City Tavern, Philadelphia

The City Tavern serves up great food, attentive service delivered by staff in full period dress, and an atmosphere that leans heavily into the 18th century—powdered wigs optional, enthusiasm required... It’s not the original 1773 building, though, but a painstaking 1976 reconstruction so convincing you might start checking for horse-drawn carriages outside.

The original tavern didn’t have such luck—it was damaged by fire in 1834 and eventually demolished in 1854. Recognizing its historical weight, Congress later pushed for its revival within Independence National Historical Park, restoring a place where the Founding Fathers once gathered to eat, drink, and debate the future of a nation—because nothing fuels political philosophy quite like a good meal and a strong ale...

And in a detail that feels oddly ahead of its time, it was Benjamin Franklin who introduced tofu to America. Today, you can try a tofu pasta inspired by his recipe, served in what’s styled as his private dining room.

A glance at the menu reads like a culinary time capsule: Thomas Jefferson’s sweet potato biscuits, chocolate bread pudding, turkey pot pie based on Martha Washington’s recipe, West Indies pepper pot soup, and ales brewed using recipes linked to both Washington and Jefferson. Clearly, subtlety never made it onto the menu here...

You can settle inside for the full colonial ambiance or step out into the garden for a slightly less formal experience. And if you’re visiting with younger travelers, the well-loved kids’ menu ensures this isn’t just a history lesson but a dinner that keeps everyone at the table happy...