April 6, 2023    Taking clean water action at Monk's Café

Monk's Café is now serving and cooking with perhaps the cleanest water of any Philadelphia restaurant. In light of the recent chemical spill in the Delaware River, we have taken action to protect the health, well-being and happiness of our guests and coworkers with a newly installed, advanced water filtration system. Our SpringWell whole-restaurant filter system has a large capacity pre-filter to…   Read More

April 5, 2023    Welcoming Ben Neidhart of OEC Brewing

Meet OEC Brewing owner/head brewer Ben Neidhart on Thursday, April 13 from 5pm to 7pm in the back bar. Seven OEC drafts and one beautiful bottle will be featured for Ben’s visit. [http://www.monkscafe.com/images/mail/uploaded/welcomes_Ben_Neidhart_OEC_Brewing.png][http://www.monkscafe.com/images/mail/uploaded/welcomes_Ben_Neidhart_OEC_Brewing.png] "OEC beers are brewed with intention," says Monk'…   Read More

March 27, 2023    Taking Action to Protect our Guests and Coworkers

Monk's proprietor Tom Peters gets proactive about water following a chemical spill and lack of information from the City of Philadelphia. "Monk’s Cafe is closed on Monday, but owner Tom Peters was in the office early in the morning, waiting on a callback about a whole-restaurant water filter to purify the bar’s tap water supply. His plumber is on standby for a same-day install, but the $5,000 fil…   Read More

February 8, 2023    Pliny the Younger Day Fundraiser 2023

Russian River Brewing Company [https://www.russianriverbrewing.com/pliny-the-younger-release/]'s famed triple IPA Pliny the Younger will return to Monk's Café on President's Day: Monday, February 20 beginning at Noon.  This is also the return of our classic, unticketed Younger Day fundraiser, where 100% of the price of 26 drafts (including Younger) benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Chil…   Read More

February 8, 2023    Péché Day 2023

The very first Péché Day event was in 2011 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Péché Mortel, Brasserie Dieu du Ciel's imperial coffee stout. Since then, once a year, artisanal beer lovers have gathered to participate in this world-renowned event. The concept is a simultaneous offering of several different variations of Péché Mortel in participating locations around the world. This year’s editi…   Read More

February 8, 2023    Orval Day 2023

Join Monk's Café and Orval importer Merchant du Vin on Saturday, March 25 for Orval Day 2023! We will be serving fresh and vintage bottles of the only dry-hopped, Brett-inflected Trappist ale from 11:30am until supplies are exhausted or close of business, whichever comes first. Stay tuned to the Monk's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/monkscafephilly/] for updates on vintage bottle selections.…   Read More

January 25, 2023    Monk's Nominated for Beard Foundation Award

Congratulations to all of the Philly chefs, restaurants, sausage makers, bakers and somms nominated for the Beard Foundation Awards [https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2023-james-beard-awards-semifinalists] today! We are thrilled to be in such company, for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. Other Beverages Forever!   Read More

December 7, 2022    25 Best American Breweries, according to beer bars

A fresh and ever-changing draft list is a sign of a good beer bar. But what do the best bars keep on all of the time? Niko Krommydas asked publicans and beverage managers all over the country to claim their permanent lines to come up with the 25 best American breweries–according to beer bars.  Read the VinePair story here [https://vinepair.com/articles/25-best-american-breweries/]. You won't need…   Read More

September 29, 2022    Craig Laban reviews Works of Love: Monk's Café

Huge gratitude to Craig Laban for highlighting our collaboration with Hill Farmstead Brewery, Works of Love: Monk's Café. "When it was finally released this month, Work of Love certainly tasted more like beer than wine, fizzy, tart and with a hint of earthiness from its yeasty transformations. But what complexity and lengthy! There’s an incredibly juiciness that does, in fact, recall aromatic whi…   Read More

