Underground Arts is such a cool live music venue. From the moment you arrive, it feels like you're stepping into something different -- it's literally down in a basement, and the walk in almost feels like part of the experience. The journey sets the tone, and once you're inside, the artistic expressions all over the space give it a gritty, creative, Philly vibe. Entry was smooth and well-organized. Drink prices were on the higher side (pretty much what you'd expect for a live music venue), but they do offer a light food menu, which was a nice bonus. Seating is limited, but it honestly didn't matter -- the space manages to feel intimate while still giving you room to move and breathe. We saw York Street Hustle perform an Amy Winehouse tribute, and they were phenomenal. The sound quality was strong, the energy was right, and the venue really amplified the performance. If you're looking for a unique, intimate spot to see live music in Philly, Underground Arts absolutely delivers. read more

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Great venue. Extra points for not being a Live Nation venue. Good sound and I love the two separate rooms. Even though it's considered a smaller venue you can still fit pretty many bodies in here. read more

I've been to Underground Arts multiple times now. Once for a live podcast, once for a concert. What I like about the venue: *Food. A lot of concert venues don't do food. Underground Arts does. One visit I had a vegan bialy from Kismet. *Parking. As an out of towner, parking is essential. The venue is right across from a parking lot which has had spaces available every time. *Sound. The sound in the venue is great. No issues with hearing from anywhere. What I don't like: *Pillars in the middle of the viewing area. The venue has combatted that by having TVs placed on them. Technically you can see from anywhere but I found it annoying that some of the concert I was watching on a TV screen. read more

I went to the Broadway Rave here and it was so much fun! The DJ was so entertaining, the music was great, the staff were very respectful and helpful, and the drinks were good! read more

This venue does the best it can for what it is but it is not my favorite. I went to a sold out show and it was packed. There are multiple pillars in this venue because it is underground. They do their best with screens but when I go to a show I really want to see the band. Also, because it is underground, the stage is a little low. This space is a lot better for dance parties. I have been here for a Taylor Swift dance party and had a great time. If you don't need to the see the stage, you'll have a great time. My only other complaint for this location is that it's not near anything else really. I wish the location was a little more accessible for me because I usually just drive. I can usually find street parking for free. read more

Underground Arts - a band performing on stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Saw the Vio-lence and Exhorder show here earlier this week and had a fantastic time. Friendly staff, cool atmosphere, drink prices that do not break my bank account. I will definitely see more shows here in the future. read more

Came for the Stranger Things dance party. Very different crowd than what I am used to, so we left pretty quickly. They had a polaroid booth so that was the highlight of the night, as well as some do-it-yourself body paint. Just a lot older crowd, and the music wasn't really putting me in the mood. The space was quite large and decently clean though. read more

Underground Arts - door - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Underground Arts is an awesome venue. They host an assortment of different events that cater to a wide assortment of people. I've been for an "Abba vs. Fleetwood Mac" night and a "SOUR Prom" put on my Riot Nerd featuring music by Olivia Rodrigo. When you arrive, your ID is checked outside. Then you head down the stairs and enter a door into an area with a coat check and ticket booth style window. The main area has a large stage and bar, with plenty of space for vendors to set up around the room. I've seen pop up photo booths and the like. There is a 'back' room, with a bar that offers food and drinks. There are tables set up throughout and often a projector that displays what's happening in the main room. It's a great place to stop by if you want a break from dancing your heart out on the dancefloor. The staff is very friendly and professional, the drinks are pretty fairly priced considered this is a music venue, and the decor is exactly what you expect for a venue called 'Underground Arts'. read more

I got to attend the Katy vs. Kesha dance party last night through Yelp Elite. This was my first time at UA and I loved it! The whole area is just a vibe. Cool art and black lights everywhere. The bathroom was so pretty and had great lighting. Lots of spots for pictures! The drinks were good and didn't break the bank. The food looked delicious! There wasn't too many people at this event but the dancing room had tons of space and lots of sitting areas. The rest of the venue also looked really cool. I will definitely be back next time they do something like this again! read more

