The Dolphin Tavern
1539 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
The Dolphin Tavern Menu
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Address :
1539 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA, 19147 - Phone (215) 278-7950
- Website https://www.dolphinphilly.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Ages Allowed : 21+
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Very Loud
Music : DJ
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : No
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Johnny M.
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.
(1)Sara H.
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!
(1)Louisa B.
This place is tacky. Sat down at the bar for a yuengling and I didn't finish it because it tasted funky. Ordered a canned beverage instead. Tried to get up to head to the dance floor but was stuck to the barstool which was covered in duct tape. I tore the tape off and had sticky residue left on my jeans. Came out for "Drake night" yet no drake was played .... Tried to dance but the dance floor placement is very unfortunate, pinned between the bar and the bathroom. Get ready to rub elbows with everyone entering and exiting the bathroom. Highlight was the photobooth. Probably won't go again.
(1)Sneha K.
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 ($6 for a well-drink) and the opening DJ was awesome. I would definitely want to come back here to check out what its like on a non-concert night.
(4)Leo I.
So rad to have finally gotten to come here. I've heard about this place for a long time but would never make the trek all the way down. Now I'm a block away - the perfect amount of stumbling distance for a late night out. The dance floor was rocking, and there was an eclectic crowd keeping the energy high. There was even a group of old ladies busting a groove that I got to shimmy past them to get to the restrooms. The lighting on the walls is unique and a throwback to decades past. Gotta love it. There was a 5$ cover charge at the door. I think they should do away with the cover charge -- it keeps all the fun and interesting riff-raff away.
(4)Ashley A.
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!!!!
(4)Julia E.
$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.
(3)Colleen D.
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.
(1)Kevin P.
The new Dolphin is terrible. The new owners took all the fun out of the place. There's nothing worse than turning an amazing old gritty titty bar and turning it into some generic dance club. The old dance floor could have been salvaged, but it looks generic and shitty now. All the pool tables were removed so that an area meant for extra dancing space can exist unoccupied most of the time. Oh well, I guess rich idiots will just continue to turn great old bars into homogenized garbage in Philly.
(1)Ashley S.
This place is super divey. Prepare for wet feet! It's funish - they have lights on the wall and it's really dark. The drinks are bad but they're cheap. However on NYE they charged us a $15 cover at 11pm.... There wasn't a band or anything but it was NYE so whatever. Then our friends showed up at 1120 and they wouldn't let them in! Even as people left the bar pre-midnight. One of the bartenders also FREAKED out when we started picking up the champagne that was laid on the bar at 11:57 and literally barricaded it with her hands like a toddler until 1158 when she handed it out haha-- I dunno - they seem kinda weirdly dramatic. There are so many good bars in PHL I'd prob skip the next time.
(3)Kevin D.
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.
(1)Zach Q.
Stopped into the Dolphin last night just check out the new upgrades. It was early so there was no one in there, not to mention it was Tuesday. I was happy to see they kept all the old charm of the original Dolphin. They had some cool lighting features and a dance floor now. It's still a dive bar, which I personally enjoy. They've got a few good draft and bottle selections and during my visit they had 1 dollar Pabst.
(3)Lizzie L.
we arrived at 11pm at Saturday night, beer price were reasonable, $5, dancers were at bar instead of dance floor. No one danced at dance floor, we decided we could go first. I liked the decoration of dance floor, not trashy. Bathrooms were really clean. In short, it was a good music venue.
(3)Lia B.
i had never been to the old dolphin but i thought this place was cool for a bar. the drinks weren't bad and the whole atmosphere is pretty interesting. i like the wall rainbow light thing and i thought it was nice they had some tables and a long bar. the 5$ cover could get annoying but that's just because i like *never* have cash. objectively (and actually considering the dancers, literally) the people watching here is great! south philly has some unique personalities and i saw a terrific amalgamation of them here. i live within walking distance of this place so I'm sure I'll end up back here from time to time.
(4)Dylan M.
Had an amazing time and a great place to go dancing. However the drinks are priced higher than you would think for the location and the cover is too.
(4)Amanda C.
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.
(3)Sara P.
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.
(3)Billy O.
Dumbest place ever. Go to a different knight club cuz this one sucks. Its small. Either people are there with a boyfriend/girlfriend. You can dance with anyone unless u wanna just dance in corner by your self. Thats my second time and last time.
