Fiume

Philadelphia magazine food editor Jason Sheehan and I don’t agree on all that much, but one thing that we both do see eye to eye on is that West Philly’s Fiume is one of the best bars in the city, hands down. And this week (through Saturday), Fiume presents Cocktail Week.

“On one end of the spectrum, we’ll offer easy, bright refreshing choices,” says Fiume’s Kevin Holland (pictured), who we’re pretty sure owns or at least runs the joint, which sits on the second floor of Ethiopian restaurant Abyssinia at 45th and Locust. “On the other end, we’ll present boozier, more challenging, and sometimes downright abstruse numbers. To bridge the gap, each night there will be two or three falling in the middle of that spectrum. We’re not offering any cocktails this week that we have presented before.”

Last night, Holland and his team served up drinks like the Paloma, Boulevard des Reves, and gin-based Prohibition-era drink The Final Word, and the rest of the week, they’ll keep introducing new ones. Look for repertory cocktails like the Baroque and Famous (Navy proof rum, Hatian rum, Cynar, Carpano Antica, Angostura bitters and orange bitters on the rocks) and the Trinidad Sour (Angostura bitters, orgeat, bonded rye, and fresh lemon juice, served up) as well as staff creations like Under a Panama (Reposado mescal, amaretto, Fernet, fresh lime juice, and fresh mint on the rocks, by Fiume newcomer Jo “Aussie Jo” Randell) and Boogu Yagga Gal (Old Raj London Dry Gin, Amaro Nonino, Luxardo Cherry, and Navy strength rum on the rocks, by Holland).

And don’t worry, they still have over 100 beers available. Not too shabby for a place that maybe seats 20 and doesn’t have a phone.

[PHOTO: Ryan Collerd]