McGillin's Olde Ale House
Best Historic Tavern in Philadelphia · PA
Pouring since 1860, older than the light bulb.
McGillin's Olde Ale House has poured beer on tiny Drury Street since 1860 — the year Lincoln was elected — making it Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern. Opened by Irish immigrant William McGillin, it outlasted Prohibition and every trend since, its walls now papered with vanished Philadelphia.
Still family-run and serving its own 1860 IPA, McGillin's is a living piece of the city — and the 2025 Centurion Award winner.
What they're known for
- McGillin’s 1860 IPA
- Oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia
- Survived Prohibition
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Founding cohort: evaluated in 2026 on public evidence available then, labeled 2025. Selection follows the published criteria; McGillin's Olde Ale House met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Philadelphia since 1860 — 166 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Philadelphia.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Philadelphia has kept McGillin's Olde Ale House busy for 166 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Philadelphia regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best historic tavern in Philadelphia for 2025 as the city's oldest continuously operating tavern, open since the year Lincoln was elected.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
Award record
2025 Centurion Award
Best Historic Tavern in Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluationThe details, verified.
Clean, checkable facts about McGillin's Olde Ale House.
- Legal / trading name
- McGillin's Olde Ale House
- Category
- Bar
- Founded
- 1860, Philadelphia, PA
- Founders
- William & Catherine McGillin
- Location
- 1310 Drury St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Centurion Award
- Best Historic Tavern in Philadelphia — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
A signal you can check.
This is a dated award record published by The Centurion Awards after reviewing public evidence for McGillin's Olde Ale House against the 2025 criteria for its market and category. The business did not have to apply for this page to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. The criteria are public. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. If an award stops holding up, we may revoke it. For anything current, like hours or bookings, go straight to the business itself.
Frequently asked questions.
What is McGillin's Olde Ale House?
Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern, opened in 1860 and run by only two families since, still packed on a Friday night.
Is McGillin's Olde Ale House award-winning?
Yes — McGillin's Olde Ale House is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Historic Tavern in Philadelphia, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best historic tavern in Philadelphia for 2025 as the city's oldest continuously operating tavern, open since the year Lincoln was elected.
Where is McGillin's Olde Ale House?
McGillin's Olde Ale House is in Philadelphia, PA.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.