The Barbary

I came to see Spencer Brown with a couple friends. We had high expectations of The Barbary based on the reviews we saw online, and the experience was definitely worth the hype. It was a Brooklyn nightclub quality experience, but the venue is on the smaller side making for a more intimate experience with the DJs (a plus imo). While the space is on the smaller side, occupancy is limited to 200, so it never felt too crowded. There are 2 stages, the main stage downstairs and a slightly smaller stage upstairs. Each has a decent sized bar immediately adjacent to the dance floors (easy to access) with a good selection of canned beers, seltzers, and canned cocktails, plus all the basics for typical made to order cocktails. The sound system is very good, especially the downstairs stage. Bring ear protection if you plan to stand near the stage or speakers (I forgot mine, but they do sell earplugs at the bar for cheap). Both stages have good light displays synced with the music, but no lasers. There is a “disco den” upstairs near the back, which has indoor seating to take a break from the music if you need. The disco den has an outside staircase to go down to the outdoor (uncovered) patio area, which is also accessible from near the entrance downstairs. Highly recommend The Barbary, and I will definitely be adding it to my Philly nightclub rotation!

Always great sound and lovely staff. I wish the patrons knew the amazing artists of international venues and genius they were enjoying, Josh wink is a God and I'm grateful I got to be present

This used to be my favorite bar before covid / the renovations and after my awful experience last night, I doubt I will ever go back. I went to an event last night that was sold to the brim. I started to get overheated with the amount of people that were in the small space so I went to the bar to get water and once I got there, I felt like I was going to pass out so I was leaning on the bar and told the bartender I felt lightheaded and overheated and needed water/air. This was my first time at the bar all night, I didn’t buy any drinks - I wasn’t drinking, I was there for the DJ I wanted to see. The bartender was helpful until a door security came to me and asked for my ID, I thought they were going to take me outside to get some air and drink water but nope - the bartender lied and said I was falling asleep at the bar like I didn’t just ask her for help and instead of help, I got kicked out for the night? For “having too much” (no drinks) and “falling asleep” (nearly passing out from how hot it was for me). Then I was told "you're not getting banned, just kicked out for tonight" not feeling well / being overheated and feeling like you're going to pass out is grounds for banning someone now? I’ve never been kicked out of a bar in my life and I was not acting belligerent or unable to handle myself. I gave the security my ID with no problem, walked out with him no problem, was having a coherent complete conversation with him because again, I didn’t have a drink all night. If I was drinking, I could have been roofied, I could have seriously needed help and I was treated as if I was being belligerent or causing harm to other patrons. I understand me leaning against the bar was not ideal but there was no place inside for me to sit and I wasn’t aware of the patio until I was kicked out. I work in nightlife and at venues, it takes NOTHING to help someone before kicking them out, especially if they aren’t causing a disturbance. It takes NOTHING to give someone a chance to feel better and enjoy the rest of their night especially if they weren’t drunk or causing any problems. I just needed help to get outside to the patio, to feel less hot. If I passed out, it felt like this staff would have just grabbed my ID, scanned it out and kicked me out not caring about what happened to me at all. I will never go back here again, because they don’t care about patrons safety, they get your money and then throw you out when you might need help. I never felt so unsafe and discarded in a nightlife space and it’s sad because this place used to be very special. The new vibe and the new staff are awful. And they take your gum, i’m good.

This is hands down our favorite going out place! We loved it before the renovation and after. Before it seemed like R&B and throwback songs and now it’s basically strictly EDM so if that’s not your thing you may not like it but as an EDM lover it was such a fun place and I love the 2 floors of different music so you have options, there’s also an outdoor area to cool off at or smoke if you need. It’s very chill and a lot of fun

Solid rave venue. Sound system is great, staff are friendly. Clean bathrooms. Small and intimate setting. I’ll be back no question.

Best venue I've been to in Philly for dancing. With the two floor, a lounge, and a patio, there's really something for every stage of the night! The size is just perfect that it feels large enough to groove, and not be suffocated. The ventilation must be magic. Bar staff are out of this world! And wildly enough, the bathrooms were a huge highlight of the venue - super well kept all night, clean, comfortable, and just, wow. Never thought I'd praise a dance hall for its bathroom but here we are. Great lineups, fantastic crowds. Let's keep this space great ✨ well worth a visit and a long evening out!