September 7, 2022    Hill Farmstead Works of Love: Monk's Café

Way back in April of 2017, Monk's proprietor Tom Peters journeyed to the far-off Northeast Kingdom of Vermont to blend a special beer commemorating Monk's 20th anniversary. As Hill Farmstead [http://www.hillfarmstead.com] founder and brewer Shaun Hill says, "the beer follows its own path," and is only now ready to share with our loyal guests at Monk's Café. On Saturday, September 10 beginning at …   Read More

August 12, 2022    Tonewood & Monk's Cafe Collaborate on MC Lager 

By Sean Lynch, Monk's bartender  I first became aware of Tonewood Brewing in 2016 as soon as they opened  in Oaklyn, New Jersey. Once I heard that a new brewery was opening around the corner from my childhood home, by alumni of the same high school I went to, I was immediately curious. At the time I was a year into working as a barback at the greatest beer bar in the world, Monk's Café. I had off…   Read More

June 29, 2022    Tom Peters talks beer distributors on The Jawncast

Monk's Café founder and co-owner Tom Peters caught up with The Jawncast pod crew at KYW, to talk about the recently resolved strike of drivers, warehouse workers and sales reps at three major beer distributors in Philadelphia.  Tom talks about the importance of distributors in the three-tier Pennsylvania system, and why small businesses such as Monk's rely on our distibutors to bring the world's …   Read More

May 26, 2022    17 Places to Explore the World Without Leaving PA

Want to explore the globe without leaving the Commonwealth?  Uncover PA [https://uncoveringpa.com/explore-the-world-in-pennsylvania] has the scoop on where to find a European castle, Japanese tea house, Celtic-inspired stacked megaliths, and a little place with over 200+ beers from around the world in their fun article on Pennsylvania destinations that take you away.  "Monk’s Café in Philly is of…   Read More

March 25, 2022    James Beard Foundation recognizes Philly's Best

The James Beard Foundation Awards [https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards] (aka the food-biz Oscars) have recognized the greatness of Philadelphia's restaurants and hospitality professionals for a long time.  Jillian Wilson collects all of the JBFA nominees and winners in this roundup for the Philadelphia Inquirer, [https://www.inquirer.com/food/james-beard-restaurants-philadelphia.html] including a me…   Read More

March 19, 2022    Honoring Armand

Today, our friends at 3 Fonteinen are honoring the life of Armand Debelder with an open house at the Lambik-O-Droom in Lot, Belgium.  On March 17, 2022, our proprietor Tom Peters shared the following story about the day he met Armand, when we hosted A Toast to Armand [https://monkscafe.com/toms-travels/index.cfm?id=35] in unison with pubs, breweries and bottle shops across North America.  There a…   Read More

March 12, 2022    A Toast to Armand Debelder

The sadness of losing Armand Debelder - a giant of the lambic tradition, and dear friend - has been immense, and is being felt all around the world.  Though the grief is great, so is the upwelling of love, respect and adoration for the man who taught so many, so much. If you don't know who Armand is, come find out on Thursday, March 17 at 5pm Eastern Time, when bars, bottle shops and breweries ac…   Read More

March 9, 2022    Monk's Café 25th Anniversary

IT’S OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY! March 9, 2022 is our 25th anniversary. To celebrate, we are pouring a knockout draft list featuring a variety of our exclusive 20th and 25th Anniversary collaborations and rarities. Today is also the public debut of Monk’s Café 25th Anniversary Collaboration with Russian River, both on draft and in bottles. Join us from 11:30am until Midnight, bring presents!  25…   Read More

March 7, 2022    Monk's Named Among 13 Best Burgers In Philly

Cheers to Thrillist for naming Monk's among the 13 best burgers in Philadelphia!  Ah, Monk’s... what’s not to love? There’s a menu of seven burgers that are nearly impossible to choose from, so start deciding now if you’re more in the mood for the Brussels, bacon, and cheddar burger or the Antwerp Shiitake mushroom and truffle burger. Even better, you can snag any of the burger options with a veg…   Read More

