Exactly what it says on the tin. I've only been here a handful of times, and this review has some context. You might be thinking "Vichet's stingy as hell with those five stars" and you'd be right. But get this. They're on one of the busiest blocks of the gayborhood. They are cheap as all hell for this neighborhood. And they have every kind of Philly vibe you could ask for. A non-exhaustive list of available Philly vibes, in no particular order: 1. Citywides 2. Picklebacks 3. A surprisingly excellent burger 4. A jukebox you can take over 5. Billiards 6. Sports on TV 7. (in my 20s) Shawties to holler at, 50/50 chance of dancing and/or getting punched 8. A high likelihood of someone being available outside from whom to bum cigarettes 9. Being across the parking garage from a convenience store with cigarettes Bar: you are exactly what you say you are, no more, no less. In any other section of the city you'd be a beloved dive. And in this section of the city, anything less than 5 stars would be a travesty. Keep being yourself. read more

the guy with the dreads was the nicest bartender i have came across in center city. super assertive quick service. he was kind and attentive the whole time. read more

Wow what a cool spot and pretty bad bartender ( I asked for IPA) ....he said he wouldn't doing reading for me ( beer list) I just asked for IPA poor me whatever I'll pay and leave Who hired him lol read more

Bar remains the go-to spot for picklebacks[1]. The interior is quite ordinary (clean bathrooms, well-lit, flatscreen TVs). In spite of their plainness (or due to it?), service is solid. Upstairs we spied an arcade machine of some kind but didn't schlep up to see what it was exactly. Good place to grab a drink, and it won't break the bank. Credit accepted. [1] In case you didn't get the memo, a pickleback is a shot of straight whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice. The combo's surprisingly refreshing. read more

I love this spot, right in center city. Sure after a couple of drinks you might miss the sign outside and no one understands that we're going to 'Bar' doesn't mean a bar, it means BAR. I was introduced to picklebacks here. Bartenders are easy going and quick. No frills needed. And I've never made it upstairs..but the downstairs can certainly be fun. Great craft beers available. read more

Fun times, most definitely. Post Opa elite and many a fool wanted to shake their booty up the street at Time; luckily, the biggest fool of the night got distracted by a shiny piece of tinfoil blowing down the sidewalk and, when she saw two strangers inside Bar, immediately went in to say hello. Score for sweaty Emmett, because dancing here is strictly prohibited and the AC was working quite well. Fast forward to ten minutes later and the strangers have been scared away (the only two customers in Bar's bar until we arrived that very late Monday night), so naturally I felt it was our duty to pick up where they left off. A bounty of canned beer in the fridgamidors (many of which I not only never heard of, but couldn't pronounce either), robust pints of the hard stuff for a fin, and Kill Bill Vol. 2 on the boob tube meant this guy was happy, but the crew of yelp all-stars were what really kept me from being annoyed at the flitting about of my re-re sister. Bar seems a very cool and spacious spot, even though I didn't see the upstairs (gravity isn't worth defying after so much booze); there is just something about barrooms bedecked in wood that always makes me feel very comfortable wasting away the hours. Another bonus worth mentioning was that the bathrooms were fairly clean. All antics having run their course, as well as Uma breaking one last heart, and the establishment was ready to close, so the night of fun came to an end. I don't think this is the last time I will be caught in Bar (not a bar, goof, The Bar. Seriously, think about who you're dealing with), because it felt right up my alley, but I'll need to see how I handle a more crowded night before I make final judgments. read more

Bar - absolutely no dancing, not even in your chair - Pool Halls Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When you come across the hardest to find bar name on Yelp, it becomes one that you have to jump on and do a review for. Overall Bar is a solid place to stop in and grab a few rounds, and it does have some of those necessary dive aesthetics. But when it comes down to it, comparing Bar to some of the nearby offerings is like comparing an original film to its remake. While old dives like Dirty Franks and McGlinchey's have the true grit, Bar can come off as a little more gimmicky and flash in the pan. But like some good remakes (IE: this one excluded - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X4d3D8SncM), Bar does have some things that it does a little better. Although its menu only really consists of hot dogs, cup o noodles, or both (which is surprisingly perfect for soaking up some suds!); it instantly offers up a better menu than the other choices above. While it might not offer up as big of a beer selection (at least compared to the Glinch), it does offer up a selection that rotates a little more quickly. and its upstairs area is pretty damn solid. So unlike most Hollywood remakes, Bar is something that can be well worth the outing with the right group. And while the pickle back shot is something interesting sounding that McThrill needs to try, the rulings out on who did it first since PYT and a few others took it under their wing around the same time. read more

