New go to spot! Bam, took me just shy under three months to find my bar and my tribe. Cheap beers, you can smoke cigarettes in this place if that's your thing (I feel being able to smoke in a bar just brings me back in time and usually weeds out the millenial snobs). I came here just after they open around 7:30pm on a Friday night and there was a handful of people here mostly bartenders working in the city come to drink here as its just great prices and a friendly atmosphere. They also have a jukebox and a pool table. I can never fathom coming back to places like Buffalo Billard's where its an arm and a leg to play pool by the hour and you have to give them a credit card so you are charged by the minute. I will choose Top's any day of the week with my handful of quarters for the pool table and some cash as this is a cash only establishment. There is a quote written on the bathroom, "Mother... I'm crushing cherries to shake the earth again...". I tried deciphering this poet's words and then remembered a lesson I learned from a Twin Peaks meet and greet from one of the stars, Sherilyn Fenn, "Understanding is overrated" was one of her life lessons and I whole heartly agree stop overthinking it and come out to Top's if you enjoy drinking beers on the cheap and an unpretenious atmosphere. read more

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Tops has a lot of potential, especially because it is the only divey type place that I can think of in the area. A bar with a few types of beer, a few types of liquor, and some pool tables. You can smoke inside. You don't have to look at the typical center city crowd. The city is absolutely littered with this type of place, just not in that particular area. For that reason, I can't imagine traveling to go to Tops, but it is a good option if you live/work in the neighborhood and are looking for that type of atmosphere. All that said, the bartender Ruthie is just one of the worst human beings I have ever met. She is an old nasty lady, loudly complaining and eye rolling if you breathe the wrong way, let alone ask her for a drink (even though she is THE BARTENDER). Apparently some people are a fan of this attitude - don't be fooled, this is not a gimmick, she is just an asshole. Try somewhere else for a crappy atmosphere with less old lady attitude. read more

The cheapest place in the city for shots aside from buying yourself a bottle of Banker's and going to town. I'd been once a few years ago and remember not even putting a dent in my wallet getting silly. I suggested some friends and I head there last night before heading down to McGlinchy's. We made it up the steps, reveled in the cozy, non-deafening room and camped out until they closed at 1:30. They allow smoking if you're into that, they have a pool table, a huge TV that was playing the Olympics, and really some of the cheapest drinks around. We got 4 tequila shots for $11.40. Say what?! Yep. Awesome. Definitely a place for what Imma call "locals." Not somewhere you'll find chicks in mini tube dresses and 4" high heels when it's 20 degrees out in February or dudes crushing cans on their heads. It's a very chill little dive bar. The elderly female bartender last night seemed like she wanted to kill herself for some reason (just clearly a very miserable lady), but Top's is tops. read more

Hands-down my favorite bar in Philadelphia. Granted, they allow smoking so you have to be prepared for that. But after you get past the yellow air you find the cheapest drinks in town. This is a surly place for sure - service is not with a smile and the place is not clean, but they aren't going for a hospitality award, they are serving booze. And that, my friends, they do very well. I think the first time I went here I ordered four shots and two beers (for our group) and paid less than $13. Another thing I love is that you can order two beers and the price will be $3.64...what?! I love it... They have a pool table, a jukebox, and a big screen television for your entertainment as well. It's a little hard to find (above McGlinchy's) which makes it even better in my world - its never been crowded in all my visits. This is Philly at its finest. read more

Dive bar with cheap beer and pool table above another dive bar! What could be better? I like the crowd here, and dig that you can get a beer for $2 or $3. And it's SO CLOSE TO MY OFFICE. Center City on the cheap, yo. Also, you can't beat the awesome bartender who helped me decide on which amazingly inexpensive (but tasty) beer to choose from. And just as a bonus, I won my first ever game of pool here. Just so you know, it's now a Philadelphia landmark. Boom. read more

