First Look: Bloomsday, Headhouse Square’s Natural Wine Bar, Cafe and Bottle Shop
Sneak a peek inside and check out the menus at the long-awaited all-day cafe, opening this weekend.
Photo by Bondfire Media
We’ve been excited about Bloomsday, the all-day cafe from Green Engine Coffee owners Kelsey Bush and Zach Morris, ever since we heard a year ago that it would be opening right across from the Headhouse Square Shambles. Then, we found out that it would also have a natural wine bar and bottle shop — and that Tim Kweeder, our favorite wine guy, would serve as beverage director and sommelier.
And now we know that tomorrow — Friday, May 31st — the Society Hill spot will officially open its doors.
The 2,800 square-foot space seats over 50, with a working fireplace, a marble-topped bar that seats eight, and — similar to the one at Bush and Morris’s Haverford cafe — a living wall made from lush green moss. Philly-based firm Ambit Architecture worked with the owners to renovate the space.
To start, Bloomsday will be open mornings and afternoons only, with evening hours and a dinner menu set to roll out in the next week or so. Unfortunately, it’s going to be at least a month until the PLCB gives bottle shop retail sales the all-clear, but the bar is good to go.
Photo by Bondfire Media
Photo by Bondfire Media
Photo by Bondfire Media
Photo by Bondfire Media
But in the meantime, they’re pouring coffee drinks from Rival Bros., along with morning-appropriate cocktails, from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. Pastry chef Sofiane Bellal is turning out a slate of baked goodies like palmiers, croissants, and pistachio Danish to go with them. There are eggs to order, meaty and veggie-based breakfast sandwiches, bowls of chia and polenta, and brunch standbys like avocado toast and smoked salmon, too.
From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., you can order from the lunch menu: seasonal toasts made with Philly Bread, bowls of soba noodles or polenta, and a pair of sandwiches — a comforting grilled chicken and an intriguing smoked mushroom French dip that comes with a miso broth. A new slate of cocktails will be available in the evening, as well as draft beer. Kweeder’s got a 60-bottle wine list, plus two more varieties on draft and 15 by-the-glass selections.
Bloomsday is located at 414 South 2nd Street. Opening hours are 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. Check out the breakfast, lunch, and drinks menus below (click to embiggen). The killer wine menu is here.