Bar has a "TouchTunes" but bartender skips every song that you BUY to keep punk rock/ heavy metal on. Tried to play some music by a black artist and they skipped to play a song called "Redneck." Angry vibes, do not recommend. read more

Not much to say. Hung out with some friends on a Friday night, and watched the Phils game. Some of my friends aren't big beer drinkers and they ended up paying $5 for miller lites. The tall PBRs were $3. It's really hard to tell people to meet you here because of the name. read more

After reading the reviews for Bar, I'm honestly left wondering what I missed. Obviously, I missed out on the Picklebacks, but does a shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice really add two-stars to a review? Bar is dive-y... well, it wants to be dive-y. It's like the ugly girl who puts on tons of make-up in an attempt to be pretty. Trying to be a dive bar by selling hot dogs ($3 each) does not make you a dive bar. While I did not visit during happy hour, I hear there isn't much of one anyway. Looking for a dive bar, roam elsewhere. Looking for a good place to kill some time, time is right next store. Looking for a Pickleback, apparently this is the place! read more

Came here as a tourist with other friends and we're all 25+ with real IDs but the bouncer claimed they were all fake and didn't let us in while giving us an attitude read more

Do not go here unless you want to get your shit stolen. Even now many hours later trying to see if they closed the bar and were able to check and see if my life was stolen. It was a "nice" bar for the locals that told me to go there but they target out of towners. read more

Sat in the bar area where they have a bar menu and great happy hour selections and prices. Amazing beer and whisky selection!!!! Fries were delicious, chips and dip yummy and I had the happy hour burger which was so good! read more

Had an awesome time here. Was traveling with a group of friends for the Seahawks vs Eagles game- and the vibe was amazing. It was right across from the Holiday Inn Hotel, so very easy location to spot and there were plenty of food option around there area for the after hr. The Bartender (Alexis) is gorgeous and marvelous. Great portions on drinks and knew when to cut off those who can't handle their liquor anymore. Very professional. read more

Bar - Had an awesome time here at "Bar". The bartender, Alexis is terrific. - Pool Halls Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love Bar.... Called Bar... the name can be a little confusing but definitely worth a visit. This a great place to watch a game, low key style. It's got great drink specials, I usually stick to 16oz PBRs. While this place doesn't usually get to crowded, it does have an upstairs with a pool table and some other bar games. This is also the place I had my first pickle back, so this place definitely has a special place in my heart. read more

Hi there.. I was having a great time until the bartender / bar back (pictured below) turned off the song "Dreams and Nightmares" by Meek Mill on the night of the Super Bowl Parade. The entire crowd was very excited and singing along happily. All of the sudden the bar back named Josh decided to take away the customers rights and turn off the song. He said "I can't stand this song any more." The crowd asked him not to turn it off. Josh the bar back had no respect for his customers. Very disappointing.. read more

Bar - Pool Halls Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The bitch w the skull tattoo? Lit. There was this group playing AWFUL music so we all kept skipping it. I think they weren't sure where they were. One dude tried to do push-ups...on the floor...at BAR. He did three. Of course we're going to skip your shitty music. read more

If you gave anything less than 5 stars here, you shouldn't come here. It's the best dive bar in Center City. Some of these entitled people on here obviously need to go somewhere that charges $18 a drink and actually be treated poorly by there bartender. But you probably desire that because you have daddy issues. Go somewhere else. read more

I was basically tricked into going on a date here (friend group magically needed to bail after two minutes), which was totally uncool, but I will not hold it against Bar! The best way I can describe this place: it's a dive bar, pretending to NOT be a dive bar, pretending to be a dive bar. Wrap your head around that and I'm sure you'll agree. I love the two-story effect. The bar itself gets pretty chaotic so it's nice to escape to the upstairs every once in awhile. There are cute arcade games up there too! The prices are pretty average for Center City. The craft beer selection is great, and they also serve up a huge list of specialty shots (pickle juice, excuse me?) All in all, this bar is a lot of fun. Note: Total Sausage Fest. read more

