Bar Cicci Is Bringing Italian Aperitivo Culture to Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse is getting another reason to cancel your plans to go home after work.
Bar Cicci, the newest concept from acclaimed Philadelphia restaurateur Ellen Yin and High Street Hospitality Group, is coming to 1620 Sansom Street with a refreshingly simple idea: slow down, order a spritz, grab a few bites, and stay awhile.
Sourced via Bar Cicci’s Website
Bar Cicci takes its inspo from the everyday bars of northern Italy, where stopping in isn't necessarily reserved for a big dinner or a Saturday night out. These neighborhood gathering places can be part coffee shop, part café, part wine bar, and part meeting place, changing naturally as the day goes on.
In other words, this could be exactly the kind of place Rittenhouse does very well.
Espresso Now, Spritz Later
Bar Cicci is designed as an all-day destination rather than a bar you have to wait until 5 p.m. to enjoy.
Earlier in the day, enjoy espresso, Italian-inspired pastries, and panini. As afternoon turns into evening, the focus shifts toward wine, aperitivi, cocktails, cicchetti, and other small bites. The concept takes cues from Italy's aperitivo tradition, where drinks and snacks are less about rushing into dinner and more about settling in and enjoying the transition into the evening.
A Different Kind of Happy Hour Mentality
Philadelphia certainly doesn't need an introduction to happy hour, but Bar Cicci is bringing something a little different to Sansom Street.
Aperitivo culture is meant to be leisurely. Grab a drink, order something small, people watch, talk to your friends. Maybe order another round. There's no need to turn every outing into a full dinner reservation or race through drinks before a special ends.
That slower approach feels especially fitting for a small, intimate space like Bar Cicci. And considering how quickly Rittenhouse can move on a Friday evening, we're very much here for somewhere encouraging us to do the opposite.
Why It's Worth Adding to a Crawl
Most stops on a crawl ask you to pick a lane, either coffee, lunch, or drinks. Bar Cicci is designed to break that rule entirely, which makes it a genuinely useful addition to a Rittenhouse route: start here for espresso before the rest of your day, or end here for a negroni and a plate of cicchetti after everything else has wrapped up. Keep the New Bar Tour Going
Bar Cicci isn't the only new spot giving us an excuse to explore Philly's bar scene. If you're heading toward Old City next, The Monto recently opened at 226 Market Street in the former Mac's Tavern space, bringing a new Irish pub from longtime Philly bar veteran Fergus "Fergie" Carey.
Keep reading: Check out our full story on The Monto's opening in Old City and start plotting your next night out.
