The following is written in my phone's notepad:
Bourbon
Licor43
GFJuice
Lime
Eggg White
Mary me leee.
I was trying to tell myself something. Â But what? Â That I must return for this drink, this amazingly wonderful magnificently magical drink. Â I wasn't allowed to take a picture of the menu, so this was the only way I could document it. Â I knew that type-A bartenders frequently change the names of their drinks, so I wouldn't be able to go by the name alone.
Lee came to us periodically. Â He created a violent whirpool in the shaker in front of me without lifting it from the bartop. Â He then poured the rest into my glass, lifted it up, wiped beneath it with a cloth, and briskly walked to his next type-A activity. Â I fell into deep libationary love and practically melted into the bar covered in nickels.
The whole shtick with waiting at the doorbell, sitting in the waiting room and listening to the rules, fine. Â Meh. Â I'll put up with it for drinks like this one.
Last time I was in Philadelphia, I went to The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. (another speakeasy) and I liked that experience more.
At Franklin Mortgage, there was a guy in a trench coat outside that conspicuously asks you how many are in your party. Then he walks down a flight of steps to an unmarked door, disappears for a few minutes, then returns to escort you to a table. You're then surrounded by people dressed in Prohibition era outfits and antiques from that time decorate the walls. The drinks were classic and strong.
So, I was delighted when my friends told me about Hop Sing Laundromat which they said was similar. When we walked there from my friend's condo, there was a guy dressed up, but not in 1920's gear, and asked us how many were in our party. Then we followed him into the foyer area where we were sat down and briefed about the rules which were basically don't be loud and no pictures. For some reason, to me, it just felt like they were trying too hard with the picture thing. I mean, who had a camera in the 1920's? They're just being secretive about nothing.
To be fair, I guess I don't know the main goal of this place. Is it to emulate a real 1920's speakeasy, or is it just a speakeasy for the sake of being a speakeasy. I mean, those are cool too and I've been to an awesome one in San Diego (Noble Experiment) where at the back of some restaurant you push a fake wall open (it looks like stacked kegs). So since I was comparing to Franklin Mortgage, I was slightly disappointed since I was expecting it to  be more old fashioned where I can actually feel like I was in the 1920's and drinking illegally. I think thinking the goal of this place is just to be secretive for fun, not to emulate a true prohibition era joint.
At any rate, this place is extremely well-decorated, the staff is professional/nice, and the drinks are tasty/strong. The extensive menu is attractive and salivation-inducing. I had a great time here chatting with my friends and I like feeling all proper in a drinking establishment with rules. I should mention, I think they can only accommodate groups of 2, 4 or 6, and you need to be "presentably dressed."
I'd come back here for sure to try out more drinks and to sulk in the atmosphere.
Great place to catch up with friends and sip a few cocktails. Everything on the menu is fabulous. The Thai cocktail was incredibly spicy, which I loved and the waiter made sure we understood that in advance. Even odd combinations work well at Hop Sing and I was happy to try a few bourbon-and-cream combinations.
Getting in is a bit of ceremony, but it's an easy dress code. My friend chatted up the bouncer while she waited for means he let us in as soon as I arrived. We waited about five minutes in the anteroom, which is decorated impeccably with wooden benches and great wall art. Also, the bathrooms are cool.
No food at all on the menu, but that's part of the place's charm. Have a few drinks, pretend to be part of the elite world of another era and enjoy the splurge. It's worth every second.
Speak Easy's seem to be all the rage and I am finally glad I've made it to Hop Sing Laundromat which I feel like has the most authentic feel to it of all the Speak Easy type bars in the city. Â Between being question a little and waiting in a little lobby if its the place isn't full to the decor of the place I had an amazing experience here and it totally deserves to be on the Top 50 Bar list of Philly.
There is a two drink minimum but its more like 4 drinks since you get the extra to your drink if there is any. Â The drinks were tasty and you could tell made with fresh ingredients. Â For all you klutzy people out there like myself, be careful on the way out on the steps I trip on them but that wont discourage me from coming back.
My drink was not shabby, but not spectacular. Â I was okay with the door mans 10 min speech about the rules of the joint, but what made me disgusted at the pretentiousness of this place was that, after being the only two people in the place for 30 minutes, I asked if I could take my second cocktail at the bar to get a closer look at the extensive liquor collection. Â I was hoping to buy tastes of things that were new to me, but the waiter informed me that the bartender was not interested in seating us at the bar, even though the place was empty and no one else was there. Â HOW ridiculous!!! They were such jerks about it. Â So we left after we finished our 1st cocktail. Â I won't go back.
PS. Â The music sucked and did not go with the ambiance.
