4. Restaurants

The El Bar

1356 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA, 19122
  • (215) 634-6430
  • Store is closed

The El Bar Menu

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  • Melanie D.

    The El Bar is hang to some of the most diverse neighborhood folk. The prices are great, the bartenders uber cool, the outdoor patio the place for lively conversation, and they offer ramen - what more could you want?

    (4)

  • menace m.

    Huge yard and fun times. Pool table is great and everything is cheap.

    (5)

  • noelle m.

    There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said about El Bar. It's at the top of my list for favorite dive bars in my neighborhood. It's the perfect place to hang out, have a drink (3.50 citywide FTW!), pet some kitties, go out back for a smoke, chill, play some pool, hang with hipsters, lather, rinse, repeat. An example of the awesomeness that is El Bar. I got some devastating news last week, so I called my friend and made her come out drinking with me. At 11 am. Yes, this is how the story starts. So, we sit and drink; slow and steady. Chat with the bartender, go out for a smoke, realize that we're starving. Mike the bartender busts out the big book of menus, orders us Mexican and so we just hung out, sat at the bar eating burritos, drinking Jack and snacking on tres leches cake. It was a beautiful moment and for that I will always love the El Bar. Also, every time I'm there, I end up having awesomely funny conversations with strangers. I like that in a bar. Very friendly clientele. Plus, there are cute cats that hang out there. I mean that both in the feline sense and the adorable hipster sense. Yay.

    (5)

  • Alexandra T.

    Close to me, cheapsest Citywide Special I've seen anywhere, two cats, two hot dog and PBR happy meal, and a backyard. Can you ask for anything more? I certianly can't. Yes, the atmosphere is hipstery, but most people are friendly, or at the very least, not afraid to talk to you. I think 90% of the times I've gone to El Bar, I've ended up having a conversation with someone I didn't know going in. It usually adds to my adlready great experience. I've had a hipster couple suggestively ask how old I was, a man in a cowboy hat tell me about his self-starring photo shoot, and had some ask me, "Wanna play Dirty Harry?". Luckily, I quickly realized it was just the pinball machine. With a $3.50 City-Wide special, you can get yourself drunk with barely a dent in your wallet.

    (5)

  • Renee M.

    The El Bar is definitely my new favorite bar in Philly. There's really nothing bad I can say about the El Bar, everything about this place is pretty fantastic. First of all, its CHEAP. You might even call it dangerously cheap. $3.50 for the citywide special ( PBR Tallboy + shot of whiskey for those noobs out there). I also got $2 pickleback shots (shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice, again for the noobies). Dude, I can get drunk (not just buzzed, but DRUNK) here for $10. SWEET. Of course it's packed with hipsters, but hipsters are the best people to people watch, one of my fave activities. I've overheard conversations about telescopes and planets here, as well as been approached by a guy in a cowboy hat telling us about how he just did a sexy photoshoot of himself by himself. It's safe to say there are some characters that hang out here... One last thing, the backyard is AWESOME. Biggest backyard I've ever seen at a bar, period. I also think its a great idea to have trashbins to throw your empty PBR cans in (and yes, you will be drinking PBR when you hang here), it eliminates a lot of work for the awesome staff and keeps the backyard clean and can-free for the patrons. All and all, i LOVE the El Bar. Come here with a good attitude and a $10 bill and you will have a good time and leave feeling pretty damn good too.

    (5)

  • Kelly P.

    smells more than just a bit like pee and body odor. if that doesn't bother you, it's a fairly enjoyable dive.

    (2)

  • B P.

    Cheap, fun, pool table, what more do you want from it or from this review? It's a great dive, you dingus.

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    I like places with cheap beer. I like places with back patios. I sat in this here back patio on a nippy February eve, talking to some people from someplace far away. I wonder how they ended up at El Bar, because I would go sprinting for the nearest Philadelphia border if I were a tourist in this area. But I'm not, so my super street smarts kick in and I don't care about that. It's actually not too bad around here. Whenever I end up here, that was not the original plan; we were probably in Old City and then realized "oh! I hate everyone within a four block radius of this place!" and head on over to El Bar/Kung Fu Necktie/if I'm being adventurous, Atlantis. The pool table area is kind of cramped so you do sometimes get a cue somewhere in between the 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae while sitting on the barstools. For the record: There are a lot of good bars in Old City, just not on a Saturday night. Nosiree, not for me.

    (4)

  • Amanda C.

    One of my favorite dive-y bars in fishtown which is chock full of chill neighborhood places. The El Bar gets points for having cheap strong drinks, and good deals on booze. Also the El Bar has shows which vary from punk to rockabilly to hip-hop. Honestly this is one of the handful of bars in East Kensington/Fishtown that welcomes "outsiders"(read non-white or gay or too bougie). Come here to relax and have drinks with friends. Beware the back yard in the summer time-lots of mosquitos!

    (4)

  • Rich G.

    3.50 city wide....actually it may be even cheaper than that. The place is great. I wouldn't really call it a dive because of the cooler-than-you clientele. Its not as dirty as a dive should be. This is not a bad thing. I seriously do not come here often enough. There are very hot women that hang out here if you are into that waist high short-pants deal. The huge back yard is well.......huge. You can smoke and drink out there. You can catch some OK bands play here once in a while too. I recommend everyone to check it out sometime. There is usually always a higher end lunch truck parked right outside too.

    (4)

  • Adam R.

    Whenever here I feel as though I am the least hip individual in the spot. This isn't neccessarily a bad thing. Granted I kinda sorta enjoy walking in the door clean shaven, rocking a button up shirt just to see what type of reactions I get from the the bearded, tattooed, leather jacket wearing hipper than hip hipsters. It's a great dive bar spot. If you want cheap beer, a philly special, or just take a load off, the El bar is for you. The employees are always helpful, and they hold it down really well. Christi and Jess are always on point, killing it! When the weather is nice the backyard is a great hidden spot to sit on old beat up lawn chairs/furniture and drink your high life or pbr. If your with a group of people, grab a table, smoke as many hand rolled cigarettes as you need to fulfill your nicotine fix, and then stumble back inside and spend few dollars on a beer and a hot dog. Hell if your feeling crazy, get a "happy meal!" There is almost always a wait for the pool table, if your bored and looking to shoot some pool (even mid-day) jump on your bike, pedal over and you'll be able to find someone who will play!

    (4)

  • John V.

    coming from Tinicum I am a dive bar expert. This place was great. Good looking women, good music and good beer for a very reasonable price. the food menu was a who's who of things little kids can cook themselves. from hot dogs to oodles and noodles. I'm not a fan of the hipsters but somebody needs to drink the PBR! the cats are nice and the back is good to have, don't travel solo lol

    (4)

  • Abigail L.

    I mean, whatever, it's a dive bar. I've seen bands play here, I've had a PBR here, I tried to order a mixed drink here, on several occasions, I don't recommend that. I ordered a grey goose and tonic, and while it may have been the cheapest I've ever encountered it was served in a pint glass with seltzer instead of tonic. I figured maybe the guy was just unfamiliar with the soda gun and let him know the second time that it was seltzer the first time and I wanted tonic, still got seltzer. I also got a doublshot for a single so I just sucked it up, literally. They sell ramen for $1 and some chips or snacks or something too. Cool back area too.

    (3)

  • Gandhus M.

    Wow....just wow! After slugging pint after pint elsewhere and failing to achieve a satisfactory buzz, I moseyed on over here on Saturday night. I'll take my PBR sixteen ounces at a time, thank you very much. Heaven Hill sucks, but it gets 'er done. The crowd was awesome. The crew is awesome. The dungeon-like bathroom reminiscent of "The Silence of the Lambs" is awesome. The little hangout nook just beyond the bathrooms is awesome. The mix of music playing on the jukebox was awesome. They have a yard I didn't check out which I am sure is awesome. The dynamics of Philly's dive bars is a very interesting thing. Take a place with a comparable dive and grime quotient (D&GQâ„¢), like Mako's for instance: Mako's location attracts doucher-types & tourists. El Bar attracts none of that. El Bar's location comes with a potential for _real_ danger. Mako's is labeled as 'dangerous' by know-nothings or the high & mighty. Both can be maligned for the very thing which gives them their appeal. You could write a doctoral thesis about this shit. The special is the cheapest around. I can't remember the last time I encountered a friendlier crowd. Before I knew it, I was closing the place. Don't take my danger comment the wrong way. It shouldn't dissuade the street-wise or Philly-savvy from going there. Let's just not be naive, okay? I've taken quite a shine to this place and will definitely be back. Wow, just wow.....

    (4)

  • Peter D.

    Not a classy place at all, but absolutely a place to get hammered quickly and cheaply. Most importantly, it's conveniently located under the El on Front and Master. I totally respect that the special is $3.50 and they definitely make most of their profits on that but definitely would not be my first option to go out, especially not for drinks. If you're in the area, and can't find anywhere else to go, then this isn't the worst place. There's a pool table, jukebox, and plenty of space, but there are certainly cooler bars for better experiences.

    (3)

  • Brandon D.

    The El Bar is one of those places that you would think is dangerous if you're new to Philly, but it is one of the best divey bars in Philly to me. The beers are cheap, and 90% of the people around you will be drinking Pabst tallboys. The bar on busy days can be swamped, with both sides being virtually impassable. But luckily there is an backyard with plenty of chairs and tables (which is now a lot less shabby than it once was). Since it's mostly dirt back there, its only good during stretches of decent weather. One regular days the crowd is generally hipsters with the occasional drunken regulars or pool sharks. Busier days see a lot more of what I call "the normals", the kids who used to normally be found at irish pubs in center city, that somehow found out about this place. The crowd swings back and forth between slow and busy almost arbitrarily and it no way coincides with what day of the week it is. All in all, I love the place. Its great for those times when you only have a few bucks but you would like the hang out somewhere.

    (5)

  • Lilli C.

    I love El Bar. It's a non-pretentious 'hippster-ish' place, void of douche-bags with cheap drinks and a great vibe. The people there are usually locals and pretty friendly. There are always a decent number of people at the place, but never too crowded nor empty. It's a great sort of low-key place to hang out, play some pinball, pool, or to just throw back a few cheap beers.

    (4)

  • Daniel T.

    Looking to get sauced on the cheap? Head to the El Bar. Wanna go out to pre-game with little cash? Head to the El Bar. It's not quite 2am yet, you're still coherent and you want to reach the equivalent of yodeling off a cliff a la Price is Right? El Bar. Hell, you can grab take out lunch some place else and start the day right off at the El Bar since they're open mornings. Even the bathrooms now smell exponentially better than a year ago; this bar is tops for advancing cirrhosis.

    (4)

  • Three R.

    It is a kewl place. The bar tenders talk to you - the hipsters culture has not infected the bar in a negative way. People actually smile. I guess everyone is so drunk that they are nice. I like picking up my six pack for $10.50. This is a must go to hang out.

    (5)

  • Victoria L.

    The drink prices here are good. The environment is relaxed but pretty crowded on the weekends. I love the backyard, but they closed it at some point in the night and told everyone to go back inside. Lame.

    (3)

  • Jo B.

    Relaxed, trendy atmosphere with cheap drinks and good vibes. Good music, too! Love the outdoor area.

    (4)

  • Margaret M.

    I go here sporadically, depending on how much money I have and which friends I'm meeting. It's a great place to go to hang out in the back... It feels just like someone's backyard, except there's more seating. Cheap beer, good times. One question -- is that a wig or what? also, does that guy need to act so burdened when i ask him for a Kenzinger (which is the only beer they have on tap)?

    (4)

  • Jack H.

    It's a nice bar with a good atmosphere, friendly service with a smile, and its not to expensive, good place to go if you live close by and want to get out of the house for a while, I wouldn't go out of my way to drink here, just a good neighborhood bar that's not to hipster infested, big back yard if you like to drink out side on a nice night

    (4)

  • Ñćk K.