Honestly it’s got potential but the DJ on the second floor was hurt when I showed him my phone asking to play better music and made an announcement to not show your phone with requests. How sad :( would be better if open to customer requests

Went with some friends to celebrate Halloween. Drinks were ok, but the security and staff were unnecessarily aggressive and rude. A security staff member let us in to the wrong door (asked for our IDs and everything) we get inside, and a staff member yells at us to leave even though the security guard let us in. We didn’t know that was the wrong entrance, but the staff member didn’t care what we had to say and continued yelling at us. Another friend had security yelling at them to leave the club when saying goodbye to another friend. Don’t waste your time or $20 at this spot and go somewhere else. Wack establishment

DUDE I've been wanting to come here for over a decade and I have no clue why it never happened until this past weekend. I guess because my friends and I usually favor the more convenient Dolphin in South Philly, but I think I'm gonna make this my new spot TBH. There's a cover charge ($5 or $10?). Love how big the 2-room downstairs area is. Dolphin usually feels a little too cramped but this felt open even when packed with people. Crowd is a nice mix of fun, non-pretentious people just trying to get down. Two stocked bars downstairs (1 is cash only). Unfortunately no coat check that night, so duly noted. Apparently sometimes there is, but I'm not sure which nights. Whiskey gingers were $9, but well worth it, as they were made friggin' perfect and nice and strong, just how I like 'em. Bartenders on point and fast. They got White Claws (like most other bars do now) if you're above the law. Stage/DJ area downstairs reminds me a bit of Raven Lounge sans the stripper pole, but was filled with the DJ's friends/hype men on Friday night (it was the Bounce night with club bangers that particular night - different themes for different nights). Best part is the entire UPSTAIRS area which was all reggae/Jamaican dancehall, my personal fav vibe. It was a little dead up there that night but I imagine it can get real crowded and super fun on those nights. Overall, great vibe. Will for sure be returning.

The Barbary reopened! It's aight. I feel like I might be having my "old man shakes fist at cloud" moment: the place is clean. The numerous toilets and sinks all work. There's not a single bumper sticker or graffito to be seen. And drinks are still 2025 cheap... I think. But the inside is just kinda all black and neon... like "hey, we're cyberpunk now." Barbary, you were already cyberpunk when you were just regular punk existing at the edge of technological apocalypse, bro. Cyberpunk is crusty and biohacky, but I don't even know if that's what you're going for. Anyway, the place is nice. It even has what looks like a little bottle service area. I think back in the 2010s Barbary, the closest thing to bottle service would have been the dancing proletariat seizing the means of drunkenness from the owners and sharing cheap tequila amongst the people. And that's what I miss the most. Did the Barbary lose the jank and lack of maintenance money that made it an institution, or am I just old? The answer is yes.

Just steps away from the youthful, fun vibes on Frankford and Girard. Each night if the week has a theme or event, and covers are probably the most reasonable I've seen, changing based on night of the week and expected turnout. Monday's are for dancing, and those are probably the most consistently low key but fun nights. The bar isn't empty, but there are two floors with authentic, friendly people that dance, drink, and interact in a comfortable way. The bartenders are observant and good about keeping everyone in a safe, inclusive space with good music, fun times, and a simple aesthetic. Smack dab in between two 7-elevens for convenience. The security is nice but firm for big crowds, and you can always count on a good conversation and a smile heading in from Bear, the main dude. Come for the cheap wide citys, stay for the music-specific nights and people!

Randomly found ourselves at The Barbary one Thursday. At least I think it was. (Either way, there wasn't cover.) Walking in, we took stock of the situation: Photo booth? Check. Dance floor? Check. Good DJ? Double check. This bar is two floors of awesome. Took advantage of their friendly bartenders, then took advantage of the photo booth. Next time I'll be sure to play some pinball, indulge in falafel, and dance on a table.

Keen to dance, my friend and I turned to Yelp for a place to get our groove on. (Do people say that?) I'm a big fan of the Fishtown night life, and I've heard some good things about Barbary, so we called an uber and set off for some good dancing. Woah, baby. For starters, the outside of this bar is far from appealing. As my friend and I walked towards the entrance, we noticed a lot of lingering smokers, all clad in spikes and leather. This should have been a sign that we were, perhaps, a little out of our element. We paid the $5 cash cover, and when we stepped through the door, I felt like I had entered a portal to 1987. The music was curious, definitely tunes I've never heard - an alternative, funk vibe. The dancing and outfits made for incredible people watching, but I felt like a fish out of water. We wandered upstairs and the vibe was a little more low key - the DJ played a few remixes of songs I sort of recognized. The real draw to the upstairs was the Haus of Ham - a local drag troupe that happened to be performing this night. I was super pumped to see performers, so my friend and I kind of awkwardly swayed and watched the hipster outfits and fancy feet on the dance floor. The flyer advertised a starting time of 11. After waiting an hour for the performance, they got on stage and performed 1 song and said "we'll be back in half an hour!" They were beautiful and fabulous performers, but it was hardly a drag "show" There were decent drink specials, but bring cash, as that is all that's accepted here. This is a little bit of a dive a lotta bit grunge, which is not my scene, but I can see why this bar is popular for certain crowds.

This ended up being a really fun place for a night of dancing (though I can't say I've really scoped out the clubbing scene in Philly)! We came on a Friday night around 1130, $5 cover and a very short line. There was a decent amount of people inside but it got really crowded after midnight. There are two dance floors upstairs and downstairs, definitely more crowded and clubby downstairs. I think it was 90s/2000s theme so a lot of fun throwbacks if you're a millennial. The drinks are reasonably priced and several different bars so you're not waiting to get the bartender's attention. The vibe was a little grungy/divey but surprisingly fun and unpretentious with a diverse crowd though probably mostly people in their twenties. Didn't seem to be any sort of dress code, definitely LGBTQ friendly, and minimal groping. Solid option for a more causal clubbing experience! Cash only.

we came to this place for my sisters birthday. I must admit i was a little worried about what i was walking into from the outside. The cover was $5. at first we were confused when we walked in. It was more of like a grunge party. There was coat check for $3. Once we figured out the party we were there for was UPSTAIRS, things got better. There were 2 dj's. They played 90's and early 2000's hip hop all night long. best ever! there was a great mix of people, and there was a glitter booth with free glitter face painting! The bathrooms were not disgusting like most bars, i was shocked. I would definitely return here at least to give it a second try. we all had a super good time.,

This review is for 90's night only with DJ Deejay 2000's music upstairs. Be prepared to sweet your arse off!!! Tons of fun and dancing.....super divey.....get there early before the lines..... Cash only is a hassle but drinks are reasonably priced

How has nobody added The Barbary to the Yelp mix?! Don't worry folks, I've got you covered. The Barbary has been newly revamped by JHN RDN (seriously - all caps, no vowels) of Hands and Knees and Crescendolls fame (or infamy, depending on your perspective). The Barbary has deep roots and been in existence since the late 60's. From what I've heard, the bar used to be a rock and roll bar that hosted a lot of not-so-well-known bands. The entrance opens up right on the dance floor with the bar lining the right-hand wall. The space is divided by a wall which creates both the dance floor and a sitting area with a few couches for lounging. There's also a photo booth and an ATM, which makes this homegirl's life better since the bar is cash only and my pockets are always empty. Now under Redden's reign it's become more of a dance venue for your local PBR-drinking, leggings-wearing, beard-sporting, tight jean-loving crowd. There's some type of DJ almost every night. Serious. Check the sched, it's pretty much every night (http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/greggforeman72/barbs_jan2.jpg). I'm not saying they are all fantastic DJs, in fact some are definitely iTunes DJs, but they're the jockeys of the discs/mp3s, so I guess they can get away with using the title. I've been the bar on varying nights during the week and on Fridays, and there's been a decent crowd each time. Even on weeknights it seems like a late crowd with people not wandering in until after 11pm. This past Friday was the most insane I've seen the bar yet. So packed it was difficult to even get in the door. The dance floor was completely insane with everyone rocking their shit to some sweet 60's rock. It was a great time until some jackass decided it would be funny to assault me on the dance floor. Screw you, jackass! You made my foot bleed! The walk is a bit unsavory if you're coming from Northern Liberties, as you have to walk through what I like to call The Abyss of Philadelphia - the intersection of Germantown Ave, Front Street, and Laurel Street underneath I-95. Honestly, just take that walk once. Even in broad daylight it's a little nerve-racking. So many roads converging in one place, yet there is never a single soul under there. The roads look as though they haven't been cleaned up in just about 3 decades. There's always garbage, broken glass, clothing, and weeds growing up out of the sidewalk. You'll want to watch your feet along the way. In fact, John Redden, if you want to start a clean up project around the bar. I'm in. Anything to make me less afraid of contracting Hepatitis along the way to a night out.

Just got home from Sorted. at the Barbary and have to say, this is the only place to go if you wanna dance. The Barbary pulls in a variety of djs who spin all kinds of tunes... dance, electro, indie, britpop, reggae, hiphop, whatever you like there is a night for it at the Barbary. Cheap beers, frequent free or $1 drink specials and low covers make it a guaranteed fun night out. There might even be a local photog snapping pics of you to add to the glam atmosphere. John Redden, who gave us the infamous Hands and Knees party, keeps it fresh at his own club, the Barbary. Check it out if you dont mind getting sweaty and freaking out. p.s. frankford avenue isn't too shady, compared to a few blocks away. dont' be an obvious target and there is nothing to fear.

Without a doubt the best hole in the wall place to go dance in fishtown. Oozes character

Small, sh*tty hole in the wall bar with good noisy shows that makes me pretend that I'm still in my 20s but yes, I'm well in my thirties. When I was there some dude mixed me a drink that had PBR, grenadine, cherry juice, some sort of hard alcohol... and it was amazing. He called it the lunchbox. The biggest bummer is that the "city wide" is more expensive here than any other place in town. Not much of a special for $5.

How in the crap did I not drop an update on the Barbary yet (oh yeah I was reviewing into the 700s)? My first review was pretty much a history lesson about the Barbary of the past since I knew a good deal of the people involved with it. And it was a big time appraisal of The Barbary that was settling in since I was familiar with a lot of the people behind the scenes and events that they put on. I was beyond stoked to dance my ass off inside it, and take in some sick live shows, and it's definitely beyond delivered on both fronts. JHN RDN definitely knows how to book a fun dance party. And Sorted, Turnaround VS Immediate, Sorted, Live Forever, and the crapload of others that he has managed to bring in might just be some of the best dance nights out their period. But of course the regular weekly dance night that are hosted by the likes of Spank Rock and Broadzilla DJs aren't slouches either. One of my biggest concerns when the new Barbary moved in was that it was going to do away with a lot of the old decoration that I loved. But the bathroom is very much intact with the Justin Duerr artwork on the doors, and the Loafass stickers inside the stalls, and they beyond embraced the photo booth. So it's good to know that I can still cherish a lot of that stuff. And thanks to R5 and a lot of good local acts the shows have been pretty damn memorable. Seeing Yah Mos Def tear it up during the CD Release was pretty amazing. and I cursed like a sailor when I missed out on Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah. And I can't wait to relive my punk rock days inside it when I catch Subhumans in July!

I finally made it to the Barbary for my first time last night. (Kind of shocking it took me this long but I don't really go to the Fishtown area too often...) I feel like the Barbary is the type of place I would have loved when I was going through my goth phase in high school. Lots of punk kids and hipsters and dramatic 80s music. I went on a 90s party night which was fun for dancing. It's so small so it was hard to find room to dance but I still enjoyed myself. Drinks were pretty decently priced. I didn't enjoy having to pay a cover but at least it was only $5. The crowd could stand to use a little more diversity but the staff was at least friendly. This would not be my first choice for a place to go dancing but I would go again. UPDATE: I had to dock a point because I went again and man this place is so full of vulture men it disgusts me. I was out with my friend who is not my girlfriend but we had to pretend that she was because men WOULD NOT STOP coming up behind her and grinding on her against her will. I shouldn't have to sit outside of a bar and explain consent to drunk straight dudes. I tried to look the other way on the creepy men on my first visit but this second visit I seriously spent the entire time trying to intercept rapey men from grinding without permission on women on the dance floor. Disgusting.

Hot dirty cheap fun place to dance your ass off. Don't bother going early but it's the perfect place to end a night of ridiculousness.

This is one of the first spots I hit up when I moved to Philly a few weeks ago. Prices are not too bad and crowd is cool but the music/djs are great...definitely will be going back!

I. LOVE. THE. BARBARY! Absolutely no frills about this bar, just a big, sweaty, beautiful dance party. There's a different themed party every night of the week, and there's definitely something for everyone. My favorites are the Tiger Beats (indie dance party) on Monday nights and the recurring Emo Nights. I've brought countless friends to the Barbary during visits to Philadelphia and they all ask to go back the next time they're in town. It's one of my "must see" spots in the city!

One of my favorite bars to hit on the weekend. Great atmosphere although I wish it wasn't cash only. Awesome deals and fun music!

I was really excited for the 80's Night here... but it was lackluster. The DJ was playing songs from the 70's and 90's. You can't find songs from a decade to fill four hours?! I also asked if he was going to play any MJ... he said no because "he watched the documentary and has a 7-year-old son". Shouldn't DJ's been unbiased when working an event, especially when they specifically advertised that there would be MJ songs played.

My first experience here was awful. It could've been fun but the bouncers were so rude and aggressive to me and my friends that it gave us a terrible impression from the start. We were so bummed out by it so we decided to leave 30 minutes later. We are not likely to return!

If you find out about a party don't go on a Friday night. I was planning on attending a 90s two thousands party. I was sure in for a surprise when I got the bar at 8:55pm it was closed. Wasted cab trip to no party and I love the 90s and two thousands! Tried to call the club but no response. And I thought I was going be a part of two awesome decades but guess not tonight! Thank God for pizza! So if you want to go this club don't bother since there are plenty of better ones to go to in Philly and will have an unforgettable night.

I'm here to rescind my previous 2-star dissatisfaction with The Barbary. My last experience? People making out: check Nudity in the photo booth: check Girls motor-boating each other on the dance floor: double check (get it?) My friends and I had a drinking head start so we weren't being stingy with out wallets, but c'mon, $10 cover for any party at The Barbary is just obnoxious. DJ Deejay was spinning, unbeknownst to us. Was it worth it? Maybe? But quite frankly, I'm over this bizarre MMP (Michael, Madonna, Prince) fad. I say we move on to WAP (Whitney, ABBA, Paula). Uh, yeah. I definitely think a change is in order.

The Barbary is a divey spot in a divey area of Fishtown. Parking isn't always the easiest but there is a free lot close by. It depends on the night what is going on here. One thing to note: they don't accept cards at the bar so make sure you have cash on you. They got 2 levels, with like 3 bars. Different little areas to go. People usually are dancing. Gotta love it for what it is.

Happy New Years! Last night was the second time that my friends and I have spent our new years at the Barbary (2014 and 2016). We've also been there for at least 12 Saturdays over the last three years, but I might have blacked out a few others. The Barbary is THE spot to end a Fishtown barhop, after becoming so drunk that someone suggests, "Let's go dancing at the Barbary!" The doors open at 10pm, but it's usually dead until about midnight. The Barbary is located in a spot that screams, "Finish the night here." If Fishtown was a video game, it is the final level that is physically located at the end any Fishtown bar crawl route. The bouncers have always been pleasant, one asks for your ID and the other asks for the cover. Other reviewers have stated that the amount of the cover depends on your group, so since our covers are mostly $10, I assume we're a mix between the beasts and beautiful people! We've also had several nights with $5 covers for the group, but both New Year's Eve nights have been $20 - which isn't awful considering the competition on that night. Now when you walk through the doors of the Barbary, you're welcomed to darkness, dancing, and sick beats. The ambiance of the venue is that of an abandoned warehouse, which separates it from the vibes of other dance halls. There's a coat check downstairs, which cost me $2 the one time I used it; now I know to never bring a coat to the Barbary - leave it in someone's car. Which brings me to another thing about the Barbary - it gets HOT inside; with the dancing and the crowds it could be another polar vortex outside and you'd be sweating in boxers and a T-Shirt. The Barbary has three unique dancefloors, although I have only seen the third dancefloor opened one time, which had a reggae DJ and the smell of the dankest weed in the air (not kidding). The other two dancefloors usually have completely different music from each other. The first floor has been 50s night, 80s night, and a few techno / trance mixes. The second floor has been Top-40 hits and more techno / trance mixes. Everyone is dancing, and only 50% of the people actually know what they're doing. If you brought a dance partner, you're golden. if you don't, just move back and forth and pretend like you're part of that 50%. Drinks are cheap here, but they used to be even cheaper. You can get a PBR for $3 or class it up with a $4 High Life. A year ago, this used to be a $2 PBR and a $3 High Life, but I guess having a new venue right across the street makes you raise prices? (It should actually do the opposite). You can also get the Philly special for $5, which is a PBR and a shot of bottom shelf whisky. It's the cheapest way to get shitfaced quickly in most bars across Philly! This should go without saying, but there isn't a food menu at the Barbary - they're not trying to give their patrons more ammo to puke up. There are tables upstairs for your friends to sit at to take a break or to maybe talk to some new people. Also, the Barbary is cash only, so hit up an ATM beforehand or use the downstairs one with the massive fee. The bathrooms are usually a shit show, at least for guys. The lucky ones will get the stall, while the two unlucky guys will go asscheek to asscheeck while pissing in the neighborly urinals. The downstairs bathroom has one stall and a urinal designed by Andre the Giant that is so high up that anyone under 5'9 will have to stand on their tippie toes just to pee. I've ran to the Barcade a few times to avoid waiting in a line to go through the stated experience of the Barbary bathrooms. Overall, the Barbary is a unique experience for people to test the waters about dancehalls and clubs. It's dark, so if you don't know what you're doing, few people will notice. Drinks are cheap, but the cover offsets that if you're just looking for a bar experience. Good for groups and great for couples!

I don't like doing this. I'm a nice, happy person, and it doesn't take much to please me at a bar. They wouldn't let me in because I wore GREEN...on St. Patrick's day. Okay, okay, I get the theme they were tying to uphold but there is absolutely no reason to turn away the GREEN money that I was willing to spend in their establishment. A helpful a business tip: don't turn away people that are willing to pay you, no matter how cool you want everyone to think you are.

It's been a long time since I was at The Barbary, but after working as a team of one for the past two months to organize the Yelp Sideshow Adventure party and then actually pulling it off last night, I was in serious need of letting loose. This was the most perfect place in all of Philadelphia for me to do that. I love that it's crazy dark inside, which means you don't have to make eye contact unless you really want to. And there were some good looking people in there, FYI. At one point when I was dancing to Hot Chip (yes, I really, really like Hot Chip) I had an epiphany: if my brain had a club in it, it would be The Barbary. Photo booth and patrons included. I love The Barbary. I'm going to put it in my heavy rotation.

I resisted this place for the longest time. I would see postings here for dance parties practically every night of the week and although was intrigued I still resisted. I probably judged it a dump which I need to look at b/c some of the best times are had at dumps. A friend recommended the Shakedown party and I reluctantly went. I'm so glad I did. This place is not a dump. It's authentic and I wouldn't change a thing after experiencing it for the first time. It's a well lived and well loved spot. The DJ's and sound system are awesome. There are 2 floors for dancing. Not many places like this exist in Philly. It does get crowded, since the space is tight, but you don't mind because the vibe is great plus it's a mixed crowd of peeps who love to dance. A recent DJ brought his saxophone and added it to his mix. You gotta love that!! You get the occasional Douche Bag but it's minor compared to other dance spots. Keep up the good work Barbary!!!

The Barbary is good for the following reasons: - great music - fun & dancey - decent beer selection - cheap - the bathrooms are surprisingly not gross But what about THE HIPSTERS???? you say? I'll take a hipster over a Brad-the-Bro or Ugg-Boots-Brittany ANY day. Look, I don't drink PBR and I don't live in a loft-commune with 10 art school friends and I STILL like the Barbary. So take my word for it, the Barbary is fun! Four out of 5 stars (minus a star cuz it sometimes smells like armpits).

Dude. STFU about the hipsters. Who cares?! There are a plethora of dance parties, and you can choose according to your taste. Rarely covers during the week. Stupid cheap drink specials, and sometimes open bar. So stop complaining and just dance your face off.

For what it is, the Barbary is the best game in town. It provides themed electronic dance parties 6 nights a week. The music is accessible, but not completely vanilla-fied. The Subdivision (dubstep, deep bass) parties are the most under-recognized since they usually fall on a Tuesday, which is a quiet night. I avoid the pop dance nights, but I imagine they are perfectly fine. The Barbary is dirt cheap with free early admission and open bar on weekends. Cover rarely is greater than $5. It can get very crowded, but somehow people manage to dance crazy and get sweaty. I have never seen a line to get in, but then again, I usually get there on the early side. Also, it's friendly. I have met many people there- often I'll dance with strangers and we'll make introductions afterward. What I love about the Barbary is that it is completely about dancing. There is space in the back to hang out and regroup, but dancing is front and center all of the time. This is not a place to have a deep meaningful conversation. I can't think of a single complaint. Even the bathrooms are adequate and I never have to wait in a long line.

Shhhhhheeeeeeeeiiiittt. The place is black and graffiti. I love it. It has all the makings of a great small venue. I went for the Jang Night with Spank Rock and friends. Good B-more club banged out of their surprisingly awesome sound system. I also appreciated the projector. The bar portion was pretty rad too. They had your run of the mill hipster beers and a few good beers on tap. Also the prices were cheap. I'm talking liver damage cheap. I'll be back to shake it again Barbary. Thanks.

Residing off of Columbus blvd in Northern Liberty/Fishtown and across from Sugarhouse Casinos, rest this divey-artsy-hipster bar. PRO's: -5 minute drive for me, 10-15 min from center city, 2 blocks away from I95s. exit -No cover -cheap, well made drinks (I've gotten 2 shots and a beer for $10) -room to dance,3 dance floors -good music!! (indie,electro) -fun crowd, easy to make friends here CON'S: There is NONE! BUT, if you're Ronnie from The Jersey Shore and are looking for house music and tan chicks with huge knockers then I can see why u would give this 1 star. If they had appetizers/food I would be set. Wait, do they??? lol Dont bother coming in a suit or cocktail dress, just put on comfy dancing shoes and you are set.

I've only been living in Philadelphia for a little over a month now. I came from San Francisco and my favorite party is something called, "Saturday Night Soul Party" at the Elbo Room. I would attend this every other Saturday and I can honestly say that I've never had a better time in my life...until I stepped into The Barbary for "Turnaround vs. Immediate". This is the ULTIMATE soul party. Do everything in your power to find a schedule for The Barbary and attend this party. As soon as I walked in the door, I felt like it was a portal right back to San Francisco. Of course it caters to the Pabst drinking crowd, but everyone was dancing and having a good time. I don't think there was a song I didn't dance to (I'm pretty sure I was dancing while buying drinks). You will hear groups such as The Sonics, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, Ray Charles, The Marvelettes, The Supremes, Jr. Walker and the All-Stars, etc. I'm definitely breaking out my best Motown digs for the next one. The bar has a pretty decent sized dance floor. My friends and I had no problem trying to find a spot to dance. The drinks are reasonably priced. I think we paid $16 for two shots of Jameson and two cans of Pabst...not all that bad. There is no coat-check, but there is some space to hang your coat. Also, this place is full of pretty girls. I think I proposed to about four different girls during the course of the night (I got three nos and one maybe). I can't speak for other nights, but I plan on changing that in the near future. I'm only basing my review on one night, but what a night it was. I plan on frequenting The Barbary often, and I suggest you do too.

I am mostly against karaoke. I have never been a fan, especially when the people take it super seriously. It makes me uncomfortable and a little sad to see someone on the stage, belting out Total Eclipse of the Heart with tears in their eyes. But, last night at the Barbary was a different kind of Karaoke. As I walked in the door, there was a man singing I Would Do Anything for Love. Yes, the Meatloaf song. And he was doing quite the job sounding like the one, the only, the man, the myth, the legend. The beers were cheap, at $3 for a High Life, I think I can dig. I can dig on this place real hard.

Do you want a place that harbors intelligent conversation lit with flickering candles and serves delicious food to a very upscale clientele? I don't fucking either! and you sure as hell won't find that at The Barbary... What you will find though is a divey bar covered in posters and graffiti, serving $2 PBR cans and a pretty nice variety of other beers and booze. You'll find a nice little area off to the side with wooden booths to sit and chat over the loud and often times great dance music. A photo booth is also there to escape the sometimes annoying crowds of drunken hipsters... but hey... it's all good. I"m not saying anything bad about hipsters... just saying they often times get really drunk and annoying since the place is itty bitty! This place is really great to come to on a Monday night, listen to some of that indie rock/techno you listened to in middle school or just come in contact with and dance like an idiot or however way you want to dance, cuz honestly, no ones judging you here! Oh, and be careful... there was a huge stranger make-out session going on one night... I only say be careful to either be on the look-out to join or to avoid!

Went there for an 80's night full of dancing to Madonna, MJ, and Prince. I guess there was other music in there, I was too busy dancing to notice. What I did notice is the crowd. This place is about 50/50 on the douche bag to normal people ratio. In other words this place is small enough to garner the fun-lovers and well meaning hipsters, but popular enough to attract the punk-ass dudes, frat bros, movers, shakers and playa's that I wanted to set some people straight with mic 1 (testing, testing), and mic 2 (testing, yeah, this thing works)... if you follow my meaning. I mean seriously I can only handle so much of getting elbowed and kicked by an idiot who thinks it's cool to flail about helplessly on the beer-soaked-in-dirt floor and calls it "break-dancing." Enough already. Drinks were decent and not too pricey. But I danced more than I drank. Oh yeah and I really have to give a shout out to DJ DeeJay. He did a great job.

I love a place where both me and my parents can dance. I swear when the Beatles came on and a hipster jumped on stage sans bra in ill fitting clothes and started spastically dancing like they did in the 70s... I seriously fell in love with this place. There's something about being able to dance freely without being grinded on and/or severely judged is really freeing. I happily paid the $5 cover-- the drinks were cheap, a DJ was actually spinning, and the bathrooms were surprisingly clean. Pool table upstairs.

A few important points of note regarding the Barbary: - It is THE place in Philadelphia to butt-grind with cute hipster girls (or otherwise make a complete fool of yourself). - Don't even think about showing up unless you're already drunk. The place just won't make sense in a sober state. - You generally won't have to worry about your girlfriend being hit on, because everyone there is AT LEAST as dorky as you are. - The funk/soul nights are the most fun. The hip-hop ones can be good. The indie rock/electro stuff can be hit or miss. - Get ready to become so sweaty that you'll literally have to wring your shirt out before you get in the cab / on your bike to ride home. - It is the perfect spot to wrap up a 14-hour bender. - 9 out of 10 times, you will have a really great time.

The Barbary is HANDS DOWN the best place to go for super cheap drinks, a well known "City-Wide" consisting of a PBR can & shot of whiskey for $5, and a fun night of sweaty dancing and meeting tons of cool "Hipstery" people. Its just a bunch of kids into alternative fashion, books, movies, and art. Do not be discouraged, strike up a conversation! There is a different party happening every night. Check the online calender and pick a night of your choice! Every time I am at this bar, whether alone or with friends, I leave a happy girl. I always leave big tips, you should too! PS The upstairs bathroom is always less crowded.

We were stranded in NYC after the big blizzard last New Years Eve... instead of staying there, my girl and I jumped on a Chinatown bus straight to Philadelphia. Reason being; One of the best parties I've been to was going down that night: Hands & Knees at The Barbary. Too. Much. Fun.

I end every month on Hands and Knees... If you don't know, you better ask somebody...

If you ever wanna dance, dance, dance while you're covered in sweat(yours and others'), this is the place to be. It can get ridiculously hot because 1. the dance floor is always packed, 2. the DJ usually spins tunes that are purely awesome, and 3. the loud music literally commands your body to move. The crowd is fairly young or young-looking. Totally love all the cute hipster boys and girls. Oh, almost forgot. The upstair bar is open - not sure if it's just open for the summer but it's a chill place to hangz with friends even on a weekend night.

JHN RDN and company did a fantastic job turning the place around - nice bar, good-sized dance floors, and plenty of areas for lounging. I particularly like the lounge area in the back overlooking the dancefloor. And the photo booth. Love it. Last night I went up for the "Ten Commandments" night - nothing but reggae, soul, and a taste of early ska was played. There was a $5 cover - but free Red Stripe was served up 'til it was gone. The bartender had no qualms with me taking advantage of the opportunity to take two at a time. Ha. People were dancing like crazy - myself included. Their beer selection overall is STELLAR, from the tap to the cans and bottles. They have Strongbow, which made me very happy. All in all, as much as this place gets pigeonholed as a "HIPSTER CLUB", it's just a no-frills club for dancing - and I'm down with that.

If you're looking for a well-lit place where you can get dressed up and mingle with some fancy social climbers, The Barbary is not the club for you. If you want to work up a nasty sweat after dancing for hours and down city wides like it was your job, you've found your new home. The Barbary isn't for everybody, but I personally have only had fun nights here. If you like the dive aesthetic, cheap drinks, and loud music you'll love it. Themes and music are always changing, so be sure to check their monthly calendar on their Facebook page to make sure that you're going on a good night for your tastes.

I always have a good time at the Barbary. Yeah, there are a lot of hipsters here. WHO CARES?! Some of the reviews on here criticize beards and "ballet shoes" and skinny jeans and scarves and converse, but WHAT ARE YOU WEARING OR DOING THAT IS SO DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER PERSON IN THE WORLD?! Get over yourself. The Barbary is fun. I can't comment on the drink prices because I only drink PBRs here and I think they're like $2 or $3. If you don't like to dance or drink, don't come here. Simple as that. Get the stick out of your behind, because you're probably just as much of a "SHEEP" as anyone else out there.

I have been hearing about the barbary for a while now and recently decided to check it out.. and love love love it.. What can i say! Theres a photo booth.. $2 dollar pbr strong drinks.. places to sit. and great djs.. i went for the funk soul night.. turnaround vs immediate and loved the music and a big crowd .. but you have to wait till about 11 for the crowd to be there got there at 10 pretty dead... I danced my booty off .. very sweaty and alot of fun.. cant wait until i go back plus free parking .. holla

I've been to the Barbary on a handful of occasions now and from what I recall, I've had a consistently good time. The sound system is loud but fairly clean, the bathrooms are not entirely unusable and the drink prices are pretty reasonable. Also, photo booth! It can sometimes feel a little hipsteriffic, but generally everyone seems to be there to have a good time and get a little twerk on. Definitely worth a visit. You'll probably drink too much. Just take a cab home, k?

I came here with a friend on the 4th of July as a stop-over trying a few places I've seen on Yelp in Northern Liberties. It happens that I didn't check the theme of the night and I was winging it, but it couldn't have worked out better; Reggae and Soul. I am honestly not a very big fan of the type of music that most clubs play; hip-hop, electronic, current pop; really not my thing. The Barbary has those nights, but this night, it was such a bizarre, fantastic experience in a packed house of those my age enjoying and dancing to the music I like. And the DJ was great; the music selection and mix was top-notch. The drinks are fair; it was something like $2 for a PBR and $4 for a Red Stripe (first time having one, it was actually quite good). My friend got a rum and coke for something like $5. They've really got something here. I doubt I'd be here on nights I don't like the theme, but nights like this one, I look forward to coming back.

You know, I realized that I'm just not nearly cool enough to go to the Barbary. It's really no fault of the place because frankly, I really dig the venue. I've just realized that this South Philly girl doesn't wear nearly enough neon to fit in with those Fishtown hipsters, not matter which regular of the bar I stroll in with. I typically hate to knock a place based on their clientele but unfortunately, at a place like this, that's kind of hard to avoid. They do have some pretty fun dance nights, though. Monday night Tiger Beats can be pretty fun if you roll in with a group of like 5-10 people because you really don't need to pay attention to the other people there. Unfortunately, going with just one person can be slightly awkward. I love my girl Caitlin V. with alllllll my heart, don't get me wrong, but it's definitely her scene because she lives in Fishtown and not mine and no one there really opens themselves up to meet people new. Bouffant on Wednesdays is a lot more relaxed and pretentious, that's for damn sure. Surf rock mixed with loads of the Beatles? I can definitely get down with that. They recently opened up their upstairs area, which I honestly never knew existed until 5 days ago. It's a biggish space with more tables, another bar, and they actually have a super small bar menu with food. The idea of getting food at the Barbary kind of skeeves me out, to be perfectly honest, but I did get to munch on someone's churros with nutella and they were pretty damn good. Price wise it's pretty standard. On Mondays, from 10-11pm, they offer $1 well mixed drinks. They aren't particularly boozy but hey, my wallet isn't particularly heavy either. It's also one of the few places I've seen where you can drink a Colt 45 pounder (yeah, I did that) and not be judged. You can definitely catch a hefty buzz off of $20, without a doubt. I usually don't go out of my way to bike allllllll the way to Fishtown to go dancing at this place, but if I'm there and it's a Monday or Wednesday I could definitely be enticed to make an appearance.