Once you get past the seemingly selective element of entry into this establishment and quit trying to figure out the owner's motives, you might just find yourself enjoying the best cocktails in town and having great conversation with (hopefully) good friends. Personally, I feel like the dress code and partial restriction of cell phone use creates a warm and unique atmosphere. That's just my opinion - clearly, Hop Sing is a polarizing bar. In the end, that's all it is. A bar. With the best cocktails in town. All they ask is that you play by their - not unreasonable - rules in order to try them. The East Side and Preacher Bourbon are the jam.
And for anyone reading this who doesn't drink alcohol, the mocktails are mindblowing and unique. The bartenders love being given artistic license in this department and never disappoint. Always off-menu and $4 less than boozy cocktails, they are a real treat.
I think people can summarily grouped into "People that love Hop Sing" and "People who Hate Hope Sing." Unfortunately for me, this very polarizing bar is just not my cup of tea. Chalk it up to my absolute hatred of being told what to do, but if I am shelling out 15 bucks for a cocktail I will not deal with snobbery, rudeness and ridiculous rules.
That being said, EVERYONE should try this place out and decide for themselves.
Very odd place, but Lee has made it one of a kind. Â Hop sing is an old fashion speak easy in the middle Chinatown. Â To give you an idea of how hard it is to find, I've been walking past it for about 4 years on a regular basis. Â Never knew it existed!!
So here's the deal, dress up expect to not get a simple cocktail and expect to not have access to your cell phone (infact just shut the damn thing off). Â The owner demands that of you ( you will be asked to leave). Â
Still I had an amazing time the drinks were excellent and went down very smooth, granted I've had better old fashions, and I've had worse too. Â If you can find it stop in you will NOT be disappointed
What a trip! I mean, seriously. Hats off to Mr Lee.
Everything about this joint is picture perfect and we all had to fight the urge to whip out our iPhones to capture the uncaptureable (not a word, but you get what I mean). Yet I completely appreciate the sophistication that results when we all let our dang phones rest and we just embrace the company around us.
Innovative drink concoctions, incredible service, and impressive ambiance.
AMAZING cocktails. Â I had one sip and I was in love. Â There are over 50 different cocktail varieties to choose from and they range from $12-14 bucks- not bad for a fancy, decadent cocktail bar! Â Impeccable service. Â Luxurious decor. Â Great music.
You're greeted at the door by a bouncer who asks the standard questions: Why are you here? Â How did you hear about this place? Â Did you know it's cash only? Â Yes, unfortunately it's cash only. Â I suppose that is a good thing or I'd be maxing out my card here. Â A few rules here: no photography or video, but you can use your phone to google, email etc. Â No talking on the phone unless you're in the waiting area, which is great. Â I hate those loud cell phone talkers.
I cannot wait to come back here. Â Great for an after dinner cocktail!
Great marketing and solid drinks. We came early in the evening and happily did not experience the (in)famous pretense.
Yes the drinks are high quality and well balanced but I'll pass on the melodrama. Thus I prefer Franklin Mortgage or better yet, Ranstead room where I never had a bad drink be it my selection or bartender's choice.
The drinks and bartenders deserve five stars. Minus two stars for the circus act.
This place is absolutely unbelievable! Only 5 minutes in and you can't find another place like this anywhere! I'm thoroughly impressed with the atmosphere and extreme attention to detail. I have never been to a place with the amount of character this place has. One square foot in here has more character than 50 of the best dives in the country! I don't know how I have ever overlooked this place! It's a must experience at least 10 times place!
After finishing the night in this remarkable place, I can say that it has some of the best crafted drinks out there. I've traveled to many places in and out of country, and considerer myself an avid alcohol enthusiasts, this beats Berlin, Madrid, Japan, Osaka, Sydney, and Bombay. Congrats Lee on a great place! you really have a Gem!
I have been here twice so far and I have to say I really love it. Last night we went and were pleased to find out that Hop Sing hosts a happy hour from 5pm-8pm. There was a smaller drink menu and everything is priced at $9.
On my first visit I had an awesome drink that had some combination of coffee, mint  and bourbon that was awesome. Yesterday I had a Diamondback that had bourbon, apple jack brandy, and chartreuse the drink was super strong but really good. Regular drink prices are $12.
The space itself is super cool and sorta gimmicky but this is a fun place to go to celebrate a birthday or take people from outta town.
I would suggest Hop Sing for groups smaller than 5 and as an alternative to Franklin Mortgage or Emmanuelle.
