Royal Tavern

"At the reopened version of this Queen Village standby, old regulars mix with new ones. A classic movie might be playing on one TV and a Sixers game on the other. The kitchen, which closes at 1am, is a saving grace for anyone who deserves more than a Wawa hoagie after midnight. There’s a long draft and wine list, dim lighting, reliably good wings and a great spicy burger. Spend a couple of hours here when you're hungry and don't want to go home yet." - alison kessler, candis mclean

"The burger at Queen Village’s Royal Tavern is attractive enough to garner a few swipes on a dating app. The beautiful stack has smoked gouda, crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and pickled long hots, all held together by a buttery seeded bun. If you eat meat (you're reading this guide so, uh, you do, right?) order one every time you come to Royal Tavern. Especially because it's available until 1am, and tastes even better when you're drunk." - candis mclean, alison kessler

"Opened in 2002; closed in 2020 for three years This first iteration of this Philadelphia institution was beloved for its burger and being the kind of neighborhood bar that belonged to everyone, even if you didn’t live around the corner. After a three-year hiatus, Royal Tavern welcomed back regulars and introduced itself to new crab puff devotees in 2023. We’re relieved that the pub still feels unpretentious and warm, and that the food still hits that comfort food zone while always tasting better than whatever knock-off versions you’d make at home. Unless, of course, you’re whipping up burgers with smoked gouda, spicy chili mayo, and charred pickled long hots at 1am on a Thursday." - anne cruz

"At the reopened version of this Queen Village standby, old regulars mix with new ones. A classic movie might be playing on one TV and a Sixers game on the other. The kitchen, which closes at 1am, is a saving grace for anyone who deserves more than a Wawa hoagie after midnight. There’s a long draft and wine list, dim lighting, reliably good wings and a great spicy burger. Spend a couple of hours here when you're hungry and don't want to go home yet." - candis mclean, alison kessler

"Walking up to the bright blue exterior of Royal Tavern feels a little like meeting up with an ex you don't despise. There’s all this anticipation, and, after one negroni, the groove just comes back. The 2.0 version of this Queen Village standby still serves food until 1am—great news for Philly—including their famous burger with smoked gouda, bacon, and pickled long hots, vegan options, and wings that are crispier than we remember. But the next time we’re a little drunk and hungry at midnight, it’s Royal Tavern’s smoked beef round sandwich that we’ll be tracking down. " - candis mclean, alison kessler