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    R&D

    4.5 (117 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    R&D Photos

    R&D ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - R&D

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    Branded ice cubes
    Olga K.

    This is a hidden gem! Trendy minimalistic cocktail bar. It's kind of "if you know-you know" place. Cocktails are phenomenal, interior is tasteful. Service is great! Good for dates.

    Espresso martini
    Amber K.

    The vibes here are so cute for a nice place to catch up for cocktails. I got the espresso martini, hummus and curly fries. The fries were super yummy and I liked the pita that came with the hummus. The service was quick and our server was very attentive. Would definitely recommend this place for anyone who's looking for a cute cocktail bar

    David Z.

    Great ambiance and a phenomenal happy hour deal. One of my favorite spots in fishtown for hh and drinks Drinks are solid nothing super creative more so leaning towards traditional drinks at for happy hour Their drink not on happy hour are quite fantastic. Great food on the hh menu too the hummus is from zahavs or suraya i cant remember but thats always a banger Smash burger wise, solid burger nothing mind blowing but i think it comes with fries

    Negroni
    Evon S.

    I really REALLY liked this place. It's a nice grown and sexy vibe for any type of occasion. Service was warm and welcoming. Drinks are amazing. I would definitely come back.

    Megan C.

    One of my new favorite spots in the city for a cocktail and good vibes. I went with the Paloma Milk Punch which is their most popular cocktail on the menu and for good reason - it pours clear, is arguably TOO smooth, and is served with R&D branded ice. I don't think I'll ever come here and not order this cocktail. I also tried a classic margarita that was tajin-rimmed to perfection and glorious. We bellied up to the bar and were served by bartender Mike who kept the drinks flowing and was generally a total rockstar with recommendations. R&D has an excellent happy hour menu (though their happy hour is literally only ONE hour Mon-Thurs) and if I wasn't headed to dinner directly after, I would have loved to have tried their house popcorn. Bonus? They also serve Suraya hummus! Will have to save for my next visit. I am also looking forward to heading back and enjoying the indoor/outdoor feel in the summertime. This is clearly a very popular spot for date night (I think we saw 3-4 first or second dates occurring all around us!) so come for the great cocktails and stay for the eavesdropping. Thank you for a wonderful time, R&D!

    Phylicia H.

    Probably one of the best happy hour spots in fishtown. Absolutely stunning decor with indoor/outdoor seating and open space environment. Happy hour lasts for one hour and the deals are great! I ordered the gimlet, which was refreshing and heavy on the lime. My friend ordered the daiquiri, which I will order next time. It wasn't a fruity slushy like consistency I was expecting at all. For food, I ordered the smash burger which came with a single patty, but was honestly filling. Especially with all the fries it came with! Fun vibes, great food, tasty drinks and friendly service!

    Retrograde
    Stephanie R.

    Definitely one of the best cocktail bars in Philly! Very creative drinks (mine was literally on fire) plus your standard go-tos. The staff is very helpful if you have any questions or need a suggestion. Drinks are a bit pricey but we'll worth it. Highly recommend coming for a drink after dinner!

    Shanel S.

    Gaaaahhh!!! Please go here. It's a cute sexy vibe along a nice classy bar hop. The drinks are aaaaamazing. Try the Paloma milk punch (not shown and it's coconut and clear!) and then the tequila one that's on fire (disco nap) and the mezcal one (retrograde)... I forget the names but I guarantee they are all delicious. And cute big bathrooms! We couldn't get reservations cause we booked dinner prior and the OpenTable gods refused to believe we could do both. So walked in and the hostess told us 'yes! I just need the table back by 930' OK! I wish more restaurants did that. Gives the walk ins clear communication with direction AND you get that business . Others should follow cause how many times you be waiting and staring at an empty table--- yeah. Philly, we understand and can follow directions, give it to us direct. If it's gray... we will play! The server was friggin awesome. So personable, funny, charming and sweet. She saw our newlywed queerdos and fed us love and light! We will return, again and again. And one more time. Next time I'm bringing two more friends. Small intimate space and they have food but frfr you there to drink and be amazing.

    Jody S.

