5 to Try: Summer Drinks

by Tara Nurin - Citysearch Contributor - 136 Reviews - 71 Lists

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Updated: July 20, 2009

Summer can be hot and tiring, so sometimes it's, like, so totally necessary to sit back and relax with a cool drink. If beverages of the alcoholic variety refresh your weary spirit better than, say a juice or a mocktail, sip on a wine, beer or mixed drink from any of these cool places.

5 to Try

  1. 1 3 Star Rating: Average Bleu Martini
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    24 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (map)

    Take a load off on a summer afternoon with any one of several dozen contemporary martinis that would surely baffle the purist James Bond. See if you can guess what's in the eponymous bleu martini, a cheesecake martini, a strawberry blonde, or a flirtini. If that's too much effort on a sweltering day, knock out your pain with a Night Fever--Vox Raspberry, Hypnotiq, and Red Bull--or a Voodoo Juice, made with Malibu and other summery ingredients that won't force your weary brain to decide between shaken or stirred.

  2. 2 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Continental Mid-town
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    1801 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (map)

    The rooftop deck here is the place to debut your flirty new sundress or your spiffy new guayabera, where you can sport a colorful cocktail that matches your threads. Martinis here include a Wink (Absolut Ruby Red vodka, triple sec and cranberry), a Grape Crush (white grape vodka, black raspberry liqueur, sour and Sprite) and a Dirty Shirley (Three Olives cherry vodka, lime juice and grenadine). Perhaps a smooth cerveza is more your style; go for a summer-friendly Corona, Amstel Light or PBC Kenzinger.

  3. 3 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Continental Restaurant
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    134 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (map)

    See and be seen sexily sipping a cocktail in this Old City Destination with a capital D. Be fabulous with a signature cosmopolitan, or try a champagne cocktail, a Strawburst (made with strawberry Pucker, sour mix and cranberry juice) or a Sidecar (cognac, triple sec and lime juice). You can show your impeccable taste by flaunting an imported or craft beer, or let yourself be surprised with a special beer of the week.

  4. 4 4 Star Rating: Recommended Plough & the Stars
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    123 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (map)

    Get your cold beer here. Watch the Phillies heat up the field over an icy draught of Leffe, LeftHand Sawtooth Ale, Harp or Hoegaarden. Non beer-drinkers can chill out with a bottle of chilled white wine like chardonnay or sauvignon blanc.

  5. 5 4 Star Rating: Recommended Twenty Manning
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    261 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (map)

    You don't have to bring your passport to bask in a soothing foreign salve. The 20 Manning Mojito (Bacardi, pineapple syrup, mint and lime), the Geisha (plum sake, vodka, lime juice, cranberry, lime twist and brandied cherry) and the Lycheetini (lychee puree, cava brut and vodka) will transport your mind and spirit to the shores of an exotic land and make you forget that instead of ocean breezes, only sweaty Philly streets wait outside the door.

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