BlackHen
Old City, Philadelphia
Restaurant in Philadelphia, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
BlackHen offers a rare late-night option in Old City Philadelphia, staying open until 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays when most nearby dining rooms close by 11 PM. The bar serves straightforward cocktails and draws a casual crowd of locals and tourists looking for a second stop after dinner. Walk-ins only, with a mid-range price point and no dress code.
About BlackHen
BlackHen is a Philadelphia venue with evening hours Tuesday through Sunday. The schedule is 4–10 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, with extended hours from 4 PM–3 AM on Friday and Saturday. BlackHen is closed on Monday.
Confirm details such as menu, drinks, seating, reservations, prices, service format, kitchen availability directly with the venue before you plan around them. The dress code is casual, making it an easy option to consider without formal attire.
What to Expect Inside
BlackHen opens at 4 PM on operating days, closes at 10 PM on Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, stays open until 3 AM on Friday and Saturday. For specifics on cocktails, dishes, seating layout, group capacity, or price range, check directly with the venue.
For diners comparing nearby Philadelphia options, BlackHen can be considered alongside venues such as Tangerine, Royal Boucherie, Spasso Italian Grill, La Famiglia, and The Franklin Fountain. The best fit will depend on the kind of experience you want and the current details each venue confirms directly.
How It Fits the Late-Night Lineup
BlackHen’s clearest distinguishing feature is its late Friday and Saturday closing time of 3 AM. If your plans in Philadelphia run later than a standard dinner window, those weekend hours may make it worth checking, while the 10 PM close on Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday calls for an earlier visit.
Hours: Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday 4–10 PM, Friday–Saturday 4 PM–3 AM, closed Monday. Location: Philadelphia. Dress: Casual. Best for: Visitors who need a Philadelphia option with evening hours, especially on Friday or Saturday when BlackHen is listed as open until 3 AM. For broader planning, you can also browse Philadelphia restaurants or Philadelphia hotels.
Planning details
- Location
- 120 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- blackhenphilly.com
- Phone
- +12152204234
The take
The Take
The Vibe
BlackHen presents a design-forward dining room that balances Old City’s historic fabric with contemporary restraint. The restaurant leans into exposed materials, controlled light and seating arrangements that subtly shape how tables relate to one another; the architecture and interiors do half the atmosphere work before the kitchen fires a burner. That compositional clarity gives the room a sophisticated, considered feel: it reads as a deliberate, mid-to-upper tier destination where the interior logic is aligned with the cooking. The result is a polished, quietly confident spot that feels modern while remaining rooted in its historic neighborhood context.
Best For
BlackHen is best encountered as an evening destination for diners who want a deliberately composed meal in Old City. The writing positions it within Philadelphia’s mid-to-upper dining tier, making it a sensible choice for dinner, date night and business dinners when you want a restaurant that feels both elevated and approachable. Its Chestnut Street address — amid cobblestones and Federal-era facades — also makes it appealing for visitors and neighborhood regulars looking for a thoughtful meal in a setting where the room’s architecture is part of the attraction.
Ordering Tips
The kitchen’s signature items help define the menu’s personality: start with the Chicken Cheesesteak Beignets to taste the playful, ingredient-led approach, then move to the Fried Chicken finished with the Black Cherry Barbecue Sauce for a main that balances comfort and precision. Save room for the Peach Hand Pies if they’re on offer — they read as a fitting, neighborhood-forward finish. These highlights give a quick tour of the cooking’s strengths without requiring deep familiarity with the full menu.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy and vibrant atmosphere with moderate noise levels.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Chicken Cheesesteak Beignets
- Fried Chicken
- Black Cherry Barbecue Sauce
- Peach Hand Pies
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Spasso Italian Grill, Notable alternative
- Royal Boucherie, Notable alternative
- The Franklin Fountain, Notable alternative
- Tangerine, American Fusion, American Fusion
- La Famiglia, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
BlackHen's value proposition is timing rather than technique. Royal Boucherie delivers a more ambitious cocktail program and a fuller menu, but shuts down by 10 PM most nights. Spasso Italian Grill offers table service and Italian-American fare in the same price range, with similar weeknight hours but no late-weekend extension. The Franklin Fountain caters to the ice cream and nostalgia crowd, closing early and skipping alcohol entirely. For a late drink in Old City, BlackHen is the practical default when other options have already closed.
Tangerine runs a more refined American Fusion menu with better ambiance for a full dinner, but its kitchen and bar close earlier than BlackHen's weekend stretch. La Famiglia delivers upscale Italian in a white-tablecloth format, appealing to a different occasion entirely, plan that reservation for 7 PM, then walk to BlackHen afterward if you want to extend the evening. The cross-shop recommendation depends on your timeline: book Royal Boucherie or Tangerine for dinner and drinks under one roof, or use BlackHen as your nightcap when those kitchens have already sent staff home.
Explore Philadelphia
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full BlackHen guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare BlackHen
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackHen | Philadelphia | ; | No published awards |
| Spasso Italian Grill | Philadelphia | ; | No published awards |
| Royal Boucherie | Philadelphia | ; | No published awards |
| The Franklin Fountain | Philadelphia | ; | No published awards |
| Tangerine | Philadelphia | American Fusion | No published awards |
| La Famiglia | Philadelphia | ; | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #6292023 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended |
How BlackHen Philadelphia compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at BlackHen?
Check BlackHen’s current menu, drink list, dish recommendations, pricing directly before visiting. The hours are Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday 4–10 PM, Friday and Saturday 4 PM–3 AM, closed Monday.
Can I eat at the bar at BlackHen?
Contact BlackHen directly about bar seating, food service, kitchen hours before going. Royal Boucherie, Spasso Italian Grill, La Famiglia are other Philadelphia venues you may want to compare for your plans.
Can BlackHen accommodate groups?
Groups should confirm capacity, seating layout, reservation details directly with BlackHen before visiting, especially on Friday or Saturday when the venue’s hours extend until 3 AM.
What should I wear to BlackHen?
The dress code for BlackHen is casual. Casual clothing is the safest recommendation.
