Rooftop Lounges and Bars
Stratus Lounge
Once you get off the elevator of the Stratus lounge, you’re greeted by neon lights, fire pits and an expansive view of Independence Hall. It’s located on the eleventh floor of 433 Chestnut, and in addition to hosting some notable celebrity DJs (including Royale and Pierson, to name a few), The Stratus also offers party packages for any special events in your life, such as the “Brotherly Love” package for bachelor parties—complete with a “personal, dedicated cocktail waitress”—and the “Freedom Again” divorce package, complete with “one round of shots and a bottle of champagne” upon arrival to the venue. If you just want to drink to drink, however, you can also get a table or bottle service for 6–20 people. What’s more, happy hour happens daily from 5–7 p.m., and their speciality cocktails are available for $10, while everything else is $5.
Address: 433 Chestnut Street
Dress code: No sneakers, shorts, sandals, flip flops, baseball hats, beanies, “plain round neck t–shirt,” sports apparel or tank tops
Cover: $20
Try the: 1915, a cocktail made of to’s, Nolet’s Gin, St. Germain, Crème de Violette, fresh–squeezed lemon juice or the FUNK'D UP, with Ketel One Orange, Lillet, Luxardo Marachino, Seltzer, and Peychaunds Bitters
Available for rent: Yes, for groups of 20 or more
Vibe: The most laid back of the list. Come with friends who want to dance and get down, some nights it gets rowdy.
R2L
R2L sits 500 feet above the sits on the 37th floor of Two Liberty Place. It frequently wins awards for both its ambiance (the place has some sick panoramic views of the city) and its food and drinks. There’s also a lounge area where you can grab a drink with a friend during Happy Hour from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.—just in time to catch the amazing view of the sunset you’ll get from the wall to floor glass windows. Better yet, drinks are available for $3–8 during happy hour, and appetizers such as chilled oysters and grilled truffle flatbread are available for under ten dollars too. As a bonus, R2L participates in restaurant week yearly, so you don’t have to break the bank to try their dishes. They also offer a speciality menu for major occasions, such as Valentine’s Day, in case anyone is still on the hunt for plans.
Address: 50 S.16th street. Dress Code: No website restrictions, but it’s a pretty nice restaurant. Leave the sneakers and shorts at home. Try the: Rumshaker with Captain Morgan spiced rum, apple purée, winter spices and egg white or the Bramblin’ Rose, with Bluecoat gin, blackberry, citrus and soda Available for rent: Yes Vibe: Ask your parents to take you here for a birthday dinner—it’s a restaurant more than a bar.
Assembly
On the 9th floor of the Logan Hotel is Assembly. When you get there, you check in downstairs with a hostess, and she gives you a wait time before you’re escorted into the elevator and upstairs. The lounge has an indoor and outdoor seating area, and outdoors you have great views of Logan Square as well as a variety of fire pits and sectional sofas. The Assembly is a pretty classy lounge, and there’s often not a lot of dancing going on, but it’s a great place for a date or event, as long as you’re willing to pay the price tag.
Address: 50 S.16th street
Dress Code: Again, no website restrictions, but this is a nicer lounge than Stratus, overall, so exercise discretion.
Try the: Fall Out of Fashion, with Knob Creek 120 old fashioned, mulled maple syrup and cardamom bitters or the Disassembly, with Siembra, Azul Mezcal and Tecate
Available for rent: Yes
Vibe: Come here if you want to impress a date–the drinks certainly aren’t cheap.
Parks
Cira Green
You know those crisp Facebook profile pictures with the Philadelphia skyline in the background and the softly setting sun lighting the subject alight? They’re probably from Cira Green, the city’s first elevated park. With 1.25 acres of greenery and urban decoration, Cira Green is a great spot to hang out with friends or to go and contemplate life. It’s right next to Evo, and residents of the building are actually lucky enough to enter straight from the eighth floor. Everyone else has to go in on the entrance on 30th Street and take the elevator up to the 11th floor. This is a great spot for a photoshoot or a group hangout. In fact, it’s pretty common to see a small group of friends up there with some music and a hidden bottle or two. A word of warning, though, it’s hard to go in the winter because it gets reallll cold up there. Bring gloves, and maybe hot cocoa.
Address: 80 S 30th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Hours: Monday–Sunday: 7AM–8PM
Pools
Evo
Evo is that tall, glass apartment complex near 30th Street Station—the one with the infinity pool at the top and the sick views. It’s for students and non–students alike, but it’s known for being Drexel housing. In the spring and summer, the roof is packed with students sunbathing, instagramming and avoiding finals. The view of the sunset is particularly beautiful from way up. Unfortunately, you have to be a resident to get up to their roof, but rumor has it, many a resident has hosted a pre–game up there, so play your cards right and you could snag an invite. On the other hand, if you want to take matters into your own hands, it’s possible to sneak into Evo through Cira Green, the park located next door. There’s a special entrance for residents located on the 8th floor, but it’s key swipe access only. If a resident happens to be coming out while you’re there though...
Address: 2930 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
