Solid dive. Good for watching a game and catching up with friends if you've got any. Best specials I've seen in a LONG time. Get drunk on the cheap. There might be non-alcoholic options, but I can't help you there. Cash only, so bring money. No time to tap MAC? There's an ATM inside, right by the bar. Getting noisy? Take a time out on their backyard patio. Find The El Bar a few blocks north of the Front/Girard SEPTA subway station[1]. [1] Right underneath the EL. Get it?? Yes, I do love me some wordplay. read more

The El Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

It'd been a while. This is a wholesome ass place. Cash only, $6 citywides, sports on the TV, pool in the front, patio out back. It's got all the Philly dive shit you need, yo. Also, great curated playlists with '90s RnB vibes, and $2 hot dogs during Phillies games (and possibly beyond that?). The $2 hot dogs taste about as good as you might think. In other words, great for $2 or less, and meh for more than that. But you didn't need haute cuisine. You needed roller-sauteed meat tube. And you had $2. When in Rome, eat the hot dogs. It's a great value, especially when you account for inflation from the ancient world. read more

I love a good dive bar. The drinks were pretty good and the place was unique, as well as having happy hour! They also had a quirky, yet nice big outdoor area. 2 bummers- the bartender acted like we were the last people he wanted to see on earth, and they are cash only :(. There is an ATM, and I understand why some businesses do this, but it is always a very frustrating realization. I would go back if prompted, but probably not on my own. read more

See all

$6 Tecate and Tequila tooo good. The outside patio is so fun and "hoarder" coded but it reminds me of my grandmas backyard in a good way

Trying to get the bartender's attention is like seeing a major celebrity and trying to get them to go down on you. Either way, great place to meet people in the city and the city wides are still $5. What else could you ask for from a dive read more

It's exactly what you expect to get for what you pay for. Plastic body parts everywhere in their backyard area - literally, legs in the trees, arms in the bushes... Chill dive bar in this part of the city. $3 drinks can't be beat. read more

The El Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It's got cheap Beer~$5 and cocktails $6. Shots are about $7. It's just a bar. They for $2 hotdogs. Just standard ones you'd get from grocery store and bags of potato chips hanging in a package which is 50cents each that's 50% air anyways. It's that college graffiti hipster bar type of vibe. It's got Halloween and Christmas decorations up in middle of July. I find that funny. There's a pool table where people enjoy pool. The bar has random stools that don't all match. The music is a jukebox which you have to pay in to play the music you want. There's an ATM inside because ITS CASH ONLY. They also have a large patio that gets very very smokey. Fun hangout place but it gets SO darn packed. Place got no A/C indoors but a bunch of ceiling fans. Still had a fun time with my friends though. read more

See all

El Bar is a must dive bar in my book!! After a long day of shopping and mouthful of Pizza Brain. It was the perfect sunny, summer day for a patio! They have super cheap specials here... meaning beer shot of course. The tricky part is making it through the not so smooth backyard. There's cool art around and CATS!!! Yesssss... CATS! They are literally lounging and napping around the yard. They totally own the place. I felt like I was in my phone game, Neko Atsume (cat collector in Japanese). It made me happy to have a tall boy and chill with the felines. The regulars love the cats too. One guy was even telling that this one cat lovessss provolone. I also got a compliment on my favorite Verameat horror shirt from the bartender. I like it when people have such nice taste like myself!! He even had me write down the brand. I guess he likes horror films as much as I do! I will have to add that I might've been the only girl on a Friday afternoon for the first hour and a half. I guess I was distracted by furballs that I missed that piece of information. At least, this fact saved me from bathroom lines. Super fun bar to have a group of friends and chill in the back! Or just cool off from running around Fishtown! Fishtown has grown so much and there is so much to see, do, eat and buy! My wallet too a beating walking from Chinatown to Fishtown! El Bar in three words: Dive-Cats-Patio read more

