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Harper’s Garden is now selling cocktails to go.
Harper’s Garden

18 Places to Get Philly’s First Legal Takeout Cocktails

Restaurants in Pennsylvania can now sell mixed drinks to go

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Harper’s Garden is now selling cocktails to go.
| Harper’s Garden

Cocktails to go are now legal in Pennsylvania thanks to a new law designed to help restaurants and bars that are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic — which is essentially all of them. There are several stipulations around it, but the TL;DR is places that already have restaurant liquor licenses can now sell mixed drinks if they also sell food.

The change is not intended to be permanent. Once a restaurant reaches 60 percent occupancy or more, it can no longer sell takeout cocktails. But with dining rooms still closed throughout the Philadelphia area, it’s unlikely any restaurant is going to hit that any time soon. So for now, here are 18 options for takeout margaritas, painkillers, boozy water ice, and more.

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Rosy's Taco Bar

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There are two ways to go at Rosy’s Taco Bar in Rittenhouse. You can stick with the restaurant’s Mexican theme and order a pint ($24–$31) or quart ($48–$62) of margarita, available classic or flavored, with lime and salt included. Or, chose a cocktail from sister spot Harper’s Garden, which is offering its mixed drinks for pickup at Rosy’s. The Harper’s menu includes a bloody mary, a blackberry smash, and a liquid persuasion (cucumber, mint syrup, lime juice), each with a choice of liquor. Beer is also available.

overhead shot of several margaritas in different colors Rosy’s Taco Bar

A.Kitchen + Bar

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Forget margaritas: A.Kitchen and Bar on Rittenhouse Square is mixing up mezcal-ritas (mezcal, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and house-made arbol chile syrup) for $16, starting May 22. Or go for a whiskey sour or an orange catholic with vodka, hibiscus, orange juice, and sparkling wine. In Old City, Fork and High Street on Market, in the same restaurant group, are adding to-go cocktails too. Wine is also available.

A.Kitchen and Bar

Tradesman's

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At the Tradesman’s takeout window, score cocktails from both Tradesman’s and Blume (they share an owner). The Tradesman’s options skew heavier with drinks like the Bronson, made with Bulleit bourbon, walnut liqueur, egg white, cinnamon, and orange. The Blume list is brighter: There’s a frozen alcoholic popsicle, a pouch filled with paloma, and a Tropical Cloud cocktail with cotton candy. Call Tradesman’s to place orders.

Kory Aversa

Charlie Was a Sinner

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Vegan cocktail lounge Charlie Was a Sinner is reopened with small plates and drinks designed to serve one, five, or 10 thirsty people ($13, $55, $95). Go for a Hemingway daiquiri or a heady Bullseye with roasted farro–infused bourbon, amaro, and absinthe. Wine and beer by the bottle are available too. Call to order.

two plastic containers with cocktails and garnishes Charlie Was a Sinner

The always-popular frozen blood orange margarita is back at Stephen Starr’s El Vez. Spicy pineapple, pomegranate, strawberry, and classic margaritas are also on the menu.

pink cocktail with leaf garnish and green straw El Vez [official photo]

Good Dog Bar

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Cocktails at chill Center City bar Good Dog come in 32-ounce containers for $30 to $50. Choose from a list of classics, like traditional margaritas, bloody marys, mojitos, and cosmos, or go for the Hasta La Vista, Baby with Espolon Blanco, cardamom syrup, grapefruit juice, and lime juice.

Tequilas

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The move at Tequilas in Center City is always to order the margarita made with rose petal–infused tequila, fresh lime juice, elderflower liqueur, and rose petals. But those who prefer classic or spicy margaritas will be satisfied too. The drinks list includes mojitos, a vodka tonic, and sangria, plus wines by the bottle and six-packs of beer. Call to order.

