Bar Reviews

Last updated Dec 2003

 Most of these reviews aren't very negative because I picked out a lot of bars I liked.

Philly Bars

The Barn in Bensalem-  Although I've been here only a few times in the last year, it is the only bar I've ever been kicked out of.  I didn't do anything bad, somebody tapped their beer bottle on top of mine which caused mine to overflow, a few of my friends saw it and we laughed about it, and the bouncer saw it, but he didn't find it funny and kicked us out of the bar.  Despite that one incident, it's still a bar I enjoy visiting.  This is also the first bar I ever went to in the Philly area.  I heard rumors it may be closing down, and now I hear it's going to be an all dance club.

Brownies 23 East - Kind of like the only college bar that I go to in the Philly area.  Always seems to be a lot of college students there from Villanova and other near by colleges.  A lot of Penn State bands that I saw back at school play there often.

Bootleggers - This is a so so place down in Woodlyn PA, down 476.  I was here once in the spring of 02 and late summer of 2003.  This place always has bands on the weekends and it was very crowded both times I went there.  Not the best bar I've been too but it's a pretty decent place to see bands. It's right in the middle of a shopping center so parking isn't a problem, and it's about a 1/4 mile off of the 476 exit so it's very easy to get to.

Chemistry - Probably my favorite place in the manayunk part of Philly.  Although from the outside it doesn't look that big it is actually a little bigger then I though it would be and it has a nice outdoor area.  I went here a lot more last year, and haven't been here since Sep 02 but as the weather gets warmer I hope to make a trip here sometime soon.  Actually pretty decent priced for a club when compared to clubs in the city, on sat no cover till 11 and $5 cover after that.  

Chickie's N Pete's - I went to this place for the first time ever recently(I went to the NE Philly location, Chicke's N Pete's has a few locations in the philly area).  Had a very nice outdoor deck with plasma TV's.  I always hear about this place before major Philly sporting events, but it was less of a sports bar then I thought it would be, but it was still a pretty cool place.  Very easy to get to as well as it's right off Roosevelt Boulevard in NE Philly.  Lots of people of all ages hanging out so it was a very mixed crowd.

Envy - I've been to this place only once but I would definitely go again.  It's a cool dance club right in the heart of old city.  Has a lower level dance floor that plays a lot of rap/top 40 music and a middle level  which plays more techno music.  There is a 3rd level where you can talk and hang out and still view the 2nd level dance floor.  This place was a lot bigger on the inside then I though it would be.  

Flatspins - This NE Philly bar is right next to an airport which makes it kind of cool cause you can see planes take off at night..  This place is very large has a big outdoor area where bands play, has a fairly large dance floor inside.  Both times I was here the place was really packed with a lot of girls here, which is always a plus.  My only problem is the place had a $10 cover on the weekends.  Place is good but don't know if it's worth a $10 cover charge.  Tiki Bob's is as good if not better and only has a $5 cover.

Finnigans Wake - I used to go to this place a lot when I first moved into the Philly area.  I don't go here as often now, but when I go I usually have a good time.  This three level bar usually has good bands, and always seems to be pretty packed no matter the time of year or what the weather is outside.  I went here once I think in Feb 01 when Philly had 5 inches of snow from a snowstorm which started around 10pm, and this place was still packed throughout the night.

Great American Pub in Conshohocken -  One of my favorite bars.  I go here probably almost once a month.  Always seem to have a good time here.  Only a couple miles from my apartment which is a reason why I'm here often.  

Paradigm -  I've only been to this bar twice but I liked what I saw.  Very nice.  Usually has hot female bartenders who smile at me, which I like :-).  

Rock Bottom - This King of Prussia bar/restaurant is an occasional Thursday night destination for me and some of my friends(for some people I know it's almost a weekly event).  Hard to believe any brewery would have all their beers for $1, but that's what rock bottom has every thursday night.  My favorite is the munich gold, but I generally like all of them. (I generally like all beer, I would have a Natural Ice if that was the only thing on tap.)  Plus this place is right in the mall so you can walk around and do some shopping as you're waiting to meet up with your friends. Also the food court is next to it, so you can munch on some soft tacos from taco bell to lessen your buzz after a few drinks.

