Craft cocktails in Philadelphia
July 8, 2019 2:18 PM Subscribe
Seeking all suggestions for craft cocktail bars (or restaurants with great cocktail programs) in Philadelphia. Thanks!
Fiume in West Philadelphia. When you walk in you will think I have utterly conned you (it looks like your cousin's unfinished rec room), but when you try your drink you will find it is in fact the best cocktail experience in the entire city.
posted by telegraph at 3:17 PM on July 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by telegraph at 3:17 PM on July 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
I really enjoyed The Ranstead Room when I visited a few years ago!
posted by Anonymouse1618 at 3:32 PM on July 8, 2019
posted by Anonymouse1618 at 3:32 PM on July 8, 2019
The Franklin, mentioned above, is the best I’ve found (though I think it’s gone downhill in the last couple years), and I’ve looked. I also enjoyed Charlie Was a Sinner and Double Knot and Abe Fisher, all restaurants with interesting drink programs. I hear good things about the Farmer’s Cabinet from my Philly local friend who may be an even bigger cocktail snob than I am. I am sending him to try Bloomsday Cafe soon.
posted by ferret branca at 4:18 PM on July 8, 2019
posted by ferret branca at 4:18 PM on July 8, 2019
Seconding Charlie Was A Sinner. I also enjoyed Manatawny Craft Spirits Shop & Tasting Room.
posted by Medieval Maven at 4:31 PM on July 8, 2019
posted by Medieval Maven at 4:31 PM on July 8, 2019
A. In the Valley B. Barcelona C. Win Win D. Bok bar E. Bar Bonbon
posted by erattacorrige at 4:39 PM on July 8, 2019
posted by erattacorrige at 4:39 PM on July 8, 2019
Seconding, in order of preference, Ranstead Room, Fiume, Abe Fisher, Charlie Was a Sinner, Hop Sing.
Adding Wm Mulherin & Sons, Hungry Pigeon, Southwark, and Suraya--these are all primarily restaurants, but have excellent and inventive cocktail programs.
The Franklin has definitely gone downhill--it changed hands a few years ago, and has stagnated under the new ownership. They still do a very good job, but the others I've listed above do a better job.
posted by dizziest at 5:41 PM on July 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
Adding Wm Mulherin & Sons, Hungry Pigeon, Southwark, and Suraya--these are all primarily restaurants, but have excellent and inventive cocktail programs.
The Franklin has definitely gone downhill--it changed hands a few years ago, and has stagnated under the new ownership. They still do a very good job, but the others I've listed above do a better job.
posted by dizziest at 5:41 PM on July 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
Maybe not true but didn't Bookbinder's close awhile back?
Restaurant worker in Philly here: the management at Suraya and Double Knot are unethical twits, would recommend against.
posted by erattacorrige at 6:49 AM on July 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
Restaurant worker in Philly here: the management at Suraya and Double Knot are unethical twits, would recommend against.
posted by erattacorrige at 6:49 AM on July 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
Bookbinder's did close a while back, but it's open again! Technically, though, I guess it's "The Olde Bar in the Historical Bookbinder Building".
posted by joyceanmachine at 6:52 AM on July 9, 2019
posted by joyceanmachine at 6:52 AM on July 9, 2019
Philadelphia Distilling has a great cocktail menu in a cool space.
posted by coppermoss at 7:02 AM on July 9, 2019
posted by coppermoss at 7:02 AM on July 9, 2019
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- Hop Sing is pretentious, has bizarre dress code, and is run by an irrational autocrat, but the drinks are very, very good.
- If you can't get in there, Franklin Mortgage Company is about 80% as good for 60% of the nonsense (but still a certain amount of nonsense).
- A lot of the newer Steven Starr restaurants like the Dandelion and The Love have very good craft cocktails and excellent service. In the older generation of Starr restaurants, you want Village Whiskey and Barclay Prime for quality drinks.
- Spice Finch is relatively new, but is becoming a lot of people's favorites, in part because they picked up a bunch of the best bartenders from Village Whiskey.
- If your idea of craft cocktails includes "old-fashioned drinks made new with fancy craft liquor", Bookbinders is very good and an old school Philly landmark
posted by joyceanmachine at 2:54 PM on July 8, 2019 [2 favorites]