    Its a dive,and it's great,good bartender,good peoples of diversity.it's gottta pool table,old school video games pinball, juke box,and cheap drinks.Also good beer.no complaints.

    (5)

  • Jessica E.

    Divey (in a good way) and cheap. When I first started going there it was almost always pretty empty and now especially on the weekends there are tons of people there. Sometimes it is kind of difficult to get a drink because in my experience there are only 1-2 bartenders working at a time and about three zillion people trying to get a PBR. They have good shows here pretty regularly also, and they have a nice chill backyard area. Nice place to finish off a night.

    (4)

  • Sir T.

    One of the two best bars in Philadelphia. Two cats, a reasonable citywide, and hot dogs. Perfect.

    (5)

  • Chris F.

    Went to The El Bar on a Saturday night. It had a decent amount of people inside when I walked in, as was exhibited when trying to order a drink. It took some time, but at such cheap prices I'm willing to put up with a wait. The bartenders did seem hurried, but in watching them for a few moments they just kept shuffling around the bar to talk to people and not so much in the way of filling drink orders. Leaning in on the bar, money in hand I managed to yell my order into the back of a bartender's head as he was grabbing a drink in the refrigerator below the bar. It worked, and being the smart & courteous man that I am I grabbed 5 beers for me and my friends to save them the wait. Somewhat of a hipster haven, PBR pounders were aplenty and the words "citywide special" did not fall on deaf ears. The interior is okay if not a bit small, the pool table dominates one of the two rooms, split by a double-sided bar and a row of tables adorn the other side of the bar. There looked to be a small stage along the back of the room, but music was left up to the jukebox that particular night. I did see the aforementioned magic pizza but wasn't tempted to grab a slice. As the evening progressed I, standing in place, wondered how they could let so many people in such a small bar. It wasn't until I saw the sign hanging on the back door that read "Yard Sale" and a few people that walked through it that I realized the true appeal of this place: the yard. After going through the yard sale door and another door you are greeted by some interesting sights. Lights strung in the trees and along the fence encompass the outdoor area, and some tables and chairs are the first things you see. Continuing on there was a cast iron bathtub and what my friends and I dubbed the "bikeplane." While nothing more than 5 bikes affixed to one in front with a long table separating the two it served as a great ongoing joke. At around 1am they move everybody back inside and close the yard and a lot of people tend to leave. All in all a great experience and definitely going to be on my rounds next time I'm out drinking in the Northern Liberties area.

    (3)

  • Onias D.

    Is it appropriate to live and work and play in Fishtown/Kensington and not just really like El Bar? Is it not unconscionable to patronize the neighborhood establishments who run the gambit from trying so hard for posterity yet failing so much as put on aires to full on corporate mousetrap while turning up ones nose at an establishment which has clearly implemented a dive bar algorithm and executed practically without flaw? I think it heresy for any one who touts the culture of functional alcoholism relieved of politics for a politics of indifference, deficient in violence both physical and economic, and enlivened by the most proprietous anesthetic that cause of and cure to all of life's problems -- Cheap Booze -- to propagate the sin of self-induced delusions that El Bar does not approach the pinnacle of simplified, modern-dingy, dank, hole-in-the-wall aesthetic and streamlined the practice of drinking within in. So keeping in line with its "less than perfect perfect" spirit, four out of five stars is the most suitable rating..

    (4)

  • Nicole D.

    Perfectly divey, never douchey.

    (5)

  • Chip C.

    There is nothing to not like about the El Bar. Super low-key (except weekends, but still kinda low-key) Drink prices are FANTASTIC, 3.50 for a Pabst pounder and a shot of Heaven Hill Whiskey. Sure beats the hell out of going to the Barbary where all your lame friends want to go. I usually go with the Kenzinger (the only beer on tap, and that's more than OK with me) for 3 bucks. Best dive bar in Fishtown.

    (5)

  • Vanessa G.

    Went early on a Weds night (8 or so). First noticed the bartender was a ZZ Top animatron--sprayed wig buffont, long black beard, dark shades, few on words. Drinks were cheap--the citywide special here is upgraded to a PBR tallboy. Good people watching, pinball. I plan on going back.

    (4)

  • Marissa B.

    Had a particularly good time coming to see my friend's band play (The Blessed Mothas) along with 2 other stellar acts (Sex Slaves and Loafass). The yard is pretty chill and full of characters, for sure. Must admit my first impression walking in ,though, was "Look at these f___ing hipsters."

    (4)

  • Caitlin V.

    this is the bar I feel most at home. it's really like cheers, where everybody knows your name. Sometimes host to live music, everything from jazz to punk, el bar is a meeting place for all different people: locals, oldheads, hipsters, punks, etc. it's a small dark place but tables and chairs and two sides of the bar provide seating. it's not odd to see a cat or two stalking around, too (they're pretty friendly). $2 pbr tall boys, city specials, and other cheap deals abound here and the service is on point . expect to become friendly with the bartenders if you go often. pool table and jukebox for those interested ( I always find myself drunkingly playing madonna's borderline).

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    Cheap booze, good atmosphere, huge backyard. El bar is legit.

    (5)

  • Jackie D.

    Went here last night. I liked the outdoor area, I like when bars have that option. Even though I have had a knack for more making more "hipster" friends, I didn't LOVE the hipster scene- too much smoking! Barf! I did like that there was a jukebox. Oh! And I like that drinks are cheap as shit. Yeah! Good job guys.

    (3)

  • Alexandra W.

    Every reason you love the El Bar is every reason you hate the El Bar.

    (5)

  • Shawna A.

    I felt like I would have blended in a bit more if I had multiple tattoos or piercings, but anyway. The drinks were stiff, the mixed ones being average in price (something in the 7-range). The bartender was super sweet and friendly. The bathrooms are made to look like somebody snorted coke and graffiti-ed all over the place, but I suspect that this design is a deterrent for actual graffiti--and the sink and toilet were VERY clean, at least around 11 pm it was. Oh, and the non-ladies bathroom had a sign that indicated something to the effect of being open to anyone whose gender identity wasn't either or. The music wasn't my favorite, but there was only a donation of whatever you want to give for entry. And some part of the band (lead singer?) claimed that they were having their wedding reception there, so the entertainment factor with all the speeches and throwing of flowers, placing of the garter belt, etc was pretty amazing and by then, the urge to get a facial piercing or tramp stamp totally subsided.

    (5)

  • Joshua H.

    Awesome outdoor area, friendly staff and decent crowd. Not usually over crowded like Brenda's or other hipster hot-spots, and a good mix of hipsters and townies that leads to a great night. 3 dollar city wides (shot of heaven hill and PRB pounders)

    (5)

  • Kristyn F.

    I used to call this place home when I lived half a block away. The best time to come is early in the afternoon when it's nice and quite so you get the oppertunity to play pool for a few hours (unlike at night where you'll be lucky if your turn even comes up). Spacious back yard with plenty of seating. Strung up twinkle lights. And the El Bar Cats. My only complaint is this place's growing popularity and how crowded it gets in the evenings/at night. (which is good for the business itself, but not if you want to relax and have easy access to ordering a drink).

    (4)

  • Kristine D.

    What a dump. Went here for a rock show, and was told by the bar "mom" to "lower your voices...we have an elderly neighbor". TWICE. I am legally of age to drink, and felt like I was underage at a house party in high school. Being told to lower your voice at a rock show is pathetic. Also, this bar is located UNDER THE EL. I am pretty sure the EL is louder than bar patrons. I was also very sober while here, so this was even more insulting. Bathrooms were absolutely nauseating. The port-o-potty outside smelled better and was cleaner than the inside bathroom. The bands were awesome, though.

    (1)

  • Cameron S.

    The El Bar is an awesome place. Based off of how I dress, one could assume I would not "fit in" here. However, that is never how I felt. I loved the outdoor patio. I loved inside. i loved the pool table. I ALWAYS had fun. And it is cheap. Oh yeah and the beef jerky is pretty delicious. Nothing to complain about, just go. Especially outside when it's nice.

    (5)

  • Megan M.

    Typical dive. Open mic is great, not sure if they still do it but I used to play on Wednesday nights. Diverse crowd. Good prices.

    (3)

  • Lindsay V.

    We wandered in here after a long day of drinking with the intent of drinking some more. To be honest, I have no idea how we got here or what streets we walked down. All I remember is that I thought it had a fantastic name. The bartender was super nice and promptly served M and me our Kensington specials (two hot dogs, bag of chips and a PBR pounder). It was awesome. I am not hard to please. I also want to go back.

    (5)

  • Hannah L.

    I was brought here by some friends, after having heard the name over and over in about a hundred different contexts. I am a believer in the church of the el bar. Good prices, great backyard, and a hilarious congregation of misfits that attend daily mass there. They do the citywide, and they have Shiner Ruby Redbird, which as a Texas girl, makes me a very happy girl. The el reminds me of some bars back home in Houston, and I mean that in a fond way. Some of the regulars come walking up and engage you in conversations and spin tales of comic book plots that involve you & your group of friends, and you can just gel off of the people around you to keep making up this alternate reality. Or you can look down in silence and wait for it to pass. But the people are what make this bar so much fun, so be open to having a wacky time and talking to strangers like you have known them for years. They do have events and karaoke, which I have never attended, but the el seems to be a great place to meet up and unwind after work with some friends. Do that.

    (5)

  • Hans H.

    You have your favorite bars then you have a place that really feels like home. I love dive bars and have been to them all over the country. This one passes with flying colors. The juke box is pretty awesome the bartenders kick butt and the staff and patrons are often very interesting. Not every one is going to like you there but it's not a popularity contest just drink...I've gotten sloshed quite a few times here and had some interesting conversations and it's a great place to unwind and dissappear from the world for a few hours. Definitely a place for lost souls and creatures of the night.

    (4)

  • Krystle V.

    This place is okay. Everytime I come here, there is something odd as hell (a catering table in the back area that had spaghetti drunk people were amusingly trying to eat, two black labs chilling in the bar, a odd girl in yoga pants who was twirling and dancing on everyone until another girl poured a PBR on her head, a bartender with a shitty wig and glasses, a Rod Stewart-lookalike who dances to Duran Duran by himself by the jukebox...) so that makes it entertaining. One time there was a nice Foowich food truck there. I would never eat the food from the actual bar, though. The citywide special here is extra great because they give you a pounder of PBR, but the bourbon or whatever that shit is they serve on the side is the WORST. It's a nice place to get sloppy. Pinball machine is pretty nice. Decent outdoor smoking area, pool table...it's just okay.

    (3)

  • Matt M.

    Great times. If you play a song on the ol' jukebox, pay 3 credits to play next. Or you will NEVER hear your song.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth R.

    The El bar verything you want a dive bar to be. It is the dive bar of my dreams. It's literally perfect. It's equipped with $2 pounders and $3 city wides, plus an amazing outdoor space accented by a hodge podge of party lights, roaming kitties and the el sweaking by every 10 minutes. It's fantastic. Check out the open mic night on Wednesday nights, too. I also love the jazz band - such groove! It gets a bit busy on the weekends and late nights, which makes it slightly less enjoyable. Also, watch out for trolls that hang out at the bar. They will deride you for no reason but to entertain themselves.

    (5)

  • Roman N.

    Freaks of Philadelphia rejoice! This is a bar for you, all the bartender and bouncers are rude, and TRENDY as all hell. Normal bars decorate their watering holes with furniture, but this one uses filth, wow, so ALTERNATIVE! I'm making sure to come all the way to the ghetto (so cool!) next weekend to visit and smell all the dirty hipsters; AMAZEBALLS!

    (1)

  • Bre D.

    Pool table, music, cheap beer, back yard, good people. This is always a go to spot. Love this place.

    (5)

  • Leo I.