Steppies -  This is probably the least known, and the most plain bar on this list. This Norristown/Blue Bell area bar is really the only sports bar near me.   It's a part of Facenda Whitacker bowling alley.  A small bar with only about 10 or so tables, good place to get some food and beer and watch a sporting event.  Have beer and food specials every night of the week so this place won't leave to big of a mark on your wallet. Also a good place to get some brews as you wait for your bowling lane to open up.

Tiki Bob's - I was pretty impressed with this place.  I waited over 20 minutes in line in cold weather to get into this place and I was not disappointed when I got inside.  Hot girls dancing on bars, dj playing good dance music.  They had these huge $5 Tiki nut drinks..  I don't think I had one complaint about this place, other then that sometimes line is fairly long outside the place, and if the weather is cold that's not a good thing.   Definitely be back here again, been here already 3 times in 2003 and that # will probably go up.  Overall I think this may be my one of my favorite bars in the city.

Who's on 3rd - This bar near south street is always a fun time.  Only bar I've ever been to that has given me free shots.  Bar and staff always friendly.  When this bar is doing slow business on a weekend night, the bartenders treat you like a god.  Has a nice dance floor and the dj always plays a wide variety of songs.

More to come.....

State College bars - I can write a lot about these since I've been to all of them many times.

Crowbar -  I've seen many bands here, and this place used to have $2 MGD pitchers on Thursday night back when I was in school.  Always very loud, and very crowded.  Hard place to have a conversation, but good place to hang out, dance, and listen to bands.

Darkhorse - This is a place I seem to frequent as much after I graduated from PSU as I did when I went her.  This place is always packed which is kind of bad cause in terms of square footage it is probably one of the smallest of the downtown bars.  The hallway to the bathroom is very narrow and you are always bumping into people. However it is usually a fun time here with pretty good bands playing and if you get there early enough to get a table then you don't feel as cramped in the place.

Lion's Den - Another place to brings back a lot of good memories.  I always had a lot of fun at this bar. This place was a little inconsistent. One night it was packed and kicking and another night it would look deserted.  Had a small dance floor but that floor could still get pretty packed.  Had a nice outdoor area that had tarp over it and was heated during cold weather.  I would have to say overall that this was one of my top 2 or 3 bars up at PSU.

Players - Not always a favorite bar of some of my friends, but I generally have a good time there. I've only been here once in the last year, but this is a place I visited a decent amount back in the day.  

Rathskellar - Another place I went to a lot when I was in college and still go there sometimes.  Although not really a physically appealing place (it's kind of dungeon like partially since its about 10 feet below street level), it often has good bands, a lot of good pitcher specials, and I generally have a fun time here.

Shandygaff -  This bar in Calder Alley was probably one of the last bars I checked out after turning 21, just be cause I didn't think it would be that great.  But after going here once I came back many times.  Especially during the summer of 2000, I was here almost every week.  Has a small dance floor, but always played good music, and had $5 rum n coke pitchers.  Hard to beat that.  Don't think I've been here in over a year, but hopefully I'll make a stop at the Gaff sometime in 2003.

SportsCafe - This is probably the bar I've been to more then any other bar in my life. I've been 21 for  4 full years now and I think I've been to this place somewhere between 50-75 times. When I was at school always a good place to meet friends after class. Good place to watch a weeknight sporting event. Good place to start out a night of fun.  I watched Penn State beat Nebraska in Sept 2002 here, and it was probably one of the best sporting event experiences I have had at a sports bar.

More to come...

Pittsburgh Bars

I don't go to Pittsburgh often but when I do I usually have a great time (partially due to cool people that I know who live in the Pittsburgh area)

The Matrix - Only bar in the 'Burg' that I remember it's name.  Went here in May of this year.  A really large dance club with 4 different rooms.  Really liked the place.  Probably physically bigger then any club I've been to in Philly.  Must have been close to 500 people here if not more.  I would definitely come back here again.

Atlantic City Bars

Club Tru - I went to this place when I stayed overnight in AC in early January.  Didn't seem to be too busy the night I went but I can see this place being pretty crazy during a busier night.  Have a dance floor at 2 different levels, have a lot of mirrors on each dance floor so you can watch yourself shake your booty if you want.  Also stay open till 6am which is pretty cool, although when we were here we only stayed till about 2:30.

I'm really looking forward to checking out Casbah which I hear a lot of good stuff about.  So next time I go to AC I hope to go there.