Medusa Lounge
27 S 21st St, Philadelphia, PA, 19103
Medusa Lounge Menu
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Address :
27 S 21st St
Philadelphia, PA, 19103 - Phone (215) 557-1981
- Website https://www.medusalounge.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Ages Allowed : 21+
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Loud
Music : DJ
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : No
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Diane K.
A divey dance party with cheap drinks, low ceilings, dirty floors, and GREAT music! Better yet, no bumpin and grindin from strangers, and better, better yet, a hip young crowd that is friendly and low key. This is not for bros and hos, my friends, but it is for hipsters and their Pabst counterparts.
(4)Kate O.
This is one of my favorite spots in Philadelphia to go dancing. It has a great vibe, friendly bar tenders with good drink specials and is always a great music experience. Things typically don't get started until a little later, but it's well worth it every time. This place stands out in monthly and weekly events, guest performers and a consistent following of lively, enthusiastic people.
(5)Anandi B.
Went here on a Friday night, it was really really difficult to order a drink (even for a club it was hard), but it was a good sized one, and the music was really awesome dance music. but it was smelly and stuffy. So it was good, then it was bad, then it was good, yada yada. overall it was ok. i wouldn't avoid it but i wouldn't suggest it.
(3)Suzy G.
Tucked in a refined and posh block in Center City, this dive bar is a beacon of sweaty hope. Once you step inside Medusa's lair, you'll notice the low-ceilings, packed dance floor and if you're lucky- their famously disgusting bathrooms. Despite the potential ick-factor, a few cheap mixed drinks from the friendly bartenders will tempt you to start shakin' your booty on the packed dance floor to some unique tunes. Varying DJs at Medusa spin several types of music- danceable Afro-beat, Latin and even some remixed Gospel tunes to keep your feet tap-happy.
(3)Monica S.
When I'm not pounding specials at Bob n Barbara's, I'm grinding it up against Philly's finest in the rathskeller that is Medusa. It's a dive but those are the best and it's in Center City, which amid its neighboring posh and refined establishments, Medusa's a godsend. It's always a friendly crowd and the only bar in this area where you'd likely find the alternative folk. It often features a famous array of my favorite local DJs and when you're in the mood for a sweaty, crowded and deliciously filthy dance floor, Medusa is like none other.
(4)R. O.
Have been to medusa a few times, and decided to pop in when visiting Philly because this place has been so good to me and my friends before. Long story short we go in around 1:30, dance, the music is FLY AS HELL. The DJ is everything. We were poppin dat azz, and shaking everything. My friend and I go to the bar to get some water (*sidenote we weren't carded when we walked in...all of us are of age so it wasn't like a big deal, whatever) and the bartender asks to see ID, whatever nbd, we whip it out, I took a while to get mine out bc I forgot where I put it. The bartender FREAKS OUT and yells at me to hurry up. As we show her she asks for $$ for the water and we were confused bc we had never gotten charged for water, she then goes "This isn't Applebees" sarcatically. Anyway, she was SUPER RUDE and basically had this "fuck off" attitude that was completely unnecessary. She should probs quit cause obviously she hates her job. Bottom line, would I go here again? Eh, maybe.
(2)Emily G.
If you walk to the entrance (basically a shack where the door is underground) and are expecting anything other than the most dive-iest of dive bars - turn around, this place aint for you. If you're like me and you love dive bars, especially ones where you can dance your ass off in the dark with graffiti-covered walls, then do come in. (But not too many of you, I beg.) This place is awesome. The bathrooms never lock, there is never toilet paper, the floor is completely sticky ... (these are all good things?) ... and the drinks are cheap and the music is sick! Hands down some of the best DJ's I've heard in Philly. It is becoming a bit more hipster as a previous Yelper eluded to, but they still blast some awesome hip hop if you catch it on the right night. I'm not sure when that is, because Medusa does its own thing. Sometimes there's a cover, sometimes it's techno-electronica music, but it's always fun. You never know what you're gonna get, and that, my friends, is what keeps me going back time after time after drunken time after... wait how many times have I been here?
(5)Rha W.