See all

$3 citywide special (PBR and a shot of whiskey) - sign me up. If you don't like this dive, then you my friend, are a snob. Come for the cheap drinks, stay for the pool table and photohunt, read more

I game to town for a conference and asked for the dive-iest bar around, so my local friends took me to the El Bar. This place did not disappoint. Staff was fine. Drinks were cheap. We had a great time. read more

The El Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Cool dive bar vibes with a fun and friendly staff. Cheap drinks and good vibes! Good place to end the night/add to a bar hop. read more

The El Bar - Games - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The best dive bar I've been to in the city so far. Cash only with ATM inside. On a Saturday night, there was a small cover charge ($1-5 "donation" for the band). We really liked the atmosphere here. Lots of weird decorations, a pinball machine and a covered pool table. It was crowded but there was space to stand if you didn't want to be front row for the band. Drinks were inexpensive, and my friends ordered vodka/gin drinks and were told all drinks are doubles. Great place for a beer and a fun time with friends! read more

This bar just vibes what you'd image Fishtown would be like in a nutshell. Eccentric / eclectic patrons and decor with vintage posters and beer stickers lining the walls, Christmas lights and Skelton's hanging from the ceiling, this place is pretty chill. We sat in the back corner and used the packman machines a table for our cheap dogfish cans. I'd expect this would be a great bar to people watch at. read more

The El Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

If I could give this place a no star that's what it would have! Absolutely the worse experience of my life! The staff does not provide a safe environment for their paying customers! Extremely rude, and unnecessary cursing and hostile manner to their customers! They require some ppl to wear masks and others not to. It was boarder line discrimination! They have NO professionalism whatsoever. Security was the absolute epitome of the lack of good people! I would NEVER go back and spend any money here! It was devastatingly horrible, the audacity of the staff when taking care of their customers! I have never in my life experienced such disrespect from some one especially with no good reason. read more

seemed like a nice place to go but some of the ladies working their like to make nasty comments about the customers while they're still there.. now I understand what it's like to deal with customers from the service industry cause I dealt with it myself but I maintained professionalism and waited till I got home to express my feelings. read more

Definitely a dive. Drinks were fine, not a huge selection, but happy hour was alright. Wish there was more on draft. Bartender was friendly and I enjoyed the outdoor section. Overall a fine dive bar but not much more read more

El Bar is a cool dive with plenty of endless possibilities. I mean what other bar out there lets you pick up a happy meal that includes 2 hot dogs, a PBR pounder, and a toy for 5 bucks? The PBR and shot specials flow endlessly throughout this chill spot that lies under the El. But they also have a rotating Beer of the Month specials and a variety of drinks that go well above the average dive. But the best part of the El Bar is the eclectic offerings that you'll come across on any given night. Its small stage showcases plenty of random punk rock shows throughout the night. Foo Truck has started showing up on special nightly occasions giving you a chance to enjoy delicious yet healthy wraps and veggie offerings. With a table top Mrs. Pac Man, random arcade games, and ample -PINBALL ALERT- it provides some good drunken video game moments. And you'll find plenty of subtle perks like a decent happy hour, and a cool outdoor courtyard. So when it comes down to it, El Bar is clearly a dive that gives you more to love! read more

$3.50 for a whiskey shot and a PBR tallboy? Amazing. $1.50 for a hot dog? Amazing* My friend and I sat at a table with a PacMan game on it, drank our whiskey shots and PBRs, and people-watched the glorious hipsters. When we got drunk enough, we ate hot dogs. What more do you need in life? Notes: Cash only, and on Saturday there was a $3 cover cause they had live music. *When you're drunk read more

I came here last night for really no good reason but to revisit an old method and maybe meet some people. The bartender is kinda a dick. He was wearing this mullet wig and gave me a seedy vibe. I showed up with bags of donuts from dunkin because I casually enjoy sharing my excess baked goods with bar people, and the fucker totally snatched them and gave them out to the bar like they were his. What a moron. Anyhizzle, The bar is kinda cool, there's plenty to stare at and in the summer time you can even chill in their really cool back patio area. Good for all ages. read more