    Oh heyyy. So I just moved here, and I'm pretty sure this is the diamond in the rough I search for and like to call home.... This and KFN. Just around the corner from where I hang my hat. Real people. There was a band playing saturday night. I didn't go there for them, I just wanted a drink... they gave me the option of a suggested donation for cover which is great because 1) I dont feel ripped off 2) I can give what I want. 3) I dont go somewhere else. I chipped in 3 bucks and some bazooka joe for karma. Sat my ass down at the corner of the bar, and ordered myself a city-wide. Welcome to philadelphia.

    (5)

  • Brock C.

    i am poor, they have alcohol.

    (5)

  • Enric C.

    City special... HYFR Not only will you get PBR AND WHISKEY but the smoking area is heated in the backyard. Great dive bar and those who wrote previous reviews enticed me to come here tonight. Live music (no cover) tonight, great place & diverse, come check it out.

    (5)

  • Emil J.

    This place is OK. It's a dive joint, but it's also a weird melting pot or people. Kind of like a punk rock Felini film, or somewhere that David Lynch would hang out. It's a trip. There's always the Rod Stewart guy there dancing his heart out. God Bless him. They have 2 surly yet friendly cats that make rounds. YES you already love them both. They got pinball and a pool table. Somebody is always trying to hustle you into playing a game. It's got atmosphere and a Sanford & Son-esque back yard with christmas lights. I don't deal with the outside unless it's Summer. The women bartenders are really sweet and know what they are doing. They make a good drink. And they SMILE! All of this is rare for a hipster slog. They got plenty of places to sit and you have a 50/50 chance of them being dry. Good odds. And you get a bizarre mix of people too. Hipster, punk, metal, Hip Hop, gay straight, the in between and the you can't really tell, local neighborhood and turistas, people with hats and colors, people who talk, or sulk or just read, all sorts. I always expected to walk in and see like a Mime flipping a pancake or someone on a unicycle. It would just make sense to me somehow. Plus there's the small area near the bathroom that just looks like something out of a vaudville sideshow. Like the bearded lady or a fortune teller or swordswallower should should be holding court there. It's weird What I don't like isn't really an indication of the bar or the service so much as personal pet peeves. It's a bit of a hike for me and if I'm with people they always want to take the shuttle back into town. I HATE the shuttle, nuff said. It's also necssary to get back into town cause if I need a cab, it's cheaper than catching one Girard. For some reason THIS particular bar is where people I know end up when they don't a have a ride or cabfare. Not Barcade or any other Girard haunt, this place. It gets really old really fast when you are with people and all they ever want to do is go to EL Bar. Also, nothing really changes here. It's like a time warp. The same faces, the same stories, same drinks. Routine. I don't like routine. It's boring. If I go to this place more than twice in a span of 2 months I'm over it and want something new. That shouldn't stop YOU from going there and checking it out. Barring the awful shuttle ride I cannot think of one reason to dissuade anyone from going. I just know how I am. I don't hate it, it's just like...meh. But by all means go and promise me that if you ever actually see a mime you'll remember this review and give me a heads up so I can live the dream!

    (4)

  • Rob S.

    The El has become one of my regular haunts. A great divey atmosphere inside and out. The bar is split between two rooms with an exposed brick wall. The backyard with dirt floors is lovely when the weather is accommodating; although it's usually stuffed with smokers. Cheap beers and the citywide make it a great place to end the evening. It's hipstery but the crowd is much more down to earth then the new crowd at Johnny Brenda's. They often have great bands playing. And I really, really want to get there for one of their zombie burlesque shows. Yes, you heard that right. Zombie. Burlesque.

    (4)

  • Walter K.

    The Kensington happy meal is the Best special ever: 2 hotdogs, a bag of chips, a pounder PBR, and a toy. $5. The El Bar also has a pool table, pinball, live music, TV, citywide special, crazy bartenders, pac man, lots of bike parking, an outdoor space, allows outside food and is dog friendly. That's quite a list of amenities. Now, as long as you're a hipster, which is the only requirement, ch-ch-check it out!

    (5)

  • Mr. L.

    Not much in either direction. Very divey, the digital jukebox and fairly inexpensive prices are the best things about this place. The outside rape-dark patio is nice, too, for when it's time for sex crimes. Live music occasionally, typical cluttered/trashy-hip decorum, graffiti on the bathroom walls, piss on the toilet seat, a big fat surly dick-pimple wearing a mullet wig and fake beard behind the bar serving Miller High Life and PBR strait out of the cans and bottles they were born in! It's okay, but there are better dives if you want that atmosphere, which is the only reason you'd go here instead of the dozens of other places like it in Philly. Not saying I dislike it, just no reason to go out of your way specifically to go here.

    (3)

  • Vinh D.

    Hipster dive bar . City wide special available . Karaoke Monday is fun , nice place to throw back cheap drinks and interesting people watching .

    (3)

  • Mark Z.

    I enjoy coming to this bar when I am around the Fishtown area. When you don't want to break the bank, come here for a few cheap drinks. Also 3.50 for a PBR pounder and shot of bourbon can't be beat. Also you got pool, jukebox, two arcade machines, and a pinball machine for entertainment. Anytime I go to a show around the area, this will be my pregame spot.

    (5)

  • Bill Q.

    I used to really like this place. But the female bartender there last night decided to give me a crash course in how to order a beer. While she was too busy talking to her friends and leaving me waiting for a beer. The guy with the beard and cool hair was awesome and I still like the joint. But that bartender was the worst I've dealt with in a really long time. Brought 5 people with me last night. Won't be bringing them back however.

    (1)

  • Lisa S.

    $3.50 for a whiskey shot and a PBR tallboy? Amazing. $1.50 for a hot dog? Amazing* My friend and I sat at a table with a PacMan game on it, drank our whiskey shots and PBRs, and people-watched the glorious hipsters. When we got drunk enough, we ate hot dogs. What more do you need in life? Notes: Cash only, and on Saturday there was a $3 cover cause they had live music. *When you're drunk

    (5)

  • Bill M.

    El Bar is a cool dive with plenty of endless possibilities. I mean what other bar out there lets you pick up a happy meal that includes 2 hot dogs, a PBR pounder, and a toy for 5 bucks? The PBR and shot specials flow endlessly throughout this chill spot that lies under the El. But they also have a rotating Beer of the Month specials and a variety of drinks that go well above the average dive. But the best part of the El Bar is the eclectic offerings that you'll come across on any given night. Its small stage showcases plenty of random punk rock shows throughout the night. Foo Truck has started showing up on special nightly occasions giving you a chance to enjoy delicious yet healthy wraps and veggie offerings. With a table top Mrs. Pac Man, random arcade games, and ample -PINBALL ALERT- it provides some good drunken video game moments. And you'll find plenty of subtle perks like a decent happy hour, and a cool outdoor courtyard. So when it comes down to it, El Bar is clearly a dive that gives you more to love!

    (4)

  • Kenny C.

    A dive-a-licious bar. Cheap beers, beer+shot specials, rowdy drunkards, rail liquor and a big backyard.

    (3)

  • Enid C.

    After dinner, my date looks me in the eye very seriously and asks if I like spontaneity. If I'm the type of girl who likes adventure, open to trying something new. Apprehensive but burningly curious, I respond with a quivering "Yes..." He tells me he knows a place I might like. The El Bar. Modeled after a subway car, with loose women dancing provocatively on the poles. Trying to keep up the carefree, down-with-everything front, I nervously laugh and assert that I've always wanted to see what those places are like but have been too shy (meanwhile I am texting 911 to my friends). Luckily for everyone, The El Bar is not a strip club. And that guy I went out with is a lying, deceitful wanker. It's a good atmosphere - pool table, pinball machine, good drinks, eye-pleasing bartenders. Bring your hipster friends.

    (4)

  • Eric S.

    We her for a friend's 21st. Had an amazing time. Very divey and there were some cool food trucks outside. Pretty cheap as well.

    (4)

  • Alexandra F.

    This establishment has a fine staff, I was stuck outside with a dead battery and one of the bartendars was walking by and stopped to see what was wrong. He was on foot so could not help me. After ten minutes of attempting to figure things out he comes back around on a bike to tell me to wait there and he'd be right back. He went all the way home to get his car and jump me at 2 am. His response "My papa bear told me if I had the opportunity to do a good deed, to take it" It was the dearest thing. Kudos El Bar staff!

    (5)

  • Melanie D.

    The El Bar is hang to some of the most diverse neighborhood folk. The prices are great, the bartenders uber cool, the outdoor patio the place for lively conversation, and they offer ramen - what more could you want?

    (4)

  • menace m.

    Huge yard and fun times. Pool table is great and everything is cheap.

    (5)

  • noelle m.

    There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said about El Bar. It's at the top of my list for favorite dive bars in my neighborhood. It's the perfect place to hang out, have a drink (3.50 citywide FTW!), pet some kitties, go out back for a smoke, chill, play some pool, hang with hipsters, lather, rinse, repeat. An example of the awesomeness that is El Bar. I got some devastating news last week, so I called my friend and made her come out drinking with me. At 11 am. Yes, this is how the story starts. So, we sit and drink; slow and steady. Chat with the bartender, go out for a smoke, realize that we're starving. Mike the bartender busts out the big book of menus, orders us Mexican and so we just hung out, sat at the bar eating burritos, drinking Jack and snacking on tres leches cake. It was a beautiful moment and for that I will always love the El Bar. Also, every time I'm there, I end up having awesomely funny conversations with strangers. I like that in a bar. Very friendly clientele. Plus, there are cute cats that hang out there. I mean that both in the feline sense and the adorable hipster sense. Yay.

    (5)

  • Alexandra T.

    Close to me, cheapsest Citywide Special I've seen anywhere, two cats, two hot dog and PBR happy meal, and a backyard. Can you ask for anything more? I certianly can't. Yes, the atmosphere is hipstery, but most people are friendly, or at the very least, not afraid to talk to you. I think 90% of the times I've gone to El Bar, I've ended up having a conversation with someone I didn't know going in. It usually adds to my adlready great experience. I've had a hipster couple suggestively ask how old I was, a man in a cowboy hat tell me about his self-starring photo shoot, and had some ask me, "Wanna play Dirty Harry?". Luckily, I quickly realized it was just the pinball machine. With a $3.50 City-Wide special, you can get yourself drunk with barely a dent in your wallet.

    (5)

  • Renee M.

    The El Bar is definitely my new favorite bar in Philly. There's really nothing bad I can say about the El Bar, everything about this place is pretty fantastic. First of all, its CHEAP. You might even call it dangerously cheap. $3.50 for the citywide special ( PBR Tallboy + shot of whiskey for those noobs out there). I also got $2 pickleback shots (shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice, again for the noobies). Dude, I can get drunk (not just buzzed, but DRUNK) here for $10. SWEET. Of course it's packed with hipsters, but hipsters are the best people to people watch, one of my fave activities. I've overheard conversations about telescopes and planets here, as well as been approached by a guy in a cowboy hat telling us about how he just did a sexy photoshoot of himself by himself. It's safe to say there are some characters that hang out here... One last thing, the backyard is AWESOME. Biggest backyard I've ever seen at a bar, period. I also think its a great idea to have trashbins to throw your empty PBR cans in (and yes, you will be drinking PBR when you hang here), it eliminates a lot of work for the awesome staff and keeps the backyard clean and can-free for the patrons. All and all, i LOVE the El Bar. Come here with a good attitude and a $10 bill and you will have a good time and leave feeling pretty damn good too.

    (5)

  • Kelly P.

    smells more than just a bit like pee and body odor. if that doesn't bother you, it's a fairly enjoyable dive.

    (2)

  • B P.

    Cheap, fun, pool table, what more do you want from it or from this review? It's a great dive, you dingus.

