The Ranstead Room

Five stars only because I finally found a place that knows how to make my favorite drink! Gin, jalepeno, lime, etc. So good.
Can be a long wait though as it’s always busy.

The attention to atmosphere and customer experience made this place perfect for the night out we were looking for. Furthermore, our phenomenal barkeep Ryan was able to take our spirit preferences and fix us an awesome drink that hit the spot better than anything I could have thought to order myself. Overall great experience, thanks Ryan!

Have heard good things about this speak easy so we checked it out after dinner at El Ray. Getting in can be a pain (your name is put on a list and they call when they have a spot — problem is they cannot estimate how long your wait will be). If you are eating at El Ray, they will get you on the list and you can enjoy a drink or two while you wait. The space is small and intimate, and we liked that it was quiet and low key. The drinks were good but I was not blown away. I have had better and more creative drinks at Charlie Was a Sinner, Olde Bar, and Sassafras. In short, it’s nice for after-​dinner drinks if you are eating at El Ray, but as a planned destination, I would rather go to Charlie Was a Sinner.

Interesting room. Had to wait about 10 minutes on a Saturday at 11pm. Not too bad. Drinks were good. We each had one then moved onto another speakeasy: Hop Sing Laundromat and preferred that one better.
I recommend you try them both and form your own opinion.

If you love a great speakeasy, def check this joint out. The drinks are very very good. Love the atmosphere too. If been to some other speakeasy bars in philly and this one is the best.

I thought this was a cool place and been wantng to go for a while, cocktails were good and the space is kind a wierd but cool, my biggest complaint was name name was on the list a we waited for like an hour, when I noticed that people were getting a table I went back needless to say they never called and I was annoyed, then we got in and they called us. It’s not that hard people.

It was worth checking out and the first speakeasy I went to, but the speakeasy era mood I was expecting wasn’t quite there — mostly just dark, crowded, some speakeasy era paintings on the wall, and long waits (this was a weekend night though). The drinks sound interesting but most of them ultimately tasted too strong on the acrid alcohol taste for my preference and was weak on the flavor notes I was expecting. The waiting area is pretty cool, but the long waits and all the other cocktail options in the area (minus the waits and plus on the taste) make me hesitate to go back.
I will say that I love the concept of it being hidden from view and looking like just another building from the outside. For my first visit, I had trouble finding it because it was located in an empty, tiny street and was only distinguished by its door.

So this was my first adventure into this new «speakeasy» obsession. I was skeptical before because everyone made a big deal about them being jerks about «dress codes» and «having your cell phone out» and things like that. This place gave me a positive view of «speakeasies», though, which I’m sure will be ruined as soon as I venture off to another.
The lady at the door didn’t seem like a jerk at all. Asked us how many, smiled, and took us to a table. No wait at 10pm on a Saturday is pretty cool. And it was pretty full inside, so it’s not like the place was dead.
The vibe in there was really neat. I’ve never been to 1920, but I assume it was something like this. Dark, red velvet walls, all wood er’thing. Looked like they had a solid food menu as well, which offered selections from the restaurant upstairs.
As for drinks, I ordered the «Bartender’s Choice» first and told him how I wanted something «really really spicy using a dark spirit, and without citrus». He pretty much ignored everything I said and brought me a mildly spicy margarita, so that was lame but it certainly tasted good.
Second round I went for some sort of absinthe/​egg whites drink that was awesome. I’ll make sure to stick with that one for both rounds next time.

My first experience with a speakeasy. Cool concept and love the very inconspicuous entrance. I walk down Ranstead st. almost daily and did not even realize this spot was here. We were lucky that the size of our party had seating available with only a short wait. The seating inside is somewhat limited (which adds to the allure), but makes for long waits sometimes.
The dark lighting, velvet wallpaper and candles really set a cool ambiance. It was a nice place to enjoy a relaxing drink before ending the night. Good location to be able to talk with the company you came with. The drinks are strong and the option for bartender’s choice is a fun concept.
All cocktails are a little pricey, $ 13, but they are masterfully crafted. We did not need to try any food at this time, but can comment later if we return.

The girls working here are pretty hot. Combined with the dark lighting, booth seatings, and tasteful nude portraits near the bathroom, RR is a sexy and calm way to end your night out in Philly.
We each opted for the bartender’s choice for drinks but unfortunately the drinks were off that night. I’m not a heavy drinker and prefer sipping on fruity vodka cocktails. I got a Moscow Mule which was light and carbonated but more gingerly than sweet. My friends were also disappointed with their bartender’s choices.

Came in here on a Sunday night and sat at the bar for hours. The bartender chatted with us a small bit, but I think he realized we were there mainly to chat with each other and mostly left us alone. Cozy and I loved the dark, sexy lounge ambiance. The alley entrance really makes it like the original stereotype of a speakeasy. It’s very well-​decorated inside and it wasn’t crowded either (but Sunday night probably had a lot to do with it).
The cocktails were delicious. Slightly pricey, but keep in mind you are paying for a lot of work. They were all very intricate and each one sounded fascinating. I’d been to the other speakeasy, too — the Franklin Mortgage and Investment Company — and I liked this intimate setting and its cocktails much better. Would definitely recommend to others as one of the top bars I know in Philly.