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I ended up at a party here one Friday night with my wife and wanted to make sure I didn't get hungry from busting all my moves. The bar has a restaurant component called Joeys Table where I ordered the Bowie Ball Special: Chicken Gyro. My wife ordered the Hummus and Pita. We both found the chicken in the gyro to be rather salty unfortunately but I did enjoy the other flavors in the pita pocket. The hummus was fairly bland and actually kind of hard according to my partner. The food came out quick enough so we were satisfied in the department. Hopefully, the salty chicken was a one off and the rest of the part goers enjoyed their food orders. read more

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The reason they never replied to my repeated requests for info about ADA compliance is because this venue is not ADA compliant. If you can't climb down or up 2 flights of concrete stairs, you can't get in or out. There is no elevator and no back entrance. If a fire broke out, some folks would never make it out alive. I wish that bands I liked would play at venues that are handicap accessible. Underground Arts is not accessible and they don't care. read more

I'm a notorious concert goer! I have been known to attend 2-5 live shows/concerts a week! It's absolutely insane. How do I find the energy? I don't. But I manage to do it all and enjoy the ride while I'm at it. But when you go to as many shows as I do you get bored of the same old same old venues. Therefore I've been making the commute to Philly. Underground Arts is a definite intimate spot. But I guess that also depends on where you situate yourself for the show. I heard other people couldn't see. They were trapped in the back and the place was completely sold out. And filled up fast. Don't be killing time at some bar until your band is on. You won't get a good spot. I specifically travelled to see "X" on their 40th anniversary tour. This meant an older crowd with old punk rock roots. Tricky. The first band played and the crowd was already packing in tight at the front. I strongly dislike a row of tall, older men hogging up the view as women, shorter men with their sons stand on their toes behind them. Guh. I stood behind one guy but this overly nice guy let me switch spots for a better spot. I stood behind the man who had to sit in a stool the majority of the time. Time takes a toll on these bodies, that's for sure. It was the perfect view to see "John Doe"! When I go to shows, I like being in the thick of it. Side note: do not touch anyone you don't know other than the obvious "it's crowded and we happen to be touching" . Only the shoulder will be ok for direct contact. Stay far away from the back and especially the lower back. This is a moving from friends to dating move and NOT a "I just met you" move. Creep. Now that I've gotten that out of the way. The venue has cool painted walls and fun vintage lightning at the bar. The merch table was set up nicely in the back. And the bathrooms were decent for a venue. I will keep my eyes out for more shows. But I might have to wear spikier things to ward off the creeps. read more

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What a great experience! I saw The Ocean Blue again along with Riverside who were brilliant! The Ocean Blue has a new album out, so check it out! The venue was just perfect for small concerts because it's very intimate. There are some great prints on the walls and an impressive mural in the back area. The staff is amicable, and this is reflected in the customers who are also a friendly bunch. The venue is not massive, but it's not tiny either. There's a good-sized stage which is raised enough for anyone to see. I met some cool people here who even bought me drinks! Wow. This establishment is a great example to demonstrate how music brings people together. I hung out after the show so that I could get my merch signed by the bands -- great atmosphere for sure and a good acoustic. read more

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I have been to this venue a few times--usually attend the 'First Person Arts' series. The last time I was at this venue was for a performance called: 'Beyond Expectations'! This venue has a great stage and sound quality is usually on-point! The prices for the food and liquor is questionable, but while you are there--if you are hungry and thirsty-go with the flow! read more

Underground Arts - LGBTQ Performer - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This venue has such a great vibe. The customer service is strong with a family of coworkers that always look like they are having a fun time at work. They have vegan/vegetarian options for food and non-alcoholic drinks at the bar, and they/them bathrooms so everyone feels included and safe. The venue has only been open since 2012 and you can tell a lot of love has been going into the place. Give it time and this will be one of the few iconic independent music venues we have left in the city. read more

