Banshee, Photo by Jason Varney

Welcome to Cocktails Quarterly - Drink Philly's newest segment showcasing the best bars (new and old) where you should be getting a drink. Every season will feature a new line up of bars so be sure to keep a look out for our next batch of recommendations.

2026 is here and given it’s a new year, we visit five newly opened spots across the city—three of which are must-visit sibling bars. This winter, we’re spotting several trends: Spicy-savory cocktails taking center stage, European-inspired American bistros doubling as neighborhood bars, and best of all: a return to comfort with nostalgic drinks and friendly vibes. Here are seven places to cozy up with a drink this winter.

Photo by Neal Santos

Andra Hem
Andra Hem’s bi-level bar is a respite for enjoying sophisticated drinks in a quiet space, while being nestled in the middle of Center City. Their winter menu takes you around the globe. The Naked Manhattan, a blend of two classics, features mezcal, yellow chartreuse, maraschino, vermouth, and amaro. Kev’s Tingle Tini is the brainchild of bartender Kevin Lopez and translates the tingly sensation of Sichuan peppercorn (one of his favorite flavors) into a Bijou variation made with Tequila. Kayla Kobialka’s What the Phở pays homage to the beloved Vietnamese soup with a blend of rum and gin as base spirits, infused with a pho spice packet that is toasted in a pan prior to infusing. The dry vermouth is infused with Thai basil and cilantro. And yes, it does taste like the soup, the drink even looks like a consommé!
(218 S 16 St)

Photo via Morimoto

Morimoto
Starr Restaurants’ Morimoto on Chestnut Street remains a showstopper with its chic, wave-like purple dining room and contemporary cocktails. Heart of Glass is a lime green-colored milk punch with dry gin, grapefruit, and Thai basil tea (the sliced strawberry in a clear ice cube is ace). Lost In Translation is a food-friendly drink where Tequila blanco and mezcal are shaken with pineapple, rosemary syrup, and sea salt. For a nightcap, try At Midnight with sake, coconut, mint, and gin. Upstairs, their newly updated bar lounge is perfect for groups (see the Shared Cocktails section) or pre/post-dinner drinks (yuzu shots, anyone?).
(723 Chestnut St)

Photo by Drink Philly

STATIC!
STATIC! is reviving Washington Square West’s nightlife thanks to owners John Grubb and Kyle Darrow, who’ve been working together for over a decade (you might know them from Fishtown’s Next of Kin). STATIC! is all about approachability: No fussy ingredients, just interesting house blends and flavor profiles for drinks priced under $18. Cocktails range from party starters (jello shots and punch bowls) to crowd pleasers (crushable, easy-drinking cocktails) and “troublemakers” (boozy, heavy). Popular drinks include the Split Decision brûléed banana-infused Scotch with brown butter wash, banana peel syrup, absinthe, and bitters; the Cosmo Japanese pickled plum vodka, cranberry citrus cordial, and lime juice served in a Sex and the City-inspired glass; and the Discoteca split base Tequila and aged rum sour with winter spice notes from cardamom, clove, and orange.
(1137 Spruce St)

Photo by Philippe-LeSaux

Manong
There’s no denying that Filipino-American cuisine has been a welcome addition to Philadelphia’s dining scene. And now, Fairmount’s Manong is in the mix as Tabachoy’s big brother restaurant-bar. Inside, the 90-seat dining room turns up to a hip hop mix one night, and heavy metal the next. Rock out while you sip on neon blue Calamansi Margaritas, Banana Chai Old-Fashioneds, Ube Halaya rum highballs, or San Miguel pilsners. On your way out, grab a bottle of wine from the bottle shop to keep the good times going.
(1833 Fairmount Ave)

Photo by Bre Furlong

Pine Street Grill
Libbie Loup Hospitality, the team behind My Loup and Michelin star-honored Her Place Supper Club, is on a roll expanding across Philly. Pine Street Grill in Fitler Square is their new neighborhood tavern, the cocktail menu being a joint effort between My Loup’s Jill Moore and head bartender, Josh Powanda. The opening menu includes a tall Irish Coffee (listed under Desserts), a Freezer Martini with Fell To Earth’s Pennsylvania-made dry vermouth, and a John Daly draft cocktail featuring housebrewed tea, lemon juice, and rich Demerara with vodka. Also on draft: a Guinness served in a throwback Toucan pint and Briars Birch Beer from Fords, New Jersey that Moore remembers fondly from golf outings with her dad. Bar seats are first come, first served and there are only 10 of them, so be sure to stop in early.
(2227 Pine St)

Photo by Side Eye

Side Eye (opens this Saturday, Feb. 7)
If you were sad to say goodbye to Bistrot La Minette, rest assured Side Eye (named after the owner’s late dog’s infamous look) is keeping the same French-ish vibes going, but with a contemporary look and menu. The redesigned interior will feature a 20-seat bar in the center dining room, plus a seated drink rail across from it, which means there’s more space to eat and drink. Lead bartender, Ryan Foster (most recently at Messina Social Club), heads up the classic cocktail-driven program with drinks priced at $13 or less. Opening menu highlights include Vieux Pommier, equal parts lime juice and honey, apple brandy, shaken real hard, served in a coup; a revived Cosmopolitan served with an orange twist; a hot Penicillin that drinks like a Toddy which will be perfect for a snow day; and Fernet Branca Mexican Cokes served mixed that Foster anticipates becoming a staple. Citywides and retail wines are also on deck.
(623 S 6th St)

Photo by Jason Varney

Banshee
The team that brought us Bing Bing, Cheu, and Nunu is back with a seasonal Euro-inspired American bistro, Banshee, at 16 and South Streets. Taking cues from Banshee’s Irish connotation, bold is the name of the game here with cocktails like the Dirty Banshee Martini with olive oil-washed vodka, fino sherry (that gets lightly infused with garlic for an extra bite), and a blue cheese-stuffed olive. Other adventurous cocktails to try: Password, a Southeast Asia-meets-whiskey sour with sesame-washed bourbon, Maggie’s Farm pineapple dark rum, lemon, and egg whites; and Crowd Work, a French 75 made with gin, beet juice, Salers, lemon, sparkling wine, and a thyme sprig garnish. Aperitivos aren’t to be missed either: Kalimotxo (IYKYK) subs in draft French cab franc while the Kir includes a Spanish sparkling white. Also, the amaro back bar is ever-growing (ask about Mary Wood’s Americano).
(1600 South St)