Pickleback! Pickles and Whiskey? You must be kidding me. What form of depraved savage could possibly lurk behind the creation of this vile concoction? He could only be the kind of sick, slobbering weirdo that finds his joy in the suffering of others. A sadist of the highest order...hell-bent on unweaving the moral fabric of society. I hate his face and I've never even met the guy. The rage that welled up inside of me upon finding this horror on the menu was fierce, unnatural, and nearly uncontrollable. The idea of people willingly paying for this form of abject punishment caused my blood to boil. I ranted for a solid 10 minutes before my friend was finally able to talk me back from the brink of outright insanity. Out of breath, too tired to be angry anymore, I gave in to his pleas and tried the Pickleback. I'm a headstrong man. I shoot first and rarely, if ever, ask questions later. Needless to say, I'm not quick to admit when I'm wrong, but in the case of the Pickleback, not only was I wrong, but I literally couldn't have been MORE wrong...and for that, I want to offer my sincerest apologies to Bar. The Pickleback is unequivocally the greatest shot to ever swim down my gullet. I'm pretty sure I saw God as I slammed my shot glass back on the bar. I've been born again and my new mission is to spread the word of this miracle of modern boozing to the rest of the world. From this moment forward, I will make a point of ordering this shot in every single bar that I ever visit. I will preach the truth and the earth will be saved. Thank you, Bar, for saving my hootch-sodden soul. read more

Ok, this is probably the most difficult joint to find on Yelp. How do you type "Bar" into a search tool meant to pick up the single word "bar" as THE keyword for searching all other bars in the city? It is just about as difficult to find on Yelp as it was to believe that I had never even seen this place in my walks through the Midtown area....and yet I found myself here twice in one week...imagine that. First time around...here I was, ordering a stoli and pineapple and being told by the bartender that it will set me back $5. Do you know how hard it is to keep from laughing when your drink comes served in a pint glass with definitely not shitty vodka and you're told it will only cost you a Lincoln? Where has this bar been all my life?? I'm down the street dropping bombs on my wallet in the name of Stephen Starr and Michael Schulson and I can hang here instead? Yes please. Second time around....the Opa elite event had let out and Time had let us down with no dancing on "funk night". Next I know, I'm shooting the shit with the likes of Vinny P. and Emmett M. over a couple of cans of beer while watching Kill Bill vol. 2. Quentin Tarantino and 21st Amendment, I didn't think my night could get much better....until I heard Emmett try and order a Butternut Pork Slap and that point later in the night when I "accidentally" punched Maggie M. and Vinny grabbed a bar stool Jerry Springer style...then it was complete. This place is about as unassuming as they come, in the shadows of places like Graffiti Bar and El Vez it doesn't surprise me that it goes unnoticed. With a bartender that puts up with absurd antics at closing time on a Monday night, a clientele that's just as chill, and a pretty decent list of craft cans, you can bet this place will stay on the radar. read more

So I read a few bad reviews of Bar and thought...nahh, this place used to be cool...those must be anomalies. Like when the Sixers win. Nope! Mine might have even worse. As a matter of fact, my review would be zero stars if that was an option. I had just left a business meeting and planned to meet who was in from out of town for drinks. I take off my coat and head towards the bar. The lady bartender gives me a look that I can only describe as what Donald Trump would give to a mexican muslim, and asks to see my ID. 1) I'm a 36 year old black guy. 2) I'm wearing slacks and a tie ...and 3) I didn't see you ask anyone else to see their ID. My license has just expired (don't worry, I get it renewed tomorrow) and she says that I can't order a drink. Okay, so maybe you are following the law. But why the subtle racism? I could see that none of the other white patrons were given a look of suspicion or asked to see their IDs. Not to mention I don't look under 21...I don't look 36, but ain't been 20 in a long time. So I say "Okay, well I guess I'll just wait until my friend gets here - then we'll leave." She says "Listen, we don't want your kind around here - so act like you're on a treadmill and get to steppin." ...okay, she actually said "Actually, you can't stay here with an expired ID, it's the rules - you have to leave." ...Really? Kicked out? Like I'm just some bum that wandered in and started harassing the customers for change to take Septa home? Is this real life? Well Bar, I went and dropped $50 bucks +tips elsewhere. And I have to say, I hope this place goes out of business faster than a vegan cheesesteak shop. read more