"I want to go dance," Huxley said through drunken lips and swaying hips. "Where can we dance?" LC twisted a contemplative sneer. She looked over to Beau and asked, "Medusa?" Beau nodded. "Medusa?" I repeated."That sounds about right." So, this Medusa place... not quite a bar, not quite a club, and 'dive' wouldn't really cover it. Medusa is a 400 square foot underground sweat box with a warped red counter that could be construed as a bar, a complete absence of light, something sticky, something not so sticky, and a black-tiled ceiling low enough that you can palm it with your elbows still heavily bent. In short, it's exactly the place you want to go, drunkenly, at 1am, with a girl who you want desperately to be your girlfriend but who may or may not absolutely hate you. We'd been drinking, literally, since 9am. So I was proud that Huxley and I were still ambulant, let alone danceable. Our little crew had swelled to seven since we left Sugar Mom's; we stumbled, shoulders and hips bumping and sloshing, down the narrow steps to this smoky oubliette. It took me a moment to adjust to what was happening: wall-to-wall sea of humanity, bodies thrashing and grinding, some kids with glow sticks, some hipsters in tight sweaters, some mod dudes with inventive facial hair and ironic tattoos, and I'm pretty sure I noticed a couple kids not-so-discreetly taking bumps from their pocket bullets. Cool. I elbowed through the nebula of horny dysfunctionals and found my way to the 'bar'. This skyscraper of a Nubian queen rolled up, shoulders round and high, hair short and cropped, neck rising like a flagpole... She leaned down, dark cleavage spilling proud, and asked me what I was having. I hadn't really prepared, so I just defaulted to what made sense: "Seven Jager Bombs, please ma'am." She just stared at me. "Sugar, we don't have Red Bull." "Oh... well then just give me seven Jager shots and a dozen Yuenglings." For some reason, in my condition, twelve beers seemed the appropriate amount for seven people. My Nubian queen accommodated. As the shots lined up, some of our posse got squeamish. LC and Huxley abstained, but the men rose to the occasion. I went ahead and had two, because I needed it. LC and Huxley had gone off over on the far left of the dancefloor, and started lightly grooving next to a couple of scuzzy barstools there. They still had their purses and coats. I went over and shrugged their jackets from each of their shoulders and folded them over my arm. I then took their handbags, lifted them up above my head, and brought their straps down around the barrel of my chest, wearing them tight across me like a bandolier. I figured if a purse were to be lost or stolen this night, it'd be on me. I fought back through the crowd toward the door and tucked their coats into the pile inside the little window vestibule there. I worked my way back. The noise was intense. Not quite sure what exactly I was listening to, but it had an identifiable beat. There was a DJ at the back that I couldn't quite see. He was lost in a little bucket of soft red light behind his turntable tray. I tried to suss the bass out from all the clatter. Hux was still kind of ignoring me. She'd never told me what I'd done to upset her. So, I just danced with LC. I'm typically not especially comfortable actually dancing around people I don't know; six and a half foot tall white guys aren't renowned for their gracefulness. But, when the situation calls for it, I can bust up a pretty good goofy groove. And this situation certainly called for it. I got in with LC and we got high into it; hands on back of our heads, elbows sprinkling the room, knees high, heels tapping, shoulders dipping and diving, chins aswirl, smiles wide, and eyes like neon bombs. "I like your moves!" she said to me. "Ditto!" LC's beau, Beau, was leaning up at the edge of the bar watching us. I caught his eye and gestured for him to come over. He shook his head. I shrugged. I just wanted the guy to know I wasn't moving on his girl; I was just trying to make mine jealous. It worked. Hux moved in and claimed what was hers. She wedged between LC and me and forced me back deeper into the center of the dancefloor. She collapsed and ebbed against me, drooped into my chest and stomach and just started writhing and edging with the indecipherable DJ's danceclub beats like a petulant pendulum. She was mad, but she was wild. She turned her back to me, pressed her ass into me, and started grinding and pawing, sometimes playful, sometimes captious. She let her spastically dangling hands wander across my crotch in little flitters. I spun her around before I lost my mind. "Are you just screwing with me right now?" I asked. She reached up, put her hands behind my ears, gripped me by the back of the neck, pulled me down to her, and kissed me like a freakin' steam engine. I looked up to see LC staring at us. She gave me an 'attaboy' wink. I stuck out my tongue and shouted to her: "MEDUSA!!!"
(3)Shawna A.
I almost got kidnapped by a really ugly lesbian. WHY does that always happen to me? drinks were cheap--a shot of jager was just $4! I was a little on edge about contracting something in such a filthy, cramped space, but a couple of cheap drinks made it better.
(4)Vinny P.