I haven"t been back to Philly in so long to hang out, happen to be at dinner in c-town my friend suggested stopping by at this place. Â He told me I would like it bc their drink menu is like that of nyc, that made me happy! Â It was raining and had to ring the doorbell and wait for approval to go inside, that made me unhappy... Hello it was raining, what's w/ the crazy scrutiny?? once we were deemed ok, the iron gates opened, but still not allowed to even step inside until we hv shown our ID, need I say again, hello it 's raining!? Â even after getting 'in' still wasn't in, bc u hv to listen to the rules of this place... no talking on cell phones, no pixs allowed.. so far I like what I hear... after confirming yes to u/standing the rules.. we were finally finally allowed in... great now I am happy again.
drink menu is amazing so many choices,def dig it. Â the drinks took a while which is fine w/ me bc it meant the bartender were making the drinks correctly and not just pouring whatever into their shaker and dumping into a glass!
I ordered the East Side and Ivan Drago -- the drinks were amazing...
the crowd was definitely a mixed one... made me kinda confused bc at the door, the interrogation, the dramatic wait time of hearing the door buzz made it seem like they had a certain type that they were allowing to go in. Â but again it was a mix/weird crowd, my gf whispered to me 'wait they were allowed in' ....
this is a low key quiet type of place, perfect to get together w/ friends to catch up and chill, a good place to start the night. Â
definitely wnt to go bk soon to try their other drinks...
So one night, my friend and my bf wandered around Chinatown and my friend mentioned this place to me and wanted to go check it out. We finally find the place and ring the doorbell. It seems like after ringing the doorbell, of this unmarked bar, made it feel kind of awkward when he came and answered the door. This guy who's wearing this suit (that looks super fancy though; almost like a circus ringleader) who also turns out to be the owner and says that there's a dress code for Hop Sing. So we came back a few days later in dress code (which was dress shoes for guys, no flip flops or t shirts, but I wore dressy flip flops and it was fine) and we had to wait about 10 minutes outside before we could enter. When we got inside, the owner led us into the first room before you could actually get inside the bar to warn us about no picture taking or making any phone calls , except usage except for text messaging and going online and that there was a 2 drink minimum (which are about $12-15 each depending on the drinks). I ordered the "east passyunk yacht club" and the "Ivan Drago", which were both fruity girly drinks... lol. The drinks on the menu have super cute names on them! The drinks I ordered came with a little extra was nice to get on top of the actual drink they served me, instead of throwing it away. I guess since the drinks are kind of expensive, might as well give me the extras that dont fit in the glass in a seperate tiny cup.. lol.
Overall, the ambiance was really nice and the wait staff was very attentive with my water and came by our table every so often to refill our waters. Definitely a place I would go to again, to just hang out with friends once in a while since the drinks are kind of expensive.
Im a big fan of this place. I would frequent it more often If i could know in advance the type of wait Id have.... specifically when you wanna grab a couple quick drinks before/after a show at the troc or dinner......
A girlfriend and I went before after dinner one night. We waited patiently with a crowd of 3-4 other small couples/groups. The door guy came out once and the owner twice, to either heckle, advise of the time wait or tell one couple specifically they were told to leave because there was no room for them. Basically he said if we all had a plan B- go for it because it was a long wait. We waited about 15 minutes and got it.
SO worth the weight. The penny floor in the shoe shine lobby inspired me to make one in my kitchen. The ambiance cant be beat and the drinks are strong as hell and super creative. The wall of Whiskey... well its inviting and terrifying.
The servers are kinda demigods.....
I was looking for something to do on a Monday night during a trip to Philly (Memorial Day Weekend) and a laundromat popped up. I thought that was odd and then I noticed it was categorized as a "lounge". I thought that couldn't be right. Â But when I started reading the reviews and noticed there were hardly any pictures, I had to check this place out.
My husband and I didn't have any problems finding its location but you really can't tell that a bar lies behind the gates. Turns out they were closed for the holiday, but we came back the next day with luggage in tow to grab a quick drink before heading to the airport. There was a bouncer at the gate and the first thing he said was, "No sneakers!" And all I could think was "Really? it's 5pm and no one is probably in there..." Good thing I had some heels in my carry-on. Yes, I changed shoes in the middle of the sidewalk in Chinatown. Haha. I was on a mission. He took our IDs and went inside while we waited outside the gate. We got in and upon my first step in I loved it!
I loved the romantic ambience: dim lighting overhead and candlelights everywhere else. The decor on the wall is on point for a modern idea of Prohibition. They have old liquor licenses framed on the wall. The top of the walls are lined with old books on a shelf. Also a ladder behind the bar against a wall of liquor bottles. The drinks were creative and served strong. I wish I could find a place like this in LA. Hop Sing, you made my heart sing!
If you can keep the drinks, ambiance, superb decor, and the servers/bartenders of this place, while throwing out the owner and his slimy appeal and his wannabe-classy fork glasses, this place would be beyond 5 stars. But sadly, I guess we can't just kick out the owner, so this place will have to settle with 4 stars.
