Messina Club
Club · Passyunk Square ·
Innovative experimental food and cocktails in a century-old townhouse
Innovative experimental food and cocktails in a century-old townhouse
"Messina is a 30-seat members-only club serving some of the most innovative food and drinks in South Philly. Nestled in a century-old townhouse, the menu is part-American, part-European, and all experimental. It spans from small plates, like the silky poached scallops with apple and braised beef toast, to the larger gemelli with pungent vadouvan and crispy Elysian lamb schnitzel. There are still some old-school touches, but it feels more like a modern dive bar. While the vibe is decidedly casual, every plate is thoughtfully and beautifully composed, making it the perfect balance for an impressive date or Saturday night with friends." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"Messina is a 30-seat members-only club serving some of the most creative food and drinks in South Philly. For dinner, walk-ins can order a la carte, but the $95, six-course tasting menu is the way to go (and requires a reservation). The menu spans from small plates like silky poached scallops with apple or braised beef toast to the larger gemelli with pungent vadouvan and crispy Elysian lamb schnitzel. While the vibe is decidedly casual, every plate is thoughtfully and beautifully composed, making it the perfect balance for an impressive date or Saturday night with friends. Take our word for it—this is one club that’s actually worth the hype." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"We know, we know—memberships are annoying. But it’s worth getting one to this cool South Philly club (and it’s not even hard to do). Grab a seat at the vintage bar and pair one of their excellent house cocktails with the king salmon crudo and a bowl of creste di gallo. Even though you came alone, you’ll probably end up chatting with the friendly staff or fellow members, so you’ll get a great meal and a chance to feel pretty hip, however temporary." - alison kessler
"“It's a classic spot for us when we've had a long, stressful day or a stressful weekend and we want to go to a bar where you can have the most delicious drinks but also just hang out and chat with the bartenders. Everyone who works there is the coolest. I'll say this: you're definitely not supposed to order mind erasers at this place. But it's perfect. Mind erasers you can get at any bar, any college bar. But if you're at the fancy cocktail place and your bartenders love you…they'll load you up a mind eraser.”—SG" - candis mclean
"Messina is a 30-seat members-only club serving some of the most innovative food and drinks in South Philly. Nestled in a century-old townhouse, the menu is part-American, part-European, and all experimental. It spans from small plates, like the silky poached scallops with apple and braised beef toast, to the larger gemelli with pungent vadouvan and crispy Elysian lamb schnitzel. There are still some old-school touches, but it feels more like a modern dive bar. While the vibe is decidedly casual, every plate is thoughtfully and beautifully composed, making it the perfect balance for an impressive date or Saturday night with friends. Take our word for it—this is one club you definitely want to join. " - candis mclean, alison kessler