This place is like a mini 700 club Small, dark, dank and it kind of smells. No cover. Citywide special. Really good music. Small, very crowded dance floor. $2 PBR if you're tired of whiskey. I think I'll come back here for my dancing fix.
(3)Andrea F.
This place never disappoints. Yes, it's a dive and yes, the bathrooms are disgusting, but something's gotta give when the music's great and the drinks are dirt cheap. Love the bartender with the sleeve of octopus tattoos embedded with jewels in the eyes. She's awesome, friendly, attentive, and knows how to make a drink. When I ordered a whiskey sour and they were out of sour mix, she concocted something for me that tasted pretty close, so that was nice. The PBR and a shot of whiskey for $4...$5? I forget how much it is, but it's worth it if you wanna get a nice buzz going without emptying your wallet. It gets super crowded closer to 12:30ish on Fridays and Saturdays but again, you can't complain. It's a Philly dive, people. Deal with it. If you want clean bathrooms, waste your money somewhere in Old City.
(5)Ijeoma O.
I've only been here once but I'm more than excited for my next romp! The bathrooms are gross and always lack toilet paper, but the music's hot, the owner is awesome, and the bartenders remember what you ordered if you go back for seconds! And trust me, you will. The drinks are kick ass. Oh and the clientele is nothing if not interesting. If you aren't a regular, you will be spotted and pounced on. Thankfully they don't bite. Hard. If you're taller than 6'0 then watch your head, cuz the graffitied ceiling is notoriously low. I will be there this Saturday night celebrating the birthdays of the 3 resident DJs so if you find yourself in Rittenhouse with an open mind, not many prospects and even less cash, head on down to Medusa :)
(5)Christina P.
My friends and I have walked past this a few times, so we decided to try it for a night out. It was a birthday, so we got there with about 15 or more people. They decided to give us a "discount" on cover and make it $2 in stead of $5. The building is misleading because it looks like it could be a large warehouse like type space, but it's really a tiny room in the basement. It's pretty dark, pretty weird, pretty small, and ironically enough, not pretty. You would definitely have to already be very drunk to have fun here. $2 wasted, will not return.
(2)Nicole D.
If I could give this place no stars, I would. The drinks are cheap, but there is a lousy beer selection. The atmosphere is dank and uncomfortable. The bathroom is outright terrifying. If you are an electronic music fan or a freshly-21 party animal, you may groove on this place. But you'll never see me there.
(1)Natalie B.
You go through a shady looking door on a side street in center city and walk down into the basement and you're there. There are tons of art and posters on the walls, and the bar is pretty small. The bathrooms are also shady. It was crowded and hot even in the dead of winter. They also have some funny themed nights (I went when it was a fake mustache party - they gave you one as soon as you walked through the door). It's not the classiest place, but it's a lot of fun if you want to dance to eclectic music and already have some drinks in you.
(3)Yousef K.
Ah yeah lets get weird! Medusa is like nothing else in Philly. If you want to experience some shiz Medusa is your place. You can see the white man in his natural habitat dancing to house music and hitting on any girl with a pulse. If your into cheap drinks and people watching this is the place for you. So good luck and I'll see you on the dance floor.
(5)Mark N.
Kind of punk rockish style place complete with an incredibly nasty bathroom and a generally unclean dive bar feel. At 1130 on a saturday night there were literally 3 customers here when i walked in, a lonely bartender and a dj playing electonic music. I did not stay long they need to some marketing i go to bars to be around other people not to hear crickets
(2)Daniel T.
Oh, the typical college party. You go to your first one when you're a fresh-faced 18 year old and your outlook of a social gathering changes. Cheap beer, shitty houses, and tons of people. You can't get enough of it, pulling weekend trifectas by making it to a party each night without a break. And then later in your college career (and especially when you turn 21), you may become disenchanted by the whole college party scene as new freshman begin piling into the basement floors. Disgusted by their high-school intellect and mannerisms, you fade away from these parties until you eventually stop going. Buuuuuuttt, if you're still into it or longing to return to one without having to deal with 18 year olds, Medusa is your place. It has all of the facets of a typical frat party after midnights on weekends. It's in a dark basement that's stuffy and dank. The beers you'll be consuming are cheap, in both value and quality. It's also difficult to fight your way through for that beer. The bathrooms always smell and look like as if a poop bomb went off. There's loud music and people sweating all over each other. Ah, college.. I mean Medusa.
(3)Bill M.