I judged Bar too harshly in my first review. Like a high expectations Asian father, I think I had unrealistic goals for you, Bar. A- on your AP physics exam? Why you on drugs and not study? Born a girl? Why you hate me before you born? I apologize, Bar. You're every bit as good as your brother, even if you can't carry on the family name. My spot on biography of my Asian friend's childhoods aside, the bartenders are quick and friendly. The craft beer selection is strong, but it's overpriced even for expecting it to be overpriced. Then again, I imagine coming here for the great beer selection (on the weekend, at least) would be like going to Hardee's for foie gras. Bar is where you drink cheap beer and you're somehow always being handed a shot. Bar is a strange intersection of delightful deadbeats, Yelp yuppies, and a sizable minority of annoying college kids who don't deserve any allowable alliteration at all. Bar is where you end a good night. read more

BAR is what happens when a bunch of phonies try to recreate something cool. I think I wouldn't have thought it was so terrible if it hadn't been billed as a "dive". This place is NOT a dive bar. $3 hot dogs?!?! sista, please. With the exception of the loose-leaf paper menu, the the atmosphere is utterly preppy. Everything is slick and mirrored, and there's a moose head hanging on the wall! Beyond the ambiance, I was also bummed out about the beer availability. We were originally drawn there to check out some of the unique beers on the menu, but many of the beers I tried to order were out of stock. I was denied a Snapperhead, a mama's little yella and even a Sly Fox Royal Weisse before I finally settled on a high life pounder. If you pop your collar and you're scared of grit, but want to convince yourself you're at a "dive bar", this is the place for you. Otherwise, just head over to McGlinchy's. read more

Over-priced genessee cream ale cans? $7 shots of powers? A "no dancing" sign yet a juke box pumping out the loudest, most obnoxious, conversation negating rap? This place is played out like ugly sweater parties and cupcakes. read more

This was the most terrible experience I've ever had at a bar. My friends and I used to come here often years ago in college but after my recent experience I will NEVER return. Long story short, my friends and I (who made up half of the customers in the bar) were playing music on the juke box. The bartender then gave credits to his friends to over ride the songs we paid for. When one of my (female) friends tried to talk to him, he yelled at her and kicked her out. He then tried to rip the phone out of my other (again, female) friend's hand when she said something about this, and kicked her out. Then, as I stood by the door trying to figure out what was going on (and not doing anything wrong) he told me I needed to leave, and tried to physically take the drink out of my hand. I have never in my life been asked to leave a bar, and have NEVER had a bartender put his hands on me. This was completely unacceptable and just wrong. You can see from other reviews this is a pattern at this bar. Do yourself a favor and visit any other bar in the area, not this pretentious, run down hole with a bartender who doesn't hesitate to go after female customers. read more

Worst experience I've ever had at a bar!!! I've received terrible service, food, etc. at places before but have never written a Yelp review until now. Here is my experience: I was in town from LA for work and came in with 3 co-workers (it should be noted that we were completely sober). I asked the bartender (bearded man...I wish I would have gotten his name) what he suggested and immediately received a very rude reply; it was apparent that my inquiry did not make him happy at all (even though I look to my bartender to be knowledgeable about the product they serve and to be able to offer suggestions). My other 3 co-workers proceeded to do the same (ask his suggestion), and 2 of the 3 co-workers received drinks. By the time my last co-worker was ready, the bartender loudly exclaimed that 'he'd had enough', closed my tab, and provided me with the receipt. However, as soon as he gave me the receipt, he took it back, and loudly told my co-workers and I to 'get out'. I was seriously surprised, I had no idea what had just happened. He then began physically ripping the drinks out of our hands (mine being first; I probably had about 2 sips of my beer). I had never in my life had my drink physically removed from my hands. By the time he got to the last drink, my co-worker (Philly local) decided to hang onto it, and the bartender and my co-worker proceeded to struggle over the glass, which broke in both their hands. The bartender then jumped over the bar and physically pushed my co-workers out of the bar. He then came back for me, and physically pushed me out of the bar. I was wearing heels and could have easily been hurt. I emailed the bar (and called to no avail) to report this incident and never received a response. Additionally, I was charged $37 for 3 drinks that my group was never given the opportunity to enjoy. It appears that I was overcharged (a $12 beer appears high) but I wouldn't know since my receipt was taken away from me by the bartender. Also, I never signed the credit card receipt acknowledging the transaction but was still charged in full. I seriously hope that the owner takes a good look at the individuals he hires. A bar that provides this type of service should not be in business at all! read more

