Walnut Room

I was not impressed with this place. I am from LA so when I see a doorman and have to pay a cover charge, I am expecting there to actually be people in the place. We went here on a Saturday night after dinner around 10pm. We were looking to see how the Philly spots were so we had a few drinks to wait and see if the place would fill up. We waited about an hour and I would say, maybe 5 people showed up. I was a little disappointed since it was my first time in Philly but my friend said that the heat wave could have forced people out of the city. Oh well, maybe next time…

I don’t know about this place. I’m from LA, so I’m used to the obnoxious doorman and stupid cover charges, but this place made me want to ask for a refund. We got there around 10:30 and were asked for $ 10 to get in. We hesitantly paid. When we went up the stairs we discovered that we were the ONLY people there. 4 sad cats and a bartender on a Saturday night. The music was okay, so we hung out a while to see if things picked up… Nope, an hour later a couple with neck tattoos rolled in and that was about it. The drinks were too expensive for such a dud of a place in my opinion. I’ll give it 2 starts because the waitress was nice (probably because no one else was there) and the drinks were strong. Other than that, I’d skip this place if I were to return to Philly.

I had a good time while I was here, but the place is pretty small, drinks are slightly expensive and they do charge a cover.
The music seemed to be pretty good to dance to when I was there and people seemed to be having a good time. It has a pretty good atmosphere and the bathrooms weren’t scary to go into (which is always a plus at clubs/​bars).
All in all, not a bad option for a night of dancing.

It is no secret I am a huge fan of the nightlife. Living in Southern California for the better part of a decade, I am no stranger to the Hollywood scene. Obviously I am going to compare every place to Hollywood. Over the weekend I discovered a small but trendy place in Rittenhouse called the Walnut Room. This place very much reminded me of a nice little lounge in LA or even NYC. Drinks were a little pricy for Philly in my opinion but I was used to paying that for drinks. The ladies were looking good before I started drinking (which is always a good thing) The fellas and I enjoyed a single night out and walked away with a few numbers. Oh btw we ate downstairs at Alfa but that will be in a different review.
Definitely recommend this place

After working and living in New York City it’s hard to find places to go on a Saturday night that live up to typical NYC (snobby) standards. I think Walnut Room is among the best Philly has to offer (yes, a backhanded compliment haha).
I’ve been there two or three times and its always a good time. The crowd is pretty diverse and the place is always packed, but not in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable. It is always really warm, but theres a second, less crowded bar area that I escape to if I need some air. Music’s good, your basic Top 40, hip-​hop, dancy type. Drinks are def pricey, but no more so than similar places in Philly.
The fact that it’s so close to my apartment makes it my go-​to spot if I’m not feeling up to coming up with more creative plans. They def need a frequent-​visitors list or something though bc this $ 10 cover is killing me.

On the 3^rd Friday of every month they have a «Get Some» party in which they play mostly hip-​hop (every other Friday is a top 40 mix). On Saturdays they play more hip-​hop than anything else. I’ve been here on both nights and got pretty much the same vibe: a classy, diverse, mid-​late twenties crowd, nice décor, good music, $ 10 cover.
My standards for nightclubs are high, especially if I’m paying to get in. My main gripe with Walnut Room is the small dance floor. Sometimes after a few hot and sweaty songs you want to be able to «escape» for a bit but still be in the mix. There’s no doing that here. You will see everyone that’s in attendance at all times. There is a long strip of space by the bar, but that’s barely large enough to walk through when it gets crowded.
I could go to this place a few times a year without gettting bored… There are larger, cheaper places within walking distance that have a similar clientele.

I recently decided to give this place another chance. After getting in touch with one of the owners I was able to set up a reservation at Alfa Bar, which is right below the Walnut room and owned by the same people. I arrived for happy hour, the staff was quite courteous to me and my group of friends. The drinks were creatively named and tasty — also, the happy hour menu is pretty solid. I had a drink called the «I heart Chase Utley» which is very delicious.
Though I cannot really say much about the Walnut Room itself, Alfa Bar was a great experience. The management for the location was very kind, and showed me that good ol’ brotherly love.
If you hit it up for happy hour like I did, make sure you try the «I heart Chase Utley,» very much a sign of Philly pride.

I live in Washington DC area, but I frequently travel Philadelphia since it’s my fav city close to home. I came to WR two Saturdays ago and had a great time. The music was good, the décor was modern, and the crowd included some pretty attractive guys and gals, including myself of course ;) It’s a pretty small place but it didn’t feel too stuffed. Well… maybe at the end of the night it gets a little steamy. The prices on the drinks were a bit on the high end, but I think it’s worth it.
I like a club where I feel I can dance freely without people staring you down, and I’d say this is one of them.

Went here this past Saturday night to celebrate my frat brother’s birthday. I read a lot of the reviews about this place and I was a little reluctant, but I took one for the team. I actually enjoyed myself. The crowd was diverse, the DJ was spinning some pretty good music, and the vibe just felt cool.
Cool, however, is one word that cannot be used to describe the temperature in this place. The dance floor area gets way too hot. I felt like I was in a sauna. Aside from the hotbox feel of the place, it is very narrow, which makes movement seem virtually impossible at times.
Despite everything, I had a good time partying with my frat brothers and I met some really cool people. Honestly not sure if I see myself returning given the $ 10 cover charge, price of the drinks, and the size of the venue. I would really have to be enticed to return here.