With concerts, theater productions, weekly comedy events, and then some happening under its wing; Underground Arts is quickly becoming an epicenter for all things performing arts in Philly. I first came across Underground Arts in another form when Brat Productions put on an epic theater version of Stephen King's Carrie a couple years back. Since then Brat Productions have moved the bulk of their productions over to RUBA Hall and the venue has modeled itself into a place that gives all kinds of artists a chance to put on their productions free of charge. And since then it has brought in everything from Peek a Boo Revue and Brooklyn Brewery's Philadelphia Sandwich Experiment, to plenty of album release parties and comedy shows every wednesday. When I went there for TJ Kong's Rock N' Roll Murdershow and G Love and Special Sauce's afterparty on All Hollow's Eve I was impressed with the size of the venue, the sound system, and clean bathrooms. Since that time it has completely revamped its speaker system and venue lighting, and when I returned for TJ Kong's Kongo de Mayo party over the weekend I was completely able to get behind the awesomeness that the new additions brought. The venue also has a chill cash bar that donates all its earnings towards furthering their artistic endeavors. The Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Underground-Arts/108590882538053) is updated a lot more frequently than the venues website. So be sure to scope it out so you can catch a glimpse of some of the eclectic array of shows that Underground Arts put on in the not too distant future. read more

The substance free atmosphere alongside the variety of shows and dances and the convenient parking as well as optional food makes each event safe and fun in Philly ! Have gone to the three Emo Nite events and definitely going back to the Underground Arts ! read more

I've always enjoyed going to concerts and actually one of my favorite things was to do back in the day was check out up and coming and random local bands in NY rock clubs. As I've gotten older though, I've gravitated away from those type places and towards seeing more established bands at large size venues. One day I was checking out some random site promoting upcoming Philly shows and I noticed Underground Arts. I've actually seen so many shows at generic arenas and amphitheaters, that I wasn't even sure places like this existed anymore. But yes, they do! The venue looked pretty cool and I loved some of the bands that were passing through (the Melvins, Soulfly, the English Beat, Kill Your Idols etc.) so I randomly decided to stop in one night to check out a show with 3 bands I never heard of. Upon entry I noted that the place was a gritty shithole with a good sound system, 3 couches, dim lighting and I absolutely loved it. Soft Kill was the headliner (can't remember the other 2 band names) and it was an excellent time. Kind of nice to see a band play in front of 50 people rather than 15000. Id definitely recommend this place to see a show if you like new music or lesser known acts. If your favorite band stops by here, it's probably the best venue to see them in. Very up close and personal. read more

The Underground Arts venue is perfectly named. It's a music venue, that's literally below ground level. Unlike other venues I usually frequent, it's super laid back. I can't speak to some of my normal venue criteria since I rolled up on the later side and didn't eat or drink. Not sure about bar selection or pricing, or where they make you wait before doors. I was there for a co-headliner, with my band performing last. There was almost like an exodus between sets and I somehow made it up to the stage. There was no rail and we were right up against the stage. The stage was low so it couldn't get much more intimate. Sound was fantastic. By the time the show ended (after 11:30- so later than usual curfew), it was raining. There was enough room upstairs near the door for everyone to wait for their Ubers/Lyfts. Artists I follow don't typically play Underground Arts, but after this experience, I'd hope more do. read more

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This is pretty much a response to the review that said Underground Arts isn't accessible. Because it is. I was there last night and use a mobility device. They have a wheelchair lift out front and also an accessible side entrance with an elevator. ADA seating is stage right, which was conveniently next a bar. I was also given access to an employee hallway that allowed for a direct path to and from the bathrooms and where I was seated. Brian specifically was a big help. read more

The venue was great besides the pilars. I know you can't change that, but that's why I'm only giving 4 stars! read more

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who doesn't LOVE an intimate venue?! staff was super friendly. bathrooms were a plenty and clean, albeit stalls super tiny. sound was great and there were lots of standing room and all three sides of the stage. hope to see many more shows here whenever i'm in philly. didn't try any of the food or drinks, so i can't speak on that but overall a great venue. read more

