Stratus on the Kimpton Hotel Monaco roof in Old City Philadelphia is the year-round Chestnut Street lounge with lush green walls, fire pits and live DJs Friday and Saturday.
Tip: Tuesday and Wednesday 17:00 to midnight; Friday and Saturday push to 02:00. Casual upscale dress; reserve via OpenTable for a window seat.
Address: 433 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
48 Record Bar above Sassafras in Old City Philadelphia is the 35-seat jazz kissa style listening room and cocktail lounge with an audiophile vinyl rig and live tiny-desk sets.
Tip: Enter through Sassafras downstairs, take the back stairwell up. No reservations; the Sunday morning deep-listening sessions open at 10:00.
Assembly on the 9th floor of The Logan Hotel in Philadelphia faces the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with a clear sight line up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Tip: Happy hour 16:00 to 18:00 Sunday through Thursday. Reserve a Tock seat for sunset; the venue is 21+ with valid photo ID required.
Attico on the 16th floor of the Cambria Hotel in Philadelphia faces the Avenue of the Arts, with Mediterranean small plates, retractable roof panels and a Saturday brunch.
Tip: Friday DJ and bottle service 22:00 to 02:00. Closed Monday and Tuesday; the dinner kitchen runs Wednesday through Sunday.
El Techo on the 11th floor of the Motto by Hilton hotel in Philadelphia is the rooftop taqueria above Condesa, with a retractable roof for year-round mezcal and tacos.
Tip: Walk-ins only on the rooftop; reservations only for Sunday brunch downstairs. Closes midnight Friday and Saturday, 23:00 weeknights.
Hop Sing Laundromat on Race Street in Chinatown is the unmarked Philadelphia cocktail room behind a gray door, run on cash with strict house rules and Asian-flavored cocktails.
Tip: Open Thursday through Saturday from 17:00. Cash only; no shorts, sneakers, hats, phones or photos. Reservations via Instagram DM.
Ranstead Room on a Center City alley behind El Rey is the unmarked Philadelphia basement cocktail bar, walk-in only with a tight room and an interesting list.
Tip: Walk-in only, no reservations. Open 19:00 to midnight Monday through Wednesday; pushes to 02:00 Thursday through Saturday.
48 Record Bar above Sassafras in Old City Philadelphia is the 35-seat jazz kissa style listening room and cocktail lounge with an audiophile vinyl rig and live tiny-desk sets.
Tip: Enter through Sassafras downstairs, take the back stairwell up. No reservations; the Sunday morning deep-listening sessions open at 10:00.