I'm beyond tempted to give Medusa's 5 stars because of it's incredible dancing nights, friendly bartenders, and dive bar vibe. But at the same time I can't because it has the atmosphere and ventilation of a cramped hot basement with shitty bathrooms. But Holy Hell can it be fun. when we went here to kill a final hour dancing during our fourth of July festivities we were treated to some incredible music courtesy of Hurrah DJ's. And you best believe that they had me saying Hurrah thanks to the old school Sneaker Pimps, Daft Punk, and then some that they played.And even though we hardly danced for an hour it was so action packed that it felt like we were going longer. toss in the crazy Medusa themed graffiti on the wall, the drink specials, no cover charge, and great DJ nights that featuring the likes of DJJC, Philadelphyinz, and Then some, and for a weird place Medusa's is on point!
(4)Nicey J.
it's a shady little dirty, nasty , place with the shadiest, dirtiest bathroom ever. How is it possible that I deem a place that I called shady and dirty twice in the same sentence " A-OK"? it's because they have damn good music.. but it's soo hot in here.. it's like a basement and the floor is gross.. but with sufficient alcohol you can disregard all that and dance the night away.. but that's if it doesn't get so packed that you feel like a canned sardine..
(3)Kyle M.
Medusa's not wheelchair accessible, but every Friday night I roll my A05 Deluxe with padded seat and double embossed upholstery super chrome polished finished wheelchair down about thirteen steps to get to the harem of dimes, superb beer selection and the best DJs in Philly. Just kidding. But honestly, I love it. I've been stumbling into Medusa for about three years now and it's definitely my calm before the storm. It's where I meticulously devise Saturday night outings that define the word debauchery. Real talk, if you're a Black heterosexual single young adonis like myself, there's not going to be much here for you. Gone are the incredible Zodiac nights with classic hiphop/r&b music and eclectic single females. Hipsters bouncing up and down to "your breakfast" "time after time" and ordering PBR every 45 seconds is what you get, bruh. So if that's your thang, then play on, playa. However, I'm extremely open minded, so that's not a bad thing really. Like dirty franks, you get some weird but strangely interesting people eager to strike up a conversation with you. I often wonder where they come from but at the same time, I feel happy that they came. Like the USA Network, the Characters Are Welcome. But I'd be lying if I said that the house music isnt straight fire. You'll want to grab the nearest woman/man/hybrid and dance while grasping at the sharpied-up money on the ceiling. Good times. What Medusa lacks in beautiful young single women, it gains in beautiful young friendly staff. I cant sing enough praises for them -- hands down the most warm, inviting and entertaining bunch I've met in Rittenhouse. They'll treat you well. When you go though, do the "Kyle Signature Move." Walk up to the bar in the crispiest button up of all time. Then, with a chip on your shoulder, ask for a "Hoe" in your smoothest voice. If you done it right, you'll get introduced to belgian goodness that Id wager that you're not used to. Do it wrong and..
(5)Snake P.
This place is amazing. Good vibes abound. Excellent avant-garde decor. Strong drinks, cheap beers. Strong variety in the DJ nights, and its real dance music with legit disk jockeys, both guys and femme fatales, who know what they are doing. Sometimes, it can be a tad intimidating. Dudes with untrimmed beards wearing skinny jeans, scantily clad ladies who are hot. The quarters are tight downstairs and on the dance floor it gets crazy. Just be yourself and you WILL have a good time, because if you don't have a good time here, others are most certainly having it for you. People (ahem, ladies) complain about the bathroom, which is understandable because guys seem to forget these days that the seat is meant to be picked up and not pissed on. This is what you can do there: Slam Drinks Dance Meet new people Meet people you already know Pickup Ladies Pickup Dudes Get Drunk Laugh Dance Network Fighting now allowed.
(5)Chris D.
Dive Bar - to the max yo, and thats why i love it Its totally out of place, being all the way in the Rittenhouse Area, but thats what brings the charm! Small, dark and dirty. If ur not into that kinda thing, i wouldnt attend. If u like quality music (electro nights) cheap beer and people who u could potentially be best buds with, then GET THERE. Saturday's are usually when i go, but im more curious about the other nights and these other events i hear about....hmmmmm SUPER friendly bartenders (which in most cases never really matters, but when i go i always talk to this Jamaican chick haha) and just a great spot to be with your friends, dance and drink. Id adivse to hit it up after 11:30 when more of a crowd comes thru.... Other then that, who doesnt love $3 PBR and whiskey that gets a Basement full of drunk dancing fools going....mhmm =]
(5)Lene P.
