Morgan’s Pier: Part picnic, part beer garden, part music venue

Thanks to Morgan’s Pier, Philadelphians now have something that they never did before: a riverfront bar that offers good food, beer, atmosphere and music. Opening in late May, the new American beer garden concept created by Four Corners Management’s Avram Hornik and partners Sean Agnew (R5, Union Transfer) and Dave Pianka (Making Time) sits on the Delaware River waterfront just north of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

“We wanted it to be a bit different than the other Delaware Avenue options,” says partner Agnew. “Something for ‘the rest of us,’ and I think we’ve done that.”

With a capacity of 850, the Morgan’s Pier deck boasts picnic tables made from salvaged wood and covered with colorful vintage umbrellas. There are 20 regional draft beers on tap (including options from Yards and Tröegs), as well as 20 can beers (from PBR to Sixpoint Sweet Action). “The food’s playful and fun,” says Hornik about the menu, which was created by David Katz (Mémé). “If you went to a chef’s house for a backyard picnic, this is the food they’d serve.” Grilled corn on the cob and fried tomatoes are among the starter options, and there are several sandwiches, including a sirloin burger and pulled pork. As for the vegans, there are several choices, such as the vegan chorizo tacos and the grilled portabella sandwich.

And then there’s the music. A few weekends ago, Morgan’s Pier welcomed DJs Diplo and LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy (both in town for the Roots Picnic), and last weekend was the first live music event with local bands Bleeding Rainbow and Creepoid. There will be free afternoon concerts on Saturdays throughout the summer, with shows by Free Energy, Grandchildren and Pissed Jeans scheduled for upcoming weeks. Music lovers will also notice that Morgan’s Pier spins all vinyl records, and they play entire albums front to back. “It’s rare in the digital age to be able to sit by the river, have a beer and listen to an entire album,” says Hornik. “You can do that here.”