Being from Los Angeles, I have been to a number of speakeasys and have paid the whopping price tags for craft cocktails. However, never have I met an owner who lacked any ounce of humility like Lee. Although, I don't know if he is really fooling anyone if he's caught coming out of the apartment complex 2 blocks down in a dirty white wife beater and sandals.
Probably some of the best cocktails I've had the pleasure of having, but when it's accompanied by an unnecessarily-pretentious owner who posts (grammatically incorrect) tweets to make fun of his customers, it still leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
It's a really smart marketing scheme, really. Put a bouncer in front of an empty club and people will be lining up front and trying to get in. The mere exclusivity is alluring, people wants to be in the in-crowd. I go because it's located in Chinatown and I gotta know everything that's going on in my hood and support my people when I can.
After being told that there's a 15 minutes wait on an early Saturday evening outside an nondescript iron gate, the bouncer came out to do a clothing check. We all love rules, right? No shorts, no sneakers, no hat and no flip flops. The guy in front of us wearing a t-shirt and boat shoes got in, but the guy behind us wearing suit jacket and fancy leather sneakers didn't. So they do enforce it.
There's definitely a schadenfreude aspect to it and it makes people who got in that much more excited to the fare. Like sheep, we got herded into a small room with a shoe-shining stand and theater chairs. Lee (imagine Dr. Ken from the Hangover Trilogy in a velvet suit) comes out and talked to us about some more rules. Cash only, no photos or recordings, if you want to make a phone call, you have to come back to the entrance. Two drinks minimum. Good enough.
The drinking area is spacious, sparsely furnished with tables, chairs and upholstered banquettes. I think one of the looser rules is that they can only accommodate a party of four and no more but I saw a party of five seating in a corner. Dimly lit and decorated with oil paintings and books. It's like a 18th century library. The waiters are dressed neatly; shirt, slacks, tie with an apron. Two of my friends and I were seated and handed a substantial lists of cocktail and their special menu. Drinks are priced between $12-14 each grouped by the main liquor that the cocktails were mixed with. Most juices utilized in the cocktails are listed as fresh squeezed.
Through the night we each ordered 3 drinks and tasted each others and surprisingly we all have our favorites. Mine was my friend's Beecher's Bible, it's very fruity, summery drink. Friend A loves the more classic Hotel Nacional made with Rum and freshly extracted pineapple juice. Friend B opted for a more hardcore all liquor Merchandise 7x. They are all very high quality cocktails using high quality liquors. I can see myself becoming an alcoholic because for the first time in my life, I liked what I drink.
Service is impeccable. Our waiters made special efforts to make sure our water was filled. Coming to Hop Sing is like a trip to Disneyland. Lots of theatrics. To enjoy the place, you really need a sense of humor. But how about a washer/dryer set or at least an antique washboard to fit the name, huh?
Whelp it's time to update my review. I've visited Hop Sing twice now.
My first visit I sat at a table with two other friends and just after we ordered our drinks we were asked to move to the bar so a party of four could have our table. Â It was not a problem... the drinks this visit were ok. Â There was lots on the menu that caught my eye to try but we stayed for the two ok drinks and then moved on.
On my second visit to Hop Sing we were there on a Sunday night. Â There was not much going on in the neighborhood and when we entered Hop Sing there were a few other tables but not overly packed. During this stay I had two very good drinks (both of which were gin based). Â
I'm impressed with the drink menu and all that it has to offer.
Pros:
Great drinks.
Great atmosphere.
Great decor.
Cool idea in general.
Great location/secluded location
Pretty good servers.
Cons:
One server was a bit of a crank pants.
When we rang the bell and gave the bouncer our ID's he walked away, back inside the locked door with them. Let's just say that made me a bit uneasy, even though it was obviously a real ID. Maybe it's just me but the walking off with my ID made me nervous and was not the best first impression.
Lovely ambiance, great cocktails, kind of needs to get over itself. Â When you buzz the doorbell to be let in, the bouncer asks how you heard about Hop Sing (uhh... I can work the internet?), gives a dramatic pause, then lets you in. Â The spiel includes all the rules (helpful to hear!) but begins with a bizarre attempt to play down the "things you may have heard" and insists that it is a "simple cocktail bar." Â What makes you think I heard this was Valhalla? Â I just want a good drink! Â
Fortunately, the drinks are reasonably priced and mostly worth the awkward lecture. Â Happy hour prices make it extra viable (although they have changed in the past; best to Google before you go). Â Dress nice; bring a flashlight.
I liken my experience to a throwback to the prohibition era mixed with that sense of "Oh shit I hope I don't get in trouble" that you haven't felt since you were a child. Equal parts awesome and nerve-racking.