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    I like places with cheap beer. I like places with back patios. I sat in this here back patio on a nippy February eve, talking to some people from someplace far away. I wonder how they ended up at El Bar, because I would go sprinting for the nearest Philadelphia border if I were a tourist in this area. But I'm not, so my super street smarts kick in and I don't care about that. It's actually not too bad around here. Whenever I end up here, that was not the original plan; we were probably in Old City and then realized "oh! I hate everyone within a four block radius of this place!" and head on over to El Bar/Kung Fu Necktie/if I'm being adventurous, Atlantis. The pool table area is kind of cramped so you do sometimes get a cue somewhere in between the 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae while sitting on the barstools. For the record: There are a lot of good bars in Old City, just not on a Saturday night. Nosiree, not for me.

    (4)

  • Adam R.

    Whenever here I feel as though I am the least hip individual in the spot. This isn't neccessarily a bad thing. Granted I kinda sorta enjoy walking in the door clean shaven, rocking a button up shirt just to see what type of reactions I get from the the bearded, tattooed, leather jacket wearing hipper than hip hipsters. It's a great dive bar spot. If you want cheap beer, a philly special, or just take a load off, the El bar is for you. The employees are always helpful, and they hold it down really well. Christi and Jess are always on point, killing it! When the weather is nice the backyard is a great hidden spot to sit on old beat up lawn chairs/furniture and drink your high life or pbr. If your with a group of people, grab a table, smoke as many hand rolled cigarettes as you need to fulfill your nicotine fix, and then stumble back inside and spend few dollars on a beer and a hot dog. Hell if your feeling crazy, get a "happy meal!" There is almost always a wait for the pool table, if your bored and looking to shoot some pool (even mid-day) jump on your bike, pedal over and you'll be able to find someone who will play!

    (4)

  • John V.

    coming from Tinicum I am a dive bar expert. This place was great. Good looking women, good music and good beer for a very reasonable price. the food menu was a who's who of things little kids can cook themselves. from hot dogs to oodles and noodles. I'm not a fan of the hipsters but somebody needs to drink the PBR! the cats are nice and the back is good to have, don't travel solo lol

    (4)

  • Gandhus M.

    Wow....just wow! After slugging pint after pint elsewhere and failing to achieve a satisfactory buzz, I moseyed on over here on Saturday night. I'll take my PBR sixteen ounces at a time, thank you very much. Heaven Hill sucks, but it gets 'er done. The crowd was awesome. The crew is awesome. The dungeon-like bathroom reminiscent of "The Silence of the Lambs" is awesome. The little hangout nook just beyond the bathrooms is awesome. The mix of music playing on the jukebox was awesome. They have a yard I didn't check out which I am sure is awesome. The dynamics of Philly's dive bars is a very interesting thing. Take a place with a comparable dive and grime quotient (D&GQâ„¢), like Mako's for instance: Mako's location attracts doucher-types & tourists. El Bar attracts none of that. El Bar's location comes with a potential for _real_ danger. Mako's is labeled as 'dangerous' by know-nothings or the high & mighty. Both can be maligned for the very thing which gives them their appeal. You could write a doctoral thesis about this shit. The special is the cheapest around. I can't remember the last time I encountered a friendlier crowd. Before I knew it, I was closing the place. Don't take my danger comment the wrong way. It shouldn't dissuade the street-wise or Philly-savvy from going there. Let's just not be naive, okay? I've taken quite a shine to this place and will definitely be back. Wow, just wow.....

    (4)

  • Peter D.

    Not a classy place at all, but absolutely a place to get hammered quickly and cheaply. Most importantly, it's conveniently located under the El on Front and Master. I totally respect that the special is $3.50 and they definitely make most of their profits on that but definitely would not be my first option to go out, especially not for drinks. If you're in the area, and can't find anywhere else to go, then this isn't the worst place. There's a pool table, jukebox, and plenty of space, but there are certainly cooler bars for better experiences.

    (3)

  • Brandon D.

    The El Bar is one of those places that you would think is dangerous if you're new to Philly, but it is one of the best divey bars in Philly to me. The beers are cheap, and 90% of the people around you will be drinking Pabst tallboys. The bar on busy days can be swamped, with both sides being virtually impassable. But luckily there is an backyard with plenty of chairs and tables (which is now a lot less shabby than it once was). Since it's mostly dirt back there, its only good during stretches of decent weather. One regular days the crowd is generally hipsters with the occasional drunken regulars or pool sharks. Busier days see a lot more of what I call "the normals", the kids who used to normally be found at irish pubs in center city, that somehow found out about this place. The crowd swings back and forth between slow and busy almost arbitrarily and it no way coincides with what day of the week it is. All in all, I love the place. Its great for those times when you only have a few bucks but you would like the hang out somewhere.

    (5)

  • J T.

    When the EL Bar is great it's great! A chill local bar where you are likely to strike up a conversation with just about anyone and your glass will never be empty. This is usually on a weekday. When there is the wrong show the place can be transformed into hipster hell and is to be avoided unless you think The Barbary is fun. If there is an "event" keep on walking, if the place is packed to the gills and bikes are locked up 3-deep outside keep on walkin. If there are a few old heads playing pool and some people chillin' at the bar it's all good.

    (4)

  • Tim O.

    It's been about a year since i've been. was my birthday, drank way too much wild turkey, threw up on the train ride home. national rifle played. usually some good bands, cheap cover, cheap drinks, an interesting layout, if i remember correctly. worth checking out. though it's a few doors up from kung fu necktie and a block or so from johnny brendas you would never associate El Bar with those places. and that's a good thing. you can drink in peace in this neighborhoodly dive, and you're bound to run into a 65 year old plumber or junkman from around the corner. located right under the el. beware young ladies, in the night time it's probably not the safest walk.

    (4)

  • Sara H.

    in walking distance from both johnny brenda's and KFN, the el bar is part of a triumvirate of rad. go get liquored up on citywide specials before/after a show...or just sit around and play photohunt!

    (4)

  • Eugene H.

    Everything a bar should be. Great juke box, cheap beer, great mix of people hanging around. Junkies, hipsters, artists, yuppies, punks, goths, Jersey girls, students...anyone can fit it. No attitude. Backyard is surreal. Friendly cat hanging out. Would give it five stars if it had something besides Kenzinger on tap.

    (4)

  • Dmitriy M.

    these tuesday night parties are awesome, they are messing up my whole mental schedule, but the music (50s 60s rock n roll psychedelic, punk soul etc) is just awesome, the layout is great, the drinks! 3$ for PBR and shot of heaven hill, 4$ for kinsinger & shot, legit bartenders, pool table. ya, i can only vouch for the Smile tuesday parties, but the place itself is fucking great, and TVs too so they were playing both the sixers & the flyers game. i dont think theres food other than hot dogs but i'm not sure. but down to earth people, a lot of temple kids, and girls girls girls!

    (5)

  • kate s.

    in love with the bartender. i think he's a wwf star. he must be a star, he was wearing sunglasses and a big black wig. lighting my farts on fire didn't impress him tho, maybe he didn't see me i was working so hard. GREAT GREAT place. All types of people. I like that. Its just regular. There is a beautiful photograph on the wall of the owners parents when they were young and very much in love.... that just rules. LOVE LOVE everywhere in there.

    (5)

  • Ed S.

    This place is a neighborhood dive bar in the best sense of the word. Cheap drinks, pool table, standard issue jukebox. The back yard area is great when it's warm enough to be out there. The place has definitely been discovered by the hipsters but it's not really an issue outside of peak times Friday and Saturday nights. There have been some great cheap live rock and punk shows lately as well. The flip side is that the neighborhood is still shaky so you don't want to leave anything in your car. Parking is usually not a problem.

    (4)

  • C C.

    about two years ago, I visited Philly and the el bar was the first bar my friends took me too... I wasn't sure if it was because it was only three blocks away or if it was legit the best bar around. I later realized it was the latter... The Barbary was closer, we passed Murph's, Johnny Brenda's, The M Room, KFN, you get the picture... I've since moved to Philly about 1.5 years ago and I've been to all of those bars and like them for their respective offerings, however I'm going to have to say a job well done on my friends for taking me to my first Philly dive bar and giving me a real experience. The people, the regulars and the constantly rotating weekend crowd, are always friendly. The staff there has always been very nice, and the prices are incomparable. I used to just stop in for a quick drink after work and now I legitimately have a friendly family style crowd of people that I can just stop in to say hi to whenever I pass by. Big ups to The El Bar, also - go get a Mike T-shirt! they're like 17bucks, but Mike's look is pretty Epic and he's the first ever El Bar employee to be immortalized on a shirt!

    (5)

  • Francis E.

    The only bar that matters.

    (5)

  • D S.

    kinda divey and very friendly. this is where you'd go to escape fishtown/northern liberties madness. i understand they also have shows here.

    (4)

  • Luis Z.

    Well i figured i would update. Havent been going to the El Bar I have stopped in 3-4 times in the past 3 months and once i left in 15 minutes. The bar has went completely Hipster 98%. No one except maybe 2 people that i know bother stopping in anymore. Although some of the crowd is familiar with me when i do walk in. I did meet and talk to a very nice young lady the other night we had a decent conversation. Almost like an old black and white movie as she left she stopped half way and looked at me as it seem she was waiting for me to say something. Well unfortunately i did not and as in the movies i probably wont see her again. I dont think she is a regular. Unless you are a Hipster or know some of the crowd you may not fit in with this crowd. Although everyone is welcomed and no one bothers anyone else. Everyone is usually friendly in here. Your best bet is to get into some pool if you want to Mingle unless you know someone or come with a friend or two. This is a crowd of all regulars 26 yo and under Hipster crowd that all know each other so you be at a disadvantage sorta speak. I used t to ring in the New Years and Xmas in here in past years but at last its probably no more as much as hate to say it. I will continue probably to stop in once in a blue flamingo. For that old time sake feeling.

    (3)

  • Kathleen V.

    DON'T: forget to bring you id stand by the pool table stand by the bathroom take too long in the bathroom complain about it being cash only DO: bring cash order specials pet the cats sit in the backyard remember to lock your bike up correctly outside (if you bike)

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    This reminds me of the dive bar trifecta near my place in Chicago. Lots of hipsters all wearing blacks and grays, all drinking PBR, and all with wool knit beanies (in the winter, but probably in summer too) The El-Bar kitty in the corner was nice and passive. The piano was detuned and missing some ivory. There was one lone hot dog in the hot dog heating contraption that someone actually purchased (I didn't get to see if they lived or died) But the people there seemed nice enough. I was recognized by someone I did not recognize at all, even after they stated when and where they knew me from. It started to get uncomfortably crowded and intrusive so we left around midnight. I don't mind this place though. Perfectly divey, never douchey.

    (4)

  • Gnomer B.

    This is probably my favorite dive in the entire city of Philadelphia. I have never had a bad time here. Cheap drinks, interesting patrons. You'll meet an array of strange characters here, and they're always friendly. The backyard kind of looks like a junkyard, but it's a great place to plop down with friends on a beautiful day (and tie on a day load). El Bar, if I could pack you up and take you back to the suburbs with me, I would.

    (5)

  • Chris V.

    Can't be beaten. We moved down the block and were intrigued from day 1. Went in for a couple PBR tall boys and certainly enjoyed the view. Quite the scene to say the least .. we encourage you to give it a go. As a matter of fact, we're on our way back right now! They run a 'Kensington Happy Meal' every day til 7. For $5 you get a a PBR Tall boy, a shot, 2 hot dogs and A TOY! Seriously, awesome. BRING CASH!

    (4)

  • Hans H.

    You have your favorite bars then you have a place that really feels like home. I love dive bars and have been to them all over the country. This one passes with flying colors. The juke box is pretty awesome the bartenders kick butt and the staff and patrons are often very interesting. Not every one is going to like you there but it's not a popularity contest just drink...I've gotten sloshed quite a few times here and had some interesting conversations and it's a great place to unwind and dissappear from the world for a few hours. Definitely a place for lost souls and creatures of the night.

    (4)

  • Kernis T.

    4 dollar city wides, pool table, live music occasionally, young crowd and outside area. Pretty much all I need for a good friday night. Always bump into some nice new people or old friends pretty solid environment for me. Always have a pretty good night hittin up El Bar.