Just «meh.» Went on a Saturday and was told it was $ 10 cover. BOO.
The place was way too crowded considering how terrible (AND REALLY RIDICULOUSLY LOUD) the music was. I stayed long enough to sip my room-​temperature midori sour (total girly drink, I know — I was craving something sour that night, dammit!) before fighting my way back to the front to make a break for it.
Threw in an extra star because I like the décor and the bartender seemed nice enough.

This review is an exercise in Vichet sounding like Vichet writing a story about Vichet.
Ahem.
—
Sunday. 10:30. Rain.
I walk into Walnut room flanked by my brother and sister, who in turn were with two out-​of-​towners. There are five people at the bar. Two more seated in booth at the back. We know them. The guy teaches hip hop at Koresh — he’s there with his girlfriend, an Italian bird he is rarely seen without.
«Funky Nassau» plays in the background, and makes me want to dance.
We get drinks. They have a special on Red Stripe. And something called a «Mojito Martini.» Everyone else gets those, as I begin to catch onto the island theme.
«El Social,» as the quarter-​cards at each table describe, is «a celebration of Latin + Caribbean inspired music, rare grooves, funk + all that is sexy!»
I dig.
Tapping my feet and rocking my head, I choose the Jamaican Lager because I’d actually just cooked myself the best jerk chicken I’ve ever made (but, unfortunately, not yet the best I’d ever had), and due to an overseas pop-​culture trope, as you can’t have sushi without sake, you can’t have jerk without Red Stripe.
We’re in there for a while when one of our crew spots someone he knows. I’d met her before, but hadn’t seen her in a year. She asks how my French cousin is doing. He’s working in Nigeria looking for gas deposits. He has a body guard, and a limousine. We all get to talking when the salsa music begins.
We dance. We drink. Midnight comes around and I remember that I have a job. One in which I spend my spare break moments writing Unilocal reviews and proofreading more shorts to send to publications that won’t publish me.
I grab my umbrella, say my goodbyes, and head off into the rain.

Update: So, Walnut room keeps its 3-​star rating. In fact, it keeps its 3-​star rating because it hasn’t changed at all– but not in a good way. I mean, the music I heard last night was the same EXACT music (most of it in the same order) that I heard last time. Maybe that doesn’t bother some people but I don’t want to feel like I’m listening to my favorite mix-​tape for the 10^th time when I go out to dance.
Walnut room is a one-​time, good time spot. Definitely not for repeat visits.

The people at the door are a little self-​important and ridiculous. Turning away good looking /​normal people because of their shoes and crap like that. Plus the cover charge. Give me a break.
The place isn’t that cool and the beer selection isn’t that good.
The music is pretty good. DJ plays a lot of throwbacks which is nice if you’re in the mood, but sometimes it gets a little old (pun intended).
Overall it’s a good crowd hanging out here. It does, however, get a little packed sometimes and since it’s so narrow makes navigating difficult.
I don’t like this place that much, but I’ll give it 3 stars because I seem to go there more than I’d like (due to friends’ request) and we always seem to have a decent time. But that’s because we’re awesome. Call me.

Been here a couple times over the past few years and the experiences are generally the same. Walnut Room has good music and a crowd that actually dances. That alone usually warrants more than 3 stars but… it definitely has some downsides. For one, the girls at the door are very often rude for no good reason. In particular, Sara. Cover is $ 10 on weekends and guys there is a dress code so wear nice shoes or Sara will judge you and criticize your ugly shoes (true story). Bottle service is actually pretty ok (cheapest bottle about $ 140 for Smirnoff, and gets you 6 free admission tickets).
Overall, fun place to go if you have a smaller group and you just wanna dance. Beware the angry doorwomen though!

I can’t believe I paid $ 10 and did NOT have fun. They honestly need to regulate the amount of people they allow into the place. It’s packed and the people are rude. I’ve been here a couple of times and I certainly didn’t expect it when I was there again this past weekend. People are pushy and think the small dance floor is all to themselves. On top of that, the bartender who didn’t look busy was also rude. I tried to get a drink a few times, and every other time she would go to someone else. Maybe I’m small… maybe I’m unnoticeable? BUT… she definitely saw me and we made eye contact. AFTER finally getting my drink and trying to enjoy the start of the night on the dance floor, my group of friends and I kept getting pushed around.
I understands others are also trying to have fun, but seriously we’re all there just to have fun. The only reason why walnut room can attract these people is because what use to be Denim and G Lounge charge more for cover.
NEVER going back to this place … we ended up the night at Noche and that was WAY more fun! Plus drinks are cheaper!!!