Accidentally went down the wrong Ranstead alley but still made it to be the first couple there before the bouncer had to turn everyone else away. Woo! This was my first speakeasy so I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of ambiance, drinks, and strictness in dress code.
A much more laid back place than the Franklin bar and a much smaller place only holding about five large booths and 4 smaller ones and then about 10 at the bar. I thought it was rather cozy though. Tall people be aware you might be dangling a leg out in the walkway so please pay attention to not trip anyone… The red leather booths made it feel scandalous with the paintings, which I also couldn’t keep my eyes off of, along with the collage in the restroom… It didn’t seem to matter what you wore, T-​shirt, jeans and sneakers didn’t seem like a problem as I surveyed the patrons. The music was nice, oldies and classics from the by gone era.
The service was a bit slow with only one waiter working the entire room and the bouncer girl was helping clean the tables, but was definitely made up since the waiter had to kneel at every table to get more intimate and make sure communications were clear.
The Jaimaican popcorn ($ 3) was a delightful change to the butter and sweet popcorns typically available. I got the bartender’s choice ($ 13) and received a made in mexico which was definitely made to my taste. While the Yellow Brick Road ($ 13) was a nice lemony gin mix to keep with the citrus theme of the night for me.
I didn’t think the drinks were that spectacular but I think the experience made it well worth it. I also didn’t see the two couples that put down their name to be called, but I did see the group of six return after about an hour of sipping cocktails, so people do get a call back from the unmarked number.

If my girlfriend and I weren’t such cocktail enthusiasts, we probably wouldn’t have wandered to this establishment on our first trip to Philadelphia. Yeah, I get it, it’s a speakeasy. But still, it was a pretty shady experience at night for first timers.
I ordered the Flyin’ Hawaiian. It consists of Jamaican rum, Demerara Rum, pineapple, violette and was served in a tiki mug. The drink was not only presented very nicely, but it was pretty tasty as well. I snapped a picture with the brightest flash ever and was politely told by the bartender to refrain from flash photography. The place is very dark and intimate so it was pretty useless taking pictures anyway and instead we simply enjoyed the atmosphere and experience of the night.
I’m really glad I made the effort to go to this establishment. The bartenders were polite and very knowledgable of the cocktails on their menu as well as various other concoctions. I definitely suggest this establishment for cocktail enthusiasts and for couples who would prefer an intimate atmosphere.

It took my friends and me 3 attempts to get into The Ranstead Room the one night we were in Philly, but we were willing to keep coming back and checking because of what we had heard about the place.
Once we finally got in, we were not disappointed!
The dimly-​lit, speakeasy lounge was everything I was looking for, and had that perfect throw-​back vibe without venturing into hipster territory. That line is a very fine line, folks, and The Ranstead Room knocks it out of the park.
Their menu was great, but what really caught my eye was a «bartender’s choice» option. Now, I know you could go to pretty much any bar in America and have the bartender make you something that isn’t on the menu, but I like how confident they are in their bartenders to list that as an option.
It really shows that their bartenders know what they’re doing, and I LOVED my drink. I told our waiter that I wanted something with white rum in it (I happened to be on a white rum kick at the time), and he came back with a «rum-​fashioned» which is essentially an Old Fashioned with rum instead of whiskey. I’m not quite sure if the bartenders know how to read minds, because if they do, they would have known that Old Fashions are my favorite drink!
The Ranstead Room will definitely be a place I’ll return to the next time I’m in Philly!

Place is an awesome place to just kick it back with friends and chill. I like the place. I would go back.
The waiter that helped us was a little slow to get to our table maybe once or twice but was pretty good after that. We ordered some food and drinks.
The platter that I got was a medley of Mexican food. Kind of like tapas. I definitely need to come and try some different drinks they have. I wasn’t a big fan of the food. I really wanted to try the duck sandwich.
Anyway I’ll be back.

On a whim my husband and I decided to pop our speakeasy cherries and check out the Ranstead Room. It was everything we imagined and then some.
Once we made our way down the tiny street of Ranstead, we found the double RR on the door and figured we’d made it to the right place. We were greeted by a friendly, but chic hostess. After reading about some not so friendly beginnings at other Philly speakeasies this was a very pleasant surprise.
The room was dark and reminded me of a medieval library. The vibe was laid back and I felt like I could be in an old fashioned movie. We knew we were just staying for one cocktail so asked to be seated at the bar.
I had the Camp Crystal Lake; an adult delight that was served in a metal cocktail shaker. It was topped with ice and sweet like a Popsicle. If I could describe it in one word, that word would be «summer.» It was very easy to drink and I could have easily had several if we were staying longer. The hubby went with the Verrazano, which was strong and didn’t hide its bite. Sitting at the bar, we got to see the bartenders in action. These mixologists are absolute artists at their craft. And friendly too! I don’t know why I was expecting everyone at a speakeasy to be a jerk! All cocktails were $ 13, which I found to be reasonable for a nice cocktail.
I felt very grownup while enjoying my very well-​executed adult beverage. I look forward to returning.