March 5, 2022    The Infatuation Names Monk's Among Philly's Best

Oh, you know how much we love being called "venerable," right?  Just in time for our upcoming 25th Anniversary, The Infatuation names Monk's Café among the best bars in our always-sunny city.  Read The Bar Greatest Hits List: The 12 Best Bars in Philly [https://www.theinfatuation.com/philadelphia/guides/best-bars-in-philadelphia] to find out the other 11 places you should be drinking when not at …   Read More

March 1, 2022    Pliny the Younger Week A Smashing Success

Vast gratitude to everyone who came out for Pliny the Younger Week 2022, we had an epic time pouring Russian River Brewing Company's legendary Pliny the Younger for you.  This year brought a variety of firsts for all of us, including our first-ever curated, ticketed day of Younger tastings, and a full week of keg tappings.  It was our hope that the new systems would alleviate lines and crowds whil…   Read More

November 20, 2021    Best Bar in the World! Craft Beer & Brewing Mag

Huge gratitude to the readers of Craft Beer & Brewing magazine for voting Monk’s as the number one beer bar in the world!! Proprietors Bernadette Roe & Tom Peters pose proudly with this Major Award, which is cleverly also a tap handle. Congratulations to all of our fellow publicans, it’s an honor to be on the page beside you.  Look for Craft Beer & Brewing magazine at a bookstore near you - this …   Read More

June 24, 2021    Farewell, Falling Rock Tap House

After 24 years of service, Falling Rock Tap House in Denver, one of the greatest beer bars in the USA, will close on Sunday June 27, 2021. Our Tom Peters traveled to meet up with friends from across the country, including Vinnie & Natalie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing Company, Tomme Arthur of Lost Abbey, and Curt Decker from Philly’s own Second District Brewing, to pay homage to the Kranky King…   Read More

June 7, 2021    Russian River Brewing Collaboration Brew Day

I traveled to visit with friends Natalie and Vinnie Cilurzo in Windsor, California. This was after several phone calls, texts and emails to create a receipe for this special collaboration between Monk's Café and Russin River Brewing Company. This is to celebrate our upcoming 25th Anniversary. We brewed on the cool 5 barrel system enclosed in glass, in one corner of their large dining room. Two bat…   Read More

April 20, 2021    Brussels in the City of Brotherly Love

“You know when you walk into Monk’s and you have to walk through the three doors, it’s like entering a vortex,” says Tomme Arthur, co-founder of California’s The Lost Abbey and Port Brewing Company.  Many brewers and beer obsessives know those doors well. You leave the busy streets of Philadelphia—about three blocks from central Rittenhouse Square—through the first door. The street noise quiets a…   Read More

March 26, 2021    20 Ans D'Amité debuts at The French Laundry

For the first time ever, Brasserie Cantillon lambic will be served at Chef Thomas Keller's legendary The French Laundry in Yountville, California - including our exclusive Monk's 20th anniversary blend, 20 Ans D'Amitié. Our deepest appreciation to Andrew Adelson, head sommelier of the French Laundry, and our dear friends the Van Roy and Cantillon family, for making this possible. Photos courtesy…   Read More

March 18, 2021    Delivery Debuts!

UPDATE March 18, 2021: 1. As of Thursday, March 18, we are now open for Takeaway & Delivery. That's right – Delivery from Monk's Café! We are partnering with Relay Delivery Service to bring food & beer right to you door for a flat delivery fee of $5.50. Click HERE for our Takeaway & Delivery menu of food and beer [http://www.monkscafe.com/carry-out]. Our Takeaway & Delivery hours are Wednesday t…   Read More

