hop sing laundromat

favoritespeakeasyin the city for sure - an overall fun experience going here!  the first time i actually went here i couldn't for the life of me find it - i think we actually went into some apartment by mistake..it has a fairly inconspicuous entrance, and once you do find it, you ring the bell and the bouncer brings you up.  if you're lucky, you'll be interviewed by the owner to make sure you fit the bill, and then head in.  

no electronics here - forced to have some good conversation!  as i remember, it has a fairly ornate interior, with liquor bottles galore and some cool bookshelves surrounding the room.  the ambiance and music are spot on - it's like your back in the 20s.  the drinks are great - a bit pricey, but that's to be expected and totally worth it.  i don't recall food being served here - so get your munchies in chinatown and stop in here for some well-deserved cocktails!

this is by far my favoritespeakeasyin the city.  it's a little hard to find, so make sure you have the direct address.  it's cash only and no electronics (which means you cannot use your cell phones or take pictures in the joint).  they have a strict dress code and turn people away that don't follow it.  still, the overall experience is worth it.  the bouncer helps make thespeakeasysetting, the decor adding to the 1920s ambience.  the bar is quite large, but it's best to only go with a few people.  it's strictly drinks at this speakeasy, and artisanal ones at that.  they have a large selection of cocktails to choose from (even absinthe), and their flavor combinations are absolutely perfect.  this is my favorite place to get drinks in the city.  since it's $10 and up for a drink, it can get pricy, but hop sing laundromat is perfect for a night on the town.

philadelphia's a beer town. but i'm from new york, where cocktails reign supreme. so when i asked a local friend where we could go for real drinks (other than franklin mortgage , which i've already written up), she said "how about hop sing?" it seemed perfect. oodles of top shelf liquor. a hidden entrance. a chinatown-themedspeakeasyinside of philadelphia's chinatown. the owner greets you at the signage-free hidden entrance and personally checks your id. plus there's a don't-be-a-slob dress code, a rarity in the a-phillies-jersey-is-just-fine city of brotherly love.  upon entering the literally pitch black foyer, we were asked to sit and wait as our eyes adjusted and as our table was prepared. this was pure gimmick straight out of a times square theme restaurant. jekyll and hyde would be proud.