The first time I went, my friend and I only had the vaguest sense of where it was located, though the huge bouncer standing at attention behind the dark metal gate was a bit of a tip off. We were asked two questions, "Was this our first time?" Yes. "Are you from Jersey?" No. Apparently those were the correct answers.
Now keep in mind here that we were flying completely blind and had no idea what to expect. As soon as we were led to a tiny room and given the "rules", my friend and I were convinced we had accidentally stumbled upon some sort of mafia or prostitution house and not our intended destination. I seriously was giving my friend the "should we leave?" eye, but we decided to stick it out.
Emerging from the dark interrogation room into the gorgeously candlelit bar itself was not unlike seeing Hogwarts or Jesus. The staff was very attentive and the owner doesn't mind whipping up an experimental cocktail if you're into that kind of thing. The atmosphere is a mix of sleek sophistication and shh! we're in a library.
A must-go.
The drinks are great, the prices are what you would expect to pay for a crafted drink. The ambiance is fucking great.. I mean, a bar top covered in nickels and the front room floor is paved in pennies. Put on those big boy dress shoes and let your sneakers have the night off, keep your fucking cell phone in your pocket for a hour and actually talk to someone.
Review Source:I have to say that from when we rang the doorbell until when we were actually seated, things were iffy. Â That's only because all of the up-front presentation given by the owner and gigantic bouncers as you await your assigned table.
After that, however, all was just dandy. Â This place is truly a gem, especially in Philadelphia. Â I'm not usually one for top shelf mixed drinks, but after spending the evening at this establishment, I might just turn over a new leaf.
I initially thought that the no camera no phone rules were nothing more than pretense, but after about 30 min sipping my delicious top shelf gin drink, I realized that things would be a lot different with a bunch of douchebags (either male or female, really) packing together at the bar posing for pictures while holding up their fancy drinks. Â
To this same point, the one important downside to this joint is the inability to accommodate larger groups. Â Then again, if it were able to do so, the vibe would be different. Â We arrived with six people, and that was definitely a stretch. Â The ideal number of people in a party here is undoubtedly two. Â Three or four works; five and six is feasible but beyond that you can pretty much forget about it.
Most importantly though, ladies and gents, is that the atmosphere here is like nothing else. Â If you want a friend visiting from out of town to get a good impression of the high-class offerings of Center City Philadelphia, then this is definitely your spot. Â Enjoy.
this is pretentious as hell!!!
i'm not sure if it truly is as snobbish as the owner makes it out to seem or if it's all an act to make you feel like you're in an exclusive establishment. Whatever the case, "the show" the owner puts on is quite amusing and worth a look for yourself. Most females are enthralled by the mysterious nature of the place and dudes are like, "WTF?"
the entrance is an unassuming gate, you ring the bell someone comes out, takes your id back in and then returns to say you can come in. you wait in the entry way while the owner tells u the house rules: no photos, no phone calls, blah, blah, blah or else you'll be told to get out!
the place is spacious, has small tables, not recommended for groups bigger than 4. this is not a place to "meet new people" nor should u go here with people you don't like. it's cozy and intimate, you won't be mingling.
The drinks are expensive, fancy, pretty cool and expensive. One of the people I went with asked for a Mojito and the owner says, "We don't make mojitos."
His reasoning was that he's got $80 specialty bottles of liquor, it's not worth it for him to make you a $5 bar drink. HOWEVER! the owner said, Â "if you like the taste of mojito, i will make something like it for you." This is fair. you don't ask the owner of a ferrari to take you around town on errands, you ask him to take you on the highway for a cruise. but if you HAVE to run errands, he'll drive to the supermarket 30 miles away.
overall, it's a great place if you're a girl looking for a girls night out or if you're a dude trying to show a girl a good time.
not recommended for high strung people or a group of dudes unless you're a group of gay dudes. haha...
The bouncer had me wondering what we were getting into. Â He asked if it was our first time and asked us to wait for a minute. Â He left and Mr. Lee (I guess that is his name. Â I noticed all of the reviews call him that) returned in his place. Â He was intimidating at first. Â He asked a few questions and I initially stumbled on my words trying to get them out. Â After answering the questions successfully, he gave us the rules and granted permission to gain entry. Â We were led to a waiting area, which had a shoe shine seat. Â After a brief wait in this area, we were asked if we wanted a table or to sit at the bar. Â We decided to sit at the bar. Â We were led into the main area that makes a great first impression. It is decorated elegantly and atmosphere is intimate.
The bartenders were dressed dapper and were nice. Â I ordered two drinks. Â Both were very good. Â I really liked their signature Philly drink. Â I also like the fact that they use fresh fruit in the drinks and all of the fruit is cut, peeled, and squeezed when the drink is ordered.
