10 S. Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Phone: (215) 928-1200

Ok, Ok, it's a champagne bar, but would it hurt to throw a few brews on tap.

Swanky Bubbles is comprised of two floors. The first floor is one long narrow room that contains the main bar along the right hand wall, and intimate tables-for-two lining the left hand wall. Towards the back of the room are larger tables set-up for parties of four or more. The walls are covered in dark blue drapes, which probably serve a dual purpose of hiding brick walls and creating a dark, intimate atmosphere for the Bubbly guests. To break up the monotony of the drapery, a couple of large mirrors hang to give the place the illusion of depth. But the jewel of this room is the main bar.

There is no other bar in Philly that looks so original. The bar's endcap is an oversized piece of maple running the length of the bar. The countertop is comprised of tiny pieces of green glass in some very interesting mosaic patterns. Jutting out from the walls behind the bar, are these curved blue structures (probably comprised of plaster) that are best described as "crashing waves." When you blend all of this "bar-artwork" together, it's quite a scene. According to the Swanky Bubbles web-site, the "bar design was modeled after the dream sequence in the Nutcracker."

Upstairs at Swanky Bubbles are more tables and chairs and a few Elizabethan love seats/couches. There is another bar up here that contains the same green-glass countertop, but the fine wood and wave effects of the downstairs bar are absent here. On this floor the walls are exposed to reveal the red brick structure of the building.

As far as the libations go, there are over 20 different champagnes served - well this is a champagne bar after all. The highlights of the champagne offerings include Dom Perignon Vintage ($40/glass), Moet White Star ($12/glass), Russian Cuvee Iron Horse ($10/glass) and Mumms Cordon Rouge ($11/glass). Ahggh, but Swanky serves no draft beers. I suppose that hand crafted brews are just too pedestrian for a place exuding this much Swank.

Swanky Bubbles goes the extra yard and creates a few original mixed drinks. Where else can you order a Sexual Chocolate Martini, Romeo & Juliet's Love Elixir, a Oui Oui and a Bubble-Lee.  You'll just have to visit to taste these concoctions.

The crowd was a mix of mid-20somethings to mid-30somethings. When you go to Swanky Bubbles, it would be advisable to bring your A-game and leave the jeans at home. Sure, a couple people got by the hostess with jeans on, but it's not advisable. Besides, who drinks champagne wearing their Levi's.