Philadelphia - May 07, 2008

Barmacy

Apothecary Bar & Lounge Opens

Once upon a time, chemists dosed clientele with distilled essences of herbs to therapeutic ends.

Today, mixologists at Apothecary Bar & Lounge use fresh ingredients and secret skills to revive classic cocktails and concoct restorative elixirs.

Like the dry and crisp Aviation, a robin’s-egg blue mingling of Plymouth gin, Crème de Violette, and maraschino liqueur. Combat free radicals with the bilberry and acai RustOleo elixir (German honey liqueur, Brazilian cachaça, a splash of chocolate mole bitters) invented by New York’s Tippling Bros., who created the cocktail menu.

The neutral gray space is done up in icy white marble bars, green lighting, and a sleek slate roof deck (a great backdrop for Jay Gatsby-like al fresco sipping).

From the chemists’ cabinet lined with distillations to the etiquette rules posted on the menu, Apothecary is stocked with all the right remedies for life in the East Coast’s illest city.

Apothecary Bar & Lounge, 102 South 13th Street (215-701-4786 or apothecarylounge.com).