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    The Barbary

    3.9 (207 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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    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

    I went back to Barbary for Sorted, which is the monthly Brit-pop party, but this night they were paying tribute to Synth-Pop...

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Fringe Bar

    Fringe Bar

    3.8
    (45 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Very yum bar food. The wings were coated in a wet lemon pepper rub. Would def rec those. Also…read morehonorable mention to the truffle fries. They have a lot of late night events and music, so the atmosphere shifts from a restaurant vibe to more of a bar scene. We ended up eating around this transition time, but the staff was accommodating and let us finish our meal.

    Philly, we are not welcome here…read more Meet Henry, the manager at Fringe Bar. As a Northern Liberties resident, I've visited Fringe Bar several times and have generally enjoyed the experience before my recent experience with the manager. Unfortunately, my visit on June 13 around 4:30 PM completely changed my opinion of this establishment. My friend and I were seated and waited nearly 20 minutes before our food order was taken. Our server explained that their ordering system had gone down.... We were understanding and patient but to be honest it felt like she forgot. About 10 minutes later, we finally received our drinks, and our server shared that management had continued assigning her additional tables despite the issues, making it difficult for her to keep up. We sympathized with her and gave the staff plenty of grace. After waiting another 30 minutes, nearly an hour total since arriving, we still had not received our food. What made the situation even more frustrating was watching another table that arrived roughly 30 minutes after us receive their meals before we did. At that point, I approached Henry to ask about our order. I explained that we had been waiting for nearly an hour and that guests who arrived significantly later had already been served and they needed to hurry up with our food because we were hungry. Before I could even finish speaking, Henry interrupted me, stated that he would comp the food, and told us to leave. All I wanted was an explanation and asked that our order be prioritized after such a long wait. Instead of attempting to resolve the issue, Henry immediately escalated the situation and effectively removed us from the restaurant. The interaction felt dismissive, unprofessional, and completely lacking in customer service. Even another manager appeared surprised by how quickly our order was canceled and how the situation was handled. The entire experience left me feeling unwelcome and disrespected. Mistakes happen. Delays happen. What determines whether customers return is how management responds. Unfortunately, Henry's arrogance, poor communication, and inability to handle a reasonable customer concern ensured that I will never return. The attached photos include timestamps documenting our visit and the lengthy wait and a photo of Henry so you can avoid him. DO NOT COME.

    Photos
    Fringe Bar
    Cheese fries
    Cheese fries
    Nice can options

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    Nice can options
    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck

    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck

    2.4
    (238 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    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.

    This was my first time at CRD in over 15 years and I'm so happy I rediscovered this amazing outdoor…read morefun Philly summer bar! Our bartender Dianne was a pleasure and made the vibe super fun and good! I didn't have a chance to try the food, but I can't wait to try it next time I'm back which will be soon. Thanks CRD Team and Dianne at main bar!

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    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck
    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck
    Cavanaugh's Riverdeck

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    48 Record Bar

    48 Record Bar

    4.0
    (27 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    What a unique, curated, and enriching experience. The bar is upstairs of Sassafras, with a cozy…read moreclose stairwell leading upstairs. You'd be unlikely to find this unless you knew to look for it. The main feature of this bar is the cocktail menu; it's creative and ambitious and yet very approachable, with helpful adjectives for each cocktail. The Mango Sticky Rice made my jaw drop; not only did the juicy mango come through, but also somehow a sense of starchiness, while being entirely balanced with the liquor. Definitely some of the best cocktails in Philly. And the music and vibe is so cozy but lively; the live records spinning create a warm atmosphere that is not sleepy nor dancey, instead you'll find yourself tapping your feet and swaying in your seat while in deep conversation or just enjoyable contemplation. I have to shout out Carl and Brianna, who made our evening especially unforgettable. They guided us seamlessly through the menu, were so knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. They really made 48 Record Bar feel like a second home we can't wait to return to. Last thing- the bathroom setup was such a fun surprise, you have to check it out!!

    Located upstairs from Sassafras, this is place is cozy. The music is played from records which just…read moregives it an amazing vibe. They have very unique drinks and the two we ordered were absolutely delicious. This is a great space with great service and a wonderful ambiance.

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    48 Record Bar
    48 Record Bar
    48 Record Bar

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    Sassafras Bar

    Sassafras Bar

    4.4
    (458 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    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!

