Tavern on Camac

Gay bar, piano bar & club · Philadelphia Gayborhood

A speakeasy in the 1920s, a piano bar since 1935: Tavern on Camac in a narrow alley is considered Philadelphia’s longest-running gay bar, with a restaurant, piano bar and Club Ascend under one roof.

• ★ 4.0 on Google (313)
• Piano bar since 1935
• Three floors
• Club Ascend

Address

243 S Camac St
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Opening hours

daily 4 pm–2 am (kitchen until 11 pm)

Crowd

mostly men, across generations, from longtime regulars to first-time visitors

Flirt factor

medium

Getting there

SEPTA Walnut-Locust (Broad Street Line), about 5 minutes on foot

What makes Tavern on Camac special

The building on Camac Street, a narrow alley in the middle of the Gayborhood, was the speakeasy „Maxine’s“ in the 1920s and has been a piano bar since 1935. That’s why Tavern on Camac claims the title of the city’s oldest continuously operating gay bar. The basement is associated with the history of the Underground Railroad.

From August 2024 to July 2025 it was extensively renovated. Downstairs is the restaurant with a new kitchen under chef Zander Gatta, in the middle the piano bar with sing-alongs and live music, and upstairs Club Ascend with an enlarged dance floor.

Atmosphere and crowd

The crowd is mostly male and very mixed, from regulars who have been singing along at the piano for decades to first-time visitors. The mood in the piano bar is sociable, and upstairs in Ascend people dance.

Contact

Editorially researched, as of October 2026. Sources: Philadelphia Magazine, 6abc, Philly Gay Calendar, Out x Out, Google reviews (4.0 stars, 313 reviews). Opening hours, prices and programme may change, please check before visiting.