Any place that gives you enough booze so that you fake an English accent to complete strangers gets the nod in my book. The scene, post elite event at Opa. The crowd, Emmett, Rebecca, Katrina, Maggie and Blake and myself. We walk in, it's decently quiet, Kill Bill Vol 2 is on the TV and they have an impressive can list. Recipe for disaster. I'll spare you the gory details, but it was a fun evening. Yes I did pick up a bar stool to demonstrate how to properly keep a lion from attacking you. I am apparently also from Leeds and recently moved to South Philadelphia. File that one under "how to confuse strangers." In other times when I have been to Bar, I played pool upstairs and enjoyed tasty beers at fair prices. You gotta love this place. read more

I'm hesitant to call BAR a dive-bar for fear that someone will get offended..... but it is a dive bar and a damn good one at that! When I first went to BAR, I didn't have too great of a time. From what I recall, it was very packed and I just wasn't in the mood to deal with that nonsense. And then some dude put his hands on my lady's waist.... a big no-no. So after a near attack on some college-aged kid and shimmying through a sea of elbows, I was happy to leave. Fast forward to more recent months, I revisited BAR on much better terms and proceeded to have a great time with friends. If you want to stretch your dollar, watch some Philly sports, or just need a judgement-free zone to drown your sorrows.... BAR is worth checking out. I cannot speak for the food, never tried it there. Beer selection is adequate and if its microbrews that you're looking for, you're at the wrong place. Here is what I recommend for a first visit to BAR: 1. Grab a Highlife pounder (don't like pounders?... stop reading, I don't want to be your friend) 2. Order a pickleback shot (1 shot of Jameson and 1 shot of pickle juice -- not combined) 3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 until inebriation has set in. 4. Go to Zio's pizza and grab a slice (13th and sansom) read more

A good dive bar for a quick drink. Most of the time I stop there only for 1-2 drinks. Weekends it is most really crowded. Good place to play pool or a nice table soccer game with friends. Jukebox and TV for sport events are available. A nice experience is also a pickleback...try it and share your opinion :) read more

So I wrote a quick tip expressing how I wish they had food at the bar and then the awesome bartender came over and said we should go get take out and bring it back to the bar! So that's exactly what we did! Go here if you are getting down and dirty with your beer drinking self. Jon M. and I had some new, fun beer as well as some good old fashioned PBR pounders. People were getting rowdy, but it wasnt' a bother. Bartenders were fun to talk to, comfy seats, somewhat clean bathrooms. This is a fun dive bar. Period. read more

I really like bar. Bar Bar. Bar bar bar bar bar. They will serve you alcohol even if you are passing out in a pool of your own vomit on the...bar. It's a dive, what do you expect? It's cheap and fun in a city that is full of things I strongly loathe (Phillies, Eagles, Flyers...) THE worst Pizza in the world is about 3 blocks away...30th street Pizza I believe? So, just get wasted here and stumble home later to eat your filthy ramen noodles. Cuz you ain't gonna get anything decent here, or there. The bathroom is pretty gross. The touch tunes is amazing. read more

Worst place ever. Seriously, I have never been so offended by the bartenders in this place. I politely asked for service and they told me to leave because they couldn't figure out how to make change. Kind of a bunch of clowns at this place. Please stay away read more

