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    The Barbary

    3.9 (206 reviews)
    InexpensiveBars, Music Venues
    Open Open 24 hours

    The Barbary Photos

    THE BARBARY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Live music
    Hipster
    Divey

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    Recommended Reviews - The Barbary

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    Pinball machine
    Dave L.

    Randomly found ourselves at The Barbary one Thursday. At least I think it was. (Either way, there wasn't cover.) Walking in, we took stock of the situation: Photo booth? Check. Dance floor? Check. Good DJ? Double check. This bar is two floors of awesome. Took advantage of their friendly bartenders, then took advantage of the photo booth. Next time I'll be sure to play some pinball, indulge in falafel, and dance on a table.

    Shirley C.

    This ended up being a really fun place for a night of dancing (though I can't say I've really scoped out the clubbing scene in Philly)! We came on a Friday night around 1130, $5 cover and a very short line. There was a decent amount of people inside but it got really crowded after midnight. There are two dance floors upstairs and downstairs, definitely more crowded and clubby downstairs. I think it was 90s/2000s theme so a lot of fun throwbacks if you're a millennial. The drinks are reasonably priced and several different bars so you're not waiting to get the bartender's attention. The vibe was a little grungy/divey but surprisingly fun and unpretentious with a diverse crowd though probably mostly people in their twenties. Didn't seem to be any sort of dress code, definitely LGBTQ friendly, and minimal groping. Solid option for a more causal clubbing experience! Cash only.

    Jessica S.

    How has nobody added The Barbary to the Yelp mix?! Don't worry folks, I've got you covered. The Barbary has been newly revamped by JHN RDN (seriously - all caps, no vowels) of Hands and Knees and Crescendolls fame (or infamy, depending on your perspective). The Barbary has deep roots and been in existence since the late 60's. From what I've heard, the bar used to be a rock and roll bar that hosted a lot of not-so-well-known bands. The entrance opens up right on the dance floor with the bar lining the right-hand wall. The space is divided by a wall which creates both the dance floor and a sitting area with a few couches for lounging. There's also a photo booth and an ATM, which makes this homegirl's life better since the bar is cash only and my pockets are always empty. Now under Redden's reign it's become more of a dance venue for your local PBR-drinking, leggings-wearing, beard-sporting, tight jean-loving crowd. There's some type of DJ almost every night. Serious. Check the sched, it's pretty much every night (http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/greggforeman72/barbs_jan2.jpg). I'm not saying they are all fantastic DJs, in fact some are definitely iTunes DJs, but they're the jockeys of the discs/mp3s, so I guess they can get away with using the title. I've been the bar on varying nights during the week and on Fridays, and there's been a decent crowd each time. Even on weeknights it seems like a late crowd with people not wandering in until after 11pm. This past Friday was the most insane I've seen the bar yet. So packed it was difficult to even get in the door. The dance floor was completely insane with everyone rocking their shit to some sweet 60's rock. It was a great time until some jackass decided it would be funny to assault me on the dance floor. Screw you, jackass! You made my foot bleed! The walk is a bit unsavory if you're coming from Northern Liberties, as you have to walk through what I like to call The Abyss of Philadelphia - the intersection of Germantown Ave, Front Street, and Laurel Street underneath I-95. Honestly, just take that walk once. Even in broad daylight it's a little nerve-racking. So many roads converging in one place, yet there is never a single soul under there. The roads look as though they haven't been cleaned up in just about 3 decades. There's always garbage, broken glass, clothing, and weeds growing up out of the sidewalk. You'll want to watch your feet along the way. In fact, John Redden, if you want to start a clean up project around the bar. I'm in. Anything to make me less afraid of contracting Hepatitis along the way to a night out.

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    10 years ago

    Hot dirty cheap fun place to dance your ass off. Don't bother going early but it's the perfect place to end a night of ridiculousness.

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    4 years ago

    Without a doubt the best hole in the wall place to go dance in fishtown. Oozes character

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Barbary

    What is the age limit?

    None over 18

    What's the price And age limit to get in and what are the hours?