See all

This place is unpleasant. If you're not a 22 year old transplant with false lenses in your glasses, stay away. It's hipster central, and not in a good way. Every single time I go to the El Bar something bad happens, there's a fight, someone gets flagged for no reason, someone gets thrown out (again for no reason). The bartenders are abundantly rude. It's almost like they get joy out of it. The bathrooms are discussing. Their drink selection is poor and the regulars want nothing to do with you. Probably one of the most unfriendly bars in the city. My recommendation is that you don't go here. read more

So dirty. So hipster. The backyard is pretty cool. Drinks are cheap. Cool signs all over the place. Not for me though.

A hip little bar serving up cold beer and cheap liquor. A beer and a shot is like $3. Patron mix is young hipster crowd so you might get some good suggestions for the holes in the wall and the thrift stores in town. The artwork is really cool and unique and they have a pretty sizeable outdoor seating area which is particularly nice to have in a city. read more

Hot dogs at a bar? Chill vibes with talkative people when karaoke on a Monday night? Bathrooms open up onto a small dance area, so not great placement, but the people make up for it. read more

I was brought here by some friends, after having heard the name over and over in about a hundred different contexts. I am a believer in the church of the el bar. Good prices, great backyard, and a hilarious congregation of misfits that attend daily mass there. They do the citywide, and they have Shiner Ruby Redbird, which as a Texas girl, makes me a very happy girl. The el reminds me of some bars back home in Houston, and I mean that in a fond way. Some of the regulars come walking up and engage you in conversations and spin tales of comic book plots that involve you & your group of friends, and you can just gel off of the people around you to keep making up this alternate reality. Or you can look down in silence and wait for it to pass. But the people are what make this bar so much fun, so be open to having a wacky time and talking to strangers like you have known them for years. They do have events and karaoke, which I have never attended, but the el seems to be a great place to meet up and unwind after work with some friends. Do that. read more

This reminds me of the dive bar trifecta near my place in Chicago. Lots of hipsters all wearing blacks and grays, all drinking PBR, and all with wool knit beanies (in the winter, but probably in summer too) The El-Bar kitty in the corner was nice and passive. The piano was detuned and missing some ivory. There was one lone hot dog in the hot dog heating contraption that someone actually purchased (I didn't get to see if they lived or died) But the people there seemed nice enough. I was recognized by someone I did not recognize at all, even after they stated when and where they knew me from. It started to get uncomfortably crowded and intrusive so we left around midnight. I don't mind this place though. Perfectly divey, never douchey. read more

After dinner, my date looks me in the eye very seriously and asks if I like spontaneity. If I'm the type of girl who likes adventure, open to trying something new. Apprehensive but burningly curious, I respond with a quivering "Yes..." He tells me he knows a place I might like. The El Bar. Modeled after a subway car, with loose women dancing provocatively on the poles. Trying to keep up the carefree, down-with-everything front, I nervously laugh and assert that I've always wanted to see what those places are like but have been too shy (meanwhile I am texting 911 to my friends). Luckily for everyone, The El Bar is not a strip club. And that guy I went out with is a lying, deceitful wanker. It's a good atmosphere - pool table, pinball machine, good drinks, eye-pleasing bartenders. Bring your hipster friends. read more

The Kensington happy meal is the Best special ever: 2 hotdogs, a bag of chips, a pounder PBR, and a toy. $5. The El Bar also has a pool table, pinball, live music, TV, citywide special, crazy bartenders, pac man, lots of bike parking, an outdoor space, allows outside food and is dog friendly. That's quite a list of amenities. Now, as long as you're a hipster, which is the only requirement, ch-ch-check it out! read more

I was there several years ago. I saw a cockroach crawl onto my friends girlfriend's shoulder off of the wall. I never went back. Maybe it's changed since then but I don't suspect it has. read more

this is the bar I feel most at home. it's really like cheers, where everybody knows your name. Sometimes host to live music, everything from jazz to punk, el bar is a meeting place for all different people: locals, oldheads, hipsters, punks, etc. it's a small dark place but tables and chairs and two sides of the bar provide seating. it's not odd to see a cat or two stalking around, too (they're pretty friendly). $2 pbr tall boys, city specials, and other cheap deals abound here and the service is on point . expect to become friendly with the bartenders if you go often. pool table and jukebox for those interested ( I always find myself drunkingly playing madonna's borderline). read more

Went to the El Bar again for girls night out, I love this place!! Perfect 5 star dive bar. Drinks are excellent and the bar tenders are so quick and friendly l. Definitely try this place you won't be sorry. read more

The El Bar - Pickle juice and whiskey shots - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The El Bar is definitely my new favorite bar in Philly. There's really nothing bad I can say about the El Bar, everything about this place is pretty fantastic. First of all, its CHEAP. You might even call it dangerously cheap. $3.50 for the citywide special ( PBR Tallboy + shot of whiskey for those noobs out there). I also got $2 pickleback shots (shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice, again for the noobies). Dude, I can get drunk (not just buzzed, but DRUNK) here for $10. SWEET. Of course it's packed with hipsters, but hipsters are the best people to people watch, one of my fave activities. I've overheard conversations about telescopes and planets here, as well as been approached by a guy in a cowboy hat telling us about how he just did a sexy photoshoot of himself by himself. It's safe to say there are some characters that hang out here... One last thing, the backyard is AWESOME. Biggest backyard I've ever seen at a bar, period. I also think its a great idea to have trashbins to throw your empty PBR cans in (and yes, you will be drinking PBR when you hang here), it eliminates a lot of work for the awesome staff and keeps the backyard clean and can-free for the patrons. All and all, i LOVE the El Bar. Come here with a good attitude and a $10 bill and you will have a good time and leave feeling pretty damn good too. read more

On the first day I moved into my new place I encountered this place. I live right across the street from the El Bar so I naturally went in after hauling all my material possessions into my 'new' house. I was exhausted, a bit sad after moving away from MPLS, and I needed a drink. Upon entering, I immediately laughed and decided that Philly just offered me a wonderful treat. There might as well been a banner that said "Welcome Ildefonso." Here's why: The bar-tender. I believe his name is Mike. Either way--I can't get over how much of a caricature he is. I'm sure he knows this--he has to. It's just not fathomable. With beautiful black feathered hair that is combed back and intense black sunglasses that he sleeps in, and a voice that echoes rico suave, Michael could pose for any picture, anytime. In fact, there is already a movement happening in this direction: there is now a t-shirt where you can buy that has his picture on it. Michael is the Scott Seekin (for you MPLS folk out there, you know what I'm talking about) of Philly. With Mike alone, this bar went up to 5 stars. I've been coming into this bar everyday Sunday for this experience alone. Other great qualities to this bar: the patio is great, though can be a bit dirty. There's also live music on the weekends, and the people are generally interesting. Sadly I had to knock off one star though because of the lack of choices in the beer dimension. I don't think I'm really that much of a beer snob, but I really want more than just four or fives types of beers. Other than that, the El Bar is definitely a fun time, especially on the weekends. Or just come in for the city special on Sundays when Mike is working. He'll hand out free food to you as well. read more

I had an absolute blast here and didnt drop a lot of dough. Mind you it was a great birthday party, so I have no idea what the normal crowd is like. Why the four stars? Here's a snippet from one of my conversations... My friend: "It's so smoky in here I want to go outside for my cigarette." read more

