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 record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. 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.
The details, verified.
- 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
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.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Historic Tavern in Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit McGillin's Olde Ale House
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for McGillin's Olde Ale House (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
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 for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
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.