Knock Restaurant and Bar

Gay restaurant & bar · Philadelphia Midtown Village / Gayborhood

Corner bar and restaurant at the intersection of 12th and Locust Street, open since 2007. New American cuisine, craft cocktails and something on almost every night, from show tunes to drag karaoke.

• Drag karaoke
• Weekend brunch

Address

225 S 12th St
19107 Philadelphia

Crowd

Mixed, all genders, lots of locals

Programme

Show tunes, quiz, piano nights, karaoke on Wednesdays with drag host Iris Spectre (10 pm–2 am)

Facilities

Crab cakes, stuffed burgers, salmon, weekend brunch

Location

Gayborhood, corner of 12th and Locust Street, with sidewalk tables in summer

What makes Knock Restaurant and Bar special

Knock is owned by Bill Wood and is a fixture of the Gayborhood. The long U-shaped bar gets conversations going, and the volume stays below club level. In the evenings piano, quiz and karaoke alternate, and at the weekend there’s brunch.

Contact

Editorially researched, as of October 2026. Sources: Visit Philadelphia (LGBTQ bars, updated 23 Jul 2026), Out x Out (events Oct/Nov 2026). Opening hours, prices and programme may change, please check before visiting.