Stateside sits at 1536 E Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia and runs on a single rule: everything behind the bar is American. The whiskey list tops 100 bourbons and ryes, the beer is domestic, and even the wine stays inside the borders.
That constraint sounds like a gimmick until you drink through it. Drink Philly summed the place up as drinking American on East Passyunk, and the depth of the brown spirits shelf makes the patriotic framing earn its keep. This is one of the most serious whiskey rooms in South Philadelphia.
The room itself is small, dim, and built around the bar, with seats for a few dozen people and a window counter facing the avenue. It works best as a two or four person stop. Bigger groups should split up or pick another room on the strip.
Start with whatever rye the bartender is excited about, then work backward into the bourbon list. Pours range widely, with plenty in the 9 to 15 dollar band before you reach the rare stuff. A short cocktail list covers the classics, and the old fashioned is the benchmark order.
The kitchen deals in small plates with a raw bar lean. Fresh oysters on ice are the signature, and reviewers on Yelp keep returning to the wagyu hot dog, the steak tartare, and the pork belly. Plates are built for sharing, so order in waves rather than all at once.
Happy hour runs 5pm to 7pm on open weekdays with half price drafts and whiskey specials, which is the cheapest route into a list this deep. The official site at statesidephiladelphia.com carries current hours and the seasonal menu.
The crowd skews local and unhurried: East Passyunk residents on a weeknight, dates on weekends, whiskey people from across the city when a rare barrel pick lands. Saturday and Sunday open at noon, which makes a long afternoon at the bar a legitimate plan.
East Passyunk Avenue around it holds one of the best eating and drinking strips in the city, and Stateside plays well as either a first stop or a nightcap. Our pick of the best cocktail bars in Philadelphia and the East Passyunk bar guide map the rest of the block.
This is the bar for whiskey drinkers who want depth without ceremony, and for anyone who thinks oysters and rye belong together. Skip it if you need a long cocktail menu or imported beer, since the house rule rules both out.
Getting there means the Broad Street line to Tasker Morris and a 10 minute walk east, or a quick rideshare from Center City. The avenue itself cuts diagonally through the grid, so follow the neon.
Best time to go is Wednesday or Thursday at opening, when the bar is quiet and the staff has time to walk the list with you. Friday and Saturday nights fill the small room fast, so arrive before 7pm or expect to wait. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
For the full lineup across the city, start with our complete Philadelphia guide.
Sources: Stateside (official) · Drink Philly · Yelp · Untappd
