It’s no surprise that summer is making its grand entrance with a no-joke heat wave. While rooftop bars and al fresco dining have been all the rage, this week, air conditioning and ice-cold beverages (think: cocktails with popsicles and specialty iced lattes) are looking much more appealing. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with the best spots to cool off and beat the heat with locales including 48 Record Bar, Attico Rooftop, Bolo, Cake Life Bake Shop, Char & Stave, Puttshack, Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, and The Twisted Tail.
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48 Record Bar, the high-tech listening room and cocktail bar perched above Old City’s legendary Sassafras, is nothing less than cool – both literally and figuratively. With the AC blasting and records spinning, the stylish 35-seat second-floor bar and listening room is a tucked away gem for music lovers and cocktail enthusiasts to escape the 90 degree temps, offering a vast selection of freshly-minted, ice cold cocktails that come just in time for summer. The new selections include, but certainly aren’t limited to, the Baja Blaster ($16) comprised of Single Prop Rum, Cointreau, coconut washed-pineapple juice, lime cordial, and lime juice, Gin Julius ($17) fashioned with Aviation Gin, orange cordial, egg white, and ice cream, and Snap Pea Martini ($17) featuring Snap Pea-Infused Stateside Vodka, peppercorn syrup, Lo-Fi Vermouths, and lemon.
Hours of operation: Wednesday through Sunday, 5pm – 2am.
48 S. Second Street, Philadelphia PA | Website Instagram Spotify Facebook
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Attico Rooftop, the colorful, plant-studded escape perched 16 stories above the Cambria Hotel in the heart of Center City’s Avenue of the Arts, is the perfect perch to cool off this summer. Guests can grab a seat at the air-conditioned bar or relax under the shaded outdoor canopy while sipping frozen cocktails like the aptly named Tropical Escape ($15), a bright blend of rum, guava, pineapple, elderflower, ginger, and lemon. For a playful, shareable option, order up the Aperol Spritz Tower ($48 for 4, $94 for 8)—a crowd-pleasing showstopper made for group cheers and golden hour Instagram moments.
With city views towering over Broad Street between Walnut and Locust Streets, Attico Rooftop is decked out for sipping martinis surrounded by gorgeous Insta-worthy garden-aesthetic décor, featuring hanging greenery and twinkling lights draped across colorful backdrops and custom wallpaper. The rooftop oasis is ideal for cooling down before or after attending shows at nearby venues such as the Kimmel Center, The Wilma or The Walnut St Theatre, the Pennsylvania Convention Center (just a short walk away), or an afternoon of shopping and exploring Center City.
Attico Rooftop Kitchen and Lounge is located at 219 S Broad St, with hours of operation spanning Wednesday and Thursday 4—11pm, Friday 4pm—2am, Saturday 10:30am—2am, and Sunday 10:30am—11pm.
Reservations are encouraged and can be made online here.
219 S Broad St | 267-519-0965 | www.atticorooftop.com | @atticorooftop
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Bolo, Chef Yun Fuentes’ Latin American dining room and rum bar nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, has recently refreshed its selection of frozen, summer-themed cocktails in preparation for these scorching temps. An all-around favorite in the hot summer months, the bar’s Piña Colada is a signature sipper on the cocktail menu – ideal for cooling down while buzzing up. Comprised of Don Q Gold, pineapple juice, and coconut cream, guests have the option to enjoy as is, or upgrade to a Cherry Colada or Blue Colada for an additional $3. Folks can treat themselves to the rest of Bolo’s refreshing tipples by snagging a seat at the colorful first-floor Rum Bar, or staying out of the heat by dining in the restaurant’s art-filled, air conditioned second floor.
Hours of operation: Monday through Sunday, 5pm – 10pm for dinner, Saturday 10pm – 12am for late night, and Monday through Friday, 5pm – 7pm for happy hour
2025 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | Website Instagram
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Known primarily for award-winning treats, Cake Life Bake Shop is also the one-stop-shop for getting out of the heat and achieving three beverage bliss – The TikTok-turned-real life trend where a trifecta of hydration is found by always having three beverages in one’s reach: 1) Water, 2) Something caffeinated, and 3) Something fun.
After snagging a tall glass of cold water and a seat inside the café, coffee-holics can enjoy an array of housemade beverages from Cake Life’s coffee and tea bar menu, from classic iced lattes, cold brew, and iced coffee, to flavored libations perfect for summer sipping, spanning Banana Foster Iced Latte, Salted Caramel Iced Chai, or Sparkling Iced Americano, as well as Matcha Lattes ($4.50 – $5.50). Additional flavors include salted, caramel, honey lavender, vanilla, banana, strawberry shortcake, and lemon elderflower.
