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Planning a holiday party in Philadelphia is not just about choosing a venue; it’s about choosing the type of venue that will work best for you and your group. Do you want a traditional dinner party, a private bar, or something more interactive where guests have an activity to focus on?
Activity-based holiday parties take the pressure off guests to make small talk and create natural ways for people to interact, regardless of how well they know each other. Shared activities, like arcade games, bowling, cooking classes, or trivia, let everyone participate at their own comfort level.
Before you look through the options in Philadelphia, make sure you know what it is you’re looking for. Then you can pick the best spot for you and your group.
What Should You Look for in a Philadelphia Holiday Party Venue?
The “best” holiday party venue in Philadelphia is never a one-size-fits-all answer. It’s not always the biggest place or the one with the fanciest menu and drinks list. Below are some factors to consider as you’re making a shortlist of choices.
Group Size and Venue Capacity
One of the most important factors is making sure that the place is big enough. Try to get a realistic headcount as early as possible so you know how much space you need and what kind of place to look for. It’s almost a guarantee that your headcount is going to be a bit off, but the closer you can get to an approximate number, the better equipped you’ll be to pick the right type of place.
Food and Drinks
Decide if food and drinks will be available, and if so, what that entails. Is it a full dinner party? Is it just snacks and drinks? This answer alone will help you narrow down the options. A full dinner points you toward restaurants and event spaces with a large kitchen. Snacks and drinks open the search to bars and activity venues, where the food is there to keep people going rather than to be the main event. You also want people to be informed before they show up if they’re going to be given dinner or if they need to handle that on their own.
Location and Transportation
Ideally, you can pick a location that is convenient for most people, but this one will probably be difficult because people likely live in many different areas of the city, or even outside of it. If you can’t find a location that is the most convenient based on where everyone lives, the next best thing is to choose a place near public transit, like SEPTA.
Budget and Booking Requirements
Find out what your budget is so you can proceed accordingly. Once you have a number in mind, make some phone calls to the places you’re considering. Ask about the per-person cost and if any food and drinks are included, as well as if there are any other costs you need to consider when renting the venue.
If they require a deposit up front to hold your date, see if it’s refundable or applied to your total bill so you avoid surprises later if your plans change. If you’re trying to throw a holiday party in December around Christmas and New Year’s, you can expect a lot of the places you’re considering to fill up quickly, so you should start your search early.
Casual Celebration or More Formal Holiday Party?
Before you book anything for your holiday party or event, it’s worth being honest about how formal the evening actually needs to be, because that’s going to play a big part in how you make your decision. If your night includes some type of structured program, like a toast, awards, or some other type of presentation, you need a venue that can accommodate that, space-wise and noise-wise. If the goal is mostly to let people mingle, eat, drink, and have fun without following a schedule, a more casual activity-based venue may be a better fit.
Activity-Based Holiday Party Venues in Philadelphia
Planning a holiday party with an activity at the center is a great way to bring people together and create a memorable experience. If you’re in Philadelphia, you’ll find plenty of venues that offer more than just food and drinks; they also give your group a chance to play, compete, or explore something new together.
Bowling: North Bowl or South Bowl
Bowling works well for groups that want an activity but still want plenty of time to sit, eat, drink, and talk between turns.
North Bowl in Northern Liberties has 17 lanes, a full bar and kitchen, classic arcade games, and pool tables. If you’re planning a get-together, there are lots of options to fit your group’s size. Smaller parties can reserve just a few of the downstairs lanes, while bigger groups can book four private lanes and a private upstairs bar area.
If you’re hosting a larger group of up to 150 people, you can take over the entire upstairs loft, which has lounge areas, more games, a DJ booth, and space that can be used for extra seating or a dance floor. Full buyouts of the whole building are also available.
South Bowl is another option, with 26 lanes and private-event packages. There are semi-private areas for small groups, larger upstairs lounges that can accommodate up to 75 people, and options to book entire floors if your holiday party is on the larger side. Many of these spaces also come with private bars, arcade and pool tables, a DJ booth, places to dance, and access to a roof deck to take in some fresh air between games.
Unlimited bowling is part of the event package. Both locations must be booked at least two weeks in advance for private events, and events are full-service and must be booked with a buffet, drink package, and set-up and service fee. There are also budget minimums that may apply during primetime hours, like holidays and weekends. This isn’t particularly unusual, but it’s definitely worth noting and learning more about before you decide on one of these locations.
