Tuna Bar
Old City, Philadelphia
Restaurant in Philadelphia, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$30–50per person
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Tuna Bar is a practical Old City pick when the priority is an easy-to-plan dinner with a more composed feel than nearby casual options. Choose it for date nights, small groups, or visiting friends; cross-shop Race Street Cafe for casual value and Tomo Sushi & Ramen for a more specific Japanese comfort-food brief.
About Tuna Bar
Tuna Bar is a Philadelphia venue. It is closed on Monday, open Tuesday through Sunday from 1:30 PM, and has a smart casual dress code.
A first-timer should plan around the basics
The clearest reason to consider Tuna Bar is that its schedule is direct for an afternoon or evening plan in Philadelphia. It is open Tuesday through Thursday from 1:30–10 PM, Friday and Saturday from 1:30–11 PM, and Sunday from 1:30–10 PM. It is closed on Monday.
Details on price and menu are limited, so treat Tuna Bar as a planning choice rather than a value comparison. If you are comparing options, Race Street Cafe, Revolution House, Tomo Sushi & Ramen, FRAME, and The Franklin Fountain may each fit different kinds of outings. Tuna Bar is the pick to research directly when its hours and smart casual dress code match the plan.
Details matter more than novelty here
The most reliable planning details are the schedule and dress code, not claims about novelty, format, or a particular dining style. The Franklin Fountain can be considered separately as another Philadelphia stop, but it should not be treated as a direct substitute unless it fits the outing you want.
For a wider search, use the full Philadelphia restaurants guide, then branch into Philadelphia bars, Philadelphia hotels, Philadelphia wineries, or Philadelphia experiences if the plan needs more around it.
Planning details
- Location
- 205 Race St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- tunabar.com
- Phone
- +1 215 238 8862
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Tuna Bar sits in Old City amid cobbled streets and converted warehouses, projecting a quietly confident, specialist energy. The restaurant leans into a single product, tuna, with a focused menu that feels deliberate rather than gimmicky. That restraint, paired with the neighborhood's heritage atmosphere and proximity to low-key wine bars, makes the room feel like a discovered favorite rather than a scene-driven hot spot. The result is an intimate, slightly romantic place where the food’s specificity shapes the mood: attentive and refined without being ostentatious, ideal for diners who value depth of technique over breadth of concept.
Best For
Tuna Bar is best experienced at dinner, when its centered menu and composed service are most in step with Old City's evening rhythm. The address, just a few blocks from the Delaware River and within walking distance of neighborhood wine bars, makes it a natural stop for a date night or a special occasion for locals and visitors alike. The concept’s single-mindedness rewards focused dining: come prepared to savor variations on tuna and to enjoy a quieter, more intentional evening out rather than a bustling, late-night scene.
Ordering Tips
Given the restaurant’s specialist stance, start by sampling items that showcase tuna across preparations to understand the kitchen’s point of view. The house signatures, Old City Roll and Mai Fried Rice, are good anchors for a meal and pair well with smaller shareable plates if offered. Ask your server about today’s tuna preparations and any recommended pairings from the wine list; the menu’s narrow focus means staff guidance helps you assemble a balanced tasting of the restaurant’s strengths.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy candlelit ambiance with relaxing upscale atmosphere, modern and stylish design.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Modern
- Menu Format
- Small plates, A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Sake, Wine
- Dietary
- Vegan options
- Private Dining
- Available
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
Signature Dishes
- mai_fried_rice
- old_city_roll
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 205 Race St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
If the group wants something more casual, choose Race Street Cafe. If the craving is more specifically Japanese, choose Tomo Sushi & Ramen. For drinks-led plans, Revolution House is the more natural fallback.
Restaurant context
How Tuna Bar compares in Old City
Choose Tuna Bar when the evening needs a more polished dinner setup than Race Street Cafe or Revolution House. Race Street Cafe is the easier casual-value play, while Revolution House is better for a looser drinks-and-food plan. Tuna Bar makes more sense when service and dining-room feel matter more than keeping the night informal.
Against Tomo Sushi & Ramen, the decision is about format. Tomo Sushi & Ramen is the clearer choice for a focused Japanese comfort-food meal; Tuna Bar is better when the group wants a broader, date-night-appropriate restaurant choice in Old City. FRAME is the better cross-shop for a social, scene-driven night.
The Franklin Fountain is not a dinner replacement, but it is the obvious add-on if the group wants dessert after eating nearby. For a first dinner in the area, Tuna Bar is easier to recommend than dessert-first or bar-first options when the meal needs to be the main event.
Explore Philadelphia
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Tuna Bar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Tuna Bar
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Tuna Bar | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| Race Street Cafe | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| Tomo Sushi & Ramen | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| Revolution House | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| FRAME | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| The Franklin Fountain | Philadelphia | No published awards |
How Tuna Bar Philadelphia compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to Tuna Bar?
Wear smart casual clothing. Tuna Bar is in Philadelphia and is open from 1:30 PM on Tuesday through Sunday, with Monday closed.
Is Tuna Bar good for solo dining?
If you are planning to go alone, use the hours and smart casual dress code to decide whether Tuna Bar fits your schedule and comfort level.
What should a first-timer know about Tuna Bar?
First-timers should know the basics: Tuna Bar is in Philadelphia, has a smart casual dress code, is closed Monday, and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1:30 PM into the evening.
