Dolphin Tavern

Night club · Passyunk Square

Dolphin Tavern

Night club · Passyunk Square

1

1539 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

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Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null
Dolphin Tavern by null

Highlights

Dive bar with glowing walls, DJs, dancers & craft beer  

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1539 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Get directions

dolphinphilly.com
@dolphinphilly

$10–20

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1539 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Get directions

+1 215 278 7950
dolphinphilly.com
@dolphinphilly

$10–20

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Last updated

Aug 13, 2025

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Philly Restaurants, Stop Charging ‘Wellness’ or ‘Employee Benefit’ Fees - Eater Philly

"Last week, Philadelphia magazine reported that several Philly-area hotspots, including the D.C.-based chain Founding Farmers in King of Prussia and restaurant group FCM Hospitality (which includes Morgan’s Pier, Liberty Point, Lola’s Garden, Dolphin Tavern, and others) were charging automatic “wellness” and/or “employee benefit” fees to diners that were between 3 and 5 percent of their bill." - Ernest Owens

https://philly.eater.com/2023/12/11/23996643/philly-restaurants-charging-wellness-employee-benefit-fees-opinion-editorial
View Postcard for Dolphin Tavern

Leanne M

Google
Amazing, queer vibes, great people, and a wonderful time. They have themed nights and awesome DJs. There is actually quite a bit of room on the dance floor and there are tables near the front if you want to sit down. Such a great time here!

Christopher Finkelston

Google
Music is ok but stupid people decide to be stupid without thought and steal jackets that's not theirs. I had my jacket on top of my wife's and someone still owned it and left with it. I'm sorry but the music is not worth losing a jacket. They need a coat check even if it costs a few dollars. I will not be going back unless I'm sweating with my own jacket on I'll refuse to take off. I checked every jacket that was there and none was mine/ worth copping someone else's/didn't fit me. People in the building were lucky I didn't pick one that didn't fit me in spite. They really need a coat check and honestly I won't ever go back unless the venue pays me $80 for my coat. Beware!

Blake Butler

Google
Divy club that does small shows. I think my main gripe is the restrooms are in the back of the place, so when the dance floor is packed you have to push your way back there, it's a bad design. No real drink specials and cheap local beers are way over priced, $8 for Yards Pale Ale?? $9 for Troegs Ipa? Best to pregame before coming.

Ariana

Google
Stopped by for the 90s rave. Had a great time! Music was fun, place was comfortably full, staff was ok. Crowd was fun too. Tip: There is a coat closet here but there's no attendee. So it's available but not secure.

Stephanie G

Google
Great divey queer dance bar. Service is fast, great variety of drinks, free coat check, and awesome dance floor. Always a fun time.

Heres Johnny

Google
Went to Lady gaga dance night. It was so freaking hot inside! No air conditioning in the venue in this hot weather. For a $20 door cover, the least you could is put the air conditioning on when it's a room of crowded people! Had to leave an hour into it cause you can't breathe 🫠otherwise is a fun time.

Savannah Peck

Google
If a place is going to charge a cover, the least they should do is have air conditioning. It was cooler outside than it was inside on an 85-degree night. Dance floor was nice at least, but the sign is quite misleading to anyone on the street as billiards are nonexistent and this is not a tavern.

Staminajones

Google
Drinks weren't expensive but strong AF... lol... me and my girl have had a good time the two times we went.
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Samuel A.

Yelp
I used to come to the Dolphin Tavern all the time but tonight they rejected my legitimate, in-state PA driver's license. I'm 23. Ouch. I was told to leave unless I could procure an image of my passport. So I went back outside and stood in the pouring rain. Thankfully I could find a pic of my passport in the depths of my camera roll, but sheesh it was not worth the effort. The Dolphin Tavern used to be fun but now it's sad, desolate, and a waste of your time and money. Not even a lick of an apology from the bouncer. I live in Los Angeles now and wanted to have a good time while home in Philly for the holidays. Maybe we'll do Christmas elsewhere next year...

Phenon M.

Yelp
Last night my friends valid out-of-state license was rejected-- they told them it was a fake ID but it just literally wasn't. They had no other form of ID so they had to leave. I heard another person getting turned away for an international license which seems really fucking weird. Why aren't these bouncers doing their job properly? Why not just get a SCANNER or have a way to look up what different IDs look like so y'all don't look so stupid... So many reviews of people with the same experiences. I've literally never been anywhere that a bouncer thinks a real ID is fake it's so extremely weird and a major vibe kill. This place sucks anyways, so this just makes me sure I'll never be returning here because it's just annoying and unprofessional and really really weird.
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Diego Z.

Yelp
Love love the dolphin. Fun dance parties and great crowd. I love bringing out of town friends here, they always have a blast.
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Emily Q.

Yelp
This place used to be the crappiest bar in Point Breeze when I first moved here. Guess they changed ownership during the lockdown part of the pandemic and now it's pretty solid. Simple food menu but it's a good combination of local corner bar and club. $1 tacos make it great. Only reason I don't rate it 5/5 is that; as with literally any club in Philly security really doesn't kick people out unless they can't stand up and as a woman I feel more comfortable in bars if I know the bouncers are on top of things.
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Brianna H.

Yelp
Ass don't care 4 it. Take their job 2 serious at the front. My license was valid and REAL. I'm 22 and they wouldn't let me in bc it was 3m expired bc the dmv wouldn't let me in until the 22nd of march bc of a pandemic. But yet used to let me in at 17 no Id to get illegally fucked up make it make sense
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Andrea R.

Yelp
My friends and I came for Rihanna/ Nicki/ Bey night. We were super pumped, but upon entering I was apprehensive, to say the least. It appeared smaller, darker, and divey-er than I had anticipated. We were charged a $5 cover, but they have $1 drinks from 9p-10p. They're not the strongest drinks, but who is going to argue with a $1? It makes the cover worth it if you're there by 9. We showed up at 9, and there were few people there. However, people started trickling in not much long after we arrived, and it got crowded fast. The music was ON POINT, but the whole place was so packed, it made it hard to maneuver, let alone dance. It was a very mixed crowd, which was nice- punks, frat bros, older adults, lgbtq, etc. Super welcoming. Just be ready to get up close and personal with strangers, which is fun for some people, but not ideal for a claustrophobe. My biggest complaint is the location. We were tired of this bar by 11, but there were no other bars or restaurants nearby. Honestly, I don't see me returning. It was not a bad experience, just "meh."

Kim L.

Yelp
I used to come to this place underage all the time a few years ago but i went with my friend last night and his out of state id was declined even though he's never had that problem at any center city club. I wasted my money going here $5 cover to get into a dead club which doesn't get crowded until like 1am and is full of couples on their phone
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Andrea F.

Yelp
I decided to update my review since I visited here a few weekends ago, almost 2 years exactly to the date. Still okay, still 3 stars. One pro is that they've redone the interior entirely so that it flows better and makes the walk-through to the back way more efficient. Drinks are still cheap, so that's a plus. $5 cover still in effect, regardless of who's playing that night, which is kind of annoying for not being in center city. Disco strobe lights on the wall still make me nauseous and dizzy, even when I'm sober. My main qualm is the music - it wasn't good until about 1:30 when the place was supposed to close. Until then, the DJ played exclusively 70's funk (which is fine!), but played the ENTIRE songs through, no remixes, no breaks, no blends. After 6 minutes of the same song, I started to lose my patience and just sort of bobbed side to side instead of actually dancing. I'll come back on those nights I'm too lazy to venture into center city, but there are much better places to dance elsewhere.
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Kathleen V.

Yelp
DON'T: go by yourself to drink quietly sit on the speakers take too long in the bathroom complain about paying to get in DO: drink heavily dance the night away instagram a picture of the light up wall tip the bartenders remember to close your tab
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Gwen G.

Yelp
Some guy dumped his beer on me for not dancing with him/declining his creepy advances over the course of 2 hours. I just wasn't trying to dance with the dude who just puked at the edge of the dancefloor. The bouncer was useless the first few times we asked him to handle it. It's that kind of place. Ladies, don't come here for girls' night, with the intention of "just a fun time dancing with the girls". You're straight up prey.
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Ashley C.

Yelp
I've only been here for The Holy Trinity nights (Bey/Rihanna/Nicki). I think I've gone to at least 7. Trinity night gives me life. They are truly the best thing that have happened to Philly. Though I'm currently in DC for a year, I still make the 2.5 hour drive up for them. Yes, they're THAT good. And for $5 cover too. Go early because the line becomes pretty long after 11:30. The best music (only play the 3 divas), high quality and free photobooth with relevant backgrounds of Bey/Rihanna/Nicki, free coat check, huge dance floor, decent bathrooms, and cool and confident crowd that never stops dancing! Huge props to the talented people who coordinate this night because they're literally the most fun nights of my life!
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Delaney M.

Yelp
It always gets very crowded & there are too many boys who will step on your feet, smack you in the head, or generally take up too much space accidentally or trying to touch you. It's grimy af but the toilets will always work (unlike woodys). Your white vans will get destroyed but it's worth it for the reasonable cover, fun music, good lights, nice staff & cool queer people (I love ya'll)
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Nate F.

Yelp
Dolphin is a fun divey spot right off Broad in South Philly. I've been here on several occasions and it depends on the night/DJ/party what type of music they'll be playing so make sure you know what's going on in advance. On any night it could be all deep house or it could be hip/r&b.. The bartenders and owner are hella cool. Drinks are cheap and I heard they got $1 well drinks on Thursdays from 9-10?? I could be wrong.. The dance floor is moderately spacious but it can get really crowded in here. They have cool lighting and smoke and all that. Just don't come in here expecting some type of bougie experience or bottle service and you should be good.
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Gabriela J.

Yelp
Great music went to see DJ sylo, great price on drink, the dance floor was light up by wall lights really created a trippy Ambience, really great vibe of friendly people. Really enjoyed myself!
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Aqua W.

Yelp
Went it to this ghetto place for the first time, paid 5 dollars for cover. They Gave me this sharper Mark. I went inside , danced a little then I went outside for cigarette and Tried to get back in. Then The bouncer said it wasn't valid. Like wtf?
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Evelyn F.

Yelp
FYI: multiple reports of spiked drinks here. Manager says "This kind of thing happens everywhere." https://www.google.com/amp/www.phillymag.com/news/2017/03/24/drugged-at-the-dolphin/%3Famp%3D1
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Jessica H.

Yelp
A very serious warning: My drink was roofied here by one of the male bartenders. Aside from a myriad of other issues with this place (all of which have been extensively remarked on in other comments), it is not safe. This happened a few months ago, so it is possible that the person has since left the establishment, but I can't be sure - and I obviously won't be going back to check. I've thought seriously about whether or not anyone else had the opportunity to spike my drink, but it is only possible that it was the bartender.
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Ken C.

Yelp
The bar scene has changed. Crowd is not to bad. I guess you can see a turn over as they improve things..
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Johnny M.

Yelp
To be fair, I must say that the drink prices were reasonable and the bartender actually made a pretty damn good old fashioned, which was only three dollars during happy hour. However, also to be fair, I must say my experience on the whole was awful. I went there a couple nights ago to go to see a "DJ" who turned out to be more like an iTunes jockey than a real DJ. They had a smoke machine going and it was filling the place with smoke quickly. I turned to my friend to say "this is not a good place for a smoke machine" (because it's basically a hallway with no windows or ventilation). The barback overheard my comment and said "if you think this is a bad place for a smoke machine, you don't know anything about clubs." All balls and no brains, I guess. Well, I live and work in Hollywood and I actually know a lot about clubs, because I've been playing real clubs for years. First of all, the dolphin is soooooo NOT a club. It's a tavern. Hence, the name. Second, the barback should not be talking to customers that way. Obviously, she doesn't know how to chat up the customer (me) who just left a great tip because he felt sorry for the decent bartender who had to work in this heinous place. Third, half the crowd kept going outside because they were choking on smoke. So I guess it really isn't a good place for a smoke machine after all. That said, my experience at the dolphin sucked for myriad other reasons. It's filthy. My feet stuck to the floor and my hands stuck to the bar. The bathrooms are all the way in the back so you have to fight your way through the sticky dance floor to get to the bathroom. They actually charge a cover, just so you can stand in this sh*t hole and deal with it. Amazing. Oh yeah, there are cool lights cascading across the wall. A grand distraction. Whoopee.
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John J.

Yelp
I've been to this bar several times and every time it gets worse. If you want to be in a crappy place with crappy people ruining otherwise decent music, this is the bar for you. The Dolphin is designed to be human powered pinball machine where the goal is for drunk people to knock into every surface until they piss at the end of club. Seriously, the bar is a just a giant hallway leading to the toilets. The dance floor is one of the single most unsatisfying club experiences on the east coast. The lights seem cool, the sound seems okay, it builds my hopes of having a good time. Then I actually try to dance. This is nearly impossible since the dance floor is merely a giant obstacle en route to the toilets and urinals. This makes everyone in a bad mood or ready for an argument, while forcing themselves to have fun. Nothing can be done with any ease or efficiency. Dancing is impossible since you're just blocking the route to the toilet. Getting a drink is a nightmare since the main bar was built too wide for the type of club it's trying to be, therefore no one can move around the outside of it if a few people are waiting for drinks. Then the back bar is blocked by the dance floor and is yet another obstacle on the way to the rest rooms. Hanging out is just annoying since the tables are pushed together, yet somehow exposed and once again just obstacles on the way to the toilets. Because the club experience is so terrible, the only people willing to suffer through it are jerks and idiots. My advice: 1. put the toilets in the middle of the club 2. push the dance floor to the back with no toilets and no bar behind it 3. rip out both bars and build a new narrow one in the middle of the club somewhere 4. ditch all the tables and consider booths or hiding areas in the front 5. build a coat check at the entrance where you pay the cover too 6. connect all your cash register terminals so that tabs are transferable 7. stop sucking so bad, this place is a huge disappointment
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Kevin D.

Yelp
DJs were okay but everything else kind of sucked, especially the part where my coat got stolen in the 10 minutes I was on the dance floor. They don't have a coat check so you're at the mercy of a crowdful of drugged-up strangers. I'll update if they do something to help me get my coat back, but you know how that goes. They have a decent draft selection. They have dancers, much like the old Dolphin, but tonight the only interesting thing about them was their animal masks. My sample size is small, but if I'm putting the new Dolphin up against the old one, I'd go with the one where my coat wasn't stolen, where dudes could smoke blunts while they shot pool, where beers cost two bucks, and where there wasn't a $5 cover for some DJs whose band was popular 10 years ago.

Brendan M.

Yelp
I was drugged at this bar. Don't drink the water pitchers on the bar! Someone is putting date rape drugs in the water pitchers! Too many people, including myself, have the same story after going to the Dolphin for this to be a coincidence. Watch your drinks and DO NOT drink from the pitcher. Management needs to realize this is a public safety hazard.
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Jordan P.

Yelp
Dolphin Tavern has ALL the ingredients for a place that I would like. A place that I should like. All of the ingredients except one: a palatable staff. Upon entering the other night, I was so excited, music was blaring, great Brazilian DJs were rocking, the drinks were flowing. A cold enough night to warrant a puffy coat, we realized when we walked in that the "coat room" (some racks with hangers, I get it, we all make due with what we have...) was full. We stood there for a moment trying to figure out what to do, and the woman taking cover told us to move out of the way, saying there's NO space for coats. I said "Ok, sorry, didn't know what to do, we were just wondering we might do with them" and she said "If you're going to give me attitude, you can just get out." Wait. What? It just felt like she came into the night trying to fight someone. The other employees were not directly rude like that, but the bartenders were brusque and rushing customers. That probably had more to do with the fact that it was totally packed, but it left a sour taste in my mouth. LUCKILY, the dance floor was popping, and I shook off any dissatisfaction there. The bathrooms were a little grody but, again, I wasn't expecting much. Drinks weren't cheap, but weren't outlandish. If you're looking to get sweaty and rock out surrounded by all of the lights, Dolphin's your place. But if this visit was any indicator of normal customer service, don't come expecting a spot full of smiles and assistance.
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Bri H.

Yelp
I can't say I've had the pleasure of experiencing the old Dolphin in all it's skeevy glory, but the 'new & improved' (I guess?) Dolphin isn't bad! We arrived around 10pm on a Saturday night and didn't have to pay the cover (because we are old and lame and didn't know 10pm was 'early'). Beer prices are reasonable ($5 Victory Saison) and the dancers were entertaining. There were 2 girls & a guy. The guy (I think it was the same guy?) changed his outfit a few times. At first he had kind of a cowboy-sailor thing going on, and as the night progressed, he ended up looking more like a member of "The Prodigy" (Firestarter!). When we first arrived, the place was pretty empty with no one on the dance floor. They keep it freezing cold which is good for dancing, not so good for just sitting there. Later on, the dance floor filled up. It was fun for a while but the dj was mostly playing Motown stuff (not my cup of tea). The bathrooms are surprisingly really clean.
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Colleen D.

Yelp
This is hands down the worst venue I've ever been to. This bar was not designed to be a club. The Dolphin somehow manages to get some of the best acts in Philly but drastically oversells all of their shows. This place is very small but they insist on jamming as many people in as possible. If they capped their ticket sales this place would be worlds better. If the space wasn't limited enough, the brilliant architect put the bathrooms in the very back of the venue which guarantees you'll be getting pushed around the entire time you're there. It's inevitable and it's awful. While I really love some of the acts coming to the Dolphin I'd rather deep throat a cactus than ever step foot in there again.
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Ashley A.

Yelp
It was my Birthday on Saturday and after an early night filled with bar hopping, we wanted to dance. My brother's girlfriend suggested the Dolphin. One of her favorite dance spots. We went to the Dolphin around 10:30PM. There wasn't a line but the cover was $10 a person. The drinks were cheap and the crowd was pleasant. I would describe the vibe as chill with a house feel. The DJ played deep house with a constant beat. I loved the walls, which lit up in different colors. Wonderful suggestion Caitlin!!! I can't wait to go back!!!!
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Amanda C.

Yelp
I liked the old Dolphin much better. I came to the club on a Friday and I have to say the Dolphin is definitely filling the hole of much needed dance spaces in South Philly. Drinks were on the cheap side, $5 for Victory Saison, $2.50 for a PBR. Dance floor is pretty large. One downside is that you have to walk through the dance floor to get to the bathrooms. Bathrooms are really clean compared to most bars.
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Shawn E.

Yelp
First, i would say comparing the Dolphin now to its former incarnation is like comparing apples and oranges. It went from a hangout for creeps, with cheap beers and miserable looking dancers to a haven for hipsters who want to be seen. The old. scummy Dolphin was charming and fun to go to, but I can understand the new owners changing everything, so they can make money. I went on a Saturday night, and it was way too packed. The bar area is narrow with the bar in the middle of the place making it very difficult to navigate in and out . Perhaps one of the biggest design flaws about the place is the location of the bathrooms. Located at the back of the establishment, people have to walk through the dance floor to get to them. On this particular Saturday, this led to constant lines of people pushing their way through the people dancing, making it less fun for those who were there to enjoy the music. The dance floor is pretty cool with walls of flashing lights on either sides that are synced to the music. They could stand to tone down the fog machine though, or at least relocated it. It was rough if you found yourself right in front of it. Also, where the go-go dancers were a feature of the old place, they are merely a part of the decor now. I guess that could be seen as a good thing though because that means that you aren't just drinking and staring at dancers all night. I wasn't drinking that night, but the bar staff appeared overwhelmed. They had three people working the bar, and they understandably could not keep up with the crowd they had there. We probably waited 20 minutes while my friend tried to close out his tab. The bar staff wasn't particularly friendly either. Towards the beginning of the night, before the place was even crowded, my friend asked what beers they had, and the stone-faced bartender told her to go look at the lists they had posted on the wall. Also, I'm 31 years old at the time of writing this, and I felt old. Not that that is a bad thing about the place. Just a warning for those who are relying on this review. There was an older dude probably in his 50s on the dance floor though who was straight killing it. I guess the lesson here is that you are as old as you feel? In sum, I would go here again, but I would probably try to go on an off-night when its not so crowded.
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Jordan G.

Yelp
The girl with the Afro will give you warnings for using cheaper vapes like Juuls inside, but will "confiscate" nicer vapes and then lie to you and say that she threw it into various trash bins when she actually just pocketed it. Trust me, we searched for my friend's immediately after she pointed to the trash bin she claimed to have tossed it in. And when we confronted her she lied and said it was in a different trash (which we had already searched). Your club policy can be whatever you like, but if it's not consistent and your staff is clearly using it to benefit from, at the expense of your patrons, then you're going to get a bad review. Her lying was just shady, leaving a bad impression on all of us, and caused my entire crew to leave. Everywhere I've been to in Philly/NYC/DC just tells you to leave if you vape inside because why would anyone continue buying drinks at a club if they just took your expensive vape from you?...If they had less shitty staff that didn't selectively steal from and then lie to patrons I'd give it more stars. Also, it reeks... I MEAN REEEEEEKS of sweat, pee, and fog machine smoke...vapes are not the problem and can really only help the smell of your establishment.
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Sneha K.

Yelp
I came here for a Klingande concert and it was amazing! It looks very divey and I loved the multicolored christmas lights strung across the place. The dance floor is super fun and has a wall with giant light installations that change colors. The drinks were pretty reasonably priced ($6 for a well-drink) and the opening DJ was awesome. I would definitely want to come back here to check out what its like on a non-concert night.

Nadi B.

Yelp
Came here on New Years Eve. $1 drinks from 9-10 and a $5 cover. Pretty good. This is definitely a "hipster" type bar with a young crowd. The ambience was very 1970s; colorful string lights, flashing light up walls on the dance floor, smoke machine, disco ball, etc. I thought it was amazing, but if you're older or just looking for a place to have a few relaxed drinks with friends, this isn't the place for you. The music was just alright. Mostly deep house and a few rap/disco throwbacks that got everyone hype. It would probably be perfect if you're on ecstasy/LSD or just sloshed to the point that everything sounds amazing, but like another reviewer said, it definitely got monotonous after a while. The DJ also doesn't take requests, which is annoying. The plus side is that almost EVERYONE was up dancing, so the energy was out of this world. It was also very overcrowded. I could barely move without accidentally bumping into someone. Had to literally push my way onto the dance floor. It could've been because it was NYE that the place was so packed so maybe I should try again on a normal night. For what it is, I think it's a decent place to go and get wild on a Friday night. They have themed nights (emo night, 90s throwback rap, Bey/Rihanna/Nicki night) and for the price? You really can't beat it.
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Tom L.

Yelp
Cover at 1:15am when the place is empty?? Place was empty and asking 10 bucks a person. Shitty cover when the place is shitty is just bad taste. Rest well dolphin.
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Sara P.

Yelp
As far as entertainment goes, this place is pretty rad. Has the feel of a European disco - smoke and rainbow led panelling and all. And, the German techno being blasted on Saturday (a bit too loud for the small space - bring ear plugs if you're afraid of damage) made me feel like I was in Amsterdam. That, and the "go go" dancers were androgynous pale skinned giants - female and male - with a fetish twist going on. I loved it. People watching here is prime. You've got everyone from hipsters complete with their handlebar moustaches, to seedy looking former "regulars", who seemed kind of confused by the rest of the crowd. Folks of all races, and very lgbt friendly. Lots of cuties. Bar is average. I'd give them 5 stars, except that the bartender made the ultimate party foul when she accidentally gave my Visa card to someone else. Had to cancel the card, and will now have to fight some charges that were made, wait for a new card, yada, yada It was an honest mistake, but it really ruined the night. However, even considering what happened with my card, I'll definitely be back soon. This weekend in fact - If it's as good as the other night, I may even change my rating. I think that pretty much sums up what I think of this place.
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Ray T.

Yelp
Fun club esk atmosphere. Light panel walls are really cool. Only issue is the drinks are very watered down or are terribly mixed. I had 2 whiskey and cokes and there was next to zero whiskey. I got my girlfriend 2 long islands and they were realllly bad. Way too much tequila.
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Julia E.

Yelp
$12 cover?? For what?? I think you can go to nearly any other "club" in Philly for less than this cover charge. Regardless I had fun, but I still was unsure of why exactly the cover charge was so steep. Drinks were cheap, music was decent, vibe was cool, my only rationale for why they charged so much to get in is that if you don't pay to get in you're stranded in literally the middle of nowhere in South Philly and that's a place I don't necessarily want to be. I'll probably be back, but I'd rather go somewhere else.

Andrew B.

Yelp
Dolphin Tavern is like the scene in the movie when the main character starts to hallucinate. It's hazy from the fog machine, loud from the DJ bumping whatever he pleases, and only illuminated by the checkered disco walls. People in Batman and Robin costumes wander around, then disappear into the haze. Super weird = fun, at least for me.
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Elle F.

Yelp
Great spot for early 20's. Typical dive bar, but with a pretty unique dance floor. It has floor to ceiling light instalations which change colors as the music plays. Definitely creates a fun vibe. Not the kind of place to go if you're looking to have a drink and chat with friends.

Zack L.

Yelp
Went to this place on a 90s, 2000s theme night and had so much fun, definitely a dive bar/ hole in the wall but I'd definitely recommend it if your looking to have some fun and not spend too much money.
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Sydney S.

Yelp
Went to the Fleetwood Mac night with my friend last night -- so fun! Great vibe, fun decor, very chill, drinks were not ridiculously expensive. Nice crowd on the dance floor, too.
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Nicholas K.

Yelp
The drinks are pretty cheap and we got there before the cover started, but the DJ was terrible at 10:30pm on a Saturday night. There were about 12 people visibly trying to dance on their hip dance floor and the DJ kept playing very chill music that no one could dance to. I may be biased because of the atmosphere that I expected but I was a little upset that my friends and I had to leave because of the quality of the DJ. They have too good of a dance floor to disappoint on a Saturday night
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Sergei B.

Yelp
Went in for the Pop Muzik New Year's Eve Extravaganza and barely came out alive. I'm older and kept getting tripped, hit and pushed around. The juveniles (millenials) on the dancefloor were rude and could care less about others who wanted to dance while they stood motionless while japping with each other in the middle of said floor. The only exit was blocked by crowds standing at the bar. It took me 15 minutes to get through and by this time my claustrophonia was kicking in. If you suffer claustrophonia, this is a death trap. I don't recommend it unless you have a death wish. There are better places to go dancing at. I'm never going back. Don't waste your money at the Dolphin. Once a dive, always a...
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Sara H.

Yelp
Came here for drake night tonight, showed up at 12am on my birthday, waited outside for 30 minutes just to be told that they aren't letting anymore people in. No explanations given. I told them that I came just for my birthday, and they said there's nothing they can do they're full until 2am! Don't plan on coming back here very rude!
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Jo B.

Yelp
Dolphin Tavern is what nightmares are made of. Good as a dive bar - low prices, lighting, and standards. But as a dance club? Much to be desired. The set up is horrible - you have to snake through a packed crowd to get to a cramped bathroom with barely-functioning facilities. Due to the set up, people are constantly pushing through, bumping into each other, and spilling drinks. So hot that condensation is dripping off the walls, no air conditioner vents to be felt, no fans. My eyeballs were sweating. Rude crowd that doesn't understand the concept of common courtesy. Would be good for a casual drink on an off night, but definitely not as a packed dance venue. I would prefer Lit any day, and that's really saying something because Lit was the lowest of the low til now.
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Simone A.

Yelp
Wait, why did it take me so long to go here? I'm not sure you can even call this place a bar. It's a gem. Oh, 1/2 dive bar and 1/2 Rubik's Cube dance party? Let's do it. Seriously, dive bar-esque drink prices and then the dance floor is something you have to experience for yourself. And it's solid house music, which is a nice alternative to the usual Top 40's or EDM at other spots.
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Corey F.

Yelp
Great bar, cheap drinks, great staff. Did I mention the best music in the city? I LOL every time I see someone complaining about the cover. Why is it so funny? The dopes complaining clearly have no idea who is djing on any given night. E.g. $15 to see Skream or Seth Troxler?!? DER TOO MUCH MONEY! Never mind that they consistently sell out venues 3x as big and usually command tickets 3x as expensive. This is a bar for people who like cheap drinks, quality atmosphere, and most importantly the best music in Philly. If you want to hear top 40s and awful EDM DJs and still pay as much... Go somewhere else.
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Kelly W.

Yelp
IF: you are looking for a place to really let your hair down (and probably whip it back and forth) with friends this is the place to do it. Do not come here to catch up with an old pal. I am enamored with this bar and the light up dance floor! Love the cheap drinks and have had some of the best nights here! Down and dirty disco fun, not for the faint-hearted.
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Tim M.

Yelp
Drinks were cheap. Cider was good. I asked bartender if they had food. They don't. Asked if I can order wings in. Yes. Ordered food. It came we ate they asked us leave. Bouncer told me that owner told us no food.
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Bryan F.

Yelp
ok local bar. Good weekend crowd . A friend told me about the place so I tried it out. I will probably go back

R M.

Yelp
The first time I went to The Dolphin, it was a little after "the old Dolphin" became "the new Dolphin". Dancing and loud music and etc., but I dug the cheap drinks and all ages, kinda quirky crowd who weren't obnoxious and mostly kept to themselves. I don't like jam-packed bars/clubs, and at least the times I went there, the crowds weren't overwhelming. It became my go-to for a few months. And then life got unreasonably hectic and I took a way-too-long hiatus from going out. Hectic life slowed down not too long ago and I said, "let's go to The Dolphin." Oh, man. There it was jam-packed with Tumblr-era hipster teeny boppers and muskrat-looking 24 year old dudes, being obnoxious while simultaneously feigning apathy. Maybe I'm becoming an old fuddy duddy, but nahh...it doesn't know how to chill anymore.