10 New Venues in Philadelphia for Fall 2021 Meetings and Events

The highly anticipated W Philadelphia opened its doors in August. Housing 295 guest rooms and suites, the hotel celebrates the city’s art, music and rebellious history through touches like an extensive artwork collection from local creatives, upcycled uniforms designed by a local talent, bedding that showcases iconic Philly images, and custom light fixtures etched with the words of the Declaration of Independence. While on the property, guests can socialize over coffee or cocktails at the Living Room lobby bar, relax at AWAY Spa, escape to a tucked-away lounge dubbed Stevens’ Prophecy, sip cocktails at the WET Deck Bar adjacent to the pool, dine on Italian favorites at Dolce restaurant and catch live music in the Secret Garden. More than 45,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space is divided into 37 rooms, ranging from the 5,418-square-foot Great Room with seating for 504 theater style or 410 for banquets to boardrooms that seat 10.

Uptown Beer Garden has been one of the city’s favorite pop-up seasonal hangouts for several years, but in July, the venue moved to a new, permanent, year-round location. Set across the street from Love Park, this oasis within the city features lush greenery, original artwork, twinkling lights, 20-foot-tall trees, a koi pond and swing seats, among other noteworthy details. The new spot spans more than 18,000 square feet with seven dining and bar areas available for private parties. In total, the venue seats 350 guests or can accommodate 700 for cocktail-style events. To complement the dozens of craft beers and cocktails, an on-site food truck doles out a mix of street food and Philly favorites, like roast pork sandwiches, crab gravy poutine and grilled peach salads.

In September, Izakaya by Yanaga, a casual neighborhood spot from chef Kevin Yanaga, opened in Fishtown. The playful Japanese menu features a mix of hot and raw dishes, like curry short rib bao, spicy yellowtail sushi maki and mushroom gyoza, while the bar serves a robust selection of sake, beer, wine and cocktails. Between indoor and outdoor space, the restaurant spans 2,500 square feet with seating for 40 guests. Details like reclaimed wood, dark lighting, exposed brick and metalwork create a sleek, modern-industrial vibe. Omakase by Yanaga, an upscale, 12-seat chef’s tasting room, will open under the same roof accompanied by a curated bar program of sake, Japanese scotch, whisky and paired cocktails.

August brought the debut of Sonnys Cocktail Joint, a casual restaurant and backyard/patio on South Street West. The menu features from-scratch New Age American cuisine; think steak tartare grilled cheese, truffle-buttered popcorn and New England crab sandwiches. Inside, Sonnys spans 2,500 square feet with seating for more than 50 guests and a throwback vibe complete with textured glass, vintage beer art, a jukebox and checkered floors. The Instagram-friendly backyard and patio seats another 40. For cocktail-style events, the restaurant holds 200 people in total.

Ancient Spirits & Grille, America’s first Ayurvedic herbal restaurant and cocktail bar, opened in Center City in September. The concept is quite unique, with an app that creates a customized menu for each guest based on body type and metabolism. The restaurant can accommodate virtually any dietary restriction, with a menu that includes dishes like ginger duck breast with rosemary plum chutney, grilled octopus and heirloom carrot soup. The bar doles out more than 50 organic and biodynamic wines, handcrafted herbal cocktails, beer and seasonal mocktails. The decor matches the fresh, healthy menu, with a 50-foot tall green wall, a modern waterfall, a giant Buddha statue, wooden sculptures and locally sourced art. In total, the three-story, 7,000-square-foot venue can seat 150 or accommodate as many as 350 guests for cocktails. For smaller groups, the first floor and second floors each accommodate 90 guests, and a third floor fits 120.

Ubuntu Fine Art made its debut in Germantown in September. The first gallery in Philly to focus solely on photography, the venue offers a unique atmosphere for events. Planners can book the 1,355-square-foot venue for cocktail parties of as many as 80, and the engaging images being exhibited serve as built-in event decor and are likely to spark conversation amongst guests. A backroom lounge offers couches and comfortable seating, and a gated outdoor space is available, weather permitting.

Guild House Hotel, a boutique property in Midtown Village, opened in September in a Victorian-era building that once served as a headquarters for The New Century Guild, a trailblazing women’s rights organization, in the early 20th century. The hotel celebrates this heritage with 12 suites that are each inspired by a different iconic female leader, amenities from women- and minority-owned businesses, and a style that embraces the building’s original architecture and antiques. Suites range from 220 to 1,000 square feet, and buyouts sleep 28. When planners book the entire property, they also have access to The Library, which can accommodate as many as 43 guests.

From the team behind Cafe Ynez, Sor Ynez opened in Kensington in February. The new spot serves a menu that mixes modern and traditional Mexican cuisine with options for vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters. Think: Everything from popular bites like fish tacos to lesser-known dishes like pozole and tlacoyo. Exuding a traditional ambiance, the dining room features details made by artisans in Philly and Mexico, like distressed plaster and lime-washed walls, a woven ceiling canopy and a terrazzo and brass bar. Measuring 2,300 square feet, Sor Ynez seats 50 inside and as many as 100 on the 3,600-square-foot outdoor patio.

This fall, Top Tomato Bar & Pizza will take over the Midtown Village spot formerly occupied by Smokin’ Betty’s. The space measures 3,000 square feet, with 75 seats or room for 200 guests for cocktail-style events. Planners can utilize a sound system designed for both DJs and live bands, and an upstairs space is available for smaller, non-buyouts.

When it opens in October, LMNO will mark iconic restaurateur Stephen Starr’s 17th Philly outpost. Set in Fishtown, the venue offers a dynamic event locale, encompassing a restaurant, an art gallery, a bookstore and an intimate music venue. In total, the 6,000-square-foot space offers more than 200 seats spread across the grill room, the greenery-adorned garden room, the large outdoor veranda and a bookshop that also serves as a private dining area. Eclectic decor like vintage furniture, rotating photography exhibits and a curated book selection create a DIY-style ambiance, and the venue can easily accommodate live music and DJs. On the menu, guests will find a selection of Baja-inspired favorites, like beer-battered fish tacos, surf-and-turf tostadas and grilled ribeye aguachiles.