Wandering through London, you might expect to stumble upon historic pubs, elegant tea rooms, or chic cocktail bars — but a no-frills, grease-stained Philadelphia dive bar might come as a surprise. Yet, after a day of art and nature walks in the heart of London, Passyunk Avenue offers an escape into a place where the beer is cold, the cheesesteaks are messy, and the atmosphere is pure Philly. Part dive bar, part cheesesteak jawn, and part batting cage, Passyunk is a must-visit whether you’re missing home or just a traveler curious to get an authentic taste of American culture without hopping across the Atlantic.
The bar is named after Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia, a street synonymous with cheesesteaks and neon-lit Americana. Passyunk Avenue isn’t just a one-off; it has four locations across the city in Fitzrovia, Waterloo, Battersea, and its newest spot in Kensington. The Waterloo outpost takes things up a notch with Passyunk Play, a neighboring space packed with a shuffleboard, ping pong tables, and even batting cages. With TVs broadcasting American sports, these bars have earned a reputation as some of the best bars in Europe to catch an American football game. So, if you’re looking for an authentic Philly experience in London, forget the tea and grab a Wiz wit.
Passyunk Avenue, from a food truck to a full-blown Philly experience
Before the walls of Passyunk Avenue were covered in dollar bills signed by visitors, they were bare, and owner J.P. Teti was slinging cheesesteaks from a food truck. But Teti wasn’t some Londoner doing his best impression of a dive bar — he’s an American expat, raised between Philly and New Jersey. When the food truck didn’t quite capture the communal energy he envisioned, he decided to open a bar. “It’s always been about, for me, sharing the cultural inheritance that made my upbringing special,” Teti told The New York Times. That vision came to life when the first Passyunk Avenue location opened in Fitzrovia.
Step inside any Passyunk Avenue, and you’ll see the details that make it feel like a real piece of Philadelphia. Bar stools line the counter, the space is intimate, and the walls are filled with a mishmash of Philly nostalgia. Flags from local schools hang near the windows, jerseys and T-shirts drape from the ceiling, and neon Budweiser signs glow over the chatter. As Teti told People, “Everything you see on the walls has been donated by people over time, so it’s like a collection of other people’s junk that proudly hangs in our bar.”
Then, there’s the food — you can’t stop by Passyunk without trying the cheesesteaks. The dive bar makes its own Wiz Cheese in house daily, along with its own hoagie rolls. One Tripadvisor reviewer called it the “best cheesesteak outside of Philly.” The menu doesn’t stop there, though. You’ll find Philly quesadillas, Buffalo wings, and a pastrami hoagie, plus vegan-friendly options. As for drinks, expect an American-style beer selection alongside a few Philly staples, like the Citywide Special (a can of PBR with a shot of Jim Beam) and the Passyunk Pickleback.
Swing for the fences and make a night of Passyunk Play
