I’ve tried my fair share of hard ciders over the years, thanks to it being my husband’s go-to alcoholic drink of choice. Hard cider, at its most basic level, is fermented apple juice. But there are so many different varieties: still, sparkling, dry, sweet, sour – the options are endless! It is said to have originated in the United Kingdom, which continues to be the world’s largest per-capita cider consumer. Germany has their own tart version as well called Apfelwein, which is particularly popular in Frankfurt and is a bit of an acquired taste. Hard cider is actually pretty well loved in Philadelphia as well! Since 2018, the end of October is Philly Cider Week – a week full of cider focused events and pop-ups. The goal is to increase the awareness and appreciation of hard cider in the Philadelphia area, both among the restaurant/bar industry and among the public.
Unfortunately every week can’t be cider week, but below I’ve put together a list of the spots you can get a hard cider year-round in the Philadelphia area.
Philadelphia Cider Spots
Young American Hard Cider
My favorite of all the Philly cider spots would definitely be Young American, a small-batch cidery located in Northwest Philadelphia. Unfortunately they’re only open Fridays and Saturdays, and the rest of the week they host private rentals or pre-scheduled community events. They exclusively use apples grown in Pennsylvania and ferment their cider on-site. You’ll find both year-round ciders and seasonal flavors, offered in both in flights or by the glass. For the flights, there’s the option of either a Standard Flight or a make your own Mix & Match, both of which allows you to try 4 different ciders. Cocktail lovers will also find hard cider cocktails on the menu, made with their cider.
Their food menu includes a variety of light bites like hand pies, soups, and potato wedges. Periodically they’ll also have “Chef Takeovers”, with menus focusing on the different chefs and their specialties! So be sure to check out their events page to see what they’ve got coming up. The interior is rustic and cozy, and the staff has always been super friendly every time we’ve visited. There’s both bar and table seating inside, and they have a covered outdoor area as well. The outdoor space is only open April – November, the exception to the rule being if it’s randomly over 50 degrees during the winter!
Personal Favorite Ciders: Ginger & Traditional.
6350 Germantown Avenue – Germantown/Mt. Airy.
Cider Belly
Staying in Northwest Philadelphia brings us to Cider Belly, another small-batch cidery located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood. Here you’ll find dry, unfiltered European-style ciders. So expect any cider you order to be a bit hazy! They have 4 ciders to choose from at any one time, a mix of year-round flavors and seasonal specials, plus beer and cider cocktails. In 2025 they were ranked “Best Cidery in Philly” by PhillyMag. Like Young American, their hours are a bit wonky: they’re only open Thursday through Sunday for 3-4 hours in the evening (it depends on the day).
When you walk inside, the interior decor gives off bungalow/craftsman house vibes (which I’ve always been a huge fan of). In terms of food they mainly offer small plates – think charcuterie boards and spreads with toast. They’ll also host the occasional special event guest chef takeover, past examples include a 6-course BBQ tasting menu or an oyster and cider night. Just a heads up that everything at Cider Belly is definitely a little more pricey than the other spots on this list.
Personal Favorite Cider: Strawberry.
8005 Germantown Avenue – Chestnut Hill.
Commonwealth Ciders
What makes Commonwealth Ciders different from the rest of the spots on this list is that technically they don’t have their own tasting room. The ciders are brewed by Philadelphia Brewing Co. and they share a building in Philly’s Kensington neighborhood. Commonwealth offers dry, filtered ciders, and are perfect for anyone who doesn’t like their cider super sweet as they don’t add any additional sweeteners. I won’t lie, they wouldn’t be my first choice for cider in Philly as they’re just not quite as flavorful as some of the other spots. They stick to more classic cider flavors, including raspberry and black cherry. But unlike the other cideries I’ve mentioned so far, they’re open daily!
What really stands out here is the outdoor area. The brewery was built in 1885 and has a massive stone covered beer garden space that is perfect for relaxing on warm days. Unfortunately they don’t have a food menu, but there are quite a few options nearby like Zig Zag BBQ (get the pulled pork sandwich and mac topped with flaming hot Cheetos and thank me later), Picnic, or Fiore to grab a bite to eat before or after!
2440 Frankford Avenue, Inside Philadelphia Brewing – Kensington.
Coming Soon: Pip’s – a Ploughman Cider Bar
You can already find Adams County-based Ploughman ciders on many menus throughout Philly, but this will be the cidery’s first satellite tasting room in the city. We’re huge fans of Ploughman, but haven’t had a chance to go to their tasting room yet as a 2+ hour drive out to Gettysburg just isn’t in the cards for us at the moment thanks to the cats and their ongoing health issues. So it’s safe to say we’re pretty excited for Pip’s to open soon!
1321 North Lee Street – Fishtown.
Interested in a food or drink tour in Philadelphia? Check out one of these!
Hard Ciders in the Surrounding Area
Armageddon Brewing
You’ll have to cross the Delaware River to get to this next spot, as Armageddon Brewing is the only place on this list located in New Jersey! Here they make both cider and mead (aka honey wine), which you can order both in flights and by the glass. I really like Armageddon because of their variety of flavors ranging from the more traditional raspberry or blueberry, to the more unique like hibiscus and thyme.
Now make sure not to judge a book by its cover when you arrive (I know I sure did). You’ll find Armageddon tucked away in what almost seems like a random area of storage units? The only way you’ll know you’re in the right place is by a sign on the door. The tasting room is much bigger on the inside than you’d probably expect from the outside.
Personal Favorite Cider: Mother Muse (seasonal – cranberry & rosemary).
900 Chestnut Avenue, Building J, Somerdale, NJ – 25 minutes from Philly.
Dressler Estate
While it’s a bit further of a drive, the ciders at Chester County-based Dressler Estate are definitely worth it. According to their website, they take a “winemaker’s approach to cider” and source from orchards across Pennsylvania. Dressler offers a mix of both dry and lightly sweet ciders, so they have a little something for everyone! While we haven’t gotten out to the tasting room yet, which only opened in May of 2025, we’ve tried a number of Dressler ciders at bars and restaurants in and around Philadelphia and can’t wait to visit!
Personal Favorite Cider: Modern Sparkling.
112 East Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA – 50 minutes from Philly.
Stone & Key Cellars
We visited Stone & Key Cellars during a Montgomery County wine tour and Jasper was thrilled to be able to order a cider flight! Ciders here range from sweet to dry, and all the apples used are sourced directly from Solebury Orchards in New Hope, PA.
Personal Favorite Cider: Bumble Bee Fight Club.
57 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA – 45 minutes from Philly.
Excursion Ciders
Another spot that’s a bit of a drive from Center City, but very highly rated, is Excursion Ciders in the Phoenixville/Kimberton area. This small-batch cidery uses PA sourced apples and prides themselves on fermenting on site with ‘minimal intervention’. Their cider flavors range from sour and fruit-forward, to dry and hopped. The food menu is Pennsylvania focused as well, featuring meats, cheeses, and veggies from local farms. I will note that we haven’t been here yet, but are planning to visit soon!
14 Prizer Road, Phoenixville, PA – 55 minutes from Philly.
RIP Hale & True Cider Co.
Unfortunately in May of 2025 our favorite cider spot in Philadelphia, Hale & True, closed their taproom after 7 years. Their ciders could be found on menus across the city and into the suburbs. About a month after the closing announcement, they cryptically posted to their social media accounts to “keep an eye out for what we do next”. So fingers crossed that means they’ll be coming back in some capacity!
What’s your favorite cider spot in (or near) Philadelphia? Let me know in the comments!
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