    I really enjoyed R&D, which I presume stands for Research & Development. It's a great name given that they are a cocktail bar developing exclusive drinks for patrons to try. This establishment is great for a pre-game or a night cap, either way you will witness passionate bar tenders taking pride in the drinks they make. I arrived on a Friday night and walked into a small intimate cocktail space with very low light. It was relatively crowded and required seating only, with no standing room allowed. Luckily there were folks leaving the bar so seats were freshly available. I ordered a Pineapple upside down cake which was exactly what I expected and it was delicious. The drink was a bit pricey but I had a great show in watching the bartender make the spiked beverage. Would love to stop by again randomly, or during future plans but will keep in mind that there are no reservations, seating only, and no parties bigger than 6.

    Rebekah M.

    So I only had one cocktail that was absolutely fantastic. I will say the vibe is so great and spot on with lighting. My only complaint is service. I appreciate them needing to card me a 31 year old woman, but the stare down combined with him bending my ID was intense. It was a slow hour on a Wednesday so I was confused. It kind of made my friends feel weird so they chose to not order and we moved on. I do think I'd give it another chance and hopefully find a better overall experience. Maybe he was having a weird day?

    Old Fashioned in the back and Spruce Negroni in the front
    Kelli K.

    I'd give the drinks 3 stars but 5 stars for the vibe and 4 for the food. It's such a nice space with great music. I loved the dim lighting and the colors used in the design. The bathroom was also pink and perfect for photos :) The food was definitely above average for bar food. The hummus was delicious and a good portion. We also got the smashed potatoes which were so yummy with an even larger portion (sadly forgot to take a pic). The service left something to be desired, but to be fair I think there was only one server that evening. The drinks just didn't live up to the hype for us. Maybe we just didn't get the right things? The spicy margarita was a total miss. We couldn't taste the Baja Blast at all and it was not balanced. The gingerbread old fashioned was much better but we wished the gingerbread flavor was more prominent - it was extremely subtle. I had high hopes for the spruce Negroni, but it was not bitter enough and was way too sweet. The Saturnalia was definitely the best of the night and is a good option if you like passion fruit.

    Retrograde
    Lacey G.

    I have had this spot on my cocktail radar for a while and was so happy to finally try for an after dinner drink! There was copious amounts of seating on a Saturday night around 7:30 p.m. I ordered the Retrograde and my bf ordered the Espresso Martini. My drink was well balanced and presented beautifully. It was served on fire. It is a show to sit at the bar and watch them craft the cocktails. Service is quick and the bartenders know what they are doing! My bf loved his espresso martini. I tasted it and was probably one of the best I've ever had. Would definitely return.

    Irish coffee, Bees on Leashes, All is Full of Love, espresso martini

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    1 year ago

    Great spot for cocktails. Good service, good drinks. Hummus as a snack was fantastic. Will definitely be back.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - R&D

    What time do reservations go live? I'm trying to reserve for a party of 6.

    Has anyone had a birthday party here? I'm thinking of having my daughters 30th birthday party at this spot?

    I've gone to a private event here

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    48 Record Bar

    48 Record Bar

    4.0(24 reviews)
    1.5 miOld City
    $$

    I didn't see it anywhere so posting for any future patrons - 48 record bar is located inside…read moreSassfras bar - upstairs to be specific. Drinks were good but music was way too loud!

    I'm a bit of a cocktail bar snob, and 48 Record Bar is definitely on my short list. They have a…read morecreative menu full of thoughtful concoctions and interesting techniques. My two favorites are Born Again and Buck 48. The Born Again is a clarified punch that's super refreshing--almost leaning tart, but in a really good way. The Buck 48 is also refreshing, with warm, spicy notes that give it an autumn vibe, though honestly, it's great any time of year. If you're in the mood for something bold and boozy, I also recommend The Golden Ticket. My palate leans away from anything overly sweet or overpowering--I appreciate balance--and every cocktail I've had here hits just right. The only sad thing is that my favorite bartenderess is no longer there, but the staff is still awesome, and the music is always on point, which keeps the vibe strong. Just a heads-up: this cocktail bar is upstairs from Sassafras, and the menus are completely different. If you're looking for a true craft cocktail experience, make sure you're upstairs at 48 Record Bar. The atmosphere is great. I usually go on Saturday nights around 8 p.m. and have been lucky to grab a seat, though it definitely gets more crowded later. The fact that I've been back several times says a lot--especially since I usually only visit a place once with so many options in the city.

