McGillin's Olde Ale House

The overview

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 2026 Centurion Award winner.

What they're known for

McGillin’s 1860 IPA
Oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia
Survived Prohibition

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

Google Maps
Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. McGillin's Olde Ale House cleared every one.

✓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 2026 as the city's oldest continuously operating tavern, open since the year Lincoln was elected.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2026

Best Historic Tavern in Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Awarded under the 2026 evaluation

All awards for McGillin's Olde Ale House →

Visit McGillin's Olde Ale House

Websitemcgillins.com ↗

Location1310 Drury St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

In business since1860

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about McGillin's Olde Ale House — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

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 — 2026
Record last verified: July 2026

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after McGillin's Olde Ale House cleared the 2026 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

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 2026 Centurion Award winner for Best Historic Tavern in Philadelphia, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best historic tavern in Philadelphia for 2026 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.