Tipsy Scoop, a New York-based chain that spikes its ice cream with real booze, is bringing its first Philadelphia "barlour" to Rittenhouse Square on Saturday, May 9. The new spot will scoop liquor-laced flavors and cocktail-style sundaes, shake up craft cocktails, and still keep things inclusive with nonalcoholic options for families and sober visitors. The debut comes through a partnership with local spirits platform Botld and will take over Botld's Rittenhouse storefront.
According to Tipsy Scoop, the Philadelphia Barlour will open at 1 p.m. at 119 S. 18th Street in Rittenhouse. A listing on Eventbrite advertises a grand-opening celebration from 1 to 11 p.m.
The expansion is the product of a collaboration with local distillery and bottle shop Botld, whose owner Andrew Auwerda spoke about the deal in coverage that PHILADELPHIA.Today reports. By plugging into Botld's existing retail footprint at 119 South 18th Street, Tipsy Scoop gets both a neighborhood address and a partner with deep local spirits know-how.
What to expect on the menu
The Rittenhouse shop will dish out spiked ice-cream flavors, sundaes, boozy tasting flights and cocktails, alongside nonalcoholic "Cool Kids" offerings for younger or alcohol-free guests, according to Secret Philadelphia. Philly-only specials, including a local creation called the Philly Phreeze, are also on deck.
Tipsy Scoop's liquor-infused scoops typically top out at about 5% ABV, roughly the strength of a light beer, a level the company says keeps the ice cream firmly in dessert territory rather than turning it into a full-blown nightcap, according to this 5% ABV cap.
Botld's Rittenhouse pivot
Botld has been reworking its Rittenhouse Square location to function partly as a cocktail bar while still keeping some bottle-shop retail space, a move that made the Tipsy Scoop collaboration a natural fit, WhatNow reported. That hybrid setup is expected to draw both neighborhood regulars and curious visitors wandering through the city center.
Opening-day details
Grand-opening festivities kick off at 1 p.m. on May 9, with giveaways for early arrivals and RSVP options available through the brand's event listing on Tipsy Scoop. The site notes that the first 25 customers will score swag bags, while the event posting on Eventbrite indicates the celebration will run into the evening.
“Philadelphia has been at the top of our expansion list since we opened our first Barlour in 2017 in NYC,” founder Melissa Tavss said in a statement, as reported by PHILADELPHIA.Today. With its Rittenhouse address at 119 South 18th Street, Tipsy Scoop joins a growing wave of concepts that blend craft cocktails with novelty desserts in the heart of downtown.
