Balcony Bar at Kimmel Center returns for Center City Sips with rotating DJ lineup

After a two-year pandemic pause, Center City Sips — Philadelphia's infamous summer happy hour — returned to bars and restaurants around the city at the beginning of June. 

As part of the seasonal celebration, Balcony Bar at the Kimmel Center is set to reopen for the summer on Wednesday, June 15. The pop-up will be open each Wednesday evening from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in conjunction with Sips, featuring a rotating lineup of DJs and extended happy hour specials. 

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Its menu — a mixture of summery light bites and beer, wine and cocktail specials — was formulated by Chef Jose Garces, whose culinary styles are featured throughout the city. 

Each Wednesday through the end of summer, visitors are encouraged to take a break from the summer heat and cool off at Balcony Bar, trying out the new menu while looking out at the view of the city. 

"Balcony Bar is our official start to summer, the perfect excuse to enjoy good food and refreshing drinks with iconic Philadelphia views," said Matias Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center. "Alongside our partners at Center City SIPS and Garces Events, we're curating a rotating lineup of DJs, once again making Broad Street the place to be for outdoor fun with friends."

The full food menu is below, courtesy of Garces. After the extended happy hour, guests are encouraged to venture down to Volvér, Garces' Kimmel Center restaurant, for a 15% discounted dinner for those who mention Balcony Bar. Reservations are available here.

• Serrano ham montidito: manchego, guindilla aioli, pickled pear onion, grilled baguette, $6 
• Tinned sardine box: guindilla escabeche, nori butter on fresh baguette, chorizo, $6 
• Brochette: olive, mahon, guindilla, $5 
• Compressed melon salad: whipped idiazabal, cucumber, spiced almond crumble, $4 
• Alfajores: pistachio shortbread, dulce de leche center, dark chocolate, $4

"I can't wait to have you all come chill out in the Balcony Bar at Kimmel Center this summer," said Garces. "The Paloma specialty cocktail is one of my favorites to sip on while taking in the beautiful views of the Avenue of the Arts. There's truly nothing that says summer more than the combination of center city Sips and those amazing city views."