Monk's Cafe

Monk's Cafe is a belgian restaurant, gastropub and pub located on S 16th Street in Philadelphia. The restaurant boasts a world-class beer emporium and offers indoor dining and takeout. With an obsessively updated draft list featuring beers from Hill Farmstead Brewery and Russian River Brewing Company, beer enthusiasts are sure to be impressed. Don't miss out on the unfiltered and naturally carbonated Ancestral Series beers!
(3003)

Recent social media posts

08/24/2026

A delicious shipment of Hill Farmstead Brewery bottles has arrived! We're cracking caps beginning at 5pm on Monday, August 24. Yes, that is today–dear leader Tom's the spontaneous type. In addition to these bottled selections, we have four Hill Farmstead brews on draft: Anna: Foudre; Edward; George; and Society & Solitude #8. Join us for a taste of Vermont's finest.

Hill Farmstead Featured Bottles
Monday, August 25 at 5pm.

🌾 Anna
🌾 Arthur
🌾 Civil Disobedience Blend 31
🌾 Civil Disobedience Blend 33
🌾 Florence
🌾 Samuel
🌾 Works of Love: Monk's

Full bottle list with descriptions: https://monkscafe.com/events

08/17/2026

Summer in Maine is practically perfect in every way, and so is Allagash Brewing Saison.

This is a Belgian-influenced Farmhouse ale with barley, rye, oats & dark Belgian candi sugar. We're tasting notes of black pepper & tropical fruit from the yeast, and a bit of citrus from the hops. Refreshingly dry finish. 6.1%abv

07/10/2026

Hold the shell phone, Scallops are back?

That's right, my mer-people, our famous Monk's Flemish Seared Scallops are back on the menu. Cooked to a perfect medium, these mollusks are tenderly served with a "beurre rouge" sauce made with Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale, red wine vinegar, shallots, and butter.

Light and fresh yet rich, these summery bites bring the sea to you.

Photo Credit: Eddy Marenco, www.marencophoto.com

07/07/2026

Now on Draft: Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont

This benchmark saison has been brewed at the farm-brewery since 1844, and is still owned and operated by the same family. Peppery hops and fruity esters are derived solely from the hops and yeast. This is the Saison that inspired hundreds of brewers from around the world; still perfection.

Lineage of Brasserie Dupont

1844: Founded by Rimaux Deridder
1920: Passed on to Louis Dupont
1945: Passed to Sylva Rosier
1964: Passed to Marc Rosier
2002: Marc's nephew, Oliver Dedeycker, assumes brewing duties and remains brewmaster today.

Photo Credit: www.marencophoto.com

07/02/2026

It's 200 miles from Monk's Café to Suarez Family Brewery in Livingston, NY. That's a long commute for a beer, so we're bringing their spritzy + summer-ready Cabana Pils to you.

Now on draft, Cabana Pils is a seasonal German-style pilsner brewed for these warmer months. Made with a bit of wheat in the malt bill ,and hopped with Styrian Goldings and German Saphir hops. Notes of Makrut lime, lime blossoms and limeade. 4.5%abv

Photo credit: Suarez Family Brewery

06/30/2026

Let the Pride flow through you. On this last day of Pride month, show some love to your LGBTQ+ community in Philly and beyond. We'll never stop welcoming everyone to our house and celebrating the beautiful, diverse people of our city. Stay fierce, dolls.

Photo Credit: Our dear Aleah Beche, star server

06/15/2026

We're welcoming Grimm Artisanal Ales to our sweet back bar on Tuesday, June 15 at 5pm. Refresh and relax with Grimm folk and this special lineup of their fine brews.

Dithyramb
A dithyramb is a hymn to Dionysus, an improvised wild chorus at a banquet led by a man who, according to the poet Archilochus, is “wit stricken by the thunderbolt of wine.” Supple and rich dark ale matured in former red wine barrels to the point of complex acidity; refermented on the un-pressed skins and stems left over from our 2025 Malbec maceration. The perfect melange of dark fruit, chocolatey malt, and gentle funk.