Now I know that Hop Sing Laundromat does not label themselves as prohibition speakeasy, but the rules they have to protect their clients privacy and their unassuming location, personifies a prohibition speakeasy, except alcohol is no longer illegal.
If it is your first time going and there is no line outside, this place can be tricky to find. Â Beware this place is cash only and the drinks are strong!
At first I thought I would not enjoy this place because I thought it would be too gimmicky. But, after listening to the owner's schpeal and heading in for our 2 drink each minimum we totally enjoyed it! My sister does not drink but after trying out the "Eastside," she had to have one of her own. We requested to have it easy on the gin but they said they could not do that - so we went ahead and ordered the drink as is for my non-drinking sister. She loved it... only it's a wee bit too much alcohol for the poor thing. Let's just say she paid her respects to the porcelain goddess not too long afterwards.
The drink concoctions were divine and the presentation was so pretty. The "not taking pictures" rule was so TOUGH to follow. The only reason why I didn't risk it is, I definitely wanted to come back. We were in a bit of a rush for our dinner reservation so we didn't get to hang out. We will definitely be back!
This place is amazing. I agree 100% with the review that compared this to a ride in Disneyland. That was a spot on comparison.
Of course, we were greeted at the gate by Lee himself and asked the normal questions. We passed the test and were asked how many were in our party. There were 6, so after reading other reviews I was a bit nervous. To my surprise, he went in and pushed a couple of tables together so we would all fit together comfortably. I'm not sure if this would normally be that case considering it was about 12:30 when we got there, and I did tell him that we were out celebrating my birthday.
We all tried different drinks, and unfortunately I don't remember the names of most of them. I know Hubby had the nevermore and it was pretty life-changing for him. I had a gin drink that had white grape juice, another friend had a gin drink with cucumber, and another had something reminiscent of a pina colada. Everything I tasted was pretty mind-blowing. The cocktails here are worth every penny.
The ambiance here is very dim and intimate, which was the perfect contrast after a long night of karaoke at Yakitori Boy. I love the no picture rule, mostly because one of the girls who was with us is very picture-happy. Usually we feel like she is our own personal paparazzo so it was good to have a break from smiling and posing for once. Plus it's nice to take a break from all of the electronic devices for a change.
Needless to say, I will definitely be back! Lee has really created a unique experience that pleases all of the senses.
It's not as intimidating as you would think.
C & I came here and might have passed it except there were 2 women waiting in front. Â The place is appropriately "hidden" which sort of lends to the whole excitement of going to a speakeasy. Â Anyway I noticed the gals in front of us were wearing pretty casual clothing and one was wearing *gasp* sneakers! Â So i guess shoes aren't that big of a deal.. maybe it's b/c Mr. Lee wasn't there today.
The bouncer at the door was thoroughly respectful and informative, and I wasn't sure if he was just putting on a show or sincere when he said, "we're just a mediocre bar with mediocre drinks.." Â anyway, it was fun.
We were told the rules, then we were seated. Â The place was pretty empty (it was a tuesday night) and we were able to try the new happy menu that they have going (drinks are about $2 cheaper and a new variety).
I got one of their classic ones, and honestly, I didn't like it. Â However, I think I have difficulty telling that to the servers.. so I just sort of sipped it. Â It was incredibly strong but incredibly sweet at the same time. Â Sort of icks.
I liked C's drink which was one of the new ones with mint in it. Â (Honestly, it's been about a week and a half and the fancy names and such are lost on me).
The drinks came with a little sidecar, but it took soooo long. Â
Also, C and I were only there for a bit (we had just come from another happy hour), and we just wanted to enjoy the atmosphere and chat. Â However, the servers kept coming asking if we wanted another drink. Â Blah. Â Kind of annoying.
They have great decor and great bathrooms. Â Anyway, it's a fun experience, pretty unique for a CA girl!
This is probably the best bar I've ever been to. We were in Philadelphia for a conference and went back 2 nights in a row. Had we been in town longer, I'm sure we would have been back even more.
The drinks are beyond anything you'll get anywhere else. Even the most ordinary cocktail tastes extraordinary here. The Montana Payback is one of the strangest and most surprising things I've ever drank.
If feels a little pretentious at first, but you're never once made to feel stupid or inferior, but like a valued customer from the moment you sit down. Its the sort of place you feel invited to sit at for 2 or 3 hours and will not feel rushed at all.
Ask a bartender to surprise you with a drink, and you will not be disappointed. The quality of the ingredients and the obvious care put into every drink make the prices a bargain.
Really well thought out prohibition-era atmosphere. Dark, hard to find, and contains the booze that you want.
