Village Whiskey has been a staple on the corner of Sansom and 20th streets for years, and now it’s expanding—next door that is.
Jose Garces’ low-key and trendy spot has officially reopened with an updated menu, look and whole new dining space, which sits in between Village Whiskey and Tinto—another eatery from Garces that focused on Spanish-styled tapas dishes that has now been switched to Tinto Pintxo, a Spanish wine shop that currently highlights 70+ wine selections by the bottle to-go, tasting flights, rare/collectible gems, discounted bundles and a wine club on top of a revamped menu. When indoor dining reaches 50% capacity, which is anticipated for March, diners will then be able to head to the establishment to try out the new menu at Tinto Pintxo as well.
“We have a lot of exciting things happening on our corner of Rittenhouse with the launch of Tinto Pintxo Spanish bottle shop last month and now our expansion of Village Whiskey,” said Garces in a statement. “Next up, watch for the launch of indoor dining in March at Tinto Pintxo and our all-new pintxo-focused menu.”
The new space for Village Whiskey keeps the prohibition style look and feel of the original bar space, but allows for a more traditional dining experience, which served as an aesthetic roadmap for the updated venue as a whole. According to a release, during the last six months, the team at Village Whiskey has been working hard to design and finish a new dining room to complement the original bar and seating space. Philadelphians are in store for socially distanced seating but with the same prohibition vibes and design aesthetic that you have come to know and love. Currently, the bar and new dining room at 25% will now seat up to 18 people with socially distanced tables. Village Whiskey has applied to expand indoor dining to 50%, and when approved by the City of Philadelphia, diners can look for seating for up to 36 people in both spaces. Outdoor seating on the sidewalk and streetery will also open when the temperatures rise for spring, tentatively in mid to late March.
It’s a comfy and cozy place, but also a nice spot to spice it up when it comes to classic foods with exceptional flavors. So what can diners expect on the menu? The establishment will still hold a few of the original menu’s crowd favorites, just with some more fresh items sprinkled in as well. Those who dine at the updated Village Whiskey can indulge in breakfast radishes, golden chicken wings, charred carrots, sweet stem cauliflower, an assortment of burgers including the new Turkey Smash, chicken frites, mouth-watering desserts and more.
“We spent the last few weeks focusing on creating some really amazing dishes that we are excited about for the relaunch,” added Garces in his statement. “Village Whiskey is known for our burgers. We have the Village Burger, The Whiskey King, the Veggie Burger and now we have added to our options with a Turkey Burger. This is a delicious addition that is a little healthier then some of our other options and is great for the bar food.”
The updated hotspot will also offer a burger of the month specialty as well.
Libation wise, diners have a variety to choose from with plenty of beer, wine and cocktails to choose from (pro tip, the Spice Jam is literally the jam,) and of course, spirits. In fact, Village Whiskey has been known for its vast whiskey selection of over 200 bottles since it opened in 2009.
“I’ve always been a whiskey lover,” said Garces when Village Whiskey opened. “It can be enjoyed in so many ways, whether as a cocktail or just sipped on the rocks. Village Whiskey is the kind of place I personally would want to go to unwind after a long day at work.”
According to the release, with the reopening, Village Whiskey also brings back their happy hour, which will be available daily from 4 to 6 p.m. The updated happy hour includes bar snacks—deviled eggs, smoked bar nuts, tater tots, fried pickles, breakfast radishes and popcorn shrimp— for $4. Happy Hour cocktail specials include their Commodore (bourbon, lime, demerara sugar, orange, mezcal rinse), Rose Gold (vodka, passion fruit, rosemary, bitters), Philadelphia Fish House Punch (dark rum, brandy, peach brandy, lemon, aromatic tea), and Bourbon Barrel (sangria bourbon, red wine, spiced demerara syrup) for $7. Happy Hour also includes select beers (cans and/or drafts) for $5 and house wine (white or red blends or sparkling) for $6.
Village Whiskey (118 S. 20th St.) is open with indoor dining, take-out/pick-up and delivery. For more information, visit philadelphia.villagewhiskey.com