The Open Work 2021
Blended from our BEST spontaneous barrels. Brewed with a traditional turbid mash of 70% pilsner malt and 30% raw wheat and boiled for 4 hours with aged hops, inoculated solely with brewery air, and ripened in oak barrels for years, this beer is a testament to the richness of our fermentation terroir. This anti-interventionist, unflavored American spontaneous ale is gently tart and layered with incredible complexity and balance — peachy esters, leathery funk, complex brett-laced aged-hop spice.

Prose Poem
Bright, juicy, tangy, tart—this foeder-fermented sour ale with mango and passionfruit is a true sunshine sipper. The piercing intensity of passionfruit is tempered with juicy mango sweetness and subtle layers of brett-fueled funk.

Castling
Since the first batch in 2016, and this has been a favorite of Joe and Lauren Grimm as well as our production staff ever since. Taking inspiration from our favorite contemporary Belgian saison breweries, we brew Castling with step-mashed Pilsner malt and a HUGE whirlpool addition of noble hops. This hoppy, crisp, and refreshing farmhouse beer is pure old world elegance. Quenching with notes of hay, pepper, and candied citrus, with a dry and bitter finish.

Double Negative
Double Negative pours jet black with burnt orange highlights. A long lasting tan head leaves abundant lacing. Aromas bursting from the glass include coffee, bitter chocolate, caramel, black currant and blueberry. Creamy Creamy and viscous on the palate, the flavor initially follows the nose. A pop of smooth bitterness comes after, and then a lingering, roasty finish. GABF gold medalist!

06/12/2026

We simply must flex our mussel mention in the Philadelphia Inquirer's roundup of Philly's 76 most iconic foods!

Coming in hot at number 55 are the best 'moules frites' (mussels with fries) in our fair city. (But, you already knew that.) All credit goes to our chef Keith Ballew and the kitchen crew, whose dedication over decades makes Monk's what it is.

Thanks to Ariane Datil for taking on a true 48-hour challenge, and including Monk's mussels among the 76 best bites in Philadelphia.

05/28/2026

Marek Kaminiski made an image that asks: is walking into Monk's world-sliding or phase shifting?

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/marekkingpin

05/24/2026

Monk's Café will be open our usual Monday hours on Memorial Day, from 5pm-Midnight. As always, our full kitchen menu is available until 11pm nightly.

Address

264 S 16th Street
Philadelphia, PA
19102

The Belgian restaurant and gastropub is located on S 16th Street in Philadelphia. For public transport, you can take the subway to the City Hall Station or Suburban Station and walk a few blocks south to reach S 16th Street. If driving, park at any of the nearby public parking garages or street parking spots, being sure to follow any posted rules or regulations.

Opening Hours

Monday	5pm - 11:45pm
Tuesday	11:30am - 12am
Wednesday	11:30am - 12am
Thursday	11:30am - 12am
Friday	11:30am - 12am
Saturday	11:30am - 12am
Sunday	11:30am - 12am

Website

http://www.monkscafe.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Monk's Cafe posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

What people say

Monk's Cafe is a Belgian restaurant, gastropub, and pub located on S 16th Street in Philadelphia. The restaurant boasts a world-class beer emporium that offers an extensive selection of beers to choose from. What's great about Belgian restaurants is their attention to detail when it comes to food and drink. Monk's Cafe is no exception as they offer a wide range of delicious dishes that are sure to satisfy any palate.

One of the things that sets Monk's Cafe apart from other restaurants is their commitment to providing excellent service. Their kitchen is open until 11 pm, ensuring that customers can enjoy their meals at any time of the day. In addition, they offer indoor dining and takeout options for those who prefer to dine at home.

Monk's Cafe also features a rotating selection of draft beers from some of the best breweries around the world. They recently added River Brewing Company Row 2/Hill 56, a single-hop Pale Ale featuring Simcoe hops, which pays homage to the first-ever Simcoe hop planted in Yakima, WA.

Overall, Monk's Cafe is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience in Philadelphia. With its delicious food, extensive beer selection, and exceptional service, it's no wonder why this restaurant has become a favorite among locals and tourists alike.