Independence Beer Garden Opens Today

Independence Beer Garden
100 S. Independence Mall West
(Entrance on 6th Street, half a block below Market)
Phone: 215-922-7100; website
Status: Open today at 4 p.m.

Today will finally see the debut of Independence Beer Garden, Michael Schulson's massive new outdoor bar on Independence Mall. Though it's a bit later than their hoped-for opening by Independence Day (and even a bit later than their second-best hope, which had it opening last Thursday), the space has received an impressive overhaul from Groundswell Design and is now fully ready to go. The space has two bars, full table service, bocce ball courts, fire pits, ping pong tables, and more.

We shared the bar menu earlier this month (there, you can also see just how raw the space looked less than two weeks ago). You can also check out the food menu, which is being overseen by Top Chef alum Travis Masar. (He's been running the kitchen at Sampan, though Schulson told us Masar won't be splitting his time.)

The beer garden will open daily at 11 a.m., with last call coming at 1:45 a.m. The kitchen will serve food until 10 p.m. on Sunday and Monday; until 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. The plan is to remain open through the fall and shut down for the winter — but the infrastructure is permanent, so it'll reopen next spring.
[Photo: Groundswell]
· Independence Beer Garden [Official]
· All Independence Beer Garden Coverage [-EPHI-]