(1)John J.
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
(1)Tim M.
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.
(1)Jo B.
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.
(1)Rusty S.
RIP the real dolphin. Not only is this place symptomatic of the gentrification of philly bars, but it's filled with the worst people imaginable. Thanks four corners, for turning philadelphia into a Mecca for yuppies and assholes. I'd rather give myself a lye enema than walk on the same side of the street as this place, let alone go inside.
(1)Kathleen V.
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
(5)Jordan P.
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.
(3)Corey F.
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.
(5)gavin s.
Went here for the Goldroom concert last weekend. We had a blast. Music was great, sound excellent, and the lights were perfect. Good crowd. A little tight around the bar, but they capped the number of tickets so it wasn't too bad. A little tricky to get to the bathrooms, but hey that's the case at any bar.
(4)Nabi A.
It's a room with lights and sweaty people with strong body odor. $5 cover and techno music with white people bouncing up and down. If you're into that, more power to you. I had to leave because it smelled so bad that I was gonna get sick
(2)Bri H.
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.
(3)Simone A.
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.
(5)Laura R.
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.
(2)Kelly W.
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.
(5)Adam G.
I wanted to like this place. I went with an open mind and left miserable. The drinks were very expensive, the go-go dancers looked sad, the crowd was awkward, the staff looked apathetic, and the bathrooms (for 3 people) were the size of a small shed. At least that neon wall was cool.
(1)Adam Y.
The best night of my life. For legal reasons, I can't say anything more.
(5)Shannon C.
Went here with a group of friends, arrived at around 9- there was no one there so we got a good area for our group to sit. They had a Yards special that night, so yards drafts were $4- I'm a fan of that. Later though, I ordered a Hell or High Watermelon (a canned 21st amendment beer which is $8 for a 6 pack) and it was $7, YES SEVEN DOLLARS. That is insane. Anyway, the go go dancers were not offensive at all, they were covered up. Though, one might have been a few months pregnant, which was weird... But a good time nonetheless. Fun place.
(4)Yousef K.
This is my favorite bar in Philadelhia! Its def not for everyone but for people who like to get weird its the best. Amazing dance party with a lighted wall that makes you feel like your in a place in Tarantino movie. They also have free pretzels which is a game changer when your drunk at 2am. All in all a great place but its not for everyone.
(5)Mitch M.
I have been to The Dolphin a few times now, and I do like this place. The bar itself is whatever/the prices are normal, but it's all about the dance floor. There is a multicolor lighted wall with silhouettes of drunk normies nodding along to the music which ranges from terrible to okay depending on the night. I have learned from my first trip to this place to be sort of tipsy before I go. The third time I went, I took this to the max and ended up puking in the bathroom. As I said to a friend "I wish I could sleep here", a staff member gave me a bottle of water. For this reason, I highly respect The Dolphin and would come back here. I go here with the freaks I want to have a "sh*tty" night with. My friends like the dancers here.
(4)Dana S.
Great place to go if u want to get a tick on you or catch Hep C. Awful music and playing it loud as hell does not make it better. Scummy. Boring classless interior. Smells. Yeah. Find somewhere else. Save your $ and time.
(1)Mary B.
I'd never been to the Dolphin in its previous incarnation, so you'll have to get that comparison from others. But I went there last night for the re-opening. It was quite crowded, difficult to move around the bar. They had a bunch of craft beers on tap, but also had cheap PBR cans. The bartenders were slow, but this was a first night so to be expected. Hot chicks danced occasionally on tables that were set up inside the bar (which looked like it would be really annoying for the bartenders, perhaps also why they were slow). Well, I only saw one hot chick dancing, but was told of another so I'll just assume she too was hot. When I moved to the back, to the dance floor, I felt like I'd entered a completely different place. It was much more welcoming than the bar. Great music, good dance space - not that I actually danced, of course, but if one wanted to, they had the room to do it. If they're turning this into more of a club, as long as they keep good music around and not the shitty sounds pumping out of old city, they can really take advantage of the south Philly / East Passyunk / Newbold kids. That side of town is sorely lacking in such venues. Now please open a good venue for bands to play as well. Pretty please?
(4)Shawn E.
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.
(2)Joe T.
Bring back the old dolphin. This place looks like a dive bar and that's it so if you want a Disneyland dive bar experience with small overpriced drinks then there you go. Five dollar cover for basically what