Tavern on Camac on the narrow Camac Street block in Philadelphia's Gayborhood holds a tavern, a piano bar with live entertainment nightly and the Ascend club on top.
Tip: Piano bar runs nightly 16:00 to 02:00; Ascend club upstairs is 21:00 to 02:00 Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday for showtunes.
Address: 243 South Camac Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
The Bike Stop on Quince Street is the Philadelphia leather and bear bar since 1982, four floors of themed nights tucked on a quiet alley off Walnut in the Gayborhood.
Tip: Underwear night Wednesday; the Pit basement runs the late-night cruise. Dress codes vary by floor and night.
Knock on South 12th in Philadelphia's Gayborhood pairs a New American restaurant with a busy bar, hosting drag karaoke Wednesday and piano nights Friday through Sunday.
Tip: Dinner crowd gives way to the nightlife crowd after 22:00. The Philly Pride Visitor Center occupies the former private dining room.
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.
The Bike Stop on Quince Street is the Philadelphia leather and bear bar since 1982, four floors of themed nights tucked on a quiet alley off Walnut in the Gayborhood.
Tip: Underwear night Wednesday; the Pit basement runs the late-night cruise. Dress codes vary by floor and night.
Knock on South 12th in Philadelphia's Gayborhood pairs a New American restaurant with a busy bar, hosting drag karaoke Wednesday and piano nights Friday through Sunday.
Tip: Dinner crowd gives way to the nightlife crowd after 22:00. The Philly Pride Visitor Center occupies the former private dining room.
Solar Myth on South Broad in Philadelphia is the vinyl listening bar, natural-wine cafe and small-stage music room curated by Ars Nova Workshop, in the old Boot and Saddle.
Tip: Open 08:00 to 02:00 daily; coffee by day, cocktails and live music at night. Walk in for the bar; ticketed for Ars Nova shows.
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 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 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.