Bud & Marilyn's

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Bud & Marilyn’s is ready with the frosé, here made with wine, vodka, and strawberry-tarragon syrup. Or go for one of the larger cocktails designed for two ($18), including a negroni, a Moscow mule, a regal beagle (gin, Aperol, elderflower, lemon) and a lakeside (vodka, lime, mint, violet). There’s also a blood orange margarita, available at both Bud & Marilyn’s and sister spot Lolita, located just up the street. At Barbuzzo, from the same owners, choose red, white, or rosé sangria (32 ounces for $28) or get a trio with one of each. Either way, it’s enough for a few people, or a few drinks for one person. Sazeracs, negronis, Moscow mules, and vodka basil lemonades are also on Barbuzzo’s menu.

Bud & Marilyn’s [official photo]

Elegant vegan restaurant Vedge is starting out with food and cocktails on Fridays and Saturdays, and plans to add cocktails during the week. The creative drinks include the Slow Burn with bourbon, amontillado sherry, and rhubarb, or go extra summery with a watermelon margarita. Online ordering is an option.

Vietnam Restaurant

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For a tiki drink like a Zombie, Suffering Bastard, or Scorpion, order from Vietnam Restaurant in Chinatown or Vietnam Cafe in University City. If you’re sharing, and up for something strong, try the Flaming Volcano made for two ($18) with rum, vodka, gin, brandy, grenadine, Bacardi 151, and fruit juice.

row of juice containers with labels on a bar Vietnam Restaurant

The Sidecar Bar & Grille

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In Graduate Hospital, neighborhood favorite Sidecar now has takeout cocktails to go with its long list of beers on offer. Even better: Sidecar is doing happy hour. Monday to Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., score $6 pints and $12 quarts of house mixed drinks, $12 six-packs of beer, and $15 growlers.

Triangle Tavern

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Adult. Water. Ice. Triangle Tavern is selling quarts of its “frozen wooder ice” for $20. Pints and quarts of negronis, bloody marys, a strawberry basil collins, and draft wine are also on the menu. In Old City, Khyber Pass Pub, from the same owners, has a frozen orange crush, plus a passionfruit margarita and a Louisville Lightning with bourbon, lemonade, and mint.

row of colorful frozen cocktails on a bar Triange Tavern [Facebook]

ITV (In the Valley)

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Nick Elmi’s ITV, the newly reopened cocktail bar next door to Laurel, is evoking beach life with the Caribbean favorite Painkiller, here made with Jamaican rum, brandy, chai-infused coconut milk, pineapple juice, and orange juice. It’s $60 for a liter. Individual cocktails, like the Essential with tequila, blood orange, lime, and bitters, are available too. Order online for pickup.

Cantina Los Caballitos

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Sipping a frozen margarita in the sunshine on Cantina Los Caballitos’ roomy patio is not yet an option, so takeout margaritas will have to suffice. The East Passyunk Avenue restaurant is selling regular and frozen margaritas in lime, blood orange, passion fruit, mango, strawberry, cucumber, or watermelon for $28 for a quart. In Northern Liberties, Cantina Dos Segundos has margaritas too.

This Fishtown cocktail bar from the Suraya team is back with a lineup of creative drinks, like the Banana Daiquiri #2 with white rum, fresh pineapple juice, banana liqueur, and lime, sized for two ($20) or five ($42) and the Mission Statement, described as “for old fashioned drinkers looking to branch out at little.” Order online for pickup. Cocktails are available at Suraya too, along with bottles of wine and a six-pack of Almaza, a Lebanese pilsner.

Sancho Pistola's

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Sancho Pistola’s in Fishtown, Jose Pistola’s in Center City and Pistola’s Del Sur on East Passyunk Avenue are all offering traditional and flavored margaritas in 16-, 32-, and 64-ounce containers. Jose Pistola’s also has a lineup of mules with a choice of mezcal, vodka, tequila, or whiskey. Look for more options to be added.

Johnny Brenda's

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The single-serving cocktails at Johnny Brenda’s run the gamut from an Irish coffee to an ancho chile pepper-infused rum punch with Aperol and guava. There’s also a rotating frozen cocktail — the current offering is an icy cucumber mojito. A few of the drinks will be available in 32-ounce bottles, and there’s beer too. Order online.

