Mermaid Inn — Restaurant in Philadelphia

I rated it 5 stars, but, for a very unusual reason. I recently learned that my Mother and Father would go to the Inn for dates back in 1964. They married and I was born a year later. There is a beautiful little wooded area on the right side of the Inn as you look at the front door, right behind the old trolley station, now a flower shop. They loved the Inn and the little nature area. My Mother was killed in a car wreck days before my second birthday. Over the years I was always afraid to ask my Dad details about my Mother since I knew it gave him such pain. A few weeks before he past away, I finally asked him about her, and where he had spread her ashes. He told me he spread them in the beautiful area next to the Mermaid Inn. A few days after he passed I decided to go and see where he put her to rest. Much to my delight I found the Inn was still open 55 years later. I was also able to find the area where he placed her. I felt a sense of comfort and gratitude as I walked where they had walked together as a young twenty something couple. I realized many of the same trees I walked under provided them the same shade in 1965 as they did for me in 2023. I felt peaceful and closer to my Mother than I can ever remember. As I left, I walked up to the door of the Mermaid Inn and stood in the doorway (it was late morning and the Inn was closed). I realized my parents had walked through these doors together as they shared love, laughter and wonderful meals so many years ago. As I wiped the tears from my eyes, I noticed a few flyers for upcoming band performances and thought to myself, if my parents were still in their 20s, they would have been there to enjoy the shows, the beer and the fun. So, although I've never been inside the Inn, drank a beer or enjoyed food or a show, I'm certain you'll enjoy it as my parents did all those years ago. Possibly I wouldn't be here today if it hadn't been for them falling in love and...

I did not feel welcome here. My fiancée and I recently moved to the area, and this is one of the closest places to grab a drink. We walked in, and immediately got a lot of looks, from patrons and workers alike. The person at the door very curtly demanded “fifteen dollars”. No hello, no welcome, no “we’ve got a band playing tonight, the cover is $15”. Just two words. Fifteen dollars. We asked politely who was playing. Without saying a name, the door person just gestured at the man playing guitar on stage. All the while the bartender and many patrons continued to glare at us. We just decided to leave. I don’t doubt that others’ experiences have been lovely, but we were not made to...

Despite being a little run-down, the Mermaid is understandably well-loved for its historic building retaining much of its architectural detail & charm. The colonial era inn claims the finely-detailed rich brown wood bar is original.

We visited for the first time to see the final performance of the fantastic groove-band the Sacred Cowboys. Great band & fans! Large, supportive crowd!

We didn't eat, but the bar staff was...