February 16, 2021    Fire & Beer: The Godfather of Beer

Have you ever wondered how our fearless leader Tom Peters got his start in the beer world, 35+ years ago?  Tom calls in to Fire & Beer podcast to tell his origin story to host Marcel Gomez, and both enjoy a Suarez Family Brewing Lo & Behold - they both happened to have one on hand - which is a Flemish sour, a style Tom helped popularize in the USA.   Listen to Fire & Beer podcast episode 6 here […   Read More

January 26, 2021    Greater Philadelphia Craft Beer Trail Ep. 8

In episode 8 of the Greater Philadelphia Craft Beer Trail, Monk's proprietor Tom Peters welcomes Philly's own  Marisa Magnatta and Chill Moody to the back bar to talk beer history, and Philadelphia's crucial role in bringing craft beer to America.  Thanks so much to Visit Philly for making us a part of the Greater Philadelphia Craft Beer Trail! See the full episode on the Visit Philly site, here. …   Read More

November 20, 2020    Philadelphia shuts down indoor dining once again

As of this week, Philadephia has imposed new restrictions for indoor dining [https://www.inquirer.com/food/philadelphia-restaurants-indoor-dining-outdoor-coronavirus-epidemic-20201116.html] amid a new spike in COVID-19 cases. Our Tom Peters, along with a host of Philadelphia's best restaurateurs, spoke with Craig LaBan at the Philadelphia Inquirer about the current challenges facing restaurants tr…   Read More

November 11, 2020    Monk's temporarily closes for the winter

After much deliberation, we have decided to “mothball” Monk’s Café for a few months. Cold weather is rolling in and – even though we have gone above and beyond what is required – we just don’t feel it’s wise or safe enough to welcome guests indoors as our only seating option. COVID cases are rising rapidly in Philadelphia and we love our Monk’s family too much to put them at risk. The lack of a …   Read More

May 9, 2020    Tom Peters on the 21 Best Widely-Available Beers

Monk's proprietor Tom Peters talks with Sam Dangremond of Town & Country magazine about the 21 best beers you can buy at your local store - from Sierra Nevada Pale Ale to benchmark Belgian, Saison Dupont. Read the story here [https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/g32099906/best-beers/].    Read More

February 17, 2020    Monk's Cafe Taps Rare Beer for Charity

Deepest gratitude to Monica Herndon of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who visited with us for our Pliny the Younger Day Fundraiser 2020, benefiting Alex's Lemonade Stand [https://www.alexslemonade.org/].   This year's event raised over $20,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand, who work to find a cure for pediatric neuroblastoma.  Founder Alex Scott's parents Liz and Jay Scott joined us once again for this a…   Read More

February 4, 2019    Monk's Café ranked 31 of America's Top 150 Bars

Huge gratitude to The Daily Meal [https://www.thedailymeal.com/150-best-bars-america-ranking/slide-120], who named Monk's Café number 31 on their list of the 150 best bars in America [https://www.thedailymeal.com/150-best-bars-america-ranking/slide-120]. Tom Peters, Fergie Carey and all of the staff owe our eternal thanks to each and every one of our guests, who make all of this possible. We've be…   Read More

February 26, 2018    The Belgian Beer Whisperer of Philadelphia

A few days ago, we were pleasantly stunned by an essay in October  [https://oct.co/essays/tom-peters-belgian-beer-monks-cafe-philadelphia]web magazine about Monk's co-founder Tom Peters.  Writer Kevin Koczwara examines how Tom introduced Americans to Belgian beer, by way of Philadelphia.  Koczwara definitely gets IT; further evidenced by his choice of brewer for a commentary on Monk's Cafe, the o…   Read More

September 15, 2015    Monk's Cafe Hosts Zwanze Day

Once a year, Cantillon [http://www.cantillon.be/] brewer Jean Van Roy shares just over 50 [http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/zwanze-day-2015-locations-sep-19-2015.319204/] extra-special kegs of  Zwanze, a wild Brussels stout, with a select group of beer bars and restaurants around the globe for a world-wide Zwanze Day "simultap." Legendary beer destination Monk's Cafe [http://www.monks…   Read More