Friday, February 15, 2008

Don't Sleep on Phila's Nightlife




I highly recommend Phila as a fun weekend getaway. Surprised? So was I. Philadelphia has, of course, plenty of historical sites to visit. But who knew it was a city in the midst of revitalization with a number of hot restaurants and upscale bars, clubs and lounges. What I really loved about the places I went was the music. Not a techno town! If you have been or decide to go to any of these spots I would love to hear what you think. Following are my ratings of the few I visited:


Large night club. Mixed crowd in the 20s & 30s. True party scene. If you want to sit, reserve a table.


This multi-level lounge has it all! Food, drink, and 70's decor that makes you want to say, "This sort of thing is my bag baby!" You can swing in bamboo chairs with drink in hand as you overlook the diners downstairs. The second floor lounge also has colorful seats in the form of baby dinosaurs. But don't stop there before checking out the rooftop lounge. This you have to see to believe.


This lounge has locations in Atlantic City and Philadelphia. It caters to those looking for a more private VIP scene. 32 Degrees is a small private club with sitting limited to those wanting bottle service.


If I had spent more time here and had an opportunity to try the food and drinks, then I might have rated this place higher. I made time for a walk through because it was so highly recommended. And I am glad I stopped by. It was a cold, rainy night in Philadelphia, but inside Cuba Libre I felt like I was in Miami (I have never been to the real Cuba so I can't comment on the likeness). The combination of bright colors, indoor foliage, and replicated Spanish architecture creates a festive atmosphere that is unbelievable. There is also an Atlantic City location.


As the name suggests this lounge specializes in martinis, over 30. The decor is funky with neon blue lights and animal print and velvet sofa's. Like all of the other places I visited in Philadelphia the crowd was mixed, but here there were a range of ages. The music was so good I did not want to leave (but alas I was on a mission to see as many places as possible). I loved this place. The only reason it does not have 5 stars is because the bar service was slow.


I really liked this space. Red Sky has the typical modern, minimalist decor - all white, open space, and frosted glass- but has added dim lighting to contrast the white and soften the look. This lounge is open 7 nights and has special events each night. Upstairs overlooking the bar downstairs is a lounge for private parties. Downstairs Red Sky uses a partial partition to separate the restaurant from the bar. The restaurant offers what it describes as Asian American comfort food. I call the front area a bar not a lounge because of the limited seating in the bar area. The drinks here were very expensive and not that great. I left before the DJ began his set so I can't comment on the music.

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