    10pm it opens 21 years old to enter $5 to get in

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - The Barbary

    Sorted is a rad party, & The Bounce on 1st fridays is just as good, but the monthly throw-down of Live Forever (last sat.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Fringe Bar

    Fringe Bar

    4.0(41 reviews)
    0.9 miPenn's Landing

    We went for restaurant week. Awesome menu! I'm gluten free and there were so many options. The…read morerestaurant has very high ceilings and is quite loud so it can be a bit hard to hear if you're looking for an intimate dinner. My drink was just so so and pricy

    TLDR: What was once a great place, has lost its way…read more We've been regulars at Fringe Bar, always enjoyed their trivia night and the food -- but they've lost their way in a most dramatic fashion and a moment when it mattered. We booked a table weeks in advance for a fun family meal, but upon arrival the maitre d' informed us that the inside restaurant had been closed for a mariachi musical evening and they were going to seat us on a picnic table outside. Putting aside the fact that it was 90 degrees and muggy, and that one of our guests was 85 years old, we said "ok." The appetizers and drinks came promptly and then suddenly, we were blasted with mariachi music out of a speaker next to our picnic table. We asked the manager to turn the music down and it was ok for a little while, but then someone came outside and turned it back up. It was so loud, you couldn't speak. And remember: this was the Fringe Bar - blasting Mexican music was not what we signed up for. We politey but firmly told the waiter that if he wanted a good tip, he would turn the music down, and he said that since we were a party of five, our tip was automatically charged. WTF! Fortunately, the manager got it, and she turned the volume down again. And it stayed down for the rest of the meal. The food was not as good as previously -- the chicken sandwich was overcooked and dried out, the rice bowl as underseasoned and the rice was overcooked, and the french fries soggy, not crisp. The caesar salad lettuce was crisp. Thankfully! When the check came, it totaled $310 with the 20% automatic tip. I had ordered a Tito's on the rocks and they charged an extra dollar for Tito's and an extra $5 for the "rocks". I wish I had kept the receipt because I would posted it. This was the first time that I was charged for the "rocks". Rather than complaining again, I'm posting this review for others to see. Fringe Bar - adios (para siempre)

    Photos
    Fringe Bar
    Fringe Bar - Cheese fries

    Cheese fries

    Fringe Bar - Nice can options

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    Nice can options

    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck

    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck

    2.4(238 reviews)
    0.6 miPenn's Landing
    $$

    I visited from out of state to celebrate my birthday and attend the Roots Picnic and was excited to…read morevisit River Deck for their "Caribbean night" after friends my recommended it. We were coming from the festivsl and hadn't eaten much all day, so we decided to start with ordering food. We waited at three different bars before finally ordering, only to be told they were out of the item I paid for. When I tried to reorder, the bartender completely forgot I had already paid and never put in my replacement order. After finally realizing that she hadn't put my order in after 45 minutes, I asked for a refund. Her way of making it right was giving me a dry, unsauced 6-piece wing (which wasn't what I ordered - my replacement order was a 12pc wing tossed in "cav's sauce" which was around the same price as the egg rolls I ordered and paid for). I asked for a refund AGAIN and she said she'd have to get a manager. The bartender avoided me and the barback ignored me. At this point I was livid. After never getting my proper order, watching people around me eat and leave, being ignored, and NEVER speaking to a manager, I raised my voice out of frustration. Instead of her trying to rectify the situation, she calls security on me. I was escorted out by security without a chance to explain. Even after showing proof that I only ate part of the food because I was STARVING and explaining the situation calmly, the manager refused a refund. Unprofessional and disrespectful from start to finish.

    Carlie is the best, she is a great bartender and helped me and my friends throughout the nightread more

    Photos
    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck - The dry wings given to me as a "courtesy."

    The dry wings given to me as a "courtesy."

    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck
    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck

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    48 Record Bar

    48 Record Bar

    4.0(24 reviews)
    1.3 miOld City
    $$

    I didn't see it anywhere so posting for any future patrons - 48 record bar is located inside…read moreSassfras bar - upstairs to be specific. Drinks were good but music was way too loud!

