Local Scoop

The All-New Music Hideaway “Leda and the Swan” Opens in Center City!

Published on January 29, 2020

The All-New Music Hideaway “Leda and the Swan” Opens in Center City!

Glu Hospitality, owners of Vesper Center City, Vesper Dayclub and Germantown Garden, announce the grand opening of Leda and The Swan at 1224 Chestnut Street, in Philadelphia’s thriving Midtown Village neighborhood. For Leda, Glu principles Derek Gibbons and Tim Lu present a new cocktail and music hideaway for the culturally curious. The 2,500 square foot new cocktail bar and lounge will feature specialty craft cocktails created by well-known cocktail veterans Ryan Fenton and Zach Kessler. The bar program will include nine special cocktails, four varieties of Old Fashioneds, large format bottled cocktails, dessert cocktails, vodka club cocktails featuring tinctures, wines and champagnes.

For the creative types, come early to hang and come late to move with live music entertainment Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with DJs later night on Fridays and Saturdays. Leda will host an all-night opening night celebration this Friday, January 31, 2020, from 5:00pm to 2:00am. Starting regular hours will be Thursday, 5:00pm to Midnight, Friday, 5:00pm to 2:00am, and Saturday, 5:00pm to 2:00am. Happy hour will run every Thursday and Friday from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.

Leda and The Swan aims to be a unique and beautiful space, with meticulous design, seasonal craft drinks, and genre-defying entertainment. The owners’ vision for Leda is to create an experience for the culturally curious, that honors the creative types and artists, that comes with personal connection and strong storytelling. Core values for Leda include art, culture and beauty; engagement and interaction; intimacy and sensual pleasure; living in the moment (no phones); diversity; and mystery.

Inspiration for the name hails from a greek myth where Zeus transformed into a swan and he seduces Leda. Together, they have a child, Helena of Troy, who was according to mythology one of the most beautiful women in the world. Gibbons said, “Leda and The Swan is inspired by a greek myth which embodies values of art, myth and love. We want people to be intrigued by the name and the concept, and to be culturally curious. We want to create a social experience where patrons engage, interact and start a discussion. The unique name, cocktails and space are all first steps in that vision.”

Whereas Midtown Village and Center City is currently home to a number of top restaurants, bars and nightclubs, Leda and The Swan looks to offer a unique hybrid cocktail bar and lounge that fuses live music, craft cocktails, dancing and local art in a comfortable and beautiful space.

HAPPY HOUR

Happy hour runs Thursdays and Fridays, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, and includes:

$7 specialty cocktails

$6 well drinks

$5 house wine

$4 beer

ENTERTAINMENT

Leda and The Swan will feature live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night curated by Creative Director and entertainment veteran Jordan Poole. On Friday and Saturday nights also look for a rotating who’s who of DJ’s from around the region and beyond. The music and DJ programming will focus on RnB, Funk, Soul, Disco, House, Indie, Jazzy HipHop, & World Music. Lu said, “We want guests to come enjoy our space and feel comfortable. We want to appeal to many musical tastes.” Watch for a full line-up of live music and DJs coming after opening weekend.