Awesome atmosphere, nice "hip" decor, CHEAP DRINKS, really loud music (good for dancing, bad if you're trying to talk to someone). This place is awesome. I lived a couple doors away so I've dropped in a couple times for a quick drink or two. If I wasn't drinking there, I was annoyed at everyone hanging outside of the bar. It was like a huge MOB sometimes. I'm not saying it was a bad thing, but it just annoys me when I'm trying to get to my apartment and I have to navigate a through a huge crowd just so I can go to my apartment and sleep. I was glad when they all left and opened up some parking spaces. On some nights, I think Friday and Saturday, there is a cover. That's when I turn around and leave :)
(4)Erin G.
There are some things that Medusa is great for. Cheap drinks (especially on wrist-band open bar nights), dark, low ceilinged hang-outs, booty-dancing with people you don't know and don't want to have to deal with in the daylight, and some good music. I've had some great summer dance parties here. The bathroom is outrageous though. Eww. But they have made recent improvements to the sound system and and removed the former sticky-gross carpet. Stop in some night. Note: The party rarely gets going until after midnight.
(3)Jamie S.
When my roommate and I first moved to Philly we decided to try out this place, since it was in center city and we had heard decent things. Walking down chestnut you pass all these up scale stores and restaurants, then you turn the corner to 21st...and we quickly became hesitant to walk into a little hut of an entrance. Being up for new stuff we walked right into the red carpet covered entrance (no cover, yeahh!) and down the stairs. I'm not sure what grabbed my attention first, the dark basement feel with sticky floors, and grafetti covered walls...or the crowds of drunk happy people, sick house beats and flashing dancing lights. After I few PBR/Whiskey specials we danced the night away, and knew we found our new favorite spot. It's like they took a Fishtown dive and put it in Rittenhouse! Some nights its packed, some nights it is dead...I'm not sure why it was either hit or miss. Some nights there is a cover, but when I told them I didn't have enough cash, they kindly reduced the cover. Some nights its a retro dance craze, others its crazy dub step. Definatly give it a shot (or two!) and maybe take a shot (or more) before you go too.
(4)Bridget N.
I love that this is located in a basement. I feel like I'm in a dungeon of sin full of drunken dancing fools I like to call my friends. I am sad I'm missing Hurrah this month, but hey, there's always December.
(4)Janine G.
$4 PBR and whisky + DJs mixing stuff you love with stuff you'll never know + a large but not overbearing crowd + questionable sanitation = Reliving your best bad nights at college...in a good way
(4)René G.
After seeing one of my friends from NY getting their set ruined here last Thursday night, I've made it my choice to never visit the Medusa Lounge ever again. Don't get me wrong, I like the gritty and dark basement look of the place, the cheap drinks they serve here and the different events going on, but with a bartender who tends to get irritated inexplicably and abruptly tries to end shows early, what's the point? Hopefully my one star rating (wish it was zero!) for the bartender's absurd, petty and inconsiderate behavior will someday drive the owner to a raging frenzy and fire her into oblivion.
(1)MaryAnn Z.
Five stars for the best place to dance in Rittenhouse. It feels like a basement haven for fun people in the sea of douchebags that migrate to most establishments in this area at night. Triple word score if you can dance all the beer out via sweat instead of having to use the bathrooms!
(5)Jeremy L.
Medusa is a fun little basement club that plays a lot of techno stuff. They have really friendly bartenders. It is dark and intimate enough that even people who normally wouldn't want to will end up dancing. The drinks are not unreasonable.
(3)F. O.
Ok- it's definitely a dive bar- but that's not entirely a bad thing. Old school Saturday night was pretty cool. The dj played some really good jams. There was no cover and it wasn't too crowded, and people here genuinely seemed to be more into feeling the jams than dancing to them. Definitely a cool place to start the night.
(3)Nicole R.
Medusa is one seriously weird joint. On the surface it definitely looks like a place I'd like (I dig the whole divey punk-rock aesthetic in a bar) but there's just something off about the whole venue. I stumbled upon it when I was at a show at the Church (being an all-ages non/alcoholic venue, I was interested in scrounging up a beer and a shot of Jameson before returning to the kids and being made to feel OLD!) The shot was more than I like paying for my whiskey (but I'm spoiled by my various bartender buddies) but the beer was a cheap microbrew (big plus). I don't know, maybe the place could grow on me. It's definitely an anomoly in the 'hood.