    I'm a bit of a cocktail bar snob, and 48 Record Bar is definitely on my short list. They have a…read morecreative menu full of thoughtful concoctions and interesting techniques. My two favorites are Born Again and Buck 48. The Born Again is a clarified punch that's super refreshing--almost leaning tart, but in a really good way. The Buck 48 is also refreshing, with warm, spicy notes that give it an autumn vibe, though honestly, it's great any time of year. If you're in the mood for something bold and boozy, I also recommend The Golden Ticket. My palate leans away from anything overly sweet or overpowering--I appreciate balance--and every cocktail I've had here hits just right. The only sad thing is that my favorite bartenderess is no longer there, but the staff is still awesome, and the music is always on point, which keeps the vibe strong. Just a heads-up: this cocktail bar is upstairs from Sassafras, and the menus are completely different. If you're looking for a true craft cocktail experience, make sure you're upstairs at 48 Record Bar. The atmosphere is great. I usually go on Saturday nights around 8 p.m. and have been lucky to grab a seat, though it definitely gets more crowded later. The fact that I've been back several times says a lot--especially since I usually only visit a place once with so many options in the city.

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    48 Record Bar
    48 Record Bar
    48 Record Bar

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    Sassafras Bar - This burger is ridic.

    Sassafras Bar

    4.4(456 reviews)
    1.3 miOld City
    $$

    I wish Jen and I had shown up in matching flapper dresses because Sassafras feels like stepping…read morestraight into the 1920s. Huge bar, giant wall of liquor bottles, dim lighting, and a cool old-school vibe. I told the bartender that ordering a beer in a place like this felt like I was insulting him. He laughed and told me not to worry about it. The drink special was called "Naked and Famous," which honestly sounded like the perfect cocktail to order in honor of Jen. But then I spotted a dark beer on the menu that sounded too good to pass up. If you follow me, you know I'm slowly becoming a dark beer guy. I liked it a lot. The sandwich special was a cheesesteak. Sorry, I should've taken a picture of the menu. But I really enjoyed it, and for $18 it came with a mountain of seasoned fries, which feels like a bargain these days. Bomb Shell: the two people working absolutely crushed it. I don't know if they were understaffed or if Monday night got busier than expected, but they were working their tails off the entire time. Even with that, they stayed polite, friendly, helpful, and incredibly accommodating to the guy carrying around a mannequin. Great visit to Sassafras!

    I had wanted to come here for sooo long and I should have gone sooner! Sassafras bar is soooo good!…read moreSince it was Valentine's Day we had about a 10 min wait to get seats at the bar - not bad. We both ordered a special cocktail - pornstar martini - and wowwwww it was so good. We didn't have time to stay for more unfortunately but I can't wait to go back. Great ambiance and our bartender was awesome.

    Photos
    Sassafras Bar - Bar

    Bar

    Sassafras Bar - French snap and an old fashioned

    French snap and an old fashioned

    Sassafras Bar - French 95

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    French 95

    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen

    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen

    4.6(330 reviews)
    1.3 miOld City
    $$

    Pretty good overall!…read more Considerably big space for Philly. They had an upstairs too but I am not sure why it wasn't open during majority of the night. When the big crowd from the conference left they opened the upstairs. The Mac and cheese is SO GOOD. Very creamy and rich, the bread crumbs were an amazing surprise edition. This fatty finished it before the beer came. Lots of beer choices. I took off a start be size they were under staffed. So we were just waiting around for the check and the waitress kept forgetting what we asked for. Honestly, not her fault. There were like ~100 people and only 3 employees that I saw. So no designated waiter for tables. These poor 3 employees were the bartenders and the table waiters.

    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen is a must if you're in the Independence Park area of Philly! My wife and I…read morevisited while we were there and loved it! They aren't lying when they say that they have an extensive beer menu! I had a Dancing Gnome Kolsch which was very good and then a Corsendork Christmas Ale which was fantastic! I normally don't like spiced beer, but this one was perfect! My wife and I shared the cheese and salumi plate which was so delicious! My only re is not getting the large! My wife had the crispy chicken sandwich which was really good. The crust was crunchy and the chicken was tender and juicy. I had the porchetta sandwich which was recommended by our waiter and was SO DELICIOUS! It is a must! At first my wife was concerned about the limited menu. They may not have an extensive menu but what they do, they do right! Our waiter was really great and very welcoming, especially as we were from out of town. The place has a rustic vibe which fits with its old town location. We loved it! If we ever find ourselves back in Philly, we will definitely visit Glory again!

    Photos
    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen - Mac and cheese

    Mac and cheese

    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen - Chipotle lime wings

    Chipotle lime wings

    Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen

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    The Barbary - bars - Updated May 2026

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