vegan dishes like buffalo fried seitan salad and the Impossible Burger. The bar pours affordable wines, high-end and macro beers, and new takes on classic cocktails.

Barry’s, an international chain of boot camp-style fitness studios, opened a Philadelphia location in November. The workout offers high-intensity interval training set to a lively soundtrack designed to inspire participants to push themselves, and planners can reserve the space exclusively for their groups. Measuring 5,113 square feet, the venue can accommodate as many as 54 attendees per class. Grab-and-go snacks and Fuel Bar shakes are available on site.

Mei Mei, a Taiwanese restaurant and lounge, opened in March bringing a dose of street style to Old City. Progressive, vibrant Asian cuisine is on the menu here, with dishes like peking duck bao bao, miso-crusted sea bass, and Korean-style fried chicken wings. The ever-evolving cocktail list incorporates Asian ingredients like wasabi, sesame, and yuzu. The entire venue measures 7,000 square feet and seats 90, including a 900-square-foot lounge with space for 25 for smaller events.

From the team behind longstanding hangout Fergie’s Pub, The Goat opened its doors in January in Rittenhouse Square. This approachable modern pub includes details like two working fireplaces, lights made out of skateboards, and unique photography. Measuring 2,400 square feet, the restaurant seats as many as 118 people. The bar seats 22, and a private event space accommodates as many as 30. When weather permits, 24 additional guests can sit outside. On the menu, guests can savor comfort food like ancho chili-braised short ribs and pork belly mac and cheese, with vegetarian and vegan options like the green chile barbecue jackfruit sandwich and blackened tofu. The bar serves dozens of beers in bottles, cans, and on draft, along with hard cider, hard seltzer, wine by the bottle and glass, liquor, and specialty cocktails.