Cake Life’s options for fun, candy-colored chilled beverages are as tasty as they are vibrant, and made entirely with housemade ingredients:
- Pink Palmer, made with lemonade, iced tea, peach, and strawberry puree
- Tropical Limeade, crafted with housemade limeade, mango puree, and coconut
- Strawberry Mojito Mocktail,made with strawberry puree, lime puree, fresh mint syrup, and club soda
Fruit purees that can be added to create custom lemonade and iced tea beverages include peach, passionfruit and strawberry.
Hours of operation: Wednesday through Thursday 8 am – 7 pm, Friday and Saturday 8 am to 9 pm, Sunday 8 am to 7 pm
1306 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia PA | Website | Instagram
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Whether working remotely or meeting with friends in the café by day, or relaxing with a cocktail in the evening, Char & Stave, coffee and cocktail bar with locations in Chestnut Hill and Ardmore, PA, is a cool oasis perfect for sipping ice-cold coffee beverages and cocktails away from the sweltering heat.
Founded by Bluebird Distilling owner and master distiller Jared Adkins, Char & Stave is known for its ethos of “coffee made by whiskey people”. Guests in need of a chilled beverage can sip signature lattes and espresso beverages available on ice, such as the Whiskey Smash Latte made with Char & Stave’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Espresso Beans, or the Nuts & Berries, Smoky Maple, Turmeric in Paradise, and more ($7 – $7.25). The café also serves classics (Iced Coffee, Iced Latte, Nitro Cold Brew, and more $3.50 – $5.50) crafted using proprietary coffee beans roasted in-house at Bluebird Distilling.
Brisk cocktails ideal for chilling out include the Rising Sun, built with Bluebird Distilling Sugarcane Rum, mint, lime, honey, and green and chamomile tea, in addition to the Ardmore Old Fashioned ($14), Char & Stave Espresso Martini ($14), and many more.
Hours of operation: Monday to Thursday 7 am to 11 pm, Saturday 8 am to midnight, Sunday 8 am to 11 pm
8441 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia PA | 21 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, PA | Website | Instagram
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Puttshack, the world’s first and only tech-infused mini golf experience, is the city’s top destination for indoor fun. With a putter in one hand and a cold craft cocktail in the other, city-goers can avoid scorching temps and take advantage of Puttshack’s new summer campaign featuring:
- Win-Win Weekdays – a weekly promo that now extends through Friday, giving guests more reasons to visit midweek. Happy hour has been extended to Monday through Friday from 3pm – 6pm in addition to 50% off rematch games.
- All You Can Putt – On Sundays, guests can play unlimited games all day long for one flat price.
- Seasonal Cocktails: Two large-format sippers, The Big Spritz and Mai Tai for Two, will be available for imbibing for a limited time; plus, $5 Supertube Shots will make their way across the course, served in LED shot holders in flavors such as Pineapple Patrón and Yuzu Goose.
Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made HERE.
Hours of operation: Sunday through Wednesday 11am – 11pm, Thursday through Sunday 11am – 1am
The Shops at Liberty Place: 1625 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 | 215.907.PUTT | Website | Instagram | Facebook
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Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, South Jersey’s quintessential historic resort celebrating 110 years in Galloway, NJ, located just 50 minutes from Center City, is the perfect escape from the Philly heat. With both indoor and outdoor pools, Seaview Hotel and Golf Club offers multiple ways for guests to cool off in style. After a refreshing dip, guests can unwind with seasonal cocktails at the Lobby Bar, like the Hammonton Blueberry Lemonade ($15) or the Regency Margarita ($16).
401 S New York Rd, Galloway, NJ, 08205 | 609-652-1800 | seaviewdolcehotel.com
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The Twisted Tail, Headhouse Square’s restaurant, bar and live music venue, has just brought back some of its popular warm weather staples just in time for the heat wave. During The Twisted Tail’s social hour, offered daily from 4pm to 6pm, guests are invited to grab a seat at the large indoor bar and enjoy one (or a few) of the popular Champagne Pops ($13). This guest-favorite cocktail features a pour of Champagne paired with a popsicle made with 100% fresh fruit, available in rotating flavors such as pineapple, strawberry, lemon and blueberry. To complement this refreshing treat, guests can pair their Champagne Pop with the restaurant’s Buck-a-Shuck Oysters, (1/2 dozen for $6) served with vodka cocktail sauce, hot sauce, and mignonette.
Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday 4 pm – 10 pm; Friday 4 pm – 12 am; Saturday 11 am – 12 am; Sunday 10 am – 10 pm
509 S. 2nd St. • 215.558.2471 • Website • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter