43 Best Dive Bars in Philadelphia

“Seriously, finding seats on a rainy Tuesday was no problem at all, which was awesome. We ended up getting a whole booth to ourselves! The drinks were good, and everyone was super friendly. It felt really welcoming, kind of like a neighborhood hang.“

“Excellent local spot. Dennis is a great host and I've had a great time every time I've been.“

“Great place Thanks for having us“

“Great people!! Thanks so much Doug for taking care of us and letting us order in amazing cheese steaks you recommended! We will definitely be back my new/old-school nostalgic favorite stop any time I'm out in Philly! Great to meet some new phriends and phamily! Rock on🤘👍❤️💯💥“

“Good people and fun place to enjoy a couple beers, bartenders treat everyone like family.“

“Been coming here for years and it’s always been a good time. Great drinks, great bartenders and the vibes are always on point.“

“Bartender Bobby is great!!“

“Probably the best and only $4 sandwich I’ve ever had. The menu feels like you’re taking a step back in time with the prices. It’s a dive, don’t expect gourmet. Service is great, food is great, and we will be coming back for a drink next time we are in the area.“

“This is the best good thing that you could ever spend your time on! The atmosphere, the bartenders ( T.C especially) and the talent! The talent that strolls through here are not just talented but they are amazingly talented.. especially if you make a Wednesday night Open Mic hosted by the great Kelvin! And don’t miss Badass Barry on the Harmonica and a blues back acoustic guitar binge.. and then the dapper T.C slips into a double talent as a no joke musician also!
The place is so welcoming and so alive that you’d really miss out if you came to Philly South and didn’t check this Gem out ! I promise 🎵~M“

“That's the spot that I at least go to once a month, I feel my friends meet up there. There's a special for every day of the week you got taco Tuesdays wings Wednesday specials for drinks Thursdays
The food is good and so is the vibe“

“stop by curious of good burgers !! found GREAT burgers and FANTASTIC people! now Wolf Burger is my reg. Friday stop @ 👍🏻😋❤️“

“I love this place and the owner! I've been coming here for decades. I'll be here Superbowl Sunday.“

“Great spot!! Full of history…cheap still and old school“

“Didn't know if they had a kitchen or not they were open on Sunday and usually being open on Sunday you have to have food, I'm not sure if that's the case anymore. Bartender was friendly the bar itself was well lit seat for somewhat comfortable. Clean clean bar clean floor clean bathrooms well bathroom the men's room was clean. On the smaller side but comfortable. Will definitely try the food next time if they have a kitchen that's open. More to come definitely a place worth visiting again“

“Best roast beef sandwich 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙“

“Great little dive bar ..great open mic on Wednesday and three live acts on Thursday with a happy hour on Friday which also has live music .. I am a musician and played there Thursday and had the pleasure of meeting the owner ..What a great dude!! Music is such a huge part of the Philly dive bar scene and it seems to be dying but thank god for places like JRs that car about tradition and costumer service ..I mean this guy really loves his patrons he knew them all by name the bartender is the sweetest girl you’d ever want to meet so nice and a great bartender ..this place is the epitome of a great dive bar with great music and atmosphere..I guess ya gotta be doin something right to be in buisness for over 40 years … thoroughly enjoy myself every time I’m in there weather I’m playing or just there supporting another musician.Gary runs the music a great musician in his own right and is always looking to give a fellow musician a shot at JRs if your a musician and looking for a gig or a good open mic that is a great place to start or if you just wanna get a drink and feel like you are where you belong then this is your stop for sure“

“Nice atmosphere, good bartender.“

“I'd say I've been coming here for just over 20 years now. I enjoy the people and the atmosphere here. It is a beer and shot bar, the bartenders are friendly and attentive, the food especially the homemade soups are great. You can always meet up with friends or make new ones and have a good time, nice shuffle board, shuffle bowl, and slot chance games here great selection of music on the jukebox. Drinks are affordable and the place has been here over 50 years.“

“Total hidden gem. I’m a sucker for a good dive bar, and this place completely nails the vibe. It is so warm and cozy inside, and it was clearly a neighborhood favorite packed with regulars who know the drill. The bartenders are right on top of things—attentive without being overbearing—and the drinks are just classic, no-nonsense pours. It's the kind of spot you can easily lose track of time in, and I will definitely be back.“

“Great local spot. My husband and I used to come here when we lived in Philadelphia. Came back for a visit after being gone 10 years. Elaine gave us updates on friends and neighbors from our old street. She’s incredibly knowledgeable about the neighborhood’s history. You can get a quality lager for $4. Cash only.“

“Als Touristen sind wir ohne große Erwartungen ins Dirty Frank's. Wir wurden im Prinzip am ersten Tag schon als Stammgäste angesehen. Ab dem zweiten Tag, fühlten wir uns auch so. Absolut super Service, sehr nette Menschen im der Bar. Coole Jukebox, günstige Getränke. Sollte es uns jemals wieder nach Philly verschlagen, wird Dirty Frank's Bar das Erste sein, was wir besuchen werden.“

“A neighbourhood go-to. Great food and drink in a comfortable setting.“

“This place is so cool, it was a unique experience. Kelly was our bartender, she was so friendly and cool. If you are in town, definitely swing by this place, drinks are cheap, and conversation is priceless. I would give it more stars if possible.“

“First time here earlier today. The bar was good, but I did not get a chance to try the food. Hope to do that eventually.“

“Best gay bar in south philly.“

“Depending on how packed and who's tending bar, the wait time for a drink varies- gotta be patient. The frozen "Henny" (lmmfao) colda--.. that's not Henny.. that's whiskey, trust me, I have my certification. Long story. But TuuuuMmmmm... Other than that- it's definitely a great place to go and have a blast. The Brazilian fiery haired bartender is a must see. She's cool ? Great place to chill out and play pool, if it's not crowded. Highly recommend“

“By far one of the best local corner bars in all Philly. I have been going here on and off for over 20 years and never once had a bad time. They give nice size shots at great prices. If you want the type of place where you can relax and feel like one of the family this is the spot you you.“

“clean and good atmosphere“

“I’d like to thank The Fire for a great show last night (2/15/25). The staff were super friendly, and Bob the sound guy did an amazing job! All the bands sounded fantastic!“

“I visited El Patio Cafe Restaurant for the first time. I ordered the chocolate milkshakes with whipped cream and cherries for me and my daughter. It was so light and airy, affordably priced for the container size. The environment is warm and inviting with a small seating area to accommodate ten people, in case you are waiting on your order to be completed. Speaking of orders, the menu displays a variety of multicultural foods and they are affordable for the budget-conscious eater. Overall, I highly recommend El Patio Cafe Restaurant as my go-to neighborhood eatery for good eats and sweet treats. If you are reading this review and you are not local to the South Philadelphia area, I suggest you check them out with a friend.“

“I want to apologize to the owner & staff of Whispers Inn. A scorned sister got to my phone & put derogatory comments regarding this establishment that were far from the truth! Whispers is a spot where one can enjoy themselves & have great conversation or just get a nice drink. No uppity folks! Just plan everyday good people......Come through“

“always a great time, and it's nice to walk in and everybody knows your name, and those who don't are your friends by the end of the night“

“Family own business with a deep and loving history of the name!!!! She will be home soon!!!!“

“Fun vibe… Good place to hear live music“

“You must come and check it out yourself 😺“

“It is a nice bar where the staff and the customers are very friendly.The drinks are good as well.“

“Nice friendly place great atmosphere“

“Great food, great drinks, easy-going atmosphere. Perfect spot for dinner before a show.“

“grumpy's is a great fun filled place to go for a good time . this place has been around forever and they welcome everyone and anyone !!!“

“Good atmosphere for people of all walks of life. Every month they host at line dance afrobeats night and I had a good time!

Outside: vibe for the smokers or pp who just wanna enjoy the night

Inside: Bar, ethnic foods and a space for dancing and conversation.“