Gay Friendly Restaurants and Bars in Philadelpia

Food for thought, beer for cheap, and an idea of where to go in the City of Brotherly Love - LGBT friendly spots in and outside of the Gayborhood.

Today, I've let my stomach be my guide - and picked some of my favorite noshing spots in and around Center City. Being fabulous can work up quit an appetite, and here are a few places to find friendly crowds cleaning their plates.

The Abbaye 635 North 3rd (Third & Fairmont) Northern Liberties
With little advertising or promotion, and after several changes in owners, managers and styles, The Abbey somehow has risen to the top of the watering-hole heap. The odd combination of Belgian beer and Cajun food inexplicable works, although the less gastronomically able might want to bring an antacid. (To the hungry, I offer the Belgian Beer Chili…..)The all female staff is barely discernable from the young, local, and educated mob of patrons. Yeah…that's correct, an all female staff……

Good Dog 224 south 15th Street (Locust & 15th) Center City
Local beer and sophisticated comfort food make the Good Dog man's best friend. Bone-shaped chalkboards list specials while photos of canines adorn walls. The long mahogany bar and the booths with tall backs add a touch of class to the kitsch. Corporate zombies linger during happy hours, while nights bring a younger and hipper clientele. Ms. Pac-Man, darts, pool, and a jukebox filled with rock provide entertainment. The food is excellent, light-years beyond bar snacks, and the prices are reasonable. The burger stuffed with blue cheese is one of the tastiest in town. Sunday thru Wednesday there is a 20 % off for "in the biz" customers, which brings out a healthy crowd nightly.

Grace Tavern 2229 Gray's Ferry Ave. (22nd & Gray's Ferry) Graduate Hospital
As neighborhoods gentrify, and the ghetto gives way to the trendy; it's always nice to watch the bars and restaurants change to reflect the neighborhood. Grace Tavern is one of the first bars to re-open in the newly "hot" Graduate Hospital neighborhood. Formerly a down-on-it's-luck Irish pub, Grace has undergone a wonderful transformation and renovation A friendly staff make you feel welcome, and the crowd is always amiable. Prices are well within most budgets, and the menu is appetizing: from meat & potatoes, to carb conscious, all the way to vegetarian. Cute & grungy boys and girls.

Noche 1901 Chestnut Street (19th & Chestnut) Center City
A guiding light in a pretentious neighbourhood, NoChe delivers equal parts class and comfort. The ambience is amiable and relaxed, contrasting the upscale modern style; décor is sexy without being vulgar. A more adult crowd then most bars, the greying hair and crow's feet shouldn't fool or intimidate. NoChe's pool table, jukebox and incredibly cheap Happy Hour are all for grown-ups who still like to party. Normal nights find all ages and races interacting genially. The staff is funny and efficient, and the food is unique mixture of marvellously imaginative South American treats and traditional comfort food

THIS Month's GAYBORHOOD "QUEEN"

Sisters 1320 Chancellor St (On Chancellor btwn Walnut and Locust)
Philadelphia's motto "City of Brotherly Love" is put on hold once you walk through the doors at 1320 Chancellor Street. Situated dead-center in the "Gayborhood," Sisters is a retreat for the ladies. Although str8 and gay testosterone is welcome, this bar is all LADY. Recently renovated, Sisters has three floors offering very different atmospheres: the lounge downstairs for meeting & greeting, a basement pool area, and an upstairs dance floor. While the sound system is a wreck, the all age crowd is pleasant and the drinks are cheap. FYI: Don't leave your girlfriend unattended, these girls don't take no for an answer. Much love to the Sunday brunch buffet, a popular chow for all.