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    48 Record Bar
    48 Record Bar
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    Sassafras Bar - This burger is ridic.

    Sassafras Bar

    4.4(456 reviews)
    1.5 miOld City
    $$

    I wish Jen and I had shown up in matching flapper dresses because Sassafras feels like stepping…read morestraight into the 1920s. Huge bar, giant wall of liquor bottles, dim lighting, and a cool old-school vibe. I told the bartender that ordering a beer in a place like this felt like I was insulting him. He laughed and told me not to worry about it. The drink special was called "Naked and Famous," which honestly sounded like the perfect cocktail to order in honor of Jen. But then I spotted a dark beer on the menu that sounded too good to pass up. If you follow me, you know I'm slowly becoming a dark beer guy. I liked it a lot. The sandwich special was a cheesesteak. Sorry, I should've taken a picture of the menu. But I really enjoyed it, and for $18 it came with a mountain of seasoned fries, which feels like a bargain these days. Bomb Shell: the two people working absolutely crushed it. I don't know if they were understaffed or if Monday night got busier than expected, but they were working their tails off the entire time. Even with that, they stayed polite, friendly, helpful, and incredibly accommodating to the guy carrying around a mannequin. Great visit to Sassafras!

    I had wanted to come here for sooo long and I should have gone sooner! Sassafras bar is soooo good!…read moreSince it was Valentine's Day we had about a 10 min wait to get seats at the bar - not bad. We both ordered a special cocktail - pornstar martini - and wowwwww it was so good. We didn't have time to stay for more unfortunately but I can't wait to go back. Great ambiance and our bartender was awesome.

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    Sassafras Bar - Bar

    Bar

    Sassafras Bar - French snap and an old fashioned

    French snap and an old fashioned

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    Buena Vista Mexican Restaurant - Chips and guac

    Buena Vista Mexican Restaurant

    4.4(9 reviews)
    1.5 miOld City

    This restaurant occupies the space where Han Dynasty used to be. The entrance is on Chestnut…read morestreet. Very big space. I got there on Wednesday around 6 and there were only a couple of customers at the bar. I almost left because I didn't see any employees. Finally someone came out to greet me and seated me in the middle are. He had to put some paper at the bottom of the table because it was a bit wobbly. A lot of choices in the menu. I ordered guacamole and chips for appetizers and it came out right away. The chips are fresh and not stale. Good amount of guacamole. Street corn aka elote. The corn is juicy. Unfortunately, it was not enrobed with mayo and cotija cheese as a typical elote should be. Fried plantain: not many slices. They are dry and not sweet . I was hoping for more ripe plantain Birria tacos: small tacos, the consommé lacks of depth of flavor. I could only taste saltines. The waiter asked if I wanted rice and beans. I said only beans. It's basically mashed refried beans. I wasn't aware that it costs extra $4. My husband ordered this dish served in half pineapple. It has chorizo and shrimp. Again , lacking depth of flavor, very salty. Service was great. The staff is friendly. Credit card is accepted but with a fee. There's an ATM if you prefer to pay with cash.

    Wow! So good! Our whole party was pleasantly surprised at how good everything was. Started with a…read morePITCHER of margarita which easily could have served like 10 people! It was only $50 so well worth it. The michelada was really good so we would recommend that too. For starters, we had the ceviche and it was amazing and also the street corn (it's so good, you should order two!). Everything on the menu that we had was delicious; however, the carne asada taco portion was a little small so make sure you order a side of rice and beans. For dessert, the churros were to die for: they came with ice cream too! We don't order dessert too often but I was so glad we did! The space is HUGE and there was no problem getting sat right away on a Saturday night. They do turn it into a dance club at night so we'll have to go back. Servers are nice and attentive and we will definitely be back!

