The Best Speakeasies in Philadelphia

To enter Hop Sing Laundromat, ring the doorbell and wait for the doorman, who may interrogate you with questions or turn you away for dress code or lack of ID. No sandals or cell phones are allowed, and only groups of four or more are permitted. However, when you enter, you’ll find yourself sipping some of the best expertly crafted cocktails. They have every liquor imaginable, and bartenders frequent the ladder to grab bottles on the top shelves. The dark library-style room is cozy and perfectly intimate for a date. Come prepared – it’s cash only.

Classy and sophisticated, Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. is one of Philadelphia’s most popular Prohibition-style speakeasies. The new menu has been cut down to one page of drinks, but customers who know what they’re looking for can still ask the bartenders for a specific concoction. The flavorful and creative cocktails are instilled with the expert knowledge of the mixologists. Perfect for dates, happy hour or a nightcap, this bar is well worth a visit.

This Chinatown cocktail bar can’t be seen from the street. The small, Japanese-style hideout can be found in the back of Chinatown Square, an unassuming food court on Race Street. Upon entering, it still isn’t clear that the bar exists. Visitors will have to walk past food stalls, the bathrooms, and the steps leading up to a Korean restaurant. In the back, next to the KTV is Hi Kori, also known as the Bao Bar. The wooden awning looks like the sloping top of traditional, Japanese buildings, and the station is manned by only two bartenders. The beer list features Asian favorites like Tsingtao, Asahi, Tiger beer, Sapporo, and Kuninocho. Their Happy Hour specials include a Tsingtao and a shot of Baiju, Sapporo and Sake shot, or a Hite and Soju shot. Their speakeasy-style cocktail list features alcohol infused with matcha, green tea, oolong tea, and ginger. They specialize in Japanese street food which pairs perfectly with the drinks.

This speakeasy cabaret and social club was founded in 1914, giving it over a hundred years of history. The club can be found in Philly’s Northern Liberties neighborhood and is only open Thursday through Sunday from 10pm-3am. It has two floors and houses a vintage, speakeasy bar, dance floor, and theatrical stage. While the club is open to the public frequently for shows, it’s membership-only, costing $35 for the year. Members get reduced after-hours admission, as well as the ability to rent the space for private events and parties. Open an hour later than most bars in Philly, Ruba is where artists, industry professionals, and neighbors gather for once last cocktail.

According to its website, this is one of the oldest operating press clubs in America. The bar only serves working members of the press, and the people who support them. The general public usually can’t get in, unless they happen to befriend a local writer or journalist. Established in 1892, the bar was able to stay open during Prohibition due to its connections. In 1892 Philadelphia had nearly a dozen newspapers, and the journalists behind them needed a place to drink, complain, and swap ideas. The bar hosts book talks, wine tasting events, and poetry nights. While the club has a speakeasy atmosphere, the drink menu sticks to classic Philly beers like Yards and Yuengling. From the outside, it looks like nothing more than an abandoned warehouse. The red, fluorescent P&P sign in the window is the only thing that gives it away. The lighting is dim and the decor gives off a dive-bar feel rather than a sophisticated speakeasy. It’s a laid-back watering hole for Philly writers who need a place to unwind.

Plush, red leather booths, ornate wallpaper, and a chandelier give this speakeasy an elegant atmosphere. Visitors venture down an alleyway and look for the black door with two Rs on the outside. Once inside, guests are met by a hostess who will make them wait until a seat opens up at this tiny establishment. It’s dimly lit with photographs of classy nude women, framed in gold. The bartenders are dressed in white button-down shirts with ties, and they look like mad scientists as they concoct drinks. The drink list features artisanal options like Love on the Rum, made with egg yolk, apple juice, rum, rye, and butter maple syrup. If you want a traditional, speakeasy feel, the Ranstead Room won’t disappoint.

Fiume’s location in west Philadelphia near the universities has made it popular among a younger crowd. To enter, walk through the Ethiopian restaurant Abyssinia. Only people who are in-the-know will be there, many of them eating an Ethiopian meal at one of the tables if space allows. The bartenders have a no-nonsense attitude, and the place is strictly cash only. It seems a bit impromptu, as if someone just decided to set up a bar on a whim, though that’s also a part of its charm.