(3)Chris W.
Medusa! One of my favorite places to dance the night away. Its the perfect place to order a few drinks from the wonderful bartenders and chat with friends and just random friendly people. The drinks are cheap and strong. After you loosen up at the bar head over to the dance area. The ceilings are low and gives Medusa a cool house party kind of atmosphere. The bathrooms are gross, but you need to expect it in certain places. Medusa books some of the best DJs and live acts in the city. Hurrah (Shawn Ryan), along with several other DJ nights never disappoint. I can always count on having a good time at Medusa if all else fails during my night out.
(5)Mimi H.
despite having pals that dj here on the regular, i'd never ventured in. i finally got to check it out with a crew of like 10 and everyone had a blast!. the bartenders are nice, drinks are reasonable and tons of people dancing and hanging out. only minus is the smell in the bathroom. holy hell. if there's an air freshener with a "stale vomit" scent, they're using it. but whatevz, hold your breath, do your biz and get back to drinking and dancing.
(4)steven e.
Weird place. Weird that it got popular over the last year for hosting dance party nights. Kinda just stumbled upon this place several years ago while waiting for an act at the church. Bartender felt sorry that we were the only guys in the place, so he poured us a couple of chocolate cake shots that tasted just like chocolate cake, on the house. Top notch fellow that bartender was.
(3)Cynthia D.
Some of my craziest memories are going to shows at the church, and after, heading afterward for drinks and crazy times. Yes, it's a basement. It's shady and it's a bit off the beaten path. It's a dark room too, which makes you look all the more sexy and mysterious. If this were in my neighborhood, i'd be here every night.
(4)Ileana S.
Walked to this basement club on a Saturday night past eleven pee emm. Lots of people around. Seems to be a safe area to be in because you're surrounded by like-minded folks. Low low low ceiling. As a midget, standing proudly at almost 5'1", I felt kind of tall or that I had stumbled into a weird Willa Wonka or Alice in Wonderland type morphed world. Two friendly ladies serving drinks at the bar. Cheap drinks. We stuck with PBR. A classic, right?! There were no yucky men trying to hump you, at least not on this night. It's just you and your buddy or buddies grooving, getting sweaty, jumping up and down...and maybe throw in a little bump and grind. It didn't get too crowded, too...which is a huge plus in my books. I don't necessarily want to feel your arm hair (plus sweat) on mine, you know? DJ was pretty good. I can give it the generic type as electronic but I'm sure it's more specific than that. The bathrooms were pretty gross, though. Dirty. Smelly. The works.
(4)Scott M.
Medusa is like a magical lagoon situated between the nothingness of University City and the lameness of the Rittenhouse bar scene. Little hipster- and dj-munchkins await in the basement-bar for road-weary travelers of the night. Once they see such a soul, the sprites lure the unsuspecting soul into the cavernous dwelling and enchant them with song and dance. Come for the whimsy, stay for the whisky/beer specials.
(4)Keysha T.
This place is hit or miss. Went last night around 12am and there was no one dancing yet. The DJ was playing a horrible blend of house music and "kids" were just playing with the free glow sticks and candy that was placed on every table. Around 12:45 the dance floor finally blossomed and so began the task of fighting through the crowd for a beer. The bar itself is huge but isn't well-run with there being only one bartender. I recommend getting a few drinks early to last the night. Every time I go, there is also one or two shady creatures that come sliding through. They are always the type that stand on the wall, cell phone in hand, never dancing and never participating in any way to the place. I wonder if they are just taking pics and videos of women dancing with their cell phones. Medusa Lounge seems like it was built for the 20 and 21 year-olds that can't get in anywhere else. I only experienced one night where horrible music wasn't played and that was a night where my friend and I were the only ones on the dance floor. In fact, we were the only ones in the entire place except for four other losers. And that was a Saturday. But Medusa offers cheap drinks, zero lighting, and an okay-size dance floor. Oh and another plus: never too smelly in there like other dance venues I've gone to.
(3)Kylie H.
Divey and dark and fun. Drinks are cheap. First Saturday of the month is always spent here for the 'Hurrah' dance party. Other nights that I've gone have been a little slow.
(4)Carrie E.