If you've read any of these reviews, you'll know what to expect upon arrival. Just dress appropriately, follow the rules and follow through with the formalities. Don't get your panties all up in a bunch just because there are some ground rules and a mysterious velour covered owner. Just think of him as Oz. Scary at first but will soothe your ails one drink at a time.
The cocktails are fresh, creative, and masterfully executed. They taste more delightful than any cocktail menu could ever make them sound.
Service is very polite and accommodating. Pick off the menu or tell them what you're in the mood for and they will deliver you something that you never knew you craved. Each drink is worth every bit of the $12 they will put you back.
There is no food. Small parties are best 2-4 people. Bring some green because it is cash only and you can't leave after just one drink. :)
Don't talk on your phone like a blithering idiot and your golden.
Last night was our first time at Hop Sing Laundromat. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed with the strict code of conduct (it's great not to have people taking pictures and being loud drunks) and the decor.
Our drinks were fantastic, the staff was knowledgeable and the prices were quite reasonable (for the quality of the drink).
We'll be back!
I genuinely hate this place. I've been here once and while there, I asked for a classic cocktail after I found my first cocktail too syrupy sweet. I believe I asked for either a corpse reviver or an aviator and the bartenders didn't know how to make it. Lee seemed impressed by my basic knowledge and tried to make a few cocktails (on the house) to impress me. Yawn. I can name better places for a drink.
That's all middle of the road disappointment but what really pushed me over the edge is twice  this place has booted my friend out.
Once because he wasn't dressed appropriately (we were wearing the same outfit me in girl form, him in sharp gay man form which unfortunately included shorts in 100 degree weather). Second, when he was giving his spiel about entering this "exclusive" lounge, my friend looked around at books in the waiting area while still seated quietly, Â which Lee took as him "not paying attention and not respecting" him and immediately asked my friend to leave.
Bullshit. I'm from NYC and this pseudo-ritzy prohibition era lounge act is old now. Â Having a dress code while letting people of an opposite gender wear the same damn thing is sexist and does nothing to contribute to atmosphere. Arbitrarily throwing out people just because you can is even worse. If you can only give me attitude with no substance you have no right to go on random power trips. But hey, if you guys want to keep lining the coffers of this tool, be my guest.
CASH ONLY
I freaking hate you Hop Sing bouncer for making me buy a new pair of shoes to get in. This harsh denial, however, only increased my desire to get in. A pair of new "classier" shoes later, we were introduced through the blue light apartment-like entrance and into proprietor Lee's prized possession. It's basically a showcase of everything he holds near and dear to his heart (pictures, vinyls, art, etc.). There are fewer tables than this space could accomodate and even all the chairs are interestingly mismatched. The cocktail list is imaginative, yet simple in its offerings.
Back to Lee though, he has a certain mystique about him. Right when we entered I noticed a heavy cologne odor that distinctly belonged to Mr. Lee. He looks the part of a modern Hong Kong suede jumpsuit wearing slicked back hair gangster. But when making his rounds eventually to our table, after hearing our compliments, he was humble and a bit uneasy of the attention. Without actually acknowledging or offering much to our conversation, he thanked us for our patronage and moved on to the next table
Drinks have a standard price and the ones we tried were worthy of the new wave craft cocktail.
A few months removed from visiting Philly I still memorably recall our night at Hop Sing.
This place is really an experience.
We walked up and were told to take a spin around the block and come back in 15 minutes. Â We went to Yakatori Boy to grab a drink, but quickly saw the line and stood outside under the heat lamp and regrouped. Â We wanted to process what had just happened since we'd never been turned away from a bar before. Â We knew it was part of the schtick here, so we went with it, but we've also heard of people that aren't allowed inside, so we wanted to be sure that wasn't us either.
We came back and were instantly recognized. Â We were brought inside into a holding room that looks like a library and sat down. Â We saw a security guard checking cameras down the street. Â I'm not sure the same luxury was an option during real actual prohibition, but it was a nice touch.
Finally, we were read the rules (no photos, but phones are ok if you gotta...) we were taken by Lee through the lounge, and doubled back towards the bar. Â We were sat right at the bar. Â We had drank a few vodka drinks so far, so we decided to stay on theme. Â My friend ordered the Crazy Horse special which was more of a martini, while I opted for the Stonewall Riot. Â I had a sip of her drink, and it was great, but i got to drink all of mine, and it was DELICOUS!!! Â
I would absolutely recomend sitting at the bar if you can too. Â The bar tenders are great! Â Watching them make the drinks is so entertaining. Â They were attentive, but not too much. Â Obviously they can overhear your whole convo, our bartender jumped in from time to time with some cheeky antecdotes, but not so much that we were ever annoyed. Â In fact, we tipped her more closely in line with a waitress than a bartender. Â I think we have her like $10 on 2 drinks. Â She really made the experience awesome.
