The Dolphin Tavern on South Broad is the former Navy Yard go-go bar turned dance room in Philadelphia, with rotating DJs, $1 well drinks at the 22:00 happy hour.
Tip: Friday Danceteria mixes Hall and Oates into house; Saturday Club Congress runs disco heavy. Open 21:00 to 02:00, Wednesday through Saturday only.
Address: 1539 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Franky Bradley's on Chancellor Street is the Midtown Village bar, dance club and music venue in Philadelphia, with the FB Main Bar downstairs and the Cove upstairs.
Tip: Downstairs is the dining room and cocktail bar; head upstairs to the Cove for late-night dance bookings and drag-led variety nights.
Voyeur on Saint James Street is the Gayborhood after-hours club in Philadelphia, with three dance floors across 20,000 square feet and 03:20 close every weekend.
Tip: Doors 23:00 Friday and Saturday, midnight Thursday. The after-hours licence stretches past 03:00, so this is the latest dance floor in Center City.
Union Transfer on Spring Garden in Philadelphia is the 1,200-capacity former Spring Garden train station turned indie rock room from the R5 Productions team.
Tip: Doors usually 19:00 with show at 20:00. The balcony has the cleaner sight line; the floor pit fills fast on touring weekends.
Johnny Brenda's on Frankford and Girard in Philadelphia pairs a 200-capacity upstairs music room with a downstairs gastropub that helped define modern Fishtown.
Tip: Open 11:00 to 02:00 daily, kitchen until 01:00. Buy show tickets early; the upstairs balcony rail is the spot.
The Fillmore Philadelphia on East Allen in Fishtown is the 2,500-capacity Live Nation room inside the old Ajax Metal factory, with a separate Foundry stage upstairs.
Tip: Doors typically 19:00; the GA floor has the rail, the mezzanine has the seats. The Foundry runs smaller shows on the same nights.
World Cafe Live on Walnut Street in Philadelphia is the nonprofit independent music venue near 30th Street Station, with the 600-cap Music Hall and an upstairs Lounge.
Tip: The Lounge upstairs runs the intimate 200-cap listening sets; the downstairs Music Hall is the full-band room. Tuesday through Saturday open from 10:00.