Best of Philly: Suburban Cocktail Spots

Autograph Brasserie/Facebook

Best of Philly 2017 is now online as well as at newsstands. Check out the best in suburban cocktails as well as the rest of the Best in food, drink, shopping, beauty, health, fitness, fun and games.

Q: Where are the best cocktails in the ’burbs?
— Thirsty Sailor in Media

A: Look, we get it. When you’re in the city, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a mustachioed gent in a vest shaking up some interesting blend of kumquat juice, artisanal beet liquor and heirloom ice.

But in the ’burbs, finding a solid cocktail can be a challenge. On the Main Line, we’ve always had good luck at B2 Bluefin (401 East City Avenue, Bala Cynwyd). From the team that brought you Bluefin, B2 has a short, tight list of Asian-inspired cocktails like the bubbly Sakura Sunset or Japanese malt whiskey-based General’s Orders.

In Wayne, there’s Autograph Brasserie (503 West Lancaster Avenue), which takes its bar program seriously, offering classic drinks that have been smoked, caramelized, rethought or modernized. In Harleysville, The Butcher and Barkeep (712 Main Street) has a deep bench of bourbons, flights of local spirits, and a seasonal cocktail list.

And for those looking for something a bit more traditional, Lucky Well (111 East Butler Avenue, Ambler) has one of the best collections of brown liquor in the region and a solid list of cocktails that will never go out of style.

Published as “Ask Us Anything: Where are the best cocktails in the ‘burbs?” in the August 2017 issue of Philadelphia magazine.