Sweet 45 ★ 4.4
$Kensington / Olde Kensington{'monday': '15:00-21:00', 'tuesday': '15:00-21:00', 'wednesday': '15:00-21:00', 'thursday': '16:00-23:00', 'friday': '16:00-23:00', 'saturday': '16:00-23:00', 'sunday': '15:00-21:00'}
Sweet 45 under the El in Kensington is DJ Nash's ice cream parlor and listening room in Philadelphia, vinyl by day, after-dark parties with local DJs Thursday to Saturday.
Tip: Alcohol-free; open daily from 16:00, Sunday through Wednesday from 15:00. Thursday through Saturday parties run to 23:00.
The International Bar ★ 4.3
$$Kensington / Olde Kensington{'monday': '17:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '17:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '17:00-02:00', 'thursday': '17:00-02:00', 'friday': '17:00-02:00', 'saturday': '17:00-02:00', 'sunday': '17:00-02:00'}
The International on North Front in Kensington is the Johnny Brenda's team's vinyl-forward bar in Philadelphia, with DJs spinning records from a back alcove on weekends.
Tip: Weekend DJs spin from the booth alcove; weeknights are the calmer drink crowd. Cash and card both fine; walk-in only.
Dirty Frank's ★ 4.4
$Center City{'monday': '16:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '13:00-02:00', 'thursday': '13:00-02:00', 'friday': '13:00-02:00', 'saturday': '13:00-02:00', 'sunday': '13:00-02:00'}
Dirty Frank's at 13th and Pine in Philadelphia is the cash-only horseshoe-bar dive since 1933, a thicket of signs, the Customer Hall of Fame and the cheapest pour in Center City.
Tip: Cash only, opens 13:00 Wednesday through Saturday, 16:00 Monday and Tuesday. Bar raised the minimum age to 25 in 2024.
Tattooed Mom ★ 4.5
$South Street{'monday': '16:00-23:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-23:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-23:00', 'thursday': '16:00-23:00', 'friday': '12:00-02:00', 'saturday': '12:00-02:00', 'sunday': '12:00-23:00'}
Tattooed Mom on South Street in Philadelphia is the two-floor dive, sticker-walled bar and vegan-friendly kitchen since 1997, with the city's only graffiti gallery upstairs.
Tip: Open until 02:00 Friday and Saturday, 23:00 weeknights. Upstairs has the pool table and the bumper cars converted to booths.
Bob & Barbara's Lounge ★ 4.5
$Graduate Hospital / Point Breeze{'monday': '15:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '15:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '15:00-02:00', 'thursday': '15:00-02:00', 'friday': '15:00-02:00', 'saturday': '13:00-02:00', 'sunday': '13:00-02:00'}
Bob & Barbara's on South Street West in Philadelphia is the long-running Pabst-and-shot lounge with Thursday drag and a Friday jazz set, plus a wall of Pabst Blue Ribbon signs.
Tip: Citywide special, a shot of Jim Beam and a Pabst for around $4, runs every hour. Thursday drag, Friday jazz, Saturday DJs.
Oscar's Tavern ★ 4.3
$Center City{'monday': '11:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '11:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '11:00-02:00', 'thursday': '11:00-02:00', 'friday': '11:00-02:00', 'saturday': '11:00-02:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
Oscar's Tavern on Sansom Street in Philadelphia is the cash-only Center City dive, with a long bar of regulars, a sturdy cheeseburger and a 90 percent whiskey Manhattan.
Tip: Cash only, Monday through Saturday 11:00 to 02:00. Order the Manhattan, sit at the bar, do not ask for a menu twice.