Dim Sum House

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Both Dim Sum House locations — University City and Rittenhouse — are selling their signature cocktails named after movies, like the Chase the Dragon with Knob Creek rye, chrysanthemum syrup, grapefruit, and poppy tincture. There’s a full bar so a lot of the standard mixed drinks will be available too.

bourbon cocktail with cherry Dim Sum House

Rosy's Taco Bar

There are two ways to go at Rosy’s Taco Bar in Rittenhouse. You can stick with the restaurant’s Mexican theme and order a pint ($24–$31) or quart ($48–$62) of margarita, available classic or flavored, with lime and salt included. Or, chose a cocktail from sister spot Harper’s Garden, which is offering its mixed drinks for pickup at Rosy’s. The Harper’s menu includes a bloody mary, a blackberry smash, and a liquid persuasion (cucumber, mint syrup, lime juice), each with a choice of liquor. Beer is also available.

overhead shot of several margaritas in different colors Rosy’s Taco Bar

A.Kitchen + Bar

Forget margaritas: A.Kitchen and Bar on Rittenhouse Square is mixing up mezcal-ritas (mezcal, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and house-made arbol chile syrup) for $16, starting May 22. Or go for a whiskey sour or an orange catholic with vodka, hibiscus, orange juice, and sparkling wine. In Old City, Fork and High Street on Market, in the same restaurant group, are adding to-go cocktails too. Wine is also available.

A.Kitchen and Bar

Tradesman's

At the Tradesman’s takeout window, score cocktails from both Tradesman’s and Blume (they share an owner). The Tradesman’s options skew heavier with drinks like the Bronson, made with Bulleit bourbon, walnut liqueur, egg white, cinnamon, and orange. The Blume list is brighter: There’s a frozen alcoholic popsicle, a pouch filled with paloma, and a Tropical Cloud cocktail with cotton candy. Call Tradesman’s to place orders.

Kory Aversa

Charlie Was a Sinner

Vegan cocktail lounge Charlie Was a Sinner is reopened with small plates and drinks designed to serve one, five, or 10 thirsty people ($13, $55, $95). Go for a Hemingway daiquiri or a heady Bullseye with roasted farro–infused bourbon, amaro, and absinthe. Wine and beer by the bottle are available too. Call to order.

two plastic containers with cocktails and garnishes Charlie Was a Sinner

El Vez

The always-popular frozen blood orange margarita is back at Stephen Starr’s El Vez. Spicy pineapple, pomegranate, strawberry, and classic margaritas are also on the menu.

pink cocktail with leaf garnish and green straw El Vez [official photo]

Good Dog Bar

Cocktails at chill Center City bar Good Dog come in 32-ounce containers for $30 to $50. Choose from a list of classics, like traditional margaritas, bloody marys, mojitos, and cosmos, or go for the Hasta La Vista, Baby with Espolon Blanco, cardamom syrup, grapefruit juice, and lime juice.

Tequilas

The move at Tequilas in Center City is always to order the margarita made with rose petal–infused tequila, fresh lime juice, elderflower liqueur, and rose petals. But those who prefer classic or spicy margaritas will be satisfied too. The drinks list includes mojitos, a vodka tonic, and sangria, plus wines by the bottle and six-packs of beer. Call to order.

Bud & Marilyn's

Bud & Marilyn’s is ready with the frosé, here made with wine, vodka, and strawberry-tarragon syrup. Or go for one of the larger cocktails designed for two ($18), including a negroni, a Moscow mule, a regal beagle (gin, Aperol, elderflower, lemon) and a lakeside (vodka, lime, mint, violet). There’s also a blood orange margarita, available at both Bud & Marilyn’s and sister spot Lolita, located just up the street. At Barbuzzo, from the same owners, choose red, white, or rosé sangria (32 ounces for $28) or get a trio with one of each. Either way, it’s enough for a few people, or a few drinks for one person. Sazeracs, negronis, Moscow mules, and vodka basil lemonades are also on Barbuzzo’s menu.

