48 Record Bar
Old City, Philadelphia
Bar in Philadelphia, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
48 Record Bar is worth choosing for a flexible Old City drinks stop, especially late Wednesday through Sunday. Do not make it the whole dinner plan; use it after a meal or as a low-stress second-round venue when easy booking and timing matter more than a published food or cocktail format.
About 48 Record Bar
Should you go to 48 Record Bar in Philadelphia? Yes if the plan is a late-evening stop rather than a formal dinner plan. The hours make the venue most useful for people planning around a Wednesday-through-Sunday night out in Philadelphia.
The value question is simple: do not treat this as a dinner substitute or a place to assess a specific menu. Treat it as a flexible stop, especially when the priority is timing. It may make sense after a separate meal, before another late-night plan, or as the final stop when a group does not want to commit to a restaurant table.
Use it as a late-night Philadelphia stop, not a full-plan venue
The strongest reason to choose 48 Record Bar is timing. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 PM to 2 AM, it is closed Monday and Tuesday. That gives it late-night utility for plans that extend beyond an early evening. If the group needs a defined food plan, look elsewhere first, then use 48 Record Bar as the flexible stop.
Where it fits in a Philadelphia night out
For a wider night out, keep the full Philadelphia bars guide open and compare options before committing. If the night needs dinner, hotel, winery, or experience planning around the stop, use the Philadelphia restaurants guide, the Philadelphia hotels guide, the Philadelphia wineries guide, the Philadelphia experiences guide.
Skip it when the main requirement is a known dining format, a published tasting structure, or a venue with clear menu expectations before arrival. Choose it when flexibility, late hours, a Philadelphia stop are the priorities. For dining before or after, compare it with other Philadelphia options generically, or consider names such as EMei 峨嵋, Le Caveau, Sakana Omakase Sushi, Sassafras, or The Bourse Food Hall depending on the kind of night you are planning.
Planning details
- Location
- 48 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Website
- 48recordbar.com
- Phone
- +1 215 925 2317
The take
The Take
The Vibe
48 Record Bar is a music-first cocktail room that treats the playlist as programming rather than background. It sits on Old City's evening strip among quietly serious cocktail rooms, and the bar's rhythm is set by a selector or DJ who determines tempo for the night. Drinks and records share equal weight here: the curation of cocktails matters as much as the vinyl on the turntable. The result is a focused, urbane late-night room that rewards attention to the atmosphere and the ebb and flow of a set, operating at Philadelphia's particular pace rather than chasing other cities' tones.
Best For
This is a spot to visit when you want an evening shaped by music as much as by drinks—think date nights, low-key meetups, and late-night sessions. The record-bar format encourages listening and immersion rather than conversation-first dining, so it suits people who want to arrive and let the room unfold. Groups can gather for a concise, shared experience, and the bar’s placement in Old City makes it a natural stop for those exploring the neighborhood’s more serious cocktail rooms after dark.
Ordering Tips
Expect to order into the rhythm of the room: the DJ or selector helps determine pacing, so space out rounds and follow the set's tempo. The write-up emphasizes careful drinks curation, so anticipate a focused cocktail list rather than an expansive menu; order with the intention of savoring rather than rushing. Treat the music as part of the experience—arrive ready to listen and let the evening be guided by the program rather than aiming for nonstop conversation.
Venue details
Ambiance
Plush velvet seating, low intimate lighting, cozy fireplace, rich curtains, custom upholstery, and ornate wallpaper creating a sensory-focused lounge for sound and conversation.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Cocktail Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Vinyl Records, Jazz, Eclectic Genres
- Live Music
- Yes
Signature Pours
- Martini Salé
- Umami Old Fashioned
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
If the group needs food variety before drinks, choose The Bourse Food Hall. If the plan is more wine-focused than record-bar-focused, try Le Caveau instead.
Bar context
How it compares in Philadelphia
Choose 48 Record Bar over Sassafras when the priority is a late, music-led bar stop rather than a more traditional Old City bar feel. Sassafras is the safer cross-shop for a classic Philadelphia drinking-room mood; 48 Record Bar is the better fit when the public record-bar format is the reason for going.
The Bourse Food Hall is the better move for mixed groups that need casual food choice and lower commitment. 48 Record Bar is stronger after that decision has already been handled, when the group wants drinks and a more focused room. For a food-led splurge, Sakana Omakase Sushi is in a different category and makes more sense when the meal is the main event.
If the night needs dinner with clearer cuisine expectations, compare against EMei 峨嵋. If wine-bar energy is the target, Le Caveau is the cleaner choice. 48 Record Bar wins on late-night flexibility and low planning pressure, not on a defined dining format.
Explore Philadelphia
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full 48 Record Bar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare 48 Record Bar
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 48 Record Bar | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| Sassafras | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| The Bourse Food Hall | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| Sakana Omakase Sushi | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| EMei 峨嵋 | Philadelphia | No published awards |
| Le Caveau | Philadelphia | No published awards |
How 48 Record Bar Philadelphia compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best time to go to 48 Record Bar?
48 Record Bar is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 PM to 2 AM and closed Monday and Tuesday. Choose the timing based on whether you want an early-evening stop or a later stop.
Is 48 Record Bar open late?
Yes, it runs until 2 AM from Wednesday through Sunday. The location detail for planning is Philadelphia.
Is the food good at 48 Record Bar?
No cuisine, menu, or food-service details are available here, so do not plan around a specific dining offering. If dinner matters, pair it with a separate meal at another Philadelphia venue such as EMei 峨嵋 or Sakana Omakase Sushi.
Is 48 Record Bar good for a date?
It can work if you want a smart-casual Philadelphia stop rather than a formal dinner. The Wednesday-to-Sunday 5 PM to 2 AM hours make it flexible for an evening plan.