The bartender is incredibly rude. We finished our one game of pool and went back to McGlinchys, where there's cheap beer and nice bartenders. Seriously if you don't like bartending then quit, you don't have the right to take out your poor life decisions on unsuspecting paying customers. read more

drinks are cheap - the only reason this isn't a one star review. the bartender was incredibly condescending and rude. some examples: asked him for a few well vodka drinks and he stared blankly at me (apparently there was a paper taped the register saying they were out of well vodka) okay no biggie. then my friend started feeling sick so she and i went into the bathroom just in case. not sure how long we were in there but couldn't have been more than 10 minutes before the bartender tries opening the door (which i was holding shut because it didn't lock) afterwards he kept interrogating us "why were you holding the door shut? what were you doing in there" just not the type of person who should be in a place that serves alcohol read more

Walked upstairs to check it out and immediately the old woman bartender told us that , "she wasn't in the f*ckin mood" and when we started looking at the liquor choices she asked if "we knew what we f*ckin wanted"..... with the second f-bomb in under 5 minutes we determined that this was a horrible and bitter old woman and that we didn't want to give hwr any of our money....never going bavk read more

Don't go here. The doorman was immediately aggressive hostile towards my Indian girlfriend. Niether of us had our IDs out, he looked past me and at her, and told her in an aggressive tone to have hers ready. After he looked at it, he turned her away saying she was "too drunk." Neither of us were drunk, and when we told him this he made it clear that we were not going to be let in no matter how sober we might be. No problem with me, a white guy, but she was not getting in there. "There are plenty of other bars." We went to the manager to complain and he was exactly as bad. It was infuriating, made my girlfriend cry, and cast a pall over the rest of the weekend. We later asked a longtime resident of philadelphia who said this place has a reputation of being racist. I don't think this reputation is widely known enough. It probably doesn't need saying, but this kind of policy is backwards and awful and has no place in the modern world. Please do not give this place your business. read more

I watched the last game of the World Series (part two) at this place, where the beers are cheap, but the selection is extremely limited and it's downright dirty. I saw the bartender take a pint glass off the bar, dump out the contents, refill it with another beer, and serve it to another customer. I'm not even kidding. It was smoky in there, too, which I wasn't a huge fan of. I guess since it doesn't serve food, people can still smoke cigarettes. Either way, this place was pretty disgusting, and I doubt I'll come here again. If you decide to go to this place, get bottled beer only! read more

The bartender Dan who works here is the best dude in the entire world. No one better than him. Amazing place for great conversations and pool. Please don't bring in smelly cigars and don't come in when you're in line at howl at the moon. Seriously beers are 2 dollars and change so don't leave the change as your tip, AT LEAST tip a full bill. read more

cheap, low-key, and a pool table for my pal to rock out on. no complaints, here.

Upon ascending the weathered yet proud staircase, you are immediately greeted by the charming and scrupulous maitre'd Jay, who will give you a certain nod that seems to convey the message: "Welcome. It is cold outside. Let me take your jacket sir, and seat you at our best table this evening." Ask for Doug when seated, and he will pour over the wine list with you at length, hand-selecting the finest liquor or special drink catered to your unique taste. Or perhaps take a seat at their bar in the lounge while waiting for the rest of your party to arrive. The bartender, Ruthie, watches all patrons with a sharply discerning eye. Her engagement with you should be taken as a personal commentary on your civility and if you pass muster, she will regale you with witty banter and awe you with her knowledge, from handcrafted beers to medical oddities. While their bathroom is lacking in attendants, you will certainly revel in their edgy and controversial art gallery included therein. When you return to your seat afterwards, start a conversation about the motifs of urban renewal, gentrification, and gender roles in modern society that the bathroom artwork displayed. Perhaps play a game of billiards against the many and varied local players. It is a time-honored hobby and magnificent form of entertainment not be blinked at. If unskilled, simply engaging as a bystander will enthrall you. If you choose to challenge the hardened veterans, beware, for they are masters at their craft, but are still gracious and humble in every victory. I have been privileged to enjoy the brilliance and reserved luxury of Top's on many an occasion, and will continue to do so as long as I have but two dollars and sixty cents in my pocket and a guarded sense of self-worth in my soul. read more