Remember in "Pretty in Pink" when Molly Ringwald and Annie Potts characters used to hang out at Cats, this cool, dark punk club that they had to walk downstairs to get to? And the walls were all black and the music was loud, the Rave-Ups were playing an awesome set and they sat at a table with Dweezil Zappa and blabbered on about Duckie Dale and Blaine, the rich guy ("that's not a name, that's a major appliance!")? That is EXACTLY what this club reminded me of. Luckily, "Pretty In Pink" is one of my favorite movies of all times, and I always wanted to be Molly Ringwald, work at Traxx Records, drive a VW Karmann Ghia and hang out at that punk club. Sadly, though, I think we got there a little too early (at least that is what I am telling myself - it was around 11:30 or so on a Saturday night) for anything to be going on, so it was quiet and kinda lonely. Good, cheap drinks, though. And lots of seating. My friend was afraid of getting cooties from the bathroom, so beware. Whenever I want to relive my 1980's fantasies (which these days is pretty darn often) I will come back here, especially if they do a new wave, punk night (the website says this is Mondays, so I might have to give it a try). That, my friends, would be as close to perfect as the soundtrack to every John Hughes film ever made.
(4)Jane P.
*first of all, i would like to note that i know the owner and i frequent Medusa a lot, so i'll try to be honest about it for newbies. its a very small dive bar, so please don't expect anything glamourous about it! it's literally 6 or 7 steps down to a painted basement like room with a small bar, a few tables and stools spread around the outside of the notorious dancefloor, a huge fan, a dj booth, and a couple bathrooms in the back. usually theres's a bouncer checking ids. the bar is simple. they take cash and credit. its mostly the PBR + "voodoo rum" shot they give you for $4 that sells the most. they can get dangerous, but served by a very lovely bartender. she's the sweetest bartender, so please be nice! the bathrooms were at one point pretty gross, but they did upgrade and aren't as bad as they used to be. the dancefloor can get pretty crazy if you're there on a busy party night. trust me, you will have other people's sweat on you and will probably have to squeeze your way through to get anywhere. it gets hot and people dance crazy. unless you don't mind being touched by sweaty drunken groups of people, you should probably stick to the bar or one of the tables. every weekend (thurs-sat) has a different dj or event. i believe the other days are reggae. shout out to all the philly DJs! all the events are pretty cool. sometimes the djs will do events with other djs. sometimes they're themed (like the Future Lavish Mustache Bash) inspired by me actually haha, but they're always different. if you're looking to hang out at a cool place and have a fun time with people who don't care what you're wearing, Medusa Lounge is for you.
(5)Mark S.
I love this bar. Unpretentious, great music, laid back people and crazy dancing. What could be better. Definitely amongst my Philly favorites.
(5)Jake P.
This is the diviest dive (that you'll still return to) in a ten block radius. I've never been to the dance parties, but I frequent the Tuesday night Hip-Hop cypha on occassion. It's a cool vibe downstairs, mixed crowd, has that Lower East Side New York feel with the dim lighting, lack of respect for the walls, and the big bar stools. The sound system is great, and the drinks are cheap. There is a nice crowd of regulars, but newbies are welcome. I think the place is pretty cool for a no-frills thing where you're choosing a scene over class. Memorable.
(3)Harish V.
$4 PBR and whiskey shots- sign me up! Divey, in the best way possible.. good times at Medusa
(4)Emily K.
Homey and/or hilarious, I love Medusa.
(5)Brian P.
I stopped here while visiting from NYC and I was really impressed. Things didn't get started until fairly late but when they did get started it was pretty intense. Packed sweaty dancefloor, great DJs, cheap drinks, dive bar atmosphere, that's pretty much my recipe for a good time.
(5)Tracey P.
Cheap drinks, friendly atmosphere and pretty good music. I also loved the dark basment, college party feel.
(3)Emma B.
having cheap beer isn't really enough to be a good dive bar. you also have to clean yr bathrooms with some suggestion of regularity, get a decent sound system, and maybe even turn on the air conditioning sometimes. medusa fails on all three.
(2)Seth A.
When you want to the know the definition of "expedite" you open a dictionary, when you want to know the definition of "dive bar" you goto Medusa Lounge. Nothing else can compare. I go there every Tuesday for the underground beats and the straight-from-the-streets rap of the Cypher. It's my favorite place to grab a beer and chill for an hour or so. To fully experience the dive bar-ness, take advantage of the shot of whiskey and pbr for 3 dollars.
(4)Kristan O.