Hello, Not a yelper but a music fan went to go see surfbort tonight 11/3. Concert started off without a hitch openers were awesome. Bought a round for Bianca the piano and kick ass singer of pure adult. After that another band started mosh pit was bleak but got to the point where a girl wanted to get on my shoulders which I allowed we had fun...,, band stopped they were amazing got a beer.... Surfbort started went near the front of the crowd with my beer second song started wanted to get involved with the mosh pit was holding my beer... was in the center of the dance floor all of the sudden a man tackled me from left side started punching me I got him off me... was confused of what had happen..again surfbort is a punk band so if I did accidentally knock into him or his girlfriend In the general area where a mosh pit should be well.... Anyway this guy assaulted without warning and one of the bouncers came up to me and said I had to leave. I get outside the guy who assaulted me is outside and all of the bouncers who were outside had this guys back. Listen I want to say I have been to multiple shows fidlar, skegss, the chats, and acted as I did during those shows and had no problem...,so in conclusion if u want to get assaulted in a mosh pit and the bouncers take the side of the of the asshole who punched you just cause maybe you were dancing a little to cool this is the venue...also ps guy with the clear gauges nice gauges your so original ...moshers beware... also if this venue is so in support of mental health this experience has got me at the lowest I've been in awhile so thank underground arts just beat the shit of ppl in the pit.. read more

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will never return. the staff was disrespectful to my innocent friend - who was nothing but kind to them. My friend and sister were drugged here. bad vibes. read more

Last night,we went to see the great Robert Ellis play a show at the Underground Arts. Well named as we descended two flights of stairs down to the underground to come upon the box office which leads to two seperate stages in seperate showrooms. Our show was in the second room which I will call the LIVING ROOM SHOWROOM as the couches. tables and chairs set up in front of the stage reminded me of a living room. Of course, most living rooms don't have a bar in the back but work with me. The space is a mixture of hip/cool and divey - but that added to the experience. A skeleton handcuffed in a chair, hanging lulau lights, painted walls - it all helped create the ambiance. I loved the fact we could sit down and watch the show. I am too old to endure standing on hard concrete floors like so many of the other live music venues in town. We loved the music the soundboard played as we waited - obscure John Lee Hooker, Beatle, Band of Horses tracks to name just a few. The sound in the room was great. The bathrooms are not well identified and I did have a woman walk into the mens room while I was using the urinal but hey, she likes Robert Ellis so its all good, although I avoided eye contact with her as she sat two rows in front of us. It was a great show. There is a parking lot right across the street. It cost me $15 to park there. read more

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We heard Typhoon play 30-Apr, it was a brilliant concert in an outstanding venue! We Love Underground Arts!

A great little venue for a night of dancing and fun. Not crowded when I was there on a Friday Night 10-12. Went to see a cover band there with some friends and had a pretty good time. The music was loud and hard to hear but it was so much that I could not hear myself think, which some small venues can be like that. Unfortunately there's nothing about the venue that stands out either. And I like said there was not very big crowd even on a Friday night. So based on my one experience it was nothing special. Will have to check them out again another night for a different event. Maybe they are more lively for something else. read more

Underground Arts is such a cool venue. We were here for Brat Productions' Departure & Eternal Glamnation double feature and they had different spaces that worked great for both shows. Departure had a pretty traditional set up with rows of seats on bleachers. Eternal Glamnation took place in a large cavernous space that had chairs in rows, comfy couches, tables, and a bar where you could get drinks. This was the perfect set up for a cabaret. Performers could sit at the bar, walk amongst the audience and sing and dance right near us, which made the whole show more intimate and dynamic. Really cool set up. read more

Definitely a Venue I love the fact that Underground Arts is, unapologetically, a venue. It reminds of the Old Grape Street Pub (before it moved the first time), only it's much bigger. They have a few good beers...which is enough to be honest. The food list is equally concise, but everything they offer is very satisfying. Seemingly, they are trying to do some great things for the Artistic community also. I've been there twice to see world music performances; I'm happy to see they offer a stage for less mainstream Artists. There's so much good Art in the city that never gets a platform, so kudos to Underground Arts for trying not to pander. One of the shows was preceded by 'comedy'...this was not so good. A gent with no shirt, calling himself 'Necro-boy' or something, accosted the audience for the longest ten minutes I can remember. Avoid the comedy the same way you avoid the plague. I can give a tip of the hat to everything else they offer though. read more

Wish I didn't buy tickets to the event cause nobody was checking. Rave was ok. Kinda whole rave scene is getting boring though regardless of where you go. Bathrooms where not too clean and coat check was not operating even though it was freezing outside. Drinks as usual overpriced. Only thing I liked was that its spacious. You have plenty of room to dance. I guess this place is better than nothing. Philly lacks dance venues like that. read more

