Entry No. 12 — the Philadelphia file — filed under: speakeasy
Blind Barber
By day it's a working three-chair barbershop marked only by a striped pole and vintage Belmont chairs; after dark, an unmarked door at the back of the actual shop opens into a 70s-inspired cocktail lounge with floral wallpaper and velvet booths most passersby never learn exists.
The story
From Sansom Street, 1325 looks like a straightforward neighborhood trim-and-shave operation tucked inside the Hale Building. Step inside and you are standing in a small three-chair barbershop anchored by vintage Belmont chairs, pomade tins, and floor-sweeping hair clippings. If you stop there, you've missed the point entirely. The shop runs its cutting business until 7 PM, but the back wall hides the real objective.
An unmarked door at the rear of the shop opens directly into a 1970s-inspired cocktail lounge. The New York-born concept expanded into Center City with a deliberate double life: working barbershop out front, velvet-and-floral hideout in the back. Once you cross the threshold, the buzz of clippers drops away, replaced by low amber light, dark velvet booths, and patterned floral wallpaper that feels light-years removed from Sansom Street traffic.
You didn't hear it from us, but the cleanest move here is booking an early evening trim right before the backroom opens. Once the chairs clear out, slip straight through the rear door for a Lawn Jawn cocktail while the storefront goes dark.
What it's like
Between 10 AM and 7 PM, the front room operates purely as a three-chair barbershop. From Wednesday to Saturday starting at 6 PM, the rear door opens into the lounge. Expect a tight, low-lit space that fills up quickly on weekend nights. The contrast of walking past empty barber chairs in the dark to hit a hidden booth is the main event, so aim for early evening hours if you want a seat without waiting out the crowd.
The move: Get an early evening haircut, then slip through the barbershop's back door together once the chairs clear out, for a Lawn Jawn cocktail in a booth under the floral wallpaper.
- 📍 Center City / Gayborhood, inside the Hale Building
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1325 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Elbow Lane at Harp & Crown — Trade a barbershop backroom for a hidden basement bowling alley two blocks away at Harp & Crown.
- Midnight & The Wicked — Continue your Sansom Street subterranean run by heading two tenths of a mile west to a four-room 1920s vault bar.
- Hop Sing Laundromat — Contrast Blind Barber's relaxed 70s lounge vibe with Chinatown's famously strict, rule-heavy speakeasy behind a plain steel door.
Good to know
Where is the hidden entrance?
Walk straight into the working barbershop at 1325 Sansom Street. The entrance to the cocktail lounge is an unmarked door located at the back of the shop behind the barber chairs.
Do I need to get a haircut to enter the bar?
No. The lounge operates independently of the barbershop, though you can book a cut right before the backroom opens if you want the full sequence.
What are the hours for the shop and the bar?
The barbershop runs Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The backroom lounge opens Wednesday through Saturday starting at 6:00 PM and runs late.
Can I make reservations for the lounge?
Yes, Blind Barber accepts email inquiries for reservations and event bookings, though walk-in seats are available early in the night.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · phillyprgirl.com · Instagram · phillymag.com
last checked: 2026-07-19