Interesting dive bar. Which I like. I'm rating it based on it being a DIVE BAR! This place is NOT classy so don't come here and then be pissed that you're not at a classy bar. You walk down into the basement to go inside and enter a basement covered in artwork with writing and $1 billions on the ceiling. There are some bar tables with stools, a dj, people dancing crazy on the floor. What's not to like? The music was iffy. As we entered there was good music but as the hour went on it quickly changed to techno. We disco'ed it up and had a good time.
(4)Kevin C.
"Holy. Fucking. Shit." You will say this 100 times while you're here. You will say it when you see how much it costs for a shot and a beer ($4). You will say it when you see the male to female ratio (roughly a million to one). You will say it when you hear how unbelievably, irrationally good the DJ is. You will say it when you walk into the bathroom and realize it is the dirtiest bathroom in all of Philadelphia, and seriously, I've seen someone shit in a urinal before. You will say it even louder when you go back and realize that someone tried to glue the toilet seat back to the toilet with liquid fucking feces. You will say it after blacking out and throwing up outside with no consequences whatsoever. Holy. Fucking. Shit.
(3)Rita C.
Medusa Lounge is a dark basement with no cover charge, graffiti, dancey electronic music, and drink specials, which pretty much means that it's awesome. I'll definitely come back in the future for some more of their $5 city special - miller high life (the champagne of beer) and shot.
(3)Alison K.
Hipster central. Awful techno music with no vocals or any sort of build (and I actually do like electronic dance music normally.) It's quite literally a basement. I guess the graffiti-ed walls and ceiling are kind of cool, but I kept looking around expecting to see a rat. They actually ran out of several of the drinks that were on special, even though it wasn't really packed. That said, my friends and I had a great time, but it had pretty much nothing to do with what Medusa actually has to offer.
(2)Charlotte H.
This place was so, so sketchy. My friends and I couldn't get out soon enough. There was one random guy dancing in the middle of the very small and dark room; I've never seen moves like that.
(1)Mary B.
I'm not much of a dancer. I love music, but usually I'd rather just observe, watch others. You're more likely to find me at a show with a band than with a DJ. My musical choices, while they include lots of electronic, rarely include much pop, R&B or hip-hop. Combine that with my age (over 30 is all you need to know), and it becomes difficult to find a place that will appeal both to my dancing friends and me. So I don't really go to clubs that often. My very rare appearances in Old City clubs have all left me filled hatred - of the owners, the DJs, the other patrons, and myself. If you are 20-something chick, neglect to wear a jacket while going out in 20 degree weather while wearing short skirts, drink Red Bull and Jager or vodka, regular wear matching a velour tracksuit (particularly if it says "Juicy" on the ass, which really sounds like a digestive problem you should see a doctor about), or if you're a guy with gel filled hair that loves these chicks, and if you love Rihanna and Lady Gaga - my review isn't for you. Hey, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with those things (well, besides the juicy ass), just that you and I don't share interests, and this is good to know up front. So with that out of the way - Medusa is a good blend of what I like, what I'll tolerate, and what my dancing friends like/tolerate. Small underground dive bar, dark, decent electronic music that, at least when I've been there, didn't have a hint of Britney, small dance area, places to sit while watching friends, no cover, sub-par bathroom, and comfortable enough that I don't feel too uncomfortable when I do get up to dance. So while I wouldn't pick this place if I were on my own (I wouldn't pick any club if I were on my own), Medusa's a decent compromise.
(3)Jamie D.
I've walked by this spot several times in the past two years and never thought much of it, but when friends wanted to go there I knew exactly where it was! The giant blue wall with the arrow pointing to MEDUSA LOUNGE makes it memorable. I went to this venue to see some friends' friends DJ and I was told that there would be dancing. Sweet. So we go downstairs and see that it looks like someone's basement with a bar extension and 2 grungy bathrooms. It has a bit of a hipster feel to it all, but that may have just been the plethora of hip-looking individuals getting their dance on. I joined in and for the most part people didn't bump into you, which I appreciate (compared to TigerBeats and 700Club hipster danceparties) so it was good. People say this is the worst bathroom in Philly....and I would be inclined to say it's definitely up there. The toilet seat was on the floor and it was pretty foul. It ain't pretty, but they aren't clogged and that's something. Drinks are cheap and I'm 99% sure they don't have food since someone delivered a pizza and was eating it on the bar. I checked in on Yelp and got some sort of special, so thanks for that! I'm not entirely sure if I would return to this place with a cover or if I didn't have friends specifically going there.
(3)