A visit to Cira Green is a unique experience. All at once, you’re in the middle of the action—right by the University of Pennsylvania campus and 30th Street Station—and yet apart from everything, 12 stories above it all. This stunning rooftop park is the ideal place to while away the hours on a sunny day.
The top of a parking garage may not be the first place you’d think of for a park in Philadelphia, but Cira Green is definitely that. Spanning 1.25 acres, the green space has lots of lawn to spread out. There’s even a small dog run in the middle.
Philadelphia’s first elevated park sits above Cira Centre South overlooking the Schuylkill River. From all sides, there are incredible views of the city and skyline.
Facing east, visitors can see the heart of downtown as the train tracks, highway, and river below ensure that the view of the skyscrapers is unobstructed. If you happen to visit at sunset, it’s one of the best places around to watch the changing colors of the sky.
Cira Green rooftop park hosts frequent events, including movie nights, yoga classes, viewing parties, and lots of other social engagements. If you like lawn games or music, this is your place. Simply hanging out with a good book here is one of our favorite things to do. It’s one of the most fun outdoor spots in the city.
Annual events like the Kentucky Derby party and weekly events like Monday night trivia are always popular. From spring through fall, visitors are likely to find something special happening several days a week. During our visit on a holiday weekend, there were sports- and food-related pop-ups happening at the same time.
From mid-spring through fall, Sunset Social adds to the offerings in this cool space. The quick-service bar and restaurant makes it easy to have a picnic or relax with a drink every afternoon and evening and all day on the weekends.
Sunset Social’s food menu is straightforward, featuring burgers, chicken tenders, French fries, and ice cream. The food is average, so if you want something special, you’re probably better off bringing a picnic with you. They also offer lots of cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks. The bar is understandably popular on weekends, and lines can be long at peak times.
While Cira Green park is open year-round, the season for Sunset Social varies yearly based on weather. In 2024, it is open from April 15 likely through mid-to-late October.
Visiting the park
The main entrance to Cira Green is located on South 30th Street between Chestnut and Walnut. You can also enter through the parking garage. Take the elevator to the 11th floor and follow the green path to the park on the roof of the garage.
Hours of operation change slightly based on the season and day of the week. It is generally open from 7am to 10pm Sunday through Thursday and until 11pm Friday and Saturday. It closes at 9pm on Sunday.