    (4)

  • Bryon H.

    Great dive bar if you want a cheap drink, have city-wide specials, awesome, gritty atmosphere. Only downside is that it gets PACKED in the winter when the patios closed. Been going to this place for years. Love it.

    (4)

  • Danita R.

    Super easy. Quick 'n dirty personified, but oh so right.

    (4)

  • Andrew B.

    Cash only, biker hipster place, but pretty cool

    (3)

  • Lindsay V.

    We wandered in here after a long day of drinking with the intent of drinking some more. To be honest, I have no idea how we got here or what streets we walked down. All I remember is that I thought it had a fantastic name. The bartender was super nice and promptly served M and me our Kensington specials (two hot dogs, bag of chips and a PBR pounder). It was awesome. I am not hard to please. I also want to go back.

    (5)

  • Hannah L.

    I was brought here by some friends, after having heard the name over and over in about a hundred different contexts. I am a believer in the church of the el bar. Good prices, great backyard, and a hilarious congregation of misfits that attend daily mass there. They do the citywide, and they have Shiner Ruby Redbird, which as a Texas girl, makes me a very happy girl. The el reminds me of some bars back home in Houston, and I mean that in a fond way. Some of the regulars come walking up and engage you in conversations and spin tales of comic book plots that involve you & your group of friends, and you can just gel off of the people around you to keep making up this alternate reality. Or you can look down in silence and wait for it to pass. But the people are what make this bar so much fun, so be open to having a wacky time and talking to strangers like you have known them for years. They do have events and karaoke, which I have never attended, but the el seems to be a great place to meet up and unwind after work with some friends. Do that.

    (5)

  • Lehigh Valley Eats K.

    The El Bar is an awesome dive located on the edge of Northern Liberties at 2nd and Front right under the elevated train, hence the name El Bar. It might be an intimidating place at first glance but check out the beer prices and their 'city special,' a PBR pounder and house shot for 3.75 and the 'Special,' a Kenzinger and a house wiskey for 4.75. I came in here last Sunday with a friend and ended up picking up a stray at the bar, denting up my car, and even got laid. Overall, El Bar is a hell of place to inspire greatness and topple us all. Happy eating and drinking Philly.

    (4)

  • Per-Ola M.

    I spent a couple of nights in this neighborhood recently and really enjoyed my stay at this dive bar. The outdoor garden is very nice, too bad it closed at midnight already.

    (4)

  • Kathleen V.

    DON'T: forget to bring you id stand by the pool table stand by the bathroom take too long in the bathroom complain about it being cash only DO: bring cash order specials pet the cats sit in the backyard remember to lock your bike up correctly outside (if you bike)

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    This reminds me of the dive bar trifecta near my place in Chicago. Lots of hipsters all wearing blacks and grays, all drinking PBR, and all with wool knit beanies (in the winter, but probably in summer too) The El-Bar kitty in the corner was nice and passive. The piano was detuned and missing some ivory. There was one lone hot dog in the hot dog heating contraption that someone actually purchased (I didn't get to see if they lived or died) But the people there seemed nice enough. I was recognized by someone I did not recognize at all, even after they stated when and where they knew me from. It started to get uncomfortably crowded and intrusive so we left around midnight. I don't mind this place though. Perfectly divey, never douchey.

    (4)

  • Krystle V.

    This place is okay. Everytime I come here, there is something odd as hell (a catering table in the back area that had spaghetti drunk people were amusingly trying to eat, two black labs chilling in the bar, a odd girl in yoga pants who was twirling and dancing on everyone until another girl poured a PBR on her head, a bartender with a shitty wig and glasses, a Rod Stewart-lookalike who dances to Duran Duran by himself by the jukebox...) so that makes it entertaining. One time there was a nice Foowich food truck there. I would never eat the food from the actual bar, though. The citywide special here is extra great because they give you a pounder of PBR, but the bourbon or whatever that shit is they serve on the side is the WORST. It's a nice place to get sloppy. Pinball machine is pretty nice. Decent outdoor smoking area, pool table...it's just okay.

    (3)

  • Matt M.

    Great times. If you play a song on the ol' jukebox, pay 3 credits to play next. Or you will NEVER hear your song.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth R.

    The El bar verything you want a dive bar to be. It is the dive bar of my dreams. It's literally perfect. It's equipped with $2 pounders and $3 city wides, plus an amazing outdoor space accented by a hodge podge of party lights, roaming kitties and the el sweaking by every 10 minutes. It's fantastic. Check out the open mic night on Wednesday nights, too. I also love the jazz band - such groove! It gets a bit busy on the weekends and late nights, which makes it slightly less enjoyable. Also, watch out for trolls that hang out at the bar. They will deride you for no reason but to entertain themselves.

    (5)

  • Roman N.

    Freaks of Philadelphia rejoice! This is a bar for you, all the bartender and bouncers are rude, and TRENDY as all hell. Normal bars decorate their watering holes with furniture, but this one uses filth, wow, so ALTERNATIVE! I'm making sure to come all the way to the ghetto (so cool!) next weekend to visit and smell all the dirty hipsters; AMAZEBALLS!

    (1)

  • Bre D.

    Pool table, music, cheap beer, back yard, good people. This is always a go to spot. Love this place.

    (5)

  • Leo I.

    Oh heyyy. So I just moved here, and I'm pretty sure this is the diamond in the rough I search for and like to call home.... This and KFN. Just around the corner from where I hang my hat. Real people. There was a band playing saturday night. I didn't go there for them, I just wanted a drink... they gave me the option of a suggested donation for cover which is great because 1) I dont feel ripped off 2) I can give what I want. 3) I dont go somewhere else. I chipped in 3 bucks and some bazooka joe for karma. Sat my ass down at the corner of the bar, and ordered myself a city-wide. Welcome to philadelphia.

    (5)

  • Brock C.

    i am poor, they have alcohol.

    (5)

  • Enric C.

    City special... HYFR Not only will you get PBR AND WHISKEY but the smoking area is heated in the backyard. Great dive bar and those who wrote previous reviews enticed me to come here tonight. Live music (no cover) tonight, great place & diverse, come check it out.

    (5)

  • Emil J.

    This place is OK. It's a dive joint, but it's also a weird melting pot or people. Kind of like a punk rock Felini film, or somewhere that David Lynch would hang out. It's a trip. There's always the Rod Stewart guy there dancing his heart out. God Bless him. They have 2 surly yet friendly cats that make rounds. YES you already love them both. They got pinball and a pool table. Somebody is always trying to hustle you into playing a game. It's got atmosphere and a Sanford & Son-esque back yard with christmas lights. I don't deal with the outside unless it's Summer. The women bartenders are really sweet and know what they are doing. They make a good drink. And they SMILE! All of this is rare for a hipster slog. They got plenty of places to sit and you have a 50/50 chance of them being dry. Good odds. And you get a bizarre mix of people too. Hipster, punk, metal, Hip Hop, gay straight, the in between and the you can't really tell, local neighborhood and turistas, people with hats and colors, people who talk, or sulk or just read, all sorts. I always expected to walk in and see like a Mime flipping a pancake or someone on a unicycle. It would just make sense to me somehow. Plus there's the small area near the bathroom that just looks like something out of a vaudville sideshow. Like the bearded lady or a fortune teller or swordswallower should should be holding court there. It's weird What I don't like isn't really an indication of the bar or the service so much as personal pet peeves. It's a bit of a hike for me and if I'm with people they always want to take the shuttle back into town. I HATE the shuttle, nuff said. It's also necssary to get back into town cause if I need a cab, it's cheaper than catching one Girard. For some reason THIS particular bar is where people I know end up when they don't a have a ride or cabfare. Not Barcade or any other Girard haunt, this place. It gets really old really fast when you are with people and all they ever want to do is go to EL Bar. Also, nothing really changes here. It's like a time warp. The same faces, the same stories, same drinks. Routine. I don't like routine. It's boring. If I go to this place more than twice in a span of 2 months I'm over it and want something new. That shouldn't stop YOU from going there and checking it out. Barring the awful shuttle ride I cannot think of one reason to dissuade anyone from going. I just know how I am. I don't hate it, it's just like...meh. But by all means go and promise me that if you ever actually see a mime you'll remember this review and give me a heads up so I can live the dream!

    (4)

  • Rob S.

    The El has become one of my regular haunts. A great divey atmosphere inside and out. The bar is split between two rooms with an exposed brick wall. The backyard with dirt floors is lovely when the weather is accommodating; although it's usually stuffed with smokers. Cheap beers and the citywide make it a great place to end the evening. It's hipstery but the crowd is much more down to earth then the new crowd at Johnny Brenda's. They often have great bands playing. And I really, really want to get there for one of their zombie burlesque shows. Yes, you heard that right. Zombie. Burlesque.

    (4)

  • Walter K.

    The Kensington happy meal is the Best special ever: 2 hotdogs, a bag of chips, a pounder PBR, and a toy. $5. The El Bar also has a pool table, pinball, live music, TV, citywide special, crazy bartenders, pac man, lots of bike parking, an outdoor space, allows outside food and is dog friendly. That's quite a list of amenities. Now, as long as you're a hipster, which is the only requirement, ch-ch-check it out!

    (5)

  • Cameron S.

    The El Bar is an awesome place. Based off of how I dress, one could assume I would not "fit in" here. However, that is never how I felt. I loved the outdoor patio. I loved inside. i loved the pool table. I ALWAYS had fun. And it is cheap. Oh yeah and the beef jerky is pretty delicious. Nothing to complain about, just go. Especially outside when it's nice.

    (5)

  • Megan M.

    Typical dive. Open mic is great, not sure if they still do it but I used to play on Wednesday nights. Diverse crowd. Good prices.

    (3)

  • Mr. L.

    Not much in either direction. Very divey, the digital jukebox and fairly inexpensive prices are the best things about this place. The outside rape-dark patio is nice, too, for when it's time for sex crimes. Live music occasionally, typical cluttered/trashy-hip decorum, graffiti on the bathroom walls, piss on the toilet seat, a big fat surly dick-pimple wearing a mullet wig and fake beard behind the bar serving Miller High Life and PBR strait out of the cans and bottles they were born in! It's okay, but there are better dives if you want that atmosphere, which is the only reason you'd go here instead of the dozens of other places like it in Philly. Not saying I dislike it, just no reason to go out of your way specifically to go here.

    (3)

  • Vinh D.

    Hipster dive bar . City wide special available . Karaoke Monday is fun , nice place to throw back cheap drinks and interesting people watching .

    (3)

  • Mark Z.

    I enjoy coming to this bar when I am around the Fishtown area. When you don't want to break the bank, come here for a few cheap drinks. Also 3.50 for a PBR pounder and shot of bourbon can't be beat. Also you got pool, jukebox, two arcade machines, and a pinball machine for entertainment. Anytime I go to a show around the area, this will be my pregame spot.

    (5)

  • Bill Q.

    I used to really like this place. But the female bartender there last night decided to give me a crash course in how to order a beer. While she was too busy talking to her friends and leaving me waiting for a beer. The guy with the beard and cool hair was awesome and I still like the joint. But that bartender was the worst I've dealt with in a really long time. Brought 5 people with me last night. Won't be bringing them back however.

    (1)

  • Lisa S.

    $3.50 for a whiskey shot and a PBR tallboy? Amazing. $1.50 for a hot dog? Amazing* My friend and I sat at a table with a PacMan game on it, drank our whiskey shots and PBRs, and people-watched the glorious hipsters. When we got drunk enough, we ate hot dogs. What more do you need in life? Notes: Cash only, and on Saturday there was a $3 cover cause they had live music. *When you're drunk

    (5)

  • Bill M.

    El Bar is a cool dive with plenty of endless possibilities. I mean what other bar out there lets you pick up a happy meal that includes 2 hot dogs, a PBR pounder, and a toy for 5 bucks? The PBR and shot specials flow endlessly throughout this chill spot that lies under the El. But they also have a rotating Beer of the Month specials and a variety of drinks that go well above the average dive. But the best part of the El Bar is the eclectic offerings that you'll come across on any given night. Its small stage showcases plenty of random punk rock shows throughout the night. Foo Truck has started showing up on special nightly occasions giving you a chance to enjoy delicious yet healthy wraps and veggie offerings. With a table top Mrs. Pac Man, random arcade games, and ample -PINBALL ALERT- it provides some good drunken video game moments. And you'll find plenty of subtle perks like a decent happy hour, and a cool outdoor courtyard. So when it comes down to it, El Bar is clearly a dive that gives you more to love!

    (4)

  • Kenny C.

    A dive-a-licious bar. Cheap beers, beer+shot specials, rowdy drunkards, rail liquor and a big backyard.

    (3)

  • Kurt I.

    $3 citywide special (PBR and a shot of whiskey) - sign me up. If you don't like this dive, then you my friend, are a snob. Come for the cheap drinks, stay for the pool table and photohunt,

    (4)

  • Ildefonso S.

    On the first day I moved into my new place I encountered this place. I live right across the street from the El Bar so I naturally went in after hauling all my material possessions into my 'new' house. I was exhausted, a bit sad after moving away from MPLS, and I needed a drink. Upon entering, I immediately laughed and decided that Philly just offered me a wonderful treat. There might as well been a banner that said "Welcome Ildefonso." Here's why: The bar-tender. I believe his name is Mike. Either way--I can't get over how much of a caricature he is. I'm sure he knows this--he has to. It's just not fathomable. With beautiful black feathered hair that is combed back and intense black sunglasses that he sleeps in, and a voice that echoes rico suave, Michael could pose for any picture, anytime. In fact, there is already a movement happening in this direction: there is now a t-shirt where you can buy that has his picture on it. Michael is the Scott Seekin (for you MPLS folk out there, you know what I'm talking about) of Philly. With Mike alone, this bar went up to 5 stars. I've been coming into this bar everyday Sunday for this experience alone. Other great qualities to this bar: the patio is great, though can be a bit dirty. There's also live music on the weekends, and the people are generally interesting. Sadly I had to knock off one star though because of the lack of choices in the beer dimension. I don't think I'm really that much of a beer snob, but I really want more than just four or fives types of beers. Other than that, the El Bar is definitely a fun time, especially on the weekends. Or just come in for the city special on Sundays when Mike is working. He'll hand out free food to you as well.

    (4)

  • Adina F.

    Named affectionately after the elevated tracks hovering above, this dive will provide you with a (not so) memorable night. The "City-Wide Special" will knock you off your feet at $3 for a beer and a shot and they have karaoke on Mondays. It looked a lot like my Brooklyn neighborhood and it made me pretty upset that we don't have anything comprable to El. Oh well, that just means I'll have to go back.

    (5)

  • Kristin S.

    The perfect dive bar.....now if I could only minus some hipsters and the b.o. Cheap citywides, huge backyard, if you are a smoker they closed off a part out back so you don't freeze you butt off. Go there on Wed. or Sun for Mike the bartender he is awesome.

    (5)

  • Enid C.

    After dinner, my date looks me in the eye very seriously and asks if I like spontaneity. If I'm the type of girl who likes adventure, open to trying something new. Apprehensive but burningly curious, I respond with a quivering "Yes..." He tells me he knows a place I might like. The El Bar. Modeled after a subway car, with loose women dancing provocatively on the poles. Trying to keep up the carefree, down-with-everything front, I nervously laugh and assert that I've always wanted to see what those places are like but have been too shy (meanwhile I am texting 911 to my friends). Luckily for everyone, The El Bar is not a strip club. And that guy I went out with is a lying, deceitful wanker. It's a good atmosphere - pool table, pinball machine, good drinks, eye-pleasing bartenders. Bring your hipster friends.

    (4)

  • Eric S.

    We her for a friend's 21st. Had an amazing time. Very divey and there were some cool food trucks outside. Pretty cheap as well.

    (4)

  • Alexandra F.

    This establishment has a fine staff, I was stuck outside with a dead battery and one of the bartendars was walking by and stopped to see what was wrong. He was on foot so could not help me. After ten minutes of attempting to figure things out he comes back around on a bike to tell me to wait there and he'd be right back. He went all the way home to get his car and jump me at 2 am. His response "My papa bear told me if I had the opportunity to do a good deed, to take it" It was the dearest thing. Kudos El Bar staff!

    (5)

  • Kyle R.

    This is by far my favorite neighborhood hangout. I go to El Bar a couple times a week. It's definitely a dive bar, but the drinks are cheap and the bar tenders are friendly. There is a great back yard area where you can sit and drink outside in the summer time. They occasionally have rock shows with local bands. It's definitely bar to check out if you're a transplant to Fishtown from anywhere else in the city. I don't know that it's necessarily a proper tourist destination, unless you're a huge fan of dive bars in general.

    (5)

  • Todd V.

    I had an absolute blast here and didnt drop a lot of dough. Mind you it was a great birthday party, so I have no idea what the normal crowd is like. Why the four stars? Here's a snippet from one of my conversations... My friend: "It's so smoky in here I want to go outside for my cigarette."

    (4)

  • Ashley B.

    Reading other Yelp reviews gave me hope for this spot. After a show a couple weeks ago my best friend and I were in the mood to go out. This place was not very impressive. I mean...it's a dive bar so maybe my expectations should not have been so high. Fellow bar-goers included a wide assortment of people. Hipster, creepsters, and just middle aged men enjoying a few terrible beers. Apparently PBR tallboys are $2 each and I could tell since almost everyone around me was drinking just that. I will stick to a nice Dogfish Head IPA in lieu of hipster cred. Anyway. the hipsters. oh the hipsters. I have to admit they had a nice little jukebox with the Smiths and Passion Pit but nowadays this isn't a very rare since it is 2011 and all. Basically if you're looking for a diverse crowd go here and bring your cash because they do not accept cards. good luck.

    (2)

  • Patty G.

    This aptly named hipster paradise is a great neighborhood dive. Cheap beer, bartenders who clearly don't care about you, and cats. Don't expect great service or a freshly cleaned table. Still, it's a good place to end the night.

    (4)

  • Dan L.

    The very definition of a dive bar. Cash only, cheap drinks, run down in all the best ways, and a lot of fun. I've gotten drunk here many a night for very cheap, mainly thanks to the Philly special they serve here. A shot of Heaven Hill and a pounder of PBR for $3? Can't get any better.

    (5)

  • Mike A.

    This is my favorite bar in Philly, and I travel from West Philly to get here. My friend Elvis puts shows on here and they are always an amazing time. Check their myspace for upcoming shows. myspace.com/the_el_bar

    (5)

  • J D.

    This is a really cool, no nonsense bar, like the days of yore. There use to be a really cool bartender there, Jasper, I heard he may be coming back! Its also nice to have a local spot for music and not have to pay $$$$ to see bands.

    (5)

  • Stevie S.

    After going to El Bar for the first time last night I finally understand why it's so hard to get my friends to go other places! It's everything you'd want in a divey neighborhood bar... There is a jukebox, pool table, cheap beer and snacks, super friendly staff, a fun blend of patrons AND you can smoke inside. OK, so sometimes it might be a little bit TOO smokey since it's a small space. Anyway...BIG FAN Highlight of the night: At one point a box of free pizza magically appeared at the bar! It was no longer warm but it was delicious!! Mmmmm....magic pizza...

    (5)

  • Conor C.

    El Bar is a mainstay with my friends and I. Cheap and no frills, and a wonderful and friendly staff. El Bar also has an interesting backyard area. The crowd is pretty young.

    (5)

  • Carolyn M.

    Went here for the first time last night and loved it...right up my alley! Cheap beer, a juke box, a pool table...what else do you need? I was pretty well buzzed after spending less then $20...what other bars can you say that about? Loved it there and can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Rafael D.

    Great beer and shot deal. Mellow crowd

    (4)

  • lana p.

    I love this shit hole. I love the bartenders. I love a cheap shot that comes with a beer that I can share with a friend. Oh yeah and when the magic pizza shows up - it saves my life.

    (5)

  • Gloria G.

    This is my boyfriend's favourite bar ( I can barely get him to go anywhere else), and he has been trying to get a job bartending there for months. Unfortunately, they seem to be following the nauseating trend of only hiring girls in belly shirts. Since we started going there, at least three hot girl bartenders we've never seen before have suddenly appeared. If you'll allow a bit of self--serving campaigning: My boyfriend Ray is looking for a bartending job. He's the old-school charming barkeep type. He's the kind of guy you could imagine being behind the bar at Dobb's in its glory days, but he was a little too young then. Please let me know if you know of any places that are hiring.

    (3)

  • Paul R.

    Not long after I signed up for Netflix, I was watching Jaws and had a terrifying experience. It wasn't the shark that was scaring me, either--far worse, I found myself PREEMPTIVELY grading the movie. "Do I love this," I thought, "or do I really like it?" Last night at the El Bar, yelp.com exuded its same influence. As I sat, soaking in the sweet sounds of T.Rex and Talking Heads, sipping an icy cold $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon, relaxing my tired bones in the comfortable plastic chair, the Christmas lights stopped looking like bulbs at all; instead, they looked like stars. Five big red ones.

    (5)

  • Thommy S.

    Frequented this place awhile back when a friend had lived a block away. Have seen this place change a bit and also grow in popularity with a younger hipster crowd coming to it more and more. Cheap drinks, pool table and an average jukebox for an average neighborhood bar.

    (3)

  • Lehigh Valley Eats K.

    The El Bar is an awesome dive located on the edge of Northern Liberties at 2nd and Front right under the elevated train, hence the name El Bar. It might be an intimidating place at first glance but check out the beer prices and their 'city special,' a PBR pounder and house shot for 3.75 and the 'Special,' a Kenzinger and a house wiskey for 4.75. I came in here last Sunday with a friend and ended up picking up a stray at the bar, denting up my car, and even got laid. Overall, El Bar is a hell of place to inspire greatness and topple us all. Happy eating and drinking Philly.

    (4)

  • Per-Ola M.

    I spent a couple of nights in this neighborhood recently and really enjoyed my stay at this dive bar. The outdoor garden is very nice, too bad it closed at midnight already.

    (4)

  • Margaret M.

    I go here sporadically, depending on how much money I have and which friends I'm meeting. It's a great place to go to hang out in the back... It feels just like someone's backyard, except there's more seating. Cheap beer, good times. One question -- is that a wig or what? also, does that guy need to act so burdened when i ask him for a Kenzinger (which is the only beer they have on tap)?

    (4)

  • Jack H.

    It's a nice bar with a good atmosphere, friendly service with a smile, and its not to expensive, good place to go if you live close by and want to get out of the house for a while, I wouldn't go out of my way to drink here, just a good neighborhood bar that's not to hipster infested, big back yard if you like to drink out side on a nice night

    (4)

  • Ñćk K.

    Its a dive,and it's great,good bartender,good peoples of diversity.it's gottta pool table,old school video games pinball, juke box,and cheap drinks.Also good beer.no complaints.

    (5)

  • Rich G.

    3.50 city wide....actually it may be even cheaper than that. The place is great. I wouldn't really call it a dive because of the cooler-than-you clientele. Its not as dirty as a dive should be. This is not a bad thing. I seriously do not come here often enough. There are very hot women that hang out here if you are into that waist high short-pants deal. The huge back yard is well.......huge. You can smoke and drink out there. You can catch some OK bands play here once in a while too. I recommend everyone to check it out sometime. There is usually always a higher end lunch truck parked right outside too.

    (4)

  • Ildefonso S.

    On the first day I moved into my new place I encountered this place. I live right across the street from the El Bar so I naturally went in after hauling all my material possessions into my 'new' house. I was exhausted, a bit sad after moving away from MPLS, and I needed a drink. Upon entering, I immediately laughed and decided that Philly just offered me a wonderful treat. There might as well been a banner that said "Welcome Ildefonso." Here's why: The bar-tender. I believe his name is Mike. Either way--I can't get over how much of a caricature he is. I'm sure he knows this--he has to. It's just not fathomable. With beautiful black feathered hair that is combed back and intense black sunglasses that he sleeps in, and a voice that echoes rico suave, Michael could pose for any picture, anytime. In fact, there is already a movement happening in this direction: there is now a t-shirt where you can buy that has his picture on it. Michael is the Scott Seekin (for you MPLS folk out there, you know what I'm talking about) of Philly. With Mike alone, this bar went up to 5 stars. I've been coming into this bar everyday Sunday for this experience alone. Other great qualities to this bar: the patio is great, though can be a bit dirty. There's also live music on the weekends, and the people are generally interesting. Sadly I had to knock off one star though because of the lack of choices in the beer dimension. I don't think I'm really that much of a beer snob, but I really want more than just four or fives types of beers. Other than that, the El Bar is definitely a fun time, especially on the weekends. Or just come in for the city special on Sundays when Mike is working. He'll hand out free food to you as well.

    (4)

  • Adina F.

    Named affectionately after the elevated tracks hovering above, this dive will provide you with a (not so) memorable night. The "City-Wide Special" will knock you off your feet at $3 for a beer and a shot and they have karaoke on Mondays. It looked a lot like my Brooklyn neighborhood and it made me pretty upset that we don't have anything comprable to El. Oh well, that just means I'll have to go back.

    (5)

  • Kernis T.

    4 dollar city wides, pool table, live music occasionally, young crowd and outside area. Pretty much all I need for a good friday night. Always bump into some nice new people or old friends pretty solid environment for me. Always have a pretty good night hittin up El Bar.

    (4)

  • Bryon H.

    Great dive bar if you want a cheap drink, have city-wide specials, awesome, gritty atmosphere. Only downside is that it gets PACKED in the winter when the patios closed. Been going to this place for years. Love it.

    (4)

  • Danita R.

    Super easy. Quick 'n dirty personified, but oh so right.

    (4)

  • Andrew B.

    Cash only, biker hipster place, but pretty cool

    (3)

  • Kristin S.

    The perfect dive bar.....now if I could only minus some hipsters and the b.o. Cheap citywides, huge backyard, if you are a smoker they closed off a part out back so you don't freeze you butt off. Go there on Wed. or Sun for Mike the bartender he is awesome.

    (5)

  • Amanda C.

    One of my favorite dive-y bars in fishtown which is chock full of chill neighborhood places. The El Bar gets points for having cheap strong drinks, and good deals on booze. Also the El Bar has shows which vary from punk to rockabilly to hip-hop. Honestly this is one of the handful of bars in East Kensington/Fishtown that welcomes "outsiders"(read non-white or gay or too bougie). Come here to relax and have drinks with friends. Beware the back yard in the summer time-lots of mosquitos!

    (4)

  • Lilli C.

    I love El Bar. It's a non-pretentious 'hippster-ish' place, void of douche-bags with cheap drinks and a great vibe. The people there are usually locals and pretty friendly. There are always a decent number of people at the place, but never too crowded nor empty. It's a great sort of low-key place to hang out, play some pinball, pool, or to just throw back a few cheap beers.

    (4)

  • Abigail L.

    I mean, whatever, it's a dive bar. I've seen bands play here, I've had a PBR here, I tried to order a mixed drink here, on several occasions, I don't recommend that. I ordered a grey goose and tonic, and while it may have been the cheapest I've ever encountered it was served in a pint glass with seltzer instead of tonic. I figured maybe the guy was just unfamiliar with the soda gun and let him know the second time that it was seltzer the first time and I wanted tonic, still got seltzer. I also got a doublshot for a single so I just sucked it up, literally. They sell ramen for $1 and some chips or snacks or something too. Cool back area too.

    (3)

  • Daniel T.

    Looking to get sauced on the cheap? Head to the El Bar. Wanna go out to pre-game with little cash? Head to the El Bar. It's not quite 2am yet, you're still coherent and you want to reach the equivalent of yodeling off a cliff a la Price is Right? El Bar. Hell, you can grab take out lunch some place else and start the day right off at the El Bar since they're open mornings. Even the bathrooms now smell exponentially better than a year ago; this bar is tops for advancing cirrhosis.

    (4)

  • Three R.

    It is a kewl place. The bar tenders talk to you - the hipsters culture has not infected the bar in a negative way. People actually smile. I guess everyone is so drunk that they are nice. I like picking up my six pack for $10.50. This is a must go to hang out.

    (5)

  • Victoria L.

    The drink prices here are good. The environment is relaxed but pretty crowded on the weekends. I love the backyard, but they closed it at some point in the night and told everyone to go back inside. Lame.

    (3)

  • Jo B.

    Relaxed, trendy atmosphere with cheap drinks and good vibes. Good music, too! Love the outdoor area.

    (4)

  • Jessica E.

    Divey (in a good way) and cheap. When I first started going there it was almost always pretty empty and now especially on the weekends there are tons of people there. Sometimes it is kind of difficult to get a drink because in my experience there are only 1-2 bartenders working at a time and about three zillion people trying to get a PBR. They have good shows here pretty regularly also, and they have a nice chill backyard area. Nice place to finish off a night.

    (4)

  • Sir T.

    One of the two best bars in Philadelphia. Two cats, a reasonable citywide, and hot dogs. Perfect.

    (5)

  • Chris F.

    Went to The El Bar on a Saturday night. It had a decent amount of people inside when I walked in, as was exhibited when trying to order a drink. It took some time, but at such cheap prices I'm willing to put up with a wait. The bartenders did seem hurried, but in watching them for a few moments they just kept shuffling around the bar to talk to people and not so much in the way of filling drink orders. Leaning in on the bar, money in hand I managed to yell my order into the back of a bartender's head as he was grabbing a drink in the refrigerator below the bar. It worked, and being the smart & courteous man that I am I grabbed 5 beers for me and my friends to save them the wait. Somewhat of a hipster haven, PBR pounders were aplenty and the words "citywide special" did not fall on deaf ears. The interior is okay if not a bit small, the pool table dominates one of the two rooms, split by a double-sided bar and a row of tables adorn the other side of the bar. There looked to be a small stage along the back of the room, but music was left up to the jukebox that particular night. I did see the aforementioned magic pizza but wasn't tempted to grab a slice. As the evening progressed I, standing in place, wondered how they could let so many people in such a small bar. It wasn't until I saw the sign hanging on the back door that read "Yard Sale" and a few people that walked through it that I realized the true appeal of this place: the yard. After going through the yard sale door and another door you are greeted by some interesting sights. Lights strung in the trees and along the fence encompass the outdoor area, and some tables and chairs are the first things you see. Continuing on there was a cast iron bathtub and what my friends and I dubbed the "bikeplane." While nothing more than 5 bikes affixed to one in front with a long table separating the two it served as a great ongoing joke. At around 1am they move everybody back inside and close the yard and a lot of people tend to leave. All in all a great experience and definitely going to be on my rounds next time I'm out drinking in the Northern Liberties area.

    (3)

  • Jackie D.

    Went here last night. I liked the outdoor area, I like when bars have that option. Even though I have had a knack for more making more "hipster" friends, I didn't LOVE the hipster scene- too much smoking! Barf! I did like that there was a jukebox. Oh! And I like that drinks are cheap as shit. Yeah! Good job guys.

    (3)

  • Alexandra W.

    Every reason you love the El Bar is every reason you hate the El Bar.

    (5)

  • Onias D.

    Is it appropriate to live and work and play in Fishtown/Kensington and not just really like El Bar? Is it not unconscionable to patronize the neighborhood establishments who run the gambit from trying so hard for posterity yet failing so much as put on aires to full on corporate mousetrap while turning up ones nose at an establishment which has clearly implemented a dive bar algorithm and executed practically without flaw? I think it heresy for any one who touts the culture of functional alcoholism relieved of politics for a politics of indifference, deficient in violence both physical and economic, and enlivened by the most proprietous anesthetic that cause of and cure to all of life's problems -- Cheap Booze -- to propagate the sin of self-induced delusions that El Bar does not approach the pinnacle of simplified, modern-dingy, dank, hole-in-the-wall aesthetic and streamlined the practice of drinking within in. So keeping in line with its "less than perfect perfect" spirit, four out of five stars is the most suitable rating..

    (4)

  • Nicole D.

    Perfectly divey, never douchey.

    (5)

  • Chip C.

    There is nothing to not like about the El Bar. Super low-key (except weekends, but still kinda low-key) Drink prices are FANTASTIC, 3.50 for a Pabst pounder and a shot of Heaven Hill Whiskey. Sure beats the hell out of going to the Barbary where all your lame friends want to go. I usually go with the Kenzinger (the only beer on tap, and that's more than OK with me) for 3 bucks. Best dive bar in Fishtown.

    (5)

  • Vanessa G.

    Went early on a Weds night (8 or so). First noticed the bartender was a ZZ Top animatron--sprayed wig buffont, long black beard, dark shades, few on words. Drinks were cheap--the citywide special here is upgraded to a PBR tallboy. Good people watching, pinball. I plan on going back.

    (4)

  • Marissa B.

    Had a particularly good time coming to see my friend's band play (The Blessed Mothas) along with 2 other stellar acts (Sex Slaves and Loafass). The yard is pretty chill and full of characters, for sure. Must admit my first impression walking in ,though, was "Look at these f___ing hipsters."

    (4)

  • Caitlin V.

    this is the bar I feel most at home. it's really like cheers, where everybody knows your name. Sometimes host to live music, everything from jazz to punk, el bar is a meeting place for all different people: locals, oldheads, hipsters, punks, etc. it's a small dark place but tables and chairs and two sides of the bar provide seating. it's not odd to see a cat or two stalking around, too (they're pretty friendly). $2 pbr tall boys, city specials, and other cheap deals abound here and the service is on point . expect to become friendly with the bartenders if you go often. pool table and jukebox for those interested ( I always find myself drunkingly playing madonna's borderline).

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    Cheap booze, good atmosphere, huge backyard. El bar is legit.

    (5)

  • Shawna A.

    I felt like I would have blended in a bit more if I had multiple tattoos or piercings, but anyway. The drinks were stiff, the mixed ones being average in price (something in the 7-range). The bartender was super sweet and friendly. The bathrooms are made to look like somebody snorted coke and graffiti-ed all over the place, but I suspect that this design is a deterrent for actual graffiti--and the sink and toilet were VERY clean, at least around 11 pm it was. Oh, and the non-ladies bathroom had a sign that indicated something to the effect of being open to anyone whose gender identity wasn't either or. The music wasn't my favorite, but there was only a donation of whatever you want to give for entry. And some part of the band (lead singer?) claimed that they were having their wedding reception there, so the entertainment factor with all the speeches and throwing of flowers, placing of the garter belt, etc was pretty amazing and by then, the urge to get a facial piercing or tramp stamp totally subsided.

    (5)

  • Joshua H.

    Awesome outdoor area, friendly staff and decent crowd. Not usually over crowded like Brenda's or other hipster hot-spots, and a good mix of hipsters and townies that leads to a great night. 3 dollar city wides (shot of heaven hill and PRB pounders)

    (5)

  • Kristyn F.

    I used to call this place home when I lived half a block away. The best time to come is early in the afternoon when it's nice and quite so you get the oppertunity to play pool for a few hours (unlike at night where you'll be lucky if your turn even comes up). Spacious back yard with plenty of seating. Strung up twinkle lights. And the El Bar Cats. My only complaint is this place's growing popularity and how crowded it gets in the evenings/at night. (which is good for the business itself, but not if you want to relax and have easy access to ordering a drink).

    (4)

  • Gnomer B.

    This is probably my favorite dive in the entire city of Philadelphia. I have never had a bad time here. Cheap drinks, interesting patrons. You'll meet an array of strange characters here, and they're always friendly. The backyard kind of looks like a junkyard, but it's a great place to plop down with friends on a beautiful day (and tie on a day load). El Bar, if I could pack you up and take you back to the suburbs with me, I would.

    (5)

  • Chris V.

    Can't be beaten. We moved down the block and were intrigued from day 1. Went in for a couple PBR tall boys and certainly enjoyed the view. Quite the scene to say the least .. we encourage you to give it a go. As a matter of fact, we're on our way back right now! They run a 'Kensington Happy Meal' every day til 7. For $5 you get a a PBR Tall boy, a shot, 2 hot dogs and A TOY! Seriously, awesome. BRING CASH!

    (4)

  • Kurt I.

    $3 citywide special (PBR and a shot of whiskey) - sign me up. If you don't like this dive, then you my friend, are a snob. Come for the cheap drinks, stay for the pool table and photohunt,

    (4)

  • Kyle R.

    This is by far my favorite neighborhood hangout. I go to El Bar a couple times a week. It's definitely a dive bar, but the drinks are cheap and the bar tenders are friendly. There is a great back yard area where you can sit and drink outside in the summer time. They occasionally have rock shows with local bands. It's definitely bar to check out if you're a transplant to Fishtown from anywhere else in the city. I don't know that it's necessarily a proper tourist destination, unless you're a huge fan of dive bars in general.

    (5)

  • Todd V.

    I had an absolute blast here and didnt drop a lot of dough. Mind you it was a great birthday party, so I have no idea what the normal crowd is like. Why the four stars? Here's a snippet from one of my conversations... My friend: "It's so smoky in here I want to go outside for my cigarette."

    (4)

  • Ashley B.

    Reading other Yelp reviews gave me hope for this spot. After a show a couple weeks ago my best friend and I were in the mood to go out. This place was not very impressive. I mean...it's a dive bar so maybe my expectations should not have been so high. Fellow bar-goers included a wide assortment of people. Hipster, creepsters, and just middle aged men enjoying a few terrible beers. Apparently PBR tallboys are $2 each and I could tell since almost everyone around me was drinking just that. I will stick to a nice Dogfish Head IPA in lieu of hipster cred. Anyway. the hipsters. oh the hipsters. I have to admit they had a nice little jukebox with the Smiths and Passion Pit but nowadays this isn't a very rare since it is 2011 and all. Basically if you're looking for a diverse crowd go here and bring your cash because they do not accept cards. good luck.

    (2)

  • Patty G.

    This aptly named hipster paradise is a great neighborhood dive. Cheap beer, bartenders who clearly don't care about you, and cats. Don't expect great service or a freshly cleaned table. Still, it's a good place to end the night.

    (4)

  • Dan L.

    The very definition of a dive bar. Cash only, cheap drinks, run down in all the best ways, and a lot of fun. I've gotten drunk here many a night for very cheap, mainly thanks to the Philly special they serve here. A shot of Heaven Hill and a pounder of PBR for $3? Can't get any better.

    (5)

  • Mike A.

    This is my favorite bar in Philly, and I travel from West Philly to get here. My friend Elvis puts shows on here and they are always an amazing time. Check their myspace for upcoming shows. myspace.com/the_el_bar

    (5)

  • J D.

    This is a really cool, no nonsense bar, like the days of yore. There use to be a really cool bartender there, Jasper, I heard he may be coming back! Its also nice to have a local spot for music and not have to pay $$$$ to see bands.

    (5)

  • Stevie S.

    After going to El Bar for the first time last night I finally understand why it's so hard to get my friends to go other places! It's everything you'd want in a divey neighborhood bar... There is a jukebox, pool table, cheap beer and snacks, super friendly staff, a fun blend of patrons AND you can smoke inside. OK, so sometimes it might be a little bit TOO smokey since it's a small space. Anyway...BIG FAN Highlight of the night: At one point a box of free pizza magically appeared at the bar! It was no longer warm but it was delicious!! Mmmmm....magic pizza...

    (5)

  • Conor C.

    El Bar is a mainstay with my friends and I. Cheap and no frills, and a wonderful and friendly staff. El Bar also has an interesting backyard area. The crowd is pretty young.

    (5)

  • Carolyn M.

    Went here for the first time last night and loved it...right up my alley! Cheap beer, a juke box, a pool table...what else do you need? I was pretty well buzzed after spending less then $20...what other bars can you say that about? Loved it there and can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Rafael D.

    Great beer and shot deal. Mellow crowd

    (4)

  • lana p.

    I love this shit hole. I love the bartenders. I love a cheap shot that comes with a beer that I can share with a friend. Oh yeah and when the magic pizza shows up - it saves my life.

    (5)

  • Gloria G.

    This is my boyfriend's favourite bar ( I can barely get him to go anywhere else), and he has been trying to get a job bartending there for months. Unfortunately, they seem to be following the nauseating trend of only hiring girls in belly shirts. Since we started going there, at least three hot girl bartenders we've never seen before have suddenly appeared. If you'll allow a bit of self--serving campaigning: My boyfriend Ray is looking for a bartending job. He's the old-school charming barkeep type. He's the kind of guy you could imagine being behind the bar at Dobb's in its glory days, but he was a little too young then. Please let me know if you know of any places that are hiring.

    (3)

  • Paul R.

    Not long after I signed up for Netflix, I was watching Jaws and had a terrifying experience. It wasn't the shark that was scaring me, either--far worse, I found myself PREEMPTIVELY grading the movie. "Do I love this," I thought, "or do I really like it?" Last night at the El Bar, yelp.com exuded its same influence. As I sat, soaking in the sweet sounds of T.Rex and Talking Heads, sipping an icy cold $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon, relaxing my tired bones in the comfortable plastic chair, the Christmas lights stopped looking like bulbs at all; instead, they looked like stars. Five big red ones.

    (5)

  • Thommy S.

    Frequented this place awhile back when a friend had lived a block away. Have seen this place change a bit and also grow in popularity with a younger hipster crowd coming to it more and more. Cheap drinks, pool table and an average jukebox for an average neighborhood bar.

    (3)

  • J T.

    When the EL Bar is great it's great! A chill local bar where you are likely to strike up a conversation with just about anyone and your glass will never be empty. This is usually on a weekday. When there is the wrong show the place can be transformed into hipster hell and is to be avoided unless you think The Barbary is fun. If there is an "event" keep on walking, if the place is packed to the gills and bikes are locked up 3-deep outside keep on walkin. If there are a few old heads playing pool and some people chillin' at the bar it's all good.

    (4)

  • Tim O.

    It's been about a year since i've been. was my birthday, drank way too much wild turkey, threw up on the train ride home. national rifle played. usually some good bands, cheap cover, cheap drinks, an interesting layout, if i remember correctly. worth checking out. though it's a few doors up from kung fu necktie and a block or so from johnny brendas you would never associate El Bar with those places. and that's a good thing. you can drink in peace in this neighborhoodly dive, and you're bound to run into a 65 year old plumber or junkman from around the corner. located right under the el. beware young ladies, in the night time it's probably not the safest walk.

    (4)

  • Sara H.

    in walking distance from both johnny brenda's and KFN, the el bar is part of a triumvirate of rad. go get liquored up on citywide specials before/after a show...or just sit around and play photohunt!

    (4)

  • Eugene H.

    Everything a bar should be. Great juke box, cheap beer, great mix of people hanging around. Junkies, hipsters, artists, yuppies, punks, goths, Jersey girls, students...anyone can fit it. No attitude. Backyard is surreal. Friendly cat hanging out. Would give it five stars if it had something besides Kenzinger on tap.

    (4)

  • Dmitriy M.

    these tuesday night parties are awesome, they are messing up my whole mental schedule, but the music (50s 60s rock n roll psychedelic, punk soul etc) is just awesome, the layout is great, the drinks! 3$ for PBR and shot of heaven hill, 4$ for kinsinger & shot, legit bartenders, pool table. ya, i can only vouch for the Smile tuesday parties, but the place itself is fucking great, and TVs too so they were playing both the sixers & the flyers game. i dont think theres food other than hot dogs but i'm not sure. but down to earth people, a lot of temple kids, and girls girls girls!

    (5)

  • kate s.

    in love with the bartender. i think he's a wwf star. he must be a star, he was wearing sunglasses and a big black wig. lighting my farts on fire didn't impress him tho, maybe he didn't see me i was working so hard. GREAT GREAT place. All types of people. I like that. Its just regular. There is a beautiful photograph on the wall of the owners parents when they were young and very much in love.... that just rules. LOVE LOVE everywhere in there.

    (5)

  • Ed S.

    This place is a neighborhood dive bar in the best sense of the word. Cheap drinks, pool table, standard issue jukebox. The back yard area is great when it's warm enough to be out there. The place has definitely been discovered by the hipsters but it's not really an issue outside of peak times Friday and Saturday nights. There have been some great cheap live rock and punk shows lately as well. The flip side is that the neighborhood is still shaky so you don't want to leave anything in your car. Parking is usually not a problem.

    (4)

  • C C.

    about two years ago, I visited Philly and the el bar was the first bar my friends took me too... I wasn't sure if it was because it was only three blocks away or if it was legit the best bar around. I later realized it was the latter... The Barbary was closer, we passed Murph's, Johnny Brenda's, The M Room, KFN, you get the picture... I've since moved to Philly about 1.5 years ago and I've been to all of those bars and like them for their respective offerings, however I'm going to have to say a job well done on my friends for taking me to my first Philly dive bar and giving me a real experience. The people, the regulars and the constantly rotating weekend crowd, are always friendly. The staff there has always been very nice, and the prices are incomparable. I used to just stop in for a quick drink after work and now I legitimately have a friendly family style crowd of people that I can just stop in to say hi to whenever I pass by. Big ups to The El Bar, also - go get a Mike T-shirt! they're like 17bucks, but Mike's look is pretty Epic and he's the first ever El Bar employee to be immortalized on a shirt!

    (5)

  • Francis E.

    The only bar that matters.

    (5)

  • D S.

    kinda divey and very friendly. this is where you'd go to escape fishtown/northern liberties madness. i understand they also have shows here.

    (4)

  • Luis Z.

    Well i figured i would update. Havent been going to the El Bar I have stopped in 3-4 times in the past 3 months and once i left in 15 minutes. The bar has went completely Hipster 98%. No one except maybe 2 people that i know bother stopping in anymore. Although some of the crowd is familiar with me when i do walk in. I did meet and talk to a very nice young lady the other night we had a decent conversation. Almost like an old black and white movie as she left she stopped half way and looked at me as it seem she was waiting for me to say something. Well unfortunately i did not and as in the movies i probably wont see her again. I dont think she is a regular. Unless you are a Hipster or know some of the crowd you may not fit in with this crowd. Although everyone is welcomed and no one bothers anyone else. Everyone is usually friendly in here. Your best bet is to get into some pool if you want to Mingle unless you know someone or come with a friend or two. This is a crowd of all regulars 26 yo and under Hipster crowd that all know each other so you be at a disadvantage sorta speak. I used t to ring in the New Years and Xmas in here in past years but at last its probably no more as much as hate to say it. I will continue probably to stop in once in a blue flamingo. For that old time sake feeling.

    (3)

  • Kristine D.

    What a dump. Went here for a rock show, and was told by the bar "mom" to "lower your voices...we have an elderly neighbor". TWICE. I am legally of age to drink, and felt like I was underage at a house party in high school. Being told to lower your voice at a rock show is pathetic. Also, this bar is located UNDER THE EL. I am pretty sure the EL is louder than bar patrons. I was also very sober while here, so this was even more insulting. Bathrooms were absolutely nauseating. The port-o-potty outside smelled better and was cleaner than the inside bathroom. The bands were awesome, though.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :10:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : No
    Good For : Late Night
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Divey
    Noise Level : Loud
    Music : DJ, Live, Juke Box
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : No

The El Bar

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