Bud & Marilyn’s [official photo]

Vedge

Elegant vegan restaurant Vedge is starting out with food and cocktails on Fridays and Saturdays, and plans to add cocktails during the week. The creative drinks include the Slow Burn with bourbon, amontillado sherry, and rhubarb, or go extra summery with a watermelon margarita. Online ordering is an option.

Vietnam Restaurant

For a tiki drink like a Zombie, Suffering Bastard, or Scorpion, order from Vietnam Restaurant in Chinatown or Vietnam Cafe in University City. If you’re sharing, and up for something strong, try the Flaming Volcano made for two ($18) with rum, vodka, gin, brandy, grenadine, Bacardi 151, and fruit juice.

row of juice containers with labels on a bar Vietnam Restaurant

The Sidecar Bar & Grille

In Graduate Hospital, neighborhood favorite Sidecar now has takeout cocktails to go with its long list of beers on offer. Even better: Sidecar is doing happy hour. Monday to Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., score $6 pints and $12 quarts of house mixed drinks, $12 six-packs of beer, and $15 growlers.

Triangle Tavern

Adult. Water. Ice. Triangle Tavern is selling quarts of its “frozen wooder ice” for $20. Pints and quarts of negronis, bloody marys, a strawberry basil collins, and draft wine are also on the menu. In Old City, Khyber Pass Pub, from the same owners, has a frozen orange crush, plus a passionfruit margarita and a Louisville Lightning with bourbon, lemonade, and mint.

row of colorful frozen cocktails on a bar Triange Tavern [Facebook]

ITV (In the Valley)

Nick Elmi’s ITV, the newly reopened cocktail bar next door to Laurel, is evoking beach life with the Caribbean favorite Painkiller, here made with Jamaican rum, brandy, chai-infused coconut milk, pineapple juice, and orange juice. It’s $60 for a liter. Individual cocktails, like the Essential with tequila, blood orange, lime, and bitters, are available too. Order online for pickup.

Cantina Los Caballitos

Sipping a frozen margarita in the sunshine on Cantina Los Caballitos’ roomy patio is not yet an option, so takeout margaritas will have to suffice. The East Passyunk Avenue restaurant is selling regular and frozen margaritas in lime, blood orange, passion fruit, mango, strawberry, cucumber, or watermelon for $28 for a quart. In Northern Liberties, Cantina Dos Segundos has margaritas too.

R&D

This Fishtown cocktail bar from the Suraya team is back with a lineup of creative drinks, like the Banana Daiquiri #2 with white rum, fresh pineapple juice, banana liqueur, and lime, sized for two ($20) or five ($42) and the Mission Statement, described as “for old fashioned drinkers looking to branch out at little.” Order online for pickup. Cocktails are available at Suraya too, along with bottles of wine and a six-pack of Almaza, a Lebanese pilsner.

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Sancho Pistola's

Sancho Pistola’s in Fishtown, Jose Pistola’s in Center City and Pistola’s Del Sur on East Passyunk Avenue are all offering traditional and flavored margaritas in 16-, 32-, and 64-ounce containers. Jose Pistola’s also has a lineup of mules with a choice of mezcal, vodka, tequila, or whiskey. Look for more options to be added.

Johnny Brenda's

The single-serving cocktails at Johnny Brenda’s run the gamut from an Irish coffee to an ancho chile pepper-infused rum punch with Aperol and guava. There’s also a rotating frozen cocktail — the current offering is an icy cucumber mojito. A few of the drinks will be available in 32-ounce bottles, and there’s beer too. Order online.

Dim Sum House

Both Dim Sum House locations — University City and Rittenhouse — are selling their signature cocktails named after movies, like the Chase the Dragon with Knob Creek rye, chrysanthemum syrup, grapefruit, and poppy tincture. There’s a full bar so a lot of the standard mixed drinks will be available too.

bourbon cocktail with cherry Dim Sum House

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