Hoser in Philly, Baltimore, and Washington

You can't come to Philly without visiting Tired Hands. Monk's usually has a good selection of beers, but their food is mediocre at best. If you are looking for a particular beer, check out phillytapfinder.com for relatively up-to-date info on what are on tap where. More later...

 

Right Proper in the Shaw neighborhood of DC is worth checking out, new-ish brewpub that just opened a couple months ago. 6 stops from Bluejacket on the green line if you take Metro. Solid house brewed beers and pretty good food as well. Their beer prices are some of the best I've seen in DC.

As far as art, not really under the radar but the National Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum and National Gallery of Art are some of my favorite museums. The Hirshhorn has some weird and interesting pieces.

 

Philly is loaded with art that you could spend a week looking at. Like mentioned check phillytapfinder out to see what bars have what on tap (great site) if your looking to pick any beer up stop at Stateline liquors in Elkton my right off 95 (assuming your driving)

 

The beer suggestions so far are pretty solid. For art in baltimore check out the American Visionary Art Museum avam.org it's a pretty unique place and not like any art museum I've ever been to.

 

Quite frankly, given the limited history of the US, anything historic will likely be milked for all its worth and well-known. Visit the tourist office in Old City Philly (around 5th & Market) to get all the information you need on where to go and what to see. Be sure to swing by Easter State Penitentiary. Not exactly off the beaten path, but it's close to some good bars. Before and/or after, go to the Belgian Cafe and/or Bishop's Collar and/or London Grill. If you're happen to be around during happy hour, I like the happy hour menu at London Grill the best in that area.

One thing to note. Hotels in Philly are rather expensive compared to most other major US cities. Book early and look for deals if you want to stay anywhere near the city. If you are OK with hostels, your only option is Apple Hostel which is in a very prime location (middle of Old City). Other hostels, which are far and few, are completely out of the way.

If you think you may need help or further information while you're in Philly, send me a PM for my phone #. I'll be happy to help further. Have a great time!

 

How about jars of babies and other medical oddities?? http://www.collegeofphysicians.org/mutter-museum/

As Mythaeus noted, PhillyTapFinder.com will direct you to the beers. I'll just add you can search by neighborhood, and as a visitor you'll probably be in Center City. That being said you can easily hit up bars in Fishtown and South Philly areas (those three areas will give more choices than you can possibly hit up.

 

Really? I think the food at Monk's is quite good. The mussels are excellent, and the sandwiches are inventive. They also have one of the better vegetarian/vegan selections among bars in Philly, if you're into that. I eat there probably 5-6 times a year and have yet to be let down.

 

The last time I was happy with Monk's was their pot of mussels, which can be hit or miss. I eat there pretty much every time I go there to drink, which is pretty often since they have beers than no one else does. Their burgers are always dry, salads are average and plain, had a duck salad sandwich last time I was there and it was grilled slices of duck breast on a bed of salad...with a side of the same salad (fries, which is always good, would have been nice)...both were equally bland. I keep hoping that one day I can recommend Monk's for both beer and food, like I do with South Philly Tap Room, Strangelove's, Alla Spina, and Misconduct Tavern.

 

How do you order the burger? Medium-well is dry at most places in my experience, and medium is often a crapshoot.

 

Since you like art, I highly recommend a visit to The Barnes. It's a world class art museum that operates just two or three blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art (which is also spectacular). It's mostly impressionist-era works and is laid out in quite a unique and intense fashion--walls are jam packed with art, recreating the way it was in the founder's home many years ago. (http://www.barnesfoundation.org/).

 

2nd Monk's for beer, not for food. There are waaay too many other bars in Philly that have much better food. South Philly Tap Room blows it out of the water.

OP, what type of art are you interested in seeing?

 

Don't want to derail too much, but I usually do medium well (I avoid eating ground meat any less cooked) everywhere so my judgment is relative among the different bars in term of burger dryness and lack of flavor.

First time I was at SPTR and had their "bar food"...wow! I couldn't believe it's possible to have that good of bar food (they did trim the menu down quite a bit since then though). Wife and I go there all the time even when the beer selection isn't great (rarely ever happen). Right next door is Ultimo, one of the best coffee shops in the country and a bottle shop inside the coffee shop to boot. You cannot go wrong with SPTR.

Do check out Strangelove's food and hit Alla Spina for happy hour food if you haven't. Another place I really like for food is Fette Sau BBQ, sister of and right next to Frankford Hall, and also has decent "craft" drafts.

 

In that case I'd say just hit up https://www.philamuseum.org/. It's iconic, it's huge, it's got everything (Arms & Armor!), it's centrally located.

Three days give's you plenty of time, buy a SEPTA TransPass, unless you don't mind walking ($12/day, unlimited bus/sub rides). Spend part of one day in Fishtown (Kraftwork/Memphis Tap/Johnny Brenda's). Go to South Philly (South Philly Tap Room/Pub on Passyunk East/American Sardine Bar/Fountain Porter). Get your cheesesteak (9th & Passyunk), their overpriced and not great, but yeah you have to go and take a photo. The rest of the time walk around Center City (Monks/Strangelove/Eulogy/Kyhber Pass/Jose Pistola's/Tria Tap Room). There's a lot more in CC, those are just some I like.

EDIT: Do go to the Mutter Museum (initial post). There is NOTHING like it.
EDIT 2: check out Philadelphia Brewing Company and Yards Brewing. The beer is not going to wow you, but they're both really nice places to visit.

 

I would recommend Pratt Street Alehouse, Brewers Art. or Mahaffey's instead of Alewife in Baltimore. Better atmospheres, food, and prices.

 

For under the radar, let me reinforce the suggestion of the Mutter, truly unique. Very few places like it, anywhere. Also you can get a two museum pass and then wander out to the U. Penn museum. Again unique, especially if you have an interest in Archaeology and Anthropology. (This is also the building where the idea of the Dogfish Head Ancient Ales series got its start at a Beer Dinner during a Book and Cook week event. This is when Pat McGovern and Sam Calagione met and got to talking about reverse engineering an ancient beer from the chemical residue inside a pot found near what was thought to be the tomb of King Midas.)

If you use the train out to that area of town you can go see the 30th St Station. It's one of the great buildings from the glory days of US Railroads. The central hall is hard to beat. And if you develop a thirst while there you can get a pint (and food if you like) at Bridgewaters in one of the concourses. They have only 10 taps but all are rotating craft selections and fresh.

 

Since you like history, you might check out the first two places on this list.. City Tavern and McGillian's Olde Ale House, the oldest continuously operating tavern in the city.

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/drink/Ode-to-Phillys-Oldest-Bars-95353059.html