Meetings Today Senior Contributor Jeff Heilman said it first: “Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood is a great catch for groups.”
Just north of Center City, Fishtown is one of Philadelphia’s trendiest neighborhoods, home to popular live music venues, craft breweries and eclectic Michelin-recognized restaurants that also make it a culinary hot spot. (In 2015, Bon Appétit crowned Pizzeria Beddia the “Best Pizza in America.” A decade later, the restaurant boasts a Michelin Bib Gourmand.) But Fishtown wasn’t always as culturally rich, authentic and hospitable as it is today.
I was first introduced to the neighborhood 2.5 miles northeast of the Pennsylvania Convention Center through a sidebar Heilman wrote about Fishtown earlier in 2026. He explained how the area was named for the fisheries and smokehouses that processed the countless shad caught from the Delaware River. It was a hub for commercial activity like shipbuilding and steam engines until the late 1990s, when Fishtown businesses saw a decline and residents and small business made their way back in.
With them came a revival.
“In the last decade, Fishtown has seen historic buildings brought back to life through renovation and repurpose while new, modern amenities have popped up along the way, blending this neighborhood’s blue-collar roots with the city’s future,” said Jamie Huckleberry, vice president, destination services, Philadelphia CVB.
For example, The Battery is a $154 million redevelopment initiative of the former Delaware Power Station, an 11-acre complex that was commissioned as a power plant in the early 1900s. Eight of The Battery’s 167-foot-tall chimneys still remain as historic architectural elements, but now, the complex is home to two new hotels—Riversuites at The Battery and Switch House Hotel—and two unique event venues, The Switch House and Ballers.
“Ballers is a new sports venue featuring pickleball and golf, to name a few,” Huckleberry said, “plus an upscale bar, spa amenities and a renovated industrial event space.”
Opened in August 2024, Hotel Anna & Bel is another recent redevelopment in Fishtown that gave a former women’s asylum and retirement home from 1789 a new life as a 50-room boutique hotel with a heated outdoor pool, small group spaces, a restaurant, bar and outdoor patio.
“This neighborhood is known for its community and creativity,” Huckleberry said, and groups are bound to experience both when they pay a visit to Fishtown the next time they meet in Philadelphia.
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Where to Stay in Fishtown
Housed in a renovated powerhouse, Riversuites at The Battery Philadelphia is one of the city’s newest hotels. The Rivers Casino property sits at the edge of the Delaware River and offers a unique apartment-style setting with 62 suites including one-, two- and three-bedroom options. A six-minute walk down the Delaware Riverwalk is the casino’s 22-acre waterfront property, where The Event Center at Rivers Casino offers 10,308 square feet of space.
Where to Eat in Fishtown
“German beer garden Frankford Hall has become a Fishtown staple,” Huckleberry said. The beer garden and restaurant is set inside an industrial structure in the heart of the neighborhood with large garage doors, trees strung with twinkling lights, open-air picnic tables, an indoor bar area and games. Alongside German and American beers, Frankford Hall offers a Bavaria-inspired menu featuring sausages, burgers, warm Bavarian pretzels and more.
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Fun Activities in Fishtown
“The Fishtown Entertainment Complex brings together several notable venues for an unforgettable experience,” Huckleberry said, one that “is ideal for a block party-type event.” Iconic venues include Brooklyn Bowl, with space for up to 1,000; The Fillmore live music venue for up to 3,000; and Punch Line Philly, a 300-seat comedy club. Other Half Brewing offers a private dining room, taproom, beer garden and patio nearby.
Taking Off is a column from the desk of destinations content manager, Taylor Smith, which uncovers the destinations you haven't thought of for meetings or events, from under-the-radar locales to new neighborhoods you should know about. Read more Taking Off columns here.
