R&D Cocktail Bar Is Your Favorite Bartender’s Bar in Philadelphia — Here’s Why
Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood is no longer a go-to area just for Citywide shot-and-beer dive bars. Since October 2018, R&D Cocktail Bar has filled a unique niche as a friendly craft cocktail bar in a part of town where, increasingly, getting into any bar or restaurant on most nights requires booking a reservation far in advance or going through a bouncer. Its hard-to-replicate combination of being both popular and inclusive in a prime nightlife location is only part of what sets R&D apart. Just ask any Philly bartender.
The bar takes center stage inside this moody midcentury lounge, designed by bar veteran Aaron Deary in partnership with Defined Hospitality, the group behind hot spots like Condesa, Suraya, Kalaya, and Pizzeria Beddia. Bar manager Resa Mueller is an expert mixologist who also doesn’t take herself too seriously, to the envy of every bar professional in town. On any given night, Cajmere’s “Percolator” or A$AP Ferg’s “Shabba” — or an electronica and disco playlist comes on to spice things up. Somehow, R&D can feel like you’re cozied up in a sexy Miami bar or partying the night away with your favorite people — it always defies expectations and is always fun.
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“It’s easily in the top three bars in the city for me,” says Fishtown resident and Ranstead Room bartender Rob Scott, who tends to order off-menu at R&D. He and his partner began frequenting R&D two years ago as part of their Monday night date nights. Since then, they’ve become weekly regulars, getting on a first-name basis with almost every person behind the bar. They always feel at home here, and Scott says he tries to emulate the same level of hospitality with his own guests. In 2023, Scott and his partner celebrated their 10th anniversary with close friends in a private party hosted at R&D.
“The R&D squad has always been small and tight,” says Mueller, whose vision and leadership have retained a steady roster of diverse bar staff. Scott, who identifies as bisexual, notes that R&D is one of the few queer-friendly spaces outside of Philly’s Gayborhood where the representation of queer people and women behind the bar is present. For Mueller, pairing hospitable personalities with ambition and talent makes for a stronger team.
Mueller and team constantly push guests to drink outside the box, overhauling R&D’s cocktail menu a few times a year — from formatting and design to seasonal themes and styles of drinks. Recently, they launched a ’90s-themed “Now That’s What I Call Cocktails” menu where guests flip through a CD binder. This past winter, R&D bartenders posed for a Christmas-themed photo shoot to accompany a menu of festive sippers. The result is an all-encompassing drink menu that could include shochu-based drinks next to a Corn Pops-infused Old-Fashioned. At R&D, the bartenders want you to have as much fun as they are.
“Their cocktails are artistic without being pretentious, and their menu is approachable but always so creative,” says Brandon Lee Thrash, bartender and general manager of Fishtown’s Middle Child Clubhouse. He’s been coming to R&D since Middle Child expanded nearby three years ago, often sipping on a post-shift classic cocktail or perfectly cold High Life beer. He admires R&D’s dedication to craft and quality without losing sight of being fun.
R&D bartender Solomon Thomas shares that long-standing staff members like himself, Zach Kessler, and Stephen Recchia, have won the trust of guests and industry peers while “keeping a finger on the pulse and the palette of the community.” With R&D as one of the few cocktail-focused bars in the area, Thomas says it’s essential that everyone who comes in feels cared for. He welcomes guests to talk with bartenders who ask guided questions to find a drink of their interest without needing to be very knowledgeable, like a Boilermaker or a riff on a Mai Tai. High-volume quality control also makes R&D stand out: Drinks are batched for efficiency, but there’s still pageantry happening in front of the guest, he adds. (Be sure to peep the whacky glassware and fire-lit tropical drinks next time you’re there).
Former Fishtown resident and Philadelphia president of the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild Amanda Swanson has been frequenting R&D since 2021, returning often for its rotating menu of conceptual cocktails in a warm and inviting spot.
“At R&D, I taste through the menu every time a new one drops, but I’m always going back for their Paloma Milk Punch — it’s in my top three favorite drinks in Philly,” says Swanson.
W Philadelphia bartender Jessica Miller, who used to tend bar at R&D, credits R&D with forging many friendships, and she credits Mueller for encouraging her own professional growth as a bartender.
“The one constant change is the creativity of the bar; Resa and Aaron work hard to build a cohesive team, and it shows in every menu release,” says Miller, who learned from the best team while bartending at R&D.
Scott backs Miller’s sentiment, citing that being part of the R&D community makes him feel like he belongs. “If I ever owned a bar, R&D would be a large inspiration,” he says. He constantly asks himself, “How do I, as a bartender, get to this level?”
R&D Cocktail Bar is open Monday through Saturday starting at 5 p.m.
Alisha Miranda is a Philadelphia journalist, digital producer, and #LatinxIndustryNight host. Follow her at @alishainthebiz. Follow Resy, too.
Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.
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