Craft cocktails in a chic subterranean speakeasy with dim lighting























"A chic speakeasy vibe (you have to enter through an unmarked entrance at a neighboring hotel) is just one highlight of a night out at Franklin Bar. A menu of cocktails with surprising and spicy flavor combos matches the sultry mood. A favorite, Jackie Daytona, is a tiki-esque classic, with peach, orgeat, cinnamon, lemon, and rum." - Annemarie Dooling

"A speakeasy adjacent to the Philadelphia Flower Show will become a weeklong pop-up floral shop–slash–cocktail bar at 1715 Rittenhouse Square from Sunday, March 2 through Saturday, March 8 (the Philly Flower Show runs March 1–9). During the residency the bar will host New Orleans bartender Erika Flowers — the bar lead of chef Nina Compton’s Caribbean-and-Creole restaurant and one of Punch’s best new bartenders of 2023 — and the pop-up menu will feature cocktails inspired by and named after flowers made with Heaven Hill spirits (which has a rye whiskey inspired by the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood). Menu highlights include the Chamomile (rye whiskey, mezcal, chamomile, hazelnuts, habanero pepper, honey, and cardamom); the Blue Lotus (gin, a blue lotus tea, butterfly pea flower, mint, and salted cucumbers — the punch is served in a bowl with a frozen flower accompanied with tea cups); and the Buttercup (sweet corn, brown butter–washed whiskey, ginger, lemon, and Miller High Life). There will also be nonalcoholic cocktails. The front will be decked out with flower installations and a build-your-own-bouquet bar with flowers across the front and throughout the interior; table centerpieces will be available for sale. The floral portion is created and run by Philadelphia florist Marianna Coppola of Creations by Coppola. The flower shop will be open during the daytime; the bar will be open 5 p.m.–midnight Sunday–Thursday and until 2 a.m. Friday–Saturday." - Nadia Chaudhury

"Prohibition-Era Cocktails at The Franklin Bar The Franklin Bar, a sort of modern speakeasy, peddles period-accurate cocktails (with a few inventive twists) served up by modish, bow-tied bartenders. Best to make a reservation to snag a spot."

"Prohibition-Era Cocktails at The Franklin Bar The Franklin Bar, a sort of modern speakeasy, peddles period-accurate cocktails (with a few inventive twists) served up by modish, bow-tied bartenders. Best to make a reservation to snag a spot."

"The appeal of a speakeasy-style bar may be gone in the era of to-go cocktails, but the Franklin still delivers well-made drinks packaged in bottles in a variety of sizes. Stow the 18-serving old fashioned bottle in the freezer for a professionally mixed cocktail at any hour." - Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme, Caroline Coral