Forsythia

Forsythia is a contemporary French bistro in Philadelphia's Old City, opened in 2019 by chef-proprietor Christopher Kearse. Set on Chestnut Street with an open kitchen and a bright, modern dining room, it serves elevated, often-rotating French fare alongside a wine-forward bar program and craft cocktails. The kitchen earned a spot in the MICHELIN Guide's Philadelphia recognition (Recommended, 2025). For non-drinkers, Forsythia keeps a small but real zero-proof offering at its full bar: the headliner is the "75 Year Old Virgin," a spirit-free riff on the classic French 75 built on juniper, cara cara orange, and lemon for a citrusy, botanical, gin-like character — a drink Philadelphia Magazine singled out among the city's best non-alcoholic cocktails. The bar also pours "Steep Calm," an ashwagandha-honey, coconut-water, and prickly-pear mocktail, plus Stella Artois 0.0% NA beer.

“A play on the French 75, Forsythia's 75-Year-Old Virgin achieves the same citrusy, spicy, botanical essence of gin with juniper, cara cara, and lemon.”

— Kae Lani Palmisano, Philadelphia Magazine

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Non-alcoholic brands they serve

House-crafted NA cocktails

Location

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