Underground Arts - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Wow punk rock times ten . The steps so hardcore just an amazing decent into chaos's realm of discontent. Felt like In the 80's stomping into the hell holes of early New York .great feel and security so cool . Staff amazing read more

Went there to see Grunge-A-Palozza, a the 90s grunge rock band event with several cover bands, including a NIrvana cover band that looks and sounds the part. All the bands did a nice job, and this is just the type of venue you'd want to see something like that. Stripped down, standing room only, and too loud to hear yourself think. If you're going to see a show like this, you'll want to see it here. read more

If you're like myself and enjoy changing the pace of your musical outlets every now and then, then this is definitely a place you should check out in Philly. It has a serious hipster vibe and is rather lowkey from the outside, which I feel all adds to the atmosphere that is set once you get in. The people you'd meet here are more often than not pretty chill people which makes for a nice outing while listening to some cool music. There are always shows going on here with the bill filling up with Indie/Alternative artists. I love coming here and feeling intimately close with the artists who I listen to regularly on spotify/iTunes. I can't even begin to describe how cool it is. The main stage room is pretty bare bones with a bar area that serves standard food items like fries and small apps that I've never gotten. There is another smaller lounge area that serves drinks and has nice chairs and couches for you to sit and chat in a more intimate area while chazzing it up on a date or friends. It's a nice getaway from the main music area for sure when you want to sit and chill out with a drink. And best yet is this place has tons of PBRs...gotta love it! read more

Underground Arts - Watching Tennis perform live. - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I've been here a couple times -- for Fred V & Grafix, Andy C , and Space Jesus , Dieselboy. Space Jesus was my most recent visit -- and the sound quality was on point. Also, given that it's a decently small venue I thought it was awesome they still put visuals up for Space Jeezy . That set was on point btw. I love that it's 21+, love it. I like the people that go here. So far I haven't had a bad experience. Most of the people that frequent here are true music lovers, and that makes it all the better ( unlike Soundgarden..) The security dude is always friendly -- looks through your purse quickly and respectfully and stamps you in. Coat check is sometimes $2, sometimes it's check it yourself at your own risk for free ( not sure of what distinguishes it.. per show/tickets sold? ) Tickets are sometimes cheaper at box office than online. Example: Space J was $19.36 online due to fees, but only $15 at the door. Win! (Although if you bought wayyy early I think they were 12+ fees = 15 anyway). I like dat Bars are decently priced $7 city wide (PBR + house whiskey_) and $4 PBR pounders. Street parking has never been an issue for me. Also, Prohibition Taproom down the block is clutch for good IPAs and other drafts for a pre-game! read more

I may have liked this venue better if they didn't make the show an all-ages affair. I came here to see my favorite band. They were in town playing their self-titled record from start to finish in honor of its 10-year anniversary. I've seen them many, many times over the years, but never on my own and never at this venue, so I wasn't sure what to expect. As it turned out, I was pretty invisible the whole night. Upon arrival, I stood in the line out front thinking I was supposed to show my ticket there. When it was my turn, a couple cut in front of me and the attendant didn't say a word. Turns out, he was just a bag-checker. I'm not sure what items wouldn't be allowed in since I didn't have much in my bag. Once you walk in, head down to the basement and make a left toward the venue entrance. Coat check is to the right. At that point, I showed my ticket, asked what the stamp on my hand was for, did not receive a response from the stone-faced man, and walked in. The opener was playing, so I went up to the bar to ask for a drink. Turns out -- I assume because it was an all-ages event -- that bar was only serving food and non-alcoholic drinks. I was pointed to a room separate from the main venue. As the grumpy bouncer checked my ID, I asked if we were allowed to enter the main area with drinks. He said no. I then looked in and realized the bar area was pretty mobbed, as expected. I was 15 when the self-titled album came out, and I'm pretty sure a big part of the crowd also grew up with the band. ...Making most of over 21 now. Eep. As I neared the bar, a couple cut in front of me without a care. I made a "really???" face and another couple said, "You were here first, go in front of us." So nice! Thank you again, nice people, if you read this! Grabbed a Flying Fish (decent selection) and tried to find a spot to awkwardly stand. Seconds later, a guy walked directly into my drink, spilled it all over my hand and cardigan, half-looked, and kept walking without an apology. Have I mentioned yet how much I loved being invisible? Once finished what was left in my plastic cup, I walked out to the main area in time to see the second opener. While standing in my spot, a big dude casually put his hands on my shoulders and physically moved me so he could stand next to his friend. Cool! And suddenly I had a view of a flyers hat and a pillar. [I guess I wasn't invisible the whoooole time, if he saw me standing there and thought it was okay to physically move me out his way...] Later, by some miracle, or maybe just my invisible powers, people moved and I was able to get front row for my favorites. Granted, there was a huge pillar holding the place up half in my way, but aside from that, it was a prime view. The sound was overall pretty good, though it got screwed up a bit when drunk crowd surfers knocked into the equipment. The crew did a great job of fixing issues quickly, though. Overall - the ambiance of this place was pretty cool, but I'd only return for a 21+ show and with a group. Power in numbers. read more