I’ve been forced to go here three times and each time it gets worse.
My first encounter was simple: get there, get drunk, dance.
My second encounter was uncomfortable: Sister’s birthday. She reserves tables and the room in the back. Or so we thought. Our server gave us a hard time after we stopped ordering bottles and switched up to beer. She began inviting other patrons back, even though the area was «reserved» for us.
My third encounter was infuriating: We were looking for somewhere to get a drink with a lively scene. One friend said, «Alfa» and the other headed upstairs to the Walnut Room. We sat down at the bar and were greeted with snide comments and high-​schoolish stares and giggles. I’m not sure what was so funny. I was about to ask but my friend can anticipate my antics so well that she thwarted my outburst. Begrudgingly I sat down and finished my dishwater drink.
Hopefully, no one ever drags me back here again.

One thing that will consistently get you on my S*** List is inconsistent policies. Walnut Room is one of the two places in the city on that list (the other is Ladder 15, which is another colossal joke in itself.) One night soon after my best friend and I celebrated our 21^st birthdays, we headed to the Walnut Room. We are two very classy young ladies, not some stereotypical college bimbos in overly revealing, cheap clothing. That night, we got in with no issues. They must have been really hurting for business because at 11:30pm on a weekend night, if you’re empty… well then. I got the insanely overpriced «I Love Chase Utley» martini for the fun of it. I’m a slow drinker, and we were the only two people in the entire place, but the bartender was more into his iPhone than us, even when we asked him for another round.
Strike one.
The next night, a Saturday, we figured we’d swing by for a drink before heading elsewhere. Again, we were dressed like classy young ladies, and acted like the mature young women we are. However, this time the SAME EXACT BOUNCER refused us, saying we weren’t 24. He did remember us, but apparently their policy is you must be 24 or over. It wasn’t a new policy, and he had no explanation as to why he didn’t enforce it the previous night. If he did, we wouldn’t have had an issue on this night. I mean the joint was empty the night before, so I guess violating your «policy» to make $ 40 is cool then.
Strike Two.
We were being very polite about the whole thing, as we were just confused. This is when some morbidly obese, angry woman wielding a clipboard with a pen attached to it on a dirty, ratty old shoelace (seriously lady?) who presumably works there began to yell at us and embarrass us in front of all the people nearby calling us «little spoiled rich white girls.» What does that have to do with an age policy that is selectively applied? All we wanted were our IDs back and to leave, but she wasn’t having it. It was an absolute embarrassment to the Walnut Room. As we stood there, all these people in cheap-​looking get-​ups with their thongs hanging out were allowed in. Really? So that’s how you like to portray yourself as classy, Walnut Room?
Strike Three.
Two young doctors who were 25 happened to be behind us the entire time and said how stupid the establishment made themselves look, that what happened was ridiculous, etc. and actually left and went somewhere else, much to the dismay of the Huge Woman and the Dumb Bouncer. Even when I’m 24, I refuse to go back. I don’t need some woman who looks like the Michelin Man to scream in my face with her nasty breath again, just to keep their place «classy.» Keep tellin’ yourself that, Walnut Room. Meanwhile I’ll be spending my hard-​earned money elsewhere.

Returned here last night with some friends in search of a late night meal. I like this place for the fact that the kitchen opens late, and it’s a 2’fer, you get music and food.
The downside is that it gets a bit crowded by the main walk area and if u are unfortunate to be seated there (like we were) it’s just a bit too close for comfort. The back area is more spacious but the tables were reserved.
We ordered appetizers-​wings, calamari and crabcake sliders. I already ate earlier so I was satisfied with nibbling on the appetizers. I had regular juice (non-​alcoholic).
Over, a decent time there. Would return… can they possibly expand?

I came here on Wednesday during happy hour for center city sips. I was neither overwhelmed, nor underwhelmed. In the words from 10 Things I Hate About You… can you ever just be whelmed?
Their Sips specials were decent — $ 2 Coors and Yuengling, a couple varieties of wine for $ 3 and a marg and something else for $ 4. They seemed to be out of wine shortly after I arrived at 6:45 (fashionably late)… but I stuck with Yuengling anyway. The place was nice, I’m intrigued to come back at night sometime. The crowd was a good-​looking after-​work crowd, and it wasn’t too crowded, especially compared to the packed downstairs at Alfa.
The music was obnoxiously loud for happy hour though, I couldn’t hear my friend two seats away from me at all. And after the specials ended at 7pm they completely cut the music and sort of seemed to stop serving people… I felt like it was almost 2am and closing time (although I was much more sober).
For all my complaints however, this was a decent happy hour spot, if only they’d turn the music down a notch. I’ll have to come back another time.

You couldn’t have a better combination of Alfa and the Walnut room. Like Peanut Butter and Jelly, Peas and Carrots, and Soups to Nuts (don’t know what that last one meant but they always say it at work)
You get nice and hammered (Ricky Bobby fans) down at Alfa and go dance it off upstairs. They match each other in trendiness and atmosphere and both bars come well stocked and with knowledgeable bartenders. Good looking crowd up there and it would get a full 5 stars but, like everyone else said, the dance floor is small. And I’m not the type to usually be pissed at getting a little more up and personal but with a 7 person limit waiting for a spot is Lame.