Random drunk 23 year old ex-frat boy sitting next to me: "Where are we?" Jill L: "We are at Bar" Frat Boy: "Yeah I know we are in a bar, but what's it called" Jill L: "Bar" Frat Boy (getting visibly frustrated): "But WHAT is it CALLLLLLED???" Jill L: "Bar" Frat Boy exits stage left You are pretty much guaranteed to have this experience at Bar. I promise you. Anywho, Bar, like its name, is a pretty simple dive bar. No fancy small plates, no fancy drinks, no pretentious bartenders, no pretentious clientele. Just a decent list of decently priced beers, plenty of room to sit, some games on the second floor, and a jukebox to make yourself the DJ of your night out. This is the perfect location when you are out on a date or with friends for dinner on 13th street (Barbuzzo, Lolita, Jamonera) and you want to keep the night going but you've already dropped some major coinage on dinner and just want a few quick beers. Go to Bar. Plenty of room to spread out and have an actual conversation. read more

When you tell people you're going to "Bar" the statement is met with a quizzical expression. Why the strange look? I am not sure. Maybe because they just don't know about a place that calls it's self what it is without making excuses for it. It's a bar plain and simple and there ain't nothin' wrong wit that. And there is nothing wrong with this place. In fact, it's kind of great. This place has all of the makings of an awesome dive bar but for some reason, I don't consider it a dive. Maybe it's just not gritty enough. So rather than an awesome dive bar... it's just an awesome bar. The beer list is great, bartenders are really good, prices are totally reasonable for the area, there's a pool table upstairs with just enough room around it for someone to get jabbed in the nuts (or lady parts) by the tail end of a pool cue on every turn. What more could you want? A bar by any other name just isn't "Bar". read more

My boyfriend and stopped in quickly for a shot between dinner and the next bar. I asked the bartender if there was a card minimum. She said "No, and we take everything but American Express and Discover." I ordered two picklebacks and handed her an American Express. She politely told me again that they take anything but, and apologized. It was a Saturday night. She could have been rude but she wasn't. Good for you bartender, good for you. I pulled out a Visa, we took our shots, and moved on. read more

Where do I start? This review is very personal for me. I've worked down the street from bar for almost three years, and it is our go-to spot for after-shift drinks. I finally decided to sit down and review it tonight after coming in on a busy Saturday, by myself, and realizing how much I appreciate it. Fancy cocktails? No. Extensive selection of fine wines? No. Extensive food menu with delicious concoctions straight from a renown chef's kitchen? Nope. What you can expect is down to earth bartenders that know your face, a fantastic beer selection, a quiet spot to meet great new people, a jukebox that (usually) sports some awesome (not 'call me maybe') music, a dive bar where I can enjoy a somewhat peaceful drink after a long night at work. There is something to be said about being able to go into a bar, alone, and sip your beer without any distraction. I feel safe with the staff here. Bar, thank you for being my spot. I hold a special place for you in my heart. read more

This place sucks. It's gross. It's dirty. The staff is rude. I literally dropped a straw and the bartender told me to get out. RIGHT after ordering drinks for me AND my friends...and paying ..AND tipping (above average). There was not really anyone in there and I was in a party of four, none of us were hammered or annoying ... I mean your job is not that hard it's not like you're dealing with animals & if that's how you feel, find a job you actually enjoy. read more

Tucked among all the other bars in the area, I must've passed by "Bar" more times than I could count. Maybe I mistook the sign for part of another bar's sign? Maybe I never even looked that high. Probably the latter. But Philly Beer Week brings out all sorts of bars from the woodwork, and my first visit to Bar was a great one! Their happy hour is just what the doctor ordered. It's a small space, but cozy, and not pretentious at all. The best part is, despite the kind of divey look of it all (outside and a little in), their beer list is top notch. TRULY a ton of great options. If that's not your style, just get discounted pickle backs and shots of Fireball. Or $2 PBR pounders. Truly, something for anyone. Ideal jumpoff spot for a night out, meet up with your buddies, grab some brewskis, and hit the town! read more

I stopped here for "happy" hour - its around the corner from the office so we popped in. I like Time and go there often - but I am not a fan of this place. Walked into a total sword fight at 5:30 pm - I mean literally the entire place was packed with guys - and I mean not 1 single girl besides the 2 we brought who were looked at like steaks - so we quickly rolled back out. read more