    Sassafras has been a consistently solid bar for me. I have been obsessed with their pisco sour and…read morethe drink comes equally as good each time I order it. The drink menu is extensive and well planned. I love the prices the most probably. The service is good but not super fast as they usually only have 1-2 people serving, so only go here if you have time to wait. The staff is always kind and accommodating. The food here is also very solid. The cheese steak and the burger are both delicious though the burger might take the #1 spot. I love vibes of the place and find myself relaxing and sipping a lovely drink while staring at the beautiful tiled walls. The quality is high and the prices decently low

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    Bar
    Bar
    Pretzel
    Pretzel
    French 95

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    French 95
    Next of Kin

    Next of Kin

    4.7
    (73 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Next of Kin is a special vibe. It's got the energy of a neighborhood dive with the aesthetic and…read moremixology prowess of a swanky cocktail haven. It is intimate, friendly, down-to-earth, and totally unique. I don't visit Philly as often as I'd like (I live in NYC but grew up here) and while I'm always keeping up with dining scene, it's rare and thus special when I get to put a space to the name, so the speak. Next of Kin has a quirky, playful, impressively creative menu with drinks that are memorable. We came here at around 10:30pm on a Saturday night after dinner. There was a bit of a line outside which moved slowly, but we were given cute champagne jello shot things for our patience which were delightful and a fun little preview of what to expect on the inside. The seating options consist of tables, bar, and what I believe they call "love pods", all of which are beautifully designed. We were seated at the bar, which is our preference anyway. I always like chatting with the bartenders and hearing about the craft, and it is particularly enjoyable when they're as friendly and generous as the folks who work here. We were talking to them about some of their infusions and they let us try a taste of the coconut mezcal and the bruleed banana infused rum and both were unreal on their own. We ended up getting the Coco Bello (coconut mezcal, apertif, aromatized wine) which is a white negroni variation and the Swamp Thang (green chartreuse, herbal liqueur, pineapple and poblano tepache), which was served in some particularly memorable glassware (pictured). Both drinks were exceptional and complex, the former more sophisticated and the latter wacky and wholly unique.

    I fuckin love this Place! It's intimate and has…read moreStrong ass drinks my friend* *be prepared to get too drunk

    Photos
    Next of Kin
    Godfather Cocktail.
    Godfather Cocktail.
    The single greatest duo booths of our time.

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    The single greatest duo booths of our time.
    National Mechanics

    National Mechanics

    4.0
    (1k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Such a Philly kind of day... a half hour meander from my office in the Gayborhood to Old City for…read morean entertaining evening at this bar. Tiny pockets of garden squares with burbling fountains. Cobblestone streets. Around every corner is a sign or plaque boasting about this city's history. From the outside, it looks like you're walking into an old bank. Inside, it's just about 6:00 PM and the place is packed for happy hour (one of the few places, by the way, that has happy hour until 7:00 PM) and for one of the monthly talks sponsored by local science museums. As soon as I walked in, they found us an open spot right up front. A cheery waiter took our order - the $8 burger sliders didn't come with any fries, but they were tiny and delicious. I love the idea that this place sponsors monthly science talks. Just a bunch of nerds all gathered here to listen to local experts talk about different topics. One week it might be about rare Galapagos birds to how to preserve fossils or the etymology of vampire lore.

    A friend of mine was in town for the weekend and we spent Saturday afternoon walking around Old…read moreCity. Around midday, we became hungry and looked for something to eat. With the help of Yelp, we found this place. First off, the building that houses National Mechanics is absolutely beautiful inside and out, and for good reason. The pub/restaurant occupies the old Mechanics National Bank, a majestic Greek Revival building, built in 1836. Inside the restaurant, the surroundings contrasted greatly with the outside. The large, primarily wooden interior has the feel of a vintage pub. It is equally as beautiful as the front. The service at National Mechanics was great. Though the staff was clearly running shorthanded, every employee we came into contact with served us with a smile and couldn't be friendlier. The food, at least on that day, was mediocre at best, unfortunately. While the menu was filled with all sorts of tempting dishes that already made us thinking of future visits, we opted for the Mexican Burger and the Ribeye Cheesesteak, two twists on old pub standbys. Sadly, we were both disappointed in our meals. We did start off on a bright spot, food-wise. My friend and I opted to share the Batter-Fried Pickled Green Beans, which were fabulous! Too bad the good food ended there... The description of the Mexican Burger sounded amazing, with avocado, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, Monterrey Jack cheese, and chipotle mayo. My friend said it was kind of bland and it was quite greasy. My ribeye cheesesteak did not match well with its "Amoroso" roll and the steak itself was dry. In the end, we were both disappointed in our choice in a lunch spot. Perhaps it was the large crowd of diners and little staff that made it all come out a little...off. In the end, I'd try National Mechanics again if I were in the area, as the atmosphere and service made it a cool spot to dine in. Hopefully the food will be better next time.

    Photos
    National Mechanics
    Nachos Grande
    Nachos Grande
    The bar

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    The bar

    The Barbary - bars - Updated August 2026

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