Went to The El Bar on a Saturday night. It had a decent amount of people inside when I walked in, as was exhibited when trying to order a drink. It took some time, but at such cheap prices I'm willing to put up with a wait. The bartenders did seem hurried, but in watching them for a few moments they just kept shuffling around the bar to talk to people and not so much in the way of filling drink orders. Leaning in on the bar, money in hand I managed to yell my order into the back of a bartender's head as he was grabbing a drink in the refrigerator below the bar. It worked, and being the smart & courteous man that I am I grabbed 5 beers for me and my friends to save them the wait. Somewhat of a hipster haven, PBR pounders were aplenty and the words "citywide special" did not fall on deaf ears. The interior is okay if not a bit small, the pool table dominates one of the two rooms, split by a double-sided bar and a row of tables adorn the other side of the bar. There looked to be a small stage along the back of the room, but music was left up to the jukebox that particular night. I did see the aforementioned magic pizza but wasn't tempted to grab a slice. As the evening progressed I, standing in place, wondered how they could let so many people in such a small bar. It wasn't until I saw the sign hanging on the back door that read "Yard Sale" and a few people that walked through it that I realized the true appeal of this place: the yard. After going through the yard sale door and another door you are greeted by some interesting sights. Lights strung in the trees and along the fence encompass the outdoor area, and some tables and chairs are the first things you see. Continuing on there was a cast iron bathtub and what my friends and I dubbed the "bikeplane." While nothing more than 5 bikes affixed to one in front with a long table separating the two it served as a great ongoing joke. At around 1am they move everybody back inside and close the yard and a lot of people tend to leave. All in all a great experience and definitely going to be on my rounds next time I'm out drinking in the Northern Liberties area. read more

An update is in order. I haven't been here in a while. Memories of my final few visits include: - Being "shushed" out in the yard. Apparently there was some discord with the neighboring resident about noise. So you have to use your inside voice when you're outside...drinking...with friends...at a bar. This is not to say I condone being inconsiderate and obnoxious. I don't and we weren't. This effort to quiet us was oddly misdirected and overblown. - Almost falling into anaphylactic shock. I get it, it's cute having feline friends take up residence and roam about but some basic housekeeping is mandatory. Peace out El Bar, smell ya later.... read more

This place is okay. Everytime I come here, there is something odd as hell (a catering table in the back area that had spaghetti drunk people were amusingly trying to eat, two black labs chilling in the bar, a odd girl in yoga pants who was twirling and dancing on everyone until another girl poured a PBR on her head, a bartender with a shitty wig and glasses, a Rod Stewart-lookalike who dances to Duran Duran by himself by the jukebox...) so that makes it entertaining. One time there was a nice Foowich food truck there. I would never eat the food from the actual bar, though. It's a nice place to get sloppy. read more

I found my fav cider here! It really is a cool bar - i like their decor

The El Bar is one of those places that you would think is dangerous if you're new to Philly, but it is one of the best divey bars in Philly to me. The beers are cheap, and 90% of the people around you will be drinking Pabst tallboys. The bar on busy days can be swamped, with both sides being virtually impassable. But luckily there is an backyard with plenty of chairs and tables (which is now a lot less shabby than it once was). Since it's mostly dirt back there, its only good during stretches of decent weather. One regular days the crowd is generally hipsters with the occasional drunken regulars or pool sharks. Busier days see a lot more of what I call "the normals", the kids who used to normally be found at irish pubs in center city, that somehow found out about this place. The crowd swings back and forth between slow and busy almost arbitrarily and it no way coincides with what day of the week it is. All in all, I love the place. Its great for those times when you only have a few bucks but you would like the hang out somewhere. read more

Typical dive. Open mic is great, not sure if they still do it but I used to play on Wednesday nights. Diverse crowd. Good prices.

This is probably my favorite dive in the entire city of Philadelphia. I have never had a bad time here. Cheap drinks, interesting patrons. You'll meet an array of strange characters here, and they're always friendly. The backyard kind of looks like a junkyard, but it's a great place to plop down with friends on a beautiful day (and tie on a day load). El Bar, if I could pack you up and take you back to the suburbs with me, I would. read more