Karaoke: Yakitori Boy
Karaoke is a good choice for smaller groups where people are comfortable being a little more involved. Even those who are too nervous to perform can have a great time grabbing food and drinks and just enjoying the night out.
Yakitori Boy in Center City is one option that specifically hosts corporate events, team-building outings, and holiday parties. Its first-floor restaurant can accommodate up to 75 guests, while the second-floor karaoke lounge can handle groups of 25 to 200. The venue also offers customizable menus and event packages.
For a fully private event, minimums start at $2,000 before tax and an automatic 20% gratuity. Semi-private options are available for groups that do not need to rent out the entire space, which can make it a more practical choice for a smaller office party.
Even though the venue can accommodate large groups, this is probably better for a close-knit team than a huge company-wide party because karaoke depends on a level of comfort that a room full of near-strangers just doesn’t have.
Arcade: Barcade
Nothing brings people together like nostalgia, food, and arcade games.
Barcade combines classic arcade games and pinball machines with rotating draft selections of American craft beer, along with cocktails and pub food. Philadelphia has two Barcade locations, and they feel different enough that it’s worth making sure you choose the one that’s the best fit for you and your team.
The original is on Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, and there’s another location in Center City.
If your team works in Center City and most people are going to head over after work, this location is the clear choice. If you want the party to feel like a night out in a neighborhood, Fishtown has that vibe. Both locations are near public transit.
Barcade is a good fit if you want your holiday party to feel more like an organized night out than a formal company event. For a lot of teams, that’s really what they’re looking for – something that feels like a holiday happy hour but with a little more going on.
Of course, Barcade is a bar, so you have to be 21 years old to get in. If your company includes younger employees and interns, or people who want to bring kids, this likely wouldn’t be the right choice.
Another thing to keep in mind is that on a busy December night, the more popular games are going to have a wait, and your group will be sharing the floor with everyone else unless you’ve booked the whole place. That’s more noticeable in Fishtown because it’s smaller. Center City has two floors, so a larger group has an easier time spreading out or finding a section upstairs to settle into.
Mini Golf: Puttshack
Puttshack in Center City is mini golf, but not the kind you played on vacation as a kid. It’s an upscale, tech-infused version where the ball keeps score automatically, so nobody has to write anything down or argue about whether a putt counted.
This might seem like a strange option for a company party or event, but it actually has a lot to offer. Much of the night revolves around playing golf, but there is also a nice bar and restaurant, with cocktails and a full food menu.
Puttshack specifically hosts holiday parties and team-building events. Groups of 13 to 18 can book packages starting around $36 per person, and larger groups can ask about bigger events or full-venue buyouts.
The main difference between Puttshack and a place like Barcade is structure. A round of mini golf has a start and an end, which is great if you want the night to have a plan. It’s less great if your group prefers to come and go, since someone who shows up 45 minutes late is either joining mid-round or waiting for the next one.
After your round of golf, the restaurant and bar are open for more casual conversation and downtime, so there’s also room for people to linger and unwind.
Group Bookings and Holiday Availability
If you’re planning a December party, start early, as Friday and Saturday bookings fill up quickly. Try to narrow your venue choices and start reaching out in October or early November.
Two common ways venues handle holiday party bookings are per-person packages and full buyouts. With a per-person package, you pay a flat rate for each person who attends, which may cover food, drinks, games, or other activities. Your group may also get a reserved or semi-private area, depending on the venue. For most small to mid-size teams, this may be the more practical option.
The second option is a full buyout. This means you rent the entire space and it is closed to the public during your event. Some places charge a flat fee, while others require a food and beverage minimum. Either way, this can get considerably more expensive than sharing the venue.
What To Ask Before Booking a Holiday Venue in Philadelphia
Whether you choose Puttshack, Barcade, or somewhere else, there are some questions you should ask before making a commitment and putting down money. Websites tend to be vague about group events, and the answers you get from an actual person at the venue are going to be much more helpful.
Here are some questions to consider:
- How many people can the venue accommodate, and what happens if the number changes?
- What’s the minimum group size, and is there a maximum?
- Will your group have a reserved area, a separate room, or the entire venue?
- How does the pricing work, and what does it include?
- Is it one tab the organizer handles, or can people pay for their own drinks after a certain point?
- How much is due up front, and is it refundable?
- What’s the deadline to cancel or change the date without losing it?
Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong way to have a holiday party in Philadelphia; there are so many unique options, and as long as you choose a space that makes sense for your group, you’re bound to have a good time.