The Ranstead Room is a true gem. It’s a speak easy located in an alley way with a nonassuming door labeled «RR». As soon as you enter through the first door, you are in a red lit corridor and greeted by the host/​hostess. She will ask you for your IDs and whether you want a booth or bar if there is room inside.
Once you enter in, you are greeted by an intimate, candle-​lit, room that seats no more than 30 or so people. There is a touch of gothic with the wall papers, chandeliers, and leather seats — but in a good way.
All of their cocktails are $ 13. I chose Bartender’s Choice each time and they made a «Bees Knees» and «Pennsylvania». Both were delicious and accommodated to my preference of sweet & fruity. There is true talent lying among the bartenders.
I also got their Jamaica popcorn ($ 3) and their Charcuterie plate ($ 14). I strong recommend both. The Jamaica popcorn was interesting with complex flavors of lime, cumin, salt, and sugar. There was also some smokiness to the popcorn. The Charcuterie plate was divine with three different types of meat, whole grain mustard, honey, toasted pumpkin seeds, and picked vegetables.
Our waitress was fantastic, attentive (without being overbearing), and helpful. She helped us pick cocktails to our preference and was very knowledgable.
Overall, it was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an intimate place to get drinks.

SUCH a cool place.
We walked in (after walking down a dark alley to find it) and the hostess sat us at the bar right away. I’d call ahead for more than 2 people because it is a very small bar and they don’t let you stand around. You have to be seated.
The bartender was very nice and we each ordered 3 drinks. One of them was off of the menu, but the others, we just had her make up something creative and she did a great job. They have very unique drinks (drinks with egg yolks and egg whites– weird) but everything was amazing.
The drinks are pretty pricy but its worth it to experience. We will definitely be back

[ summary ]
Smaller and slightly less of an intellectual «I-​read-​the-​New-​Yorker-​and-​am-​holier-​than-​thou-​on-​my-​high-​fucking-​horse» vibe than Franklin Mortgage. Dark enough to make the person across from you look sufficiently attractive to make the conversation enjoyable (just make sure you keep the lights off later when things get serious). Another spot to add to your repertoire of places to bring a chick when she’s got a little too much intellectual horsepower for your local dive bar and 3.50 beer specials, but is still a sucker for wine and costume parties at the age of 30.
[ finding the door and getting in ]
Upon entering Ranstead Street (quite generous — more accurately described as an alley, perpetually under construction) you will be 100% certain that your friend has brought you here to murder you and throw your limbs into one of many restaurant dumpsters. You’ll know you’ve found the place when you see two Rs (one artistically drawn backwards, J.R.R. Tolkein-​style) on the door. Someone will then inform you of the wait time, which will hopefully not be too atrocious.
I once put my name and number on the waitlist, sat in Capogiro for an hour, gave up, and went to Franklin Mortgage instead. Minus one star for leading me on. That woman had zero intention of calling me back. Gents, you know my pain.
[ vibe ]
The walls are touchably velvety. Dark, chandelier-​y, gold tiles, wood tables, pretty ladies with feathers in their hair. A tasteful collection of nude pinup paintings on the back wall is the perfect finishing touch. Splendid.
[ dranks ]
What a psychologically conscientious place: to reduce financial anxiety and simplify tab splitting among stingy friends without causing bad will, all cocktails are $ 13.
The «Bartender’s Choice» option is fantastic: I asked for something «apple-​y» and was given a scrumptious apple ginger cocktail with a slice of tart granny smith and a piece of crystalized ginger. Well done.
My friend got the monkey gland, which was sufficiently absinthe-​y.
My other friend got a Yuengling (some people are just beyond help). We let her sit at the table anyway.
[ overall ]
Worthy experience.

The Ranstead Room truly embodies what a speakeasy should be!
With a totally elusive entrance, dim lights, music from decades ago, and an unpretentious staff, I just can’t get enough! Not to mention that their cocktails are strong :)
I ordered the Floradora (Gin, ginger, and grenadine) as my first drink and mmm, it was so tasty! Both the gin and ginger flavors were not overpowering and the grenadine added just enough sweetness. I would order this drink again anytime! My friends ordered the Santiago Daisy, Army Navy, and Monkey Gland for their first round and there were no complaints at our table. We also opted for the custom Bartender’s Choice; again, those drinks left our palates happy! I couldn’t tell you what we had… but the bartenders here are sure to make something to your liking!
I definitely like I was in New York or LA here! This would be a great place to start or end your night. Also, I enjoyed my experience here much more than The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. so I will most certainly return :)