Philadelphia, PA - Where has summer gone?! It’s time to hit refresh as we roll into August and enjoy the summertime classics. Celebrate National Watermelon Day on Friday, August 3rd with delicious twists on summer’s luscious melon. See below for hot takes on this chill treat:
What says summer more than sipping al fresco with a group of friends? Head to Headhouse Square’s The Twisted Tail for its Summer Punch Bowl, served with gin and ffresh-pressedwatermelon juice and topped with melon slices. Watermelon lovers can enjoy $10 off a small punch bowl (serves 4-6) and $20 off a large punch bowl (serves 10-12) from 5-7 on Friday, August 3rd and Saturday, August 4th. Now that’s a party! The Twisted Tail | 509 South 2nd St. | 215-558-2471 | thetwistedtail.com
Get to cooling with Red Owl Tavern’s juicy take on Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man” song with the namesake cocktail. Lead Bartender Kyle Darrow combines kaffir lime infused rum, watermelon juice, lime, simple syrup, mint and angostura bitters. The Watermelon Man is only coming to Independence Mall’s Red Owl Tavern on Friday, August 3rd for just $10. Hey Watermelon Man! Red Owl Tavern | 433 Chestnut St. | 215-923-2267 | redowltavern.com
Graduate Hospital’s Café Ynez, an all-day café serving authentic Mexico City fare, is offering a summertime favorite—Watermelon Gazpacho. Chef JC Piña creates this chilled soup with watermelon, heirloom tomato, red onion, garlic and tops it with jumbo crab meat, diced avocado and basil oil. Dive into this delicious watermelon gazpacho for $11. Café Ynez | 2025 Washington Ave. | 215-278-7579 | cafeynez.com
Ocean Prime is bringing back a favorite for National Watermelon Day! The Center City luxury seafood and steakhouse is offering its limited-edition summery staple, Watermelon Elyx, on the weekend of August 3rd for $14. The Watermelon Elyx boasts Absolut Elyx, gin, basil, watermelon purée and ginger bitters and is garnished with three watermelon spheres. Guests can enjoy this throwback $10 cocktail during happy hour in the lounge from 4:30-6:30 p.m., and it pairs deliciously with Executive Chef Jenn Grosskruger’s Ahi Tuna Tartare and Crab Cake Sliders. Ocean Prime | 124 South 15th St. | 215-563-0163 | ocean-prime.com
For those adventurous enough to tackle boozy watermelon beverages at home, see below for recipes from two of Philadelphia’s craft spirits experts (and note you can totally take a seat at the bar to sample their creations):
Art in the Age, Old City’s one-of-a-kind tasting room, home bar supply store and bottle shop, is keeping it cool with its Watermelon Cucumber Cooler. Philadelphians can sample this mouth-watering cocktail crafted with New Liberty Distillery’s Powerhorn Vodka at its bar only on Friday, August 3rd for just $8. Can’t make the date? See below for the recipe:
Watermelon Cucumber Cooler
- 1½ oz Powderhorn Vodka
- 1 oz. Lime Juice
- 2-3 Slices Cucumber
- 4 oz. Watermelon Juice
Muddle 2-3 slices of cucumber in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice. Add Powderhorn Vodka, watermelon juice and lime juice. Shake and strain into glass, and garnish with cucumber and watermelon slices. Art in the Age | 116 N. 3rd St. | 215-922-2600 | artintheage.com
Bluebird Distilling, Phoenixville’s award-winning grain-to-glass craft distillery, is bringing the tropics to Philadelphia with The Rosey-Faced Lovebird ($12), boasting Bluebird Dark Rum with hints of brown sugar and dried fruit, in addition to Campari, pineapple juice, fresh jalapeño and of course watermelon. This thirst-quencher, created by Bluebird Distilling’s Beverage Director and Bar Manager Matthew Giarratano, is only available on Friday for National Watermelon Day! Philadelphians can make this cocktail at home by following this recipe:
Rosey-Faced Lovebird
- 1.5 oz. Bluebird Distilling Dark Rum
- .75 oz. Campari
- 1 oz. Fresh Pineapple Juice
- .5 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
- .5 oz. Demerara Syrup
- 2 tbsp. Watermelon
- 3 Slices Fresh Jalapeño
Muddle juices, syrup, watermelon, and jalapeños thoroughly. Add rum, Campari, and ice; shake, and double-strain into a pub glass. Add fresh ice, garnish, and serve. Bluebird Distilling | 100 Bridge St. | 610-933-7827 | bluebirddistilling.com
You’ve got the cocktail recipes, now it’s time to party! At-home entertainers can pick up precious watermelon home good items from the Bloomingdales Outlet at The Shops at Liberty Place, Philadelphia’s premiere retail destination. Watermelon items include beverage trays, watermelon slice ice cube trays and (my personal favorite) watermelon cocktail umbrellas! All items are under $15. The Shops at Liberty Place | 1625 Chestnut St. | 215-851-9055 | shopsatliberty.com