We laughed and enjoyed being in such a cool atmosphere. Â I really enjoyed the place through and through. Â The $12 for the drinks makes sense given the fact that they're delicious, and pretty work intesitve to construct. Â I'd love to bring my mom back here. Â I think she'd get a kick out of the whole je ne said quoi. Â This place is truly awesome.
PROS: Interesting atmosphere, tasty concoctions, great service
CONS: Over-hyped, pretentious
By being stern and secretive about his establishment, Lee manages to incite a lot of interest in what exactly goes on behind the gate (which is perhaps not a bad marketing strategy). Curiousity got the better of me, and I ventured in with a group of friends, half afraid that he'd find some random reason to kick us out before we even secure a spot. (A couple in front of us was escorted out only a few minutes after entering... )
The waitstaff here is impeccably polite. Hop Sing Laundromat is more spacious inside than it appears from the outside. The atmosphere and decor inside remind me of some gloomy mansion decked in a collection of strange trinkets. The cocktails are above average at average prices.
Alas... curiosity did kill the cat. The pretentious exclusivity bothers me, as does the rough treatment of guests by Lee. Without a doubt, I can get comparably good drinks at more fun, relaxing establishments.
I don't think I've ever seen a cocktail lounge with so much mystery surrounding it.
Every city has its share of speakeasy-type joints, but the Hop Sing Laundromat takes it to a whole 'nother level.
This story begins on a bitterly cold and snowy Sunday night, when a friend and I wander over to Hop Sing with 7:30pm reservations on the books. Â We were hoping to be inside and seated quickly, but no. Â A big and burly bouncer was forcing everyone to wait their turn outside (with temperatures in the teens, mind you). Â Yikes.
After ~30 min of waiting and icicles hanging from our faces, it was finally our turn to enter. Â Then things turned really weird. Â The manager (Lee) came to the door and said I couldn't enter because I wasn't wearing dress shoes. Â I'm not a fan of picking fights with door staff, so I told him "thanks, I'll go elsewhere then" and turned to leave. Â But, suddenly, he changed his mind and let us both in. Â I guess it pays to look helpless and desperate.
We were led into a little anteroom where we were given a short lecture on the rules of the house: 1) Â Absolutely no photos. Â 2) Absolutely no phone calls. Â (Those were easy rules to live with, since I'm not inclined to engage in either of those in a dark, romantic bar anyway.)
Finally -- we were able to be seated. Â And, I have to say, it was stunningly gorgeous in there. Â Loved the vintage decor. Â Loved the walls lined to the ceiling with bottles. Â Loved all the candles. Â Loved the counter made of a sea of nickels. Â
However... I didn't love that it was mostly empty inside, meaning that the line to enter was a phony creation, attempting to make the bar seem more popular than it was.
Of course, we were there for the cocktails, and they were all superb.  Between the two of us, I was able to taste 6 different cocktails, and the complexity of flavors was outstanding.  All sorts of exotic liqueurs and bitters were used, most of which I hadn't heard of.   It's hard to pick out a single favorite, but the Vieux Carré wins by a nose. Â
The whole time, the bartenders were very friendly and gracious. Â A *lot* nicer than the folks working the front door.
Hop Sing is a unique experience, for sure. Â Too stuffy for my taste, but it was definitely worth checking off the proverbial bucket list.
I love this place so much! The experience is amazing. You really do feel like you're in on some kind of secret, and it's so much fun. We waited for about 10 minutes on a Friday night, and our experience was much like the other reviewers described. The owner greets you at the door, looking up and down the street as if he were afraid someone would see. He was wearing some pretty awesome glasses, and once we were inside, he explained the rules to us. No pictures, no phone calls, cash only. He made a joke about how our parents would be disappointed in us for coming here. "You should be partying in Las Vegas, not drinking cheap liquor at a dive bar."
Once we actually entered the bar area, I was grinning ear to ear. The entire wall behind the bar was stacked with bottles of liquor, floor to ceiling. There were cute and quirky artwork all over the walls. The chairs were big and comfy. It was all just so... cool.
The drinks are $12 each with a 2 drink minimum per person, which sounds annoying, but the drinks are truly delicious and quite strong. Two is really all you need if you want to be able to walk home. Everybody we talked to was warm and friendly.
My friends and I had a great time here just bonding quietly over some drinks. It's a refreshing break from the places I typically frequent, where the experience is drinking watered down well drinks while people spill beer on your shoes. Hands down, the Hop Sing Laundromat is my favorite bar. I only wish my wallet could handle it more often!
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