The final countdown to Christmas is officially here and Philadelphia bars and restaurants are getting in the holiday spirit with over-the-top festive sippers and traditional holiday cocktails. Check out the below tipples from Bolo, The Dutch, Dock Street Fishtown, Butcher Bar, and Red Owl Tavern!
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Bolo, Chef Yun Fuentes’ Latin American dining room and rum bar nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, is celebrating the holidays with the debut of their Coquito cocktail, a traditional Puerto Rican Christmas staple. This rich and warmly spiced tipple is comprised of Don Q 151 Rum, Don Q Gold Rum, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, coconut milk, housemade winter spiced coconut cream (star anise, allspice, cinnamon, clove), and grated nutmeg, and is priced at $16 per glass. Bolo’s Coquito is also available in a non-alcoholic form throughout the holiday season.
Those partaking in Bolo’s Noche Buena Dinner, a Christmas Eve takeout special, will receive a bottle of the housemade Coquito base with no additional charge, allowing imbibers to add rum at home upon their discretion. Noche Buena Dinner includes a quarter of a whole roasted pig (feeds 6 – 10 people), and comes complete with traditional accoutrements (arroz con gandules, sweet plantains, sour orange mojo), as well as flan for dessert, priced at $150. Additionally, a Lechon-Style Roasted Chicken (feeds 2 – 4 people) includes the same accoutrements and dessert, priced at $65. The cutoff for to-go orders is Thursday, December 21 at noon, and pickup is Sunday, December 24 from 12 – 4pm. Orders can be made by emailing events@bolo.phl.com.
Hours of operation: Monday through Sunday from 5 – 10pm, with late night offered on Saturday from 10pm – 12am, and happy hour available Monday through Friday from 5 – 7pm, and Saturday, 10pm – 2am.
2025 Sansom Street | 267.639.2741 | www.bolophl.com
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Elevate the holiday experience at Butcher Bar, the Rittenhouse haven for comfort food and brown spirits, with their new holiday pop-up, Yule Whiskey Lodge! Now through January 31, guests can enjoy an enticing array of festive cocktails including the Winter Paradise ($14), made with pineapple spiced rum, tequila, pear liquor, pineapple simple syrup, lemon, coconut cream, vanilla bitters, and nutmeg served in a moose shaped glass, HotMulled Wine ($12), comprised of red wine, brandy, orange, lemon, cinnamon, allspice, clove, and vanilla bean served hot, and the iconic Shotski ($18/$36), two or four shots of Shanky’s Whip Liqueur, and Baileys served on a ski.
Butcher Bar’s iconic Patio and Whiskey Garden spaces have been transformed into a winter wonderland — Guests are welcomed in to celebrate the holiday season in the cozy gathering space brimming with celebratory cocktails, festive fare, and plenty of cheer ideal for casual hangs between friends, date nights, holiday parties, and plenty of other spirited occasions.
Hours of operation: dinner service Monday – Wednesday 4 – 9 pm, Thursday 4 – 10 pm, Friday 4 – 11 pm, Saturday 11:30 am – 11 pm and Sunday 11:30 am – 8:30 pm, with Happy Hour served Monday – Friday 4 – 6:30pm. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am – 3 pm.
2034 Chestnut St | (215)-563-6328 | http://www.butcherbarphilly.com/
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Dock Street Brewing Company, Philadelphia’s original woman-owned and family-run craft brewery founded in 1985, has transformed Dock Street Fishtown, its quirky cocktail bar and taproom located on Front Street, into a holiday themed pop-up aptly dubbed ‘Dock the Halls’ through December 31. Guests can enjoy a healthy dose of holiday cheer with a nightly showing of classic holiday movies, festive cocktails and themed decor.
While enjoying the nostalgic films, guests can sip on festive cocktails including:
- Mogwai for Sale ($14) with Vodka, Espresso, Coffee liqueur and Peppermint Simple Syrup
- Happy Honda Dayz ($14) with Blood Orange infused Gin, lemon juice and topped off with Champagne
- Merry Chrysler ($14) with Mezcal, Sweet Vermouth and Aperitivo
- Tipsy Kai Yay ($14) with Rye Whiskey, Chocolate Liqueur, Roasted Marshmallow Simple Syrup and Chocolate Bitters
- Mount Crumpet ($14) with Tequila, Orange Liqueur, Coconut Milk, Coconut Cream, Agave and Orange Bitters
The 40-seat bar is fully decked out in festive decor for optimal holiday cheer and photo-ops.
Hours of operation: Tuesday 4pm – 8pm, Wednesday – Thursday 4pm – 9pm, Friday 4pm – 11pm, Saturday 12pm – 11pm, and Sunday 3pm – 8pm
1229 N Front St | 267-284-0345 | dockstreetbeer.com/dock-street-fishtown
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The Dutch, the popular breakfast-through-dinner eatery with a focus on reinventing the Pennsylvania Dutch classics, is reinventing the classics and adding their own merry touch to each tipple featured on the all-new Holiday Cocktail Menu. Available solely during dinner service (Wednesday through Saturday), imbibers can sip on cheery cocktails including Sugar Plum Fairy, a riff on the gin sour comprised of gin, housemade grenadine, Campari, lemon, and sugar, Charlie Brown fashioned with whiskey, Bénédictine, and walnut bitters, Clarice, a play one the Alexander prepared with gin, Crème de Cocoa, and cream, and a traditional Stinger aptly dubbed Frostbite comprised of cognac, Crème de Menthe, and an absinthe rinse.
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8am – 3pm, Saturday – Sunday 8am – 2pm for brunch service, Wednesday, Thursday, & Sunday 5pm – 9pm, Friday & Saturday 5pm -10pm for dinner service
1537 S 11th Street | 215.551.5000 | https://thedutchphilly.com/
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Red Owl Tavern, the contemporary kitchen and bar located across from Independence Hall in Old City, is brimming with holiday cheer through its extensive assortment of spirited sippers curated by Lead Bartender Christopher Devern. Devern’s wide array of vibrant, holiday-themed craft cocktails includes Snow Globe ($17), fashioned with peaflower and blue glitter-infused Tres Generaciones Tequila, Licor 43, lime juice, falernum, and orgeat, garnished with lime zest, Slippery Sloep ($16) comprised of a pink peppercorn-infused gin blend, rosemary simple syrup, lemon, and egg white, and Holiday Cheermeister ($17) made with a mezcal and tequila blend, winter spiced cranberry, and lime juice, topped with ginger beer.
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 7:30 – 10:45am, Saturday and Sunday 8 – 10am (breakfast); Monday through Friday 11:30am – 4:30pm (lunch); Monday through Friday 4:30 – 10pm, Saturday 5 – 10pm (dinner); and Saturday 10am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 2pm (brunch)
433 Chestnut St | 215.923.2267 | https://redowltavern.com/
– Nicole Schofield