First time going was this past weekend for the Dance Yourself Clean event. I really loved the venue - the whole place is actually underground! It's known as a concert venue, and they've got an impressive line-up of shows by indie artists. There are two rooms, one huge open area w/ the stage and the bar, the other smaller and filled w/ couches and tables on which to sit - perfect for rocking your heart out and then taking a small rest. Dance Yourself Clean was more of a clubbing/dancing event than a concert, so I was a bit curious at how the venue would affect the vibe. However, it worked out perfectly because the DJ was able to take over the stage and the spacious area provided plenty of room for dancing. The smaller seating area in the separate room was perfect for a clubbing setting, and there were lots of people who chose to chill on the couches and talk/drink while enjoying the music. The music itself was awesome - they played enough well-known songs to appeal to a larger audience, but also lesser-known music by more obscure bands which really appealed to my boyfriend, who is very into indie music. Overall, great experience - I'd love to come back again either to another dancing event or to see a live band! read more

Underground Arts - Best event! - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I came here to see clean bandit, price was around 20 bucks including fees so it's not bad at all. No lines either. I love the scene, very chill. There were PBR 20oz (I think it was 20oz, it was bigger than the regular beer size) for $7. It wasn't too crowded so I could get to the front easily. Sound system is good. There's also couches in the back if you want to sit and you can still be super close to the stage. I'll def be back if more bands I like play there! read more

Had some serious fun here. Great service at the bar - love the option to just leave a 20% tip if you don't close your tab - brilliant really. No issues with security or any kind of shakedown entering the venue. Clean restrooms. We were up against the stage so it's kind of hard to judge the overall sound from that position. Fun crowd. Not too rowdy, not too boring. Definitely would go here again. The GA scene here - we arrived 2 hours before doors, and were 5th in line. There were probably 30 people in line when doors opened. There is room for maybe 10-15 people on the rail. No seating options, but leaning options abound, and the space is small. If i were short, i would not want to be at the back of the place. Stage is low. I think the place was about 3/4 full for the show we saw. Would like to explore the history of this place a bit - apparently at some point it was used for S&M videos?? They have some artifacts around the place. BTW - all hail the mighty Mark Lanegan! read more

Total dump. Actually so disappointed. No soap in the bathrooms, place was trashed, no trash cans to be found, crowded, overpriced drinks, 5 beers on tap... complete hipster dive. Only redeeming quality was the idea of it. Other than this place is awful read more

Went here last night for a show. Show was great, the only female bartender was NOT. Talk about miserable. Friend couldn't find her card for a moment (bc we were drunk, hello, we were at a bar) & this lady starts to pull the drinks back, like we're not poor, our motor processes were a bit slowed down. And if anyone should know what that's like it should be a BARTENDER, well a decent one at least. As displease as I was, i asked for her name so I could mention her in this review and she started acting like Hellen Keller, couldn't hear. So, I took a picture of the receipt, and no surprise her server name is 'Bar 4.' Well nameless bartender, or 'Bar 4', you need a change in career or a Zoloft. Would've given this place 5 stars but on top of it she made drinks strong enough for a 2 year old. read more