    Photos
    Buena Vista Mexican Restaurant - Bar and seating area

    Bar and seating area

    Buena Vista Mexican Restaurant - Chicken nachos and stuffed jalapeños

    Chicken nachos and stuffed jalapeños

    Buena Vista Mexican Restaurant - Chairs

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    Chairs

    Almanac

    Almanac

    4.5(29 reviews)
    1.5 miOld City

    Drinks were outstanding, and so was the food! This actually came as a surprise since Almanac is…read moremarketed as more of a cocktail bar/speakeasy. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since they are located right about Ogawa (also amazing)! We tried the omakase cocktail, which was really fun and creative. Although if I'm paying $25 for a drink, I do expect a bit more of a presentation... The scallop crispy rice was absolutely a favorite, we had to order two! The toro was also a standout, although how can you go wrong with toro, uni, and caviar? The wagyu dog itself was great, but the roll it was on was dry. In my opinion, the bread makes or breaks a sandwich, so points off for that one. The ambiance was cozy, if a little dark at times. Our waitress was knowledgeable and attentive and gave us good recommendations on what to order. I will absolutely be back for the crispy rice alone!

    This place is a vibe. Perfect speakeasy style spot with moody decor. I had an intimate birthday…read morecelebration evening here. Service was great, we got recommendations, all questions answered with lots of knowledge about the menu, plus some birthday celebration shots. The regular menu drinks were next level, I loved the punch drink which is near the end of the menu and easy to miss. I did get an omakase drink but thought it was just ok, it was like a cucumber gimlet but I was expecting some more complex for the price ($25 I believe). I also thought it would be great if they asked about your taste, favorite cocktail, etc to truly customize the drink. Instead they don't ask about your preference, just if you want shaken vs stirred and to pick a season. So I'd recommend sticking to the actual menu . Other than that the food menu was fun. I enjoyed the wagyu hotdog, and all the appetizers I tried were delicious.

    Photos
    Almanac - Table for two

    Table for two

    Almanac - Sweet Potato Cheesecake

    Sweet Potato Cheesecake

    Almanac - Complimentary tea

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    Complimentary tea

    Vista Peru - Peru

    Vista Peru

    3.9(271 reviews)
    1.5 miOld City
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    Get the lomo saltado with the green sauce and the ceviche vista Peru! I think those two dishes are…read moredeliciously! The first time I came here I got those two dishes as well and thought it was delicious! Then went to Miami and kept thinking of this place!! Had to come back to verify that this place was better than most of the places in Miami! Granted it is much more expensive but it's worth it!

    I was eager to find a Peruvian restaurant in Philly and came to Vista Peru with a group on a Sunday…read moreevening. It was easy to make a reservation for the time we wanted. The main dining room is pretty narrow without much in the way of decor, and I think more could be done to help the space pop, but as always the food is my main concern in the end. The complimentary crunchy corn snack for the table was a nice surprise! We ordered an app, a ceviche, and four entrees to share between the six of us and found that plenty filling. The Yuca Frita app was tasty with a delicious dip we held on to, but I wish it came with more as six pieces felt small for the price. The Ceviche Mixto was a more solid portion with a great variety of seafood; it was on the tart side but came with a really nice cilantro sauce that the table ate clean. Out of our entrees, the Lomo Saltado was the highlight with well-cooked and tender chunks of steak and yummy fries (simple, I know). The Pescado a Lo Macho and Arroz con Mariscos were very generous portions with a ton of various seafood; even the fried fish dish came with shrimp, mussels, and scallops on top. The Aji de Gallina was maybe the least noteworthy entree, a chicken stew with cassava and rice, but even that was hearty and filling. Service was good throughout with plenty of water refills, and the cost was surprisingly reasonable for what we ordered. I'd definitely recommend this place for seafood lovers, and I'd be interested in coming back to try the roast chicken and to have the lomo saltado and ceviche again!

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    Vista Peru - Lomo Saltado!

    Lomo Saltado!

    Vista Peru - Pisco Sour!

    Pisco Sour!

    Vista Peru

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    R&D - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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