This ever-evolving pick was named one of 2024’s Best Bars in America by Esquire, and you’d likely agree after visiting. Wooden tables and brick walls keep the place feeling attainable and cozy, despite its next-level, higher-brow drink menu. Each and every libation is made only with ingredients from the East Coast (read: that’s spirits, mixers, herbs, garnishes, and everything in between); the bar is free of imported goods in an effort to offset the resto’s carbon footprint and environmental impact.
The cocktail selection is heavily dependent on seasonality and ingredient availability, so it’s bound to change. But a few you can find right now include the spring-forward Escapism Spritz, made with gin, clementine apertive, thyme vodka, cantaloupe cordial, pea shoot cordial, and sparkling white wine, and the strong Bay Side Snap, made with rye, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond bourbon, bay leaf syrup, kumquat superjuice, and red wine foam.
The mocktails are just as noteworthy, ranging from the Tea El See, made with black tea, condensed oatmilk with allspice, cardamom leaves, pandan, and a non-alcoholic aperitivo, to the Chillin Chillin, made with spirit-free Kentucky 74, smoked pear juice, ginger honey syrup, yuzu superjuice, and rosemary smoke.
The vibe: swanky but not pretentious, chic but comfortable
The food: elevated bar fare with international influences and Philly-inspired flourishes
The drink: top-notch cocktails made exclusively with liquor, produce, and ingredients from the Eastern U.S., as well as beers and wines from the same region and a few mocktails
Time Out tip: Head there any night it’s open between 5 and 7pm for $11 classic cocktails, $8 bar snacks, and 20 percent off draft beers.