Bok Bar Returns for Its Eleventh Season with Chef Residencies, Events, and Philadelphia’s Most Iconic Rooftop Views

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(PHILADELPHIA, PA) – March 30, 2026 – ​ Bok Bar, the beloved rooftop bar perched atop South Philadelphia’s historic Bok Building, returns for its eleventh season beginning Thursday, April 9, 2026, and running through November 1, 2026. Since its debut as the very first public activation at Bok, the rooftop has become one of the city’s most celebrated gathering places—known for its sweeping skyline views, legendary parties, and the countless celebrations, collaborations, and date nights that unfold there each season.

What began as a temporary experiment in activating the former technical high school quickly evolved into a ​ seasonal destination and a staple of Philadelphia’s cultural landscape. Over the past decade, Bok Bar has served as a space for convening and community—where artists, neighbors, chefs, musicians, and visitors come together to pilot new concepts and celebrate local culture against one of the best rooftop views in the city. Now entering its eleventh season, the bar continues to build on that legacy with a dynamic slate of programming and culinary collaborations that highlight the region’s vibrant food and creative scenes.

This year’s season once again features monthly chef residencies, each offering a thoughtfully crafted menu that rotates throughout the season. The 2026 lineup includes Cantina La Martina (April), Tabachoy (May), Puyero (June), Gabriella’s Vietnam (July), Korea Taqueria (August), Rice & Sambal (September), and Darnel’s (October).

Kicking off the season is Cantina La Martina, the celebrated Mexican restaurant from James Beard–finalist chef Dionicio Jiménez. Known for its vibrant cooking rooted in the traditions of Mexico City, the restaurant quickly became a beloved destination in Philadelphia’s dining scene, earning national recognition for its deeply flavorful dishes and warm hospitality. While their Kensington location recently closed, Jiménez and his team are continuing their work through pop-ups, catering, and new projects as they search for the next home for Cantina La Martina. Their residency at Bok Bar offers a chance for fans and newcomers alike to experience the restaurant’s bold flavors and celebratory spirit in a new setting.

Bok Bar’s free event series also returns for the season, offering a mix of movement, music, and community gatherings, including Salsa Sunday ft. DJ’s Big George and VSpice, Boot Scoot ft. DJ Hugocito, and the return of Brittany Lynn and the Drag Mafia for their lively monthly drag performances as well as opportunities to gather in The Club for Connection, hosted by DJ Yolo Ono.

Longtime Bok community member KG Strong will host the popular rooftop fitness series featuring yoga and other classes, with a portion of proceeds supporting a different local nonprofit each month. Music lovers can also look forward to the return of the Summer Concerts, featuring Josh Lang and DJ Sylo (BWC Sounds), Dave P. (Making Time), ​ Lee Jones (Sundae Philly) and Bok Bar’s 4th annual FOH Series.

HOURS, TICKETS, & LOGISTICS

From April 9 through November 2, 2026, Bok Bar will be open to the public:

The bar operates on a first-come, first-served basis, with a semi-private area available for large group reservations. Inquiries can be submitted via www.bok-bar.com.

Event tickets are available at bokbar.ticketleap.com.

Bok Bar is a 21+ establishment. Toddlers and children up to 12 years old are permitted until sunset when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Dogs are welcome at all times. The entrance to Bok Bar is located at 800 Mifflin St., Philadelphia, with the bar situated on the 8th floor.

There is no dedicated parking for Bok Bar; guests are encouraged to bike, take public transit, or use rideshare services. For updates on hours or weather-related closures, follow @bok_bar on Instagram.

For more information, visit www.bok-bar.com.

ABOUT BOK

The Bok Building in South Philadelphia stands as a powerful model of adaptive reuse and mission-driven development. The project transformed a 1936 historic vocational high school into a thriving, nine-story hub for creativity, entrepreneurship, and community life. Led by Scout, the project reimagines the school’s original infrastructure— terrazzo floors, lockers, and shop equipment—were preserved through a light-touch renovation that prioritizes accessibility, affordability, and cultural continuity.

Today, Bok is home to over 200 tenants, including artists, nonprofits, creative small businesses, and manufacturers. Former classrooms now house everything from clarinet repairers to tattoo studios, while the ground-floor WKSHP marketplace—formerly the auto shop—buzzes with activity from a bakery, ceramics studios, a coffee shop, artisan boutiques, and more. Over 60% of Bok’s tenants are women- or minority-owned, far surpassing industry norms and affirming Scout’s commitment to equity as both a social and economic imperative.

The building’s rooftop venues—Bok Bar and Irwin’s, an award-winning Sicilian restaurant—along with community events, biannual Open Studios, and civic programming, have turned Bok into a destination as much as a workspace. This balance of public and private, of heritage and innovation, is central to Scout’s philosophy: by centering affordability, creative opportunity, and cultural value, Bok is more than a building—it’s a living, evolving community resource.

For more information, visit www.buildingbok.com.

ABOUT SCOUT

Scout is a Philadelphia-based design and development firm nationally recognized for transforming underutilized buildings into vibrant, community-centered hubs. Guided by a philosophy of minimal intervention, Scout preserves the architectural character of existing structures while unlocking new creative and economic possibilities—demonstrating how adaptive reuse can be a powerful tool for cultural revitalization, affordability, and inclusive growth.

Unlike traditional developers, Scout doesn’t simply build spaces—they lead the design process and remain long-term stewards, actively managing their properties to cultivate ecosystems of artists, entrepreneurs, and neighborhood partners. Their work balances preservation with progress, fostering collaborative environments that strengthen local communities and fuel creative economies.

This approach is exemplified by the Bok Building, a 340,000-square-foot former vocational high school in South Philadelphia, now home to more than 200 tenants including artists, nonprofits, small businesses, and food entrepreneurs. Building on this success, Scout is developing the Village of Industry & Arts (VIA)—a historic 110,000-square-foot ​ temple on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. Spanning 1.9 acres and anchored by two historic buildings (the former Hamilton and Furness Halls of the University of the Arts), VIA will be a living, working community for artists, makers, and mission-driven organizations. Founding tenants include BlackStar Projects, Monument Lab, DesignPhiladelphia, and the Stained Glass Project, alongside local artists and small-scale retailers. Eleven ground-floor studios will offer public-facing creative space, while workshops and storefronts will activate the surrounding streetscape. Inspired by Bok but distinct in its civic setting, VIA blurs boundaries between art and industry, creation and community—inviting the most industrious Philadelphians to build, collaborate, and dream together.

Founded in London in 2011 by Lindsey Scannapieco, Scout has grown into a nimble, multidisciplinary collective with expertise spanning design, planning, community engagement, hospitality, and operations. As a nationally certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), Scout prioritizes long-term impact over short-term return. Beyond buildings, their participatory projects—such as the Ebba Sparre Sauna Collective in Philadelphia and Watch This Wall in London—spark creativity, connection, and joy, redefining how spaces can bring people together.