Best Cocktail Bars in Philly
Written by: Sydney Brodsky
Hi, my name is Sydney, and as someone who is not a Philly native, I love trying new places. So I searched far and wide for the most fabulous, aesthetically pleasing, and upbeat cocktail bars Philadelphia offers. I will review their cocktails, ambiance, service, and food. This list includes the most recommended and hidden gems of cocktail bars in Philly.
Graffiti Bar, Center City
Graffiti bar is a cocktail bar connected to the well-known Micheal Schulson restaurant, Sampan. You enter by walking down this small dark alley and suddenly enter a lively bar. When walking in, you are bombarded by loud music and groups of people conversing all over the bar. The dark lighting and features of the bar are complemented by a large wall covered in graffiti. The wall illustrates a bright collection of flowers in the mural with a high-top table facing the artwork. In the center of the space are long high-top tables for people to share. Although there is a lot of seating, many people stand and venture all over the bar.
All drinks and food are discounted if you get there between 4-7. Some of their famous drinks include fishbowls, which are a sugar rush you can't resist. I got the fishbowl with Vodka, Strawberry, Ginger beer, and Lime. The super fruity mixture is perfect for sharing with friends and getting a buzz. They also have other cocktails, my favorite being the classic Moscow Mule. Graffiti Bar got a unique twist to this traditional drink by adding lychee to the mule. In addition, they have a great selection of shareable plates. Grafitti Bar is an Asian fusion restaurant, so dishes include fried rice, dumplings, bao buns, and much more. I like all the items I have tried there, but the Kimchi Fried Rice is a highlight. It has a little kick when you take each bite, but also like the additional shrimp added to the dish.
JG Sky High, Center City
As we walked into the elevator of the Four Seasons, my ears rushed with air as we shot up into the sky. We finally reached the top and entered this high-class atmosphere. Orchids lined against the walkway as you enter, greeted by the high-top bar and the booths surrounded by tables and a window view. Patrons can walk down to the second floor, where a waterfall leads to another sexy lounge area and bar. The extensive table seating encouraged more socializing. We sat by the glass windows overlooking the sunset over the entire city.
I started with Pomegranate Storm, a mixture of white rum, pomegranate, ginger, and lime. These combinations of two rums made it a little heavy and dilated the other flavors. My other drink, the Lychee Raspberry Bellini, was quite the opposite. A sip complimented the champagne lychee and raspberry, which had the perfect balance of alcohol-to-fruit ratio. Next, we shared a few appetizers that were not worth the expensive price attached. We got the Calamari and Waygu Beef Cheesesteak Egg Rolls. Each plate had small portions, and none of the food was noteworthy because it had no powerful or rich flavor.
The entrance was covered with orchids showcased above purple neon pedestals. Then, when walking into the lounge, flowers are lined up against the walkway, and then you can enter either the high-top bar or the other side, which has booths surrounded by tables and a window view.
Leda and the Swan, Center City
As you go through a big brown door, you enter a lounge with chill vibes and a DJ playing EDM music. The decor included neon oriental decorations and graffiti-type artwork. We gave our name to the hostess, but he said they were overbooked and brought us to the restaurant. Then, little did we know it was 1225 Raw Sushi Bar. We grabbed a drink at the bar, and I chose Spirited Away. The cocktail included champagne, citrus, elderflower, and lime. It was a light and refreshing flavoring with a fruity taste as I sipped.
We headed back to the lounge and walked through the long dark hall where I was trespassing back to Leda and the Swan as an un-staff member. We were seated at a half-booth table section. It was frustrating that we could not order drinks at the table and had to walk to a small bar in front to place them with the bartender. It felt disorganized, mainly because they overbooked us as well. The drink we ordered from the bar was Salvation of Humanity, a mix of vodka, ginger beer, Belgian wit, and strawberries. The cocktail was way too strong, and Belgian wit did not taste good with the ginger beer. They were not serving any food on the Leda and Swan lounge side.
R&D, Fishtown
Upon entering, you felt the sexy, vibrant, and upbeat vibes within the bar. We were seated right away at a table by the window. There were also booths and seating around the bar. The dark lighting, art deco floors, and neon bar added to the ambiance. There was upbeat house music throughout the night and the surrounding sound of lots of people gathered at the bar. The first drink I got was a Mulled Wine Cosmo. Which was a bit scary of choice at first, but it was a beautifully paired drink. The second drink I got was a Milk Paloma Punch, a hand-strained tequila drink with coconut water. The Punch looked very bland but had a delicate and tasteful flavor. Our waiter recommended this specialty drink, and he provided excellent service throughout the night. The food was American-styled shareable plates. I got a Smash Burger and fries, and we shared popcorn. The burger was thin but juicy, flavorful with every bite due to the special sauce added. While the popcorn was very addictive since it was seasoned with togarashi, I wished it was a little more buttery.