This place was awesome! We walked by a million times and always mentioned trying it out but never did...until Valentine's Day! There was a good crowd. Two people got up just before we walked in so we were able to grab a seat at the bar by the door. There are a few window seats. The bar stayed full the whole time. The bartender said it's a place where a lot of people come in for one or two drinks and then move on to the next bar but that it stays steady like that all night. The bartender was great! She was friendly and she was great at her job. I had my favorite cocktail, a Kir Royale and she went around the rim with a lemon twist. In all of the years I've been having these, it's the first time someone has ever done that. It changed the whole flavor of the drink...for the better! Delicious! There's only one unisex bathroom and I had to wait a long time to use it. I hate when there isn't a good bathroom ratio. This is a small place but the ambiance is very nice. It was dark and romantic but very, very clean behind the bar! They do serve food here. Small bites. They also have their own restaurant that is separate. They are attached to a hotel. There is parking around. They were a bit pricey so be forewarned on that! We will absolutely return and we highly recommend giving this place a try! They are great for before dinner...after dinner...and anywhere in between! read more

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So for those who don't know my reviews, I posted a review of how catty the bartenders are here. And that's because they were. The bad bartenders no longer work here! Highly recommend this as a fantastic place to bring your significant other. They do have a great menu especially the cocktails! They made me a "cup of tea" and the earl grey gin tastes just like a chai tea latte with that bit of warmth you need read more

A brilliant, cozy little bar just on the perimeter of Rittenhouse square. First thing that the bartenders asked when we sat down was for proof of vaccination and your ID to confirm it, which honestly made me feel a lot safer, considering how intimate it is. Been here on dates a few times, and I'll be honest, being a cocktail nerd, I was more interested at times speaking with the bartenders about their thought process, what brand of fortified wines, liqueurs, aperitifs they were using, etc than the girls I was with. Maybe speaks to how the dates went, but I would say it speaks to how interesting some of the cocktails they had were. There's a lot of subtlety in the drinks that they make, and even after reading the ingredients used, you start to think a lot. One of the drinks I had, the "meet me in valhalla" using standard rum and rhum agricole (sugarcane, not molasses based) was brilliant, and the addition of madeira was interesting in lieu of another fortified wine. The next time, if it's still available I may want to compare the same cocktail but using the individuals rums alone versus the combination, and what the ratio was, and how they decided on it. The "silent assassin" was a winner as well, with the combination of black pepper, balsamic, and rhubarb included in a cocktail bringing flavors that I haven't really had before. The only real caveat of this place is the price. We went for happy hour, where each cocktail was around 17 bucks or so. I'd venture to say that most of the high end cocktail bars I've been to are around the same price, but for a happy hour menu, I'd expect something a bit less. Still going to come back, and see what the folks here come up with in the future. Might be going alone more than with someone else though. read more

I love A Bar! They're connected to the AKA hotel, hence the name. A small bar diagonal from rittenhouse park. The drinks are priced accordingly - with cocktails being around $14. I recommend the Orange Catholic out of their signature cocktails! The bar size can make seating limited, so I recommend going on slower times/days if you're with 2+ people. I've never seen the bar empty, so the staff is always on the go, but still provide good service. The pretzels are good for bar food here. The olives were just okay- they seemed to be soaked in some sort of brine and were a tad too salty for my tastes, as I prefer fresh olives. As far as drinks go- great bar. Bar food can be hit/miss (see above) but the view is beautiful and the place itself is a class act. read more

a.bar - Grabbing drinks! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Delicious hand-crafted cocktails. It's small inside which kept the volume down. I loved the blackberry Prosecco cocktail and the Rittenhouse Rye Old Fashioned was excellent. read more

Creative and excellently crafted cocktails. An intimate atmosphere that feels cozy and upscale. The staff makes the experience

Great drinks and service. Recommend for cocktail hour and more. Small place but has a lot to offer.

This place is small like most popular cocktail bars and dimly lit. The mixologist are outstanding and drinks won't disappoint. I can't speak regarding the food but everything I saw looked good l, including the presentation. So I strongly suggest indulging in a handcrafted spirit you can appreciate. read more

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We stopped in here for a late night drink. And it definitely didn't disappoint. I believe it's attached to a hotel right next door, but it definitely has its own vibe. It's a little bit on the smaller side but it makes for a more intimate setting. The drinks are fun and the bartender (or perhaps they prefer mixologist) is great. The presentation of the drinks is off the charts and you can tell that they take pride in what they put down in front of you. Not only do they look good but they taste good. Definitively recommend this place to close out the night or have a drink or two with your sweetie. read more

a.bar - Bourbon & tequila drinks. Look at that presentation tho!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

the staff is very friendly, all praises, the selection of cocktails is huge, all recommendations, many beautiful girls read more

a.bar - a woman in a kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We always go to a.bar when in Philadelphia. Sean was our bartender the last 2 times. Had the pate..cheese platte .. steak tartar.. amazing as usual. Plus Sean hooked us up with awesome champagne. read more

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Atmosphere was great. The charcuterie board was good and even though we ordered right as the kitchen was closing they went ahead and let us place the order. Appreciated the service from the bartender and overall enjoyed the drinks, the food, and the service. read more

Love this place. This is what a speakeasy used to be, only this is out in the open. Bartenders will make whatever you want based upon your taste profile, they also make cocktails based on the classics. Atmosphere is great only drawback is the bit small, but that adds to the coziness. read more

Had one of my fav drinks in philly here - literally called a damn good cup of tea, which was a perfectly balanced drink comprised of earl gray tea, gin, ginger and a bunch of stuff I don't remember. All I know is that I've been craving it since I went there last weekend. The bar itself is dimly lit, but lots of light pours in from the street, as it is the perfect place to people watch (right on the corner). It's a very tiny cocktail bar. I think I would go to a speakeasy instead of here if I had the choice, as it's more private/intimate read more

As many reviewers have noted, the space is chic, but very small. No one in my party ate but we had several drinks. All of the specialty cocktails we tried were very, very good, and worth their hefty price tags. We particularly enjoyed the rye-based drink, the Red Hook. Last, many reviewers have noted this place is incredibly pretentious; while our server was truly delightful, friendly and helpful, we found the patrons to be pretty....well, pretentious and generally hostile. Thus, I'm the fence about this place; I would like to come back but I'm not sure I'm ready to be sneered at by millennials in skinny jeans while I'm spending lots of money. In sum: four yelps for the drinks service, one yelp reduction for the "atmosphere." read more

a.bar - Red Hook - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We used to love popping into this cozy bar for a great cocktail until last night. We grabbed a seat at the bar and put in our drink order. I was hoping to sub vodka for gin for one of the items on the menu, and I was told no customizations. I was told they pre-make their cocktails the night before. OKAY. Anyway, 15 min for a drink. 15 more min to get our check. Staff had their backs to the guests the whole time and were not very engaging. There are many other places in town that have better experiences. So pretentious. read more

Good Night and Good Luck is one of the best cocktails you can order in Philly. Beware of the absinthe. Some get a bit jittery from the stuff. The atmosphere here is modern business casual. The space is not very big but the bar fits 15+. There are a few tables for larger groups. The menu is a bit pricey, but the oysters are fresh and well shucked. This is definitely a good spot for happy hour or to start the night. It is well situated in the heart of Rittenhouse. I definitely recommend this place. read more

Where are you going? a.bar. A bar? Yea. Oh, Bar? No, A.bar. Ahh, ok see you there. Meeting friends at a.bar can be tricky, but I'm really glad I did, because it's a great little spot. The crowd ranged from a group of women who looked like they might be on their way to a Real Housewives of New Jersey audition, to an awkward first date, to a bunch of suits who looked like they just got out of a conference, to a loner old man in a hat who is probably secretly a one hit wonder rock star. Eclectic to say the least, but made for some great people watching (not to mention the tinted glass makes for great people watching outside the bar as well). We sat at the bar and service was attentive but not overbearing. I had the Pamplemousse Spritz, which was delicious. Next up, upon the recommendation of my friend, I was interested in trying a Fernet-based drink, since I'd never had it and she was raving about it (apparently it's a West-Coast thing, and just starting to hit the Philly drink scene) but didn't see any on the menu, and wasn't quite ready for a straight glass. The bartender was happy to craft a cocktail, and it was wonderful. We also tried the Fluke , which was delicious and had a super interesting flavor with the almond milk. Great spot for a drink, but I wouldn't be able to have more than a few here because that bill adds up fast! I think it's more of an intimate group thing, too, I wouldn't go with more than 3 people as you'll have a hard time getting seated and will likely feel crowded. read more

Loved my first experience at a.bar. This dark and sexy corner bar is prime real estate for people-watching. Somehow, the shades on the windows kept people from really looking in, but were still perfect for looking out. No fishbowl effect. The menu looks really awesome, but I didn't have anything to eat since we had dinner reservations at a.kitchen. But I did try the Pamplemousse Spritz, which was a perfect summer cocktail. Drinks are pricey, but considering the location I think that's to be expected. Said libations pack a punch so I have no complaints. Really looking forward to my next rendezvous on the corner of 18th and Walnut. read more

a.bar - Pamplemousse Spritz - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Great buzzy sunshine, batman, this place is awesome! Stopped in for a drink with an old friend. We were seated rapidly on a Friday night. The bar was hopping and wait staff were working hard. Creative list of cool cocktails. I had "That Which Slaps"--and it did. A blood orange cocktail that was heady and delicious. We had a great time, and I'd come back here any time. read more

a.bar is one of my favorite places for creative and quality cocktails. Also fun to sit outside and watch the foot traffic at the corner of 18th and walnut just outside of the square. The staff is very nice and friendly and the burgers are so good, too!! read more

a.bar - a Bitburger Pilsner, GER German Pilsner 4.8% and A. Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My best friend and I came for a girls night! The place we wanted to try wasn't open yet and THANK GOD! This was such a great find. We love the cocktails and fun menu. The wine was fantastic and atmosphere cozy. James was a fabulous bartender, he was so attentive and knowledgeable. Can't wait for our next trip to Philly to come back and have another memorable night. read more

Delicious cocktails, welcoming staff. Will definitely be here again. The environment is great alongside the people here.

Drinks were delicious, great atmosphere, servers were very friendly and helpful. Required proof of vaccination

Every single employee I've interacted with at this establishment is phenomenal. Their food and drinks are great, the ambiance is amazing, but the staff absolutely make this place what it is. read more

My fiancé and I popped in here one afternoon for a drink and a snack before we had to be somewhere. I had been to a.kitchen before, but never to a.bar, so it was interesting to see the differences. We grabbed two seats and the bar and got plenty of attention from our bartender. The negroni I had was definitely well crafted, as the bartenders take a careful amount of time to prepare each drink. For me it was a little too gin heavy and needy and bigger punch of Campari, but it was good nonetheless. My fiances cocktail, while I can't remember exactly what it was was good as well. They definitely take pride in making quaility beverages. We needed a little snack to hold us over, so we ordered the old bay fries with local ketchup. These were very on point as well. While I thought they could have used a lot more old bay to really rectify the old bay fries name, they were a tasty bar snack nonetheless. The fries were piping hot and super crispy and dressed up nicely when being dipped into the ketchup. It's a teeny tiny little bar, but swanky and cool for sure. I'd definitely return for a nice cocktail and some snacks. read more

a.bar - Negroni - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Only living in Philly for a couple months, and this is my last week. Decide to find a nice cocktail bar to enjoy a couple hours at. Found this spot. Lemme tell you, I LOVED everything I had. I had two cocktails from the menu and then the awesome (and cute) bartender James made me something special. Little did he know what he made me was my favorite gin cocktail plus some stuff to make it better. This is a great spot to people watch as well! Highly recommend a.bar for all the amazing cocktails. They put a lot of love into them. read more

A PLUS PLUS PLUS..!! This place is excellent all around! The cocktail list is amazing and changes with the season. The cocktail menu is vast and is broken down into 4 categories with about six different drinks in each so there is a broad selection for all palates. The menu has creative to classic cocktails and all variations in between. The bartenders are very knowledgeable about the cocktails. They use fine tasting liquors and ingredients in the drinks which comes across in every sip. The prices are actually not much more than cocktails at other rittenhouse cocktail bars and I think they are BY FAR the best TASTING and best PRESENTATIONS at a.bar. Also - keep in mind the location - the location is prime - and all the bars on the square: rouge, parc, etc charge about the same perhaps a tad less but the cocktails are not that great. The inside is sleek and sexy but still a fun chill atmosphere. The staff is extremely friendly and funny and a great group of people.This is my favorite place for cocktails in rittenhouse / CC. YUM..! read more

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I'm surprised a.bar doesn't have better reviews. I really enjoy this small cocktail bar. They also have a craft beer list. Haven't eaten much here besides oysters but the cocktails are inventive, the vibe is friendly and a little formal. Perfect place to stop by solo after work before meeting up with friends. read more

My friends and I always stop in when we're in the neighborhood and the drinks are fantastic! Some of my favorites in Rittenhouse, actually. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and always make a great drink! read more

Bottomline: Quite possibly the best cocktail bar of the moment (2017) in Philly, elevating Philadelphia's nonexistent Hotel Bar Scene. Definitely worth a visit and revisit in its own right. TASK: Hotel bars have a tough task of balancing an itinerant clientele in need of food, drink, and coffee. Hours become extended, staff gets worn, quality gets exchanged for that which is generic and appeals to the masses. Enter boutique hotels and all that they offer. Here, it's about character and crafting an individual experience from the staff to the patrons. EXECUTION: The wine list is one of the best curated (and priced) in the city. The cocktails are made by bartenders with a passion to create rather than a generic list handed down from management. The drinks are edgy, inventive, and well-balanced. I've yet to mention the food! A fantastic raw bar competes with a myriad of enticing appetizers anchored by solid locally-sourced burgers and other mains. FUTURE: Like Kimpton Hotels, aka Hotels have created a strong boutique brand. aka has a smaller reach at this time and from what can be seen, each property is unique. Character is what makes this Hotel Bar a destination and saves it from being just another generic hotel bar. read more

Super friendly, professional, and knowledgeable bar staff, wonderful cocktails and small plates in the heart of Rittenhouse. One can watch the city go by via the large windows, have a great conversation with a fellow patron (or staff member), and enjoy well crafted libations or curated wines. A top pick for me when in that part of town! read more

Best bar I have been to in Philly. Classy, great atmosphere. The bartenders make amazing drinks and are super friendly. It has sort of a speak easy vibe. They have a restaurant attached and I have heard great things about it. I'll try it out the next time I go. The bar area is small, but I don't necessarily see that as a negative. Overall a great experience. read more

This place is small and intimate. It isn't loud like most bars so having a conversation without screaming is possible. I came here because I was visiting and someone recommended it. I didn't have the cocktails but ordered a glass of wine since I was feeling under the weather. The waiter was friendly and attentive. Overall, it's a nice vibe and will visit again. read more

The drinks were fine, the place itself is fine. So I walked into A. Bar with 2 friends, just looking for a place to grab a drink for a few minutes. We went in and sat at the bar, the bar-back was wonderful, and my experience with the bartenders was positive. Then a fourth friend of ours came by, and we collectively sat at a booth that had just opened up. Our fourth friend ordered a drink at the table, as the other 3 of us already had cocktails. We waited 20 minutes for the fourth drink, but it didn't come. Eventually, a server (Kevin) came by and whispered to my friend that he didn't feel comfortable serving him. They had already served him 1 drink, and it was the only drink he had had that evening. We all thought it was a bad joke and the server would break the ice momentarily, but he did not. Instead, he accused our fourth of vomiting and making a mess of their bathroom. We literally had the table next to the door. None of us ever walked in the direction of their bathroom. Now I can't imagine why this bar would accuse us of this (or rather, the one of our party), but my best guess would be that it's because we're all in our mid-late twenties and most of the other clientele was over 40? It doesn't matter. The staff was sketchy and rude. The kicker was that when we told the server we wouldn't pay for that last drink (because we waited 20 minutes for it in a bar of 15 people, and they baselessly and falsely accused one of our party of vandalism), the server (Kevin) attempted to grab the drink out of our fourth's hand. Kevin, you're a sh*t server. I myself have spent a couple years in the industry, and I would never dream of swiping a drink from a customer's hand, no matter the situation. Even if *only* because you're working for a tip. And guess what. Kevin didn't get a tip. All he had to do was, basically nothing, and he would've gotten the 20% I pretty much give no matter what at restaurants/bars. Other than that, good, stiff drinks. I'm sure it's just the one/few poor staff that we're working that night. Hopefully they won't be working there much longer. read more

Good drinks but the rudest servers. Drinks were plopped down then tab placed on the table without any"thank you".

We stopped in for a cocktail around 5pm on a weekday and grabbed the last two seats at the bar. This place is small and cozy and has bar bites, including happy hour oysters for $1.50 each. Although I was tempted, we decided to wait until dinner. I had a manhattan made with a local distillery's rye. It was nicely done, the cherry was not maraschino so no artificial colors or sweeteners. Clearly they take their cocktails seriously here, although the bartender did leave it for a few minutes while it was sitting on the ice. I was thinking oh gosh don't let that ice melt so much. My accomplice had a specialty cocktail with many different ingredients in it. This is your basic very modern-type bar with crafted cocktails and a bearded hipster bartender, but without pretentious decor. Everything we urban-types have seen everywhere these days. read more

Ummm, I'm on the fence about this place. I went on a Monday with some friends to indulge in some cocktails and their happy hour special of 1.50 oysters. I have to say, I was surprised that there were no drink specials but I managed. The inside was nice. Its very small and dark. Almost too dark. I guess I might love the darkness at 11pm on a fall night more than in the summer but I still was not that impressed with the inside. I was expecting to love it more. What really threw me was when we got the bill. I had 3 drinks and 6 1.50 oysters and my portion of the bill was over $50 with tip. Sort of insane. I mean yes, the drinks with delicious but I can get an even more delicious cocktail at Hop Sing for less. read more

This place fits in perfectly in its central location across the street from Rittenhouse Square on one of the busiest blocks in Center City. Picture business casual, well dressed 30-something adults with their iPhones out drinking expensive cocktails and/or munching on a plate of raw oysters in a dark, small, minimally decorated bar. The bar is packed at happy hour. Conversation ranges from "OH my god your Prada shoes are SO fabulous" to "Ugh I NEED this martini after the day I've had at the office!" It's not that there's anything wrong with this scene, per se. While I did enjoy my well made Martini (slightly difficult to mes that up), my man did not enjoy his cocktail which was one of their signature ones off the menu. There are a lot of options on there, but beware they are way, way overpriced. In the realm of craft cocktails, this place easily charges $2-4 more per drink compared to their nearby competition (Franklin Mortgage, Ranstead Room, 1 Tippling Place). And honestly, I think their competition, for the most part, makes them better. The raw bar menu looked good-my man had a plate of their happy hour special oysters. $1.50 per for happy hour 4pm-6pm. We also sampled the spiced olives. There were a few things on the menu that I'd have liked to try, seafood being my thing, but again were going with the theme of being overpriced. Not going to spend $15 on an appetizer plate during happy hour. Nope. Really, it's just too stuffy in here to be my scene. When I'm looking to have a nice cocktail for happy hour, I'd much rather go somewhere not as crowded or pretentious. I'm sorry-it just has that vibe. Not my thing, I won't be back because of this. read more

the staff here is absolutely incredible. they're incredibly respectful and observant and keep an eye on the customers, making sure everyone feels safe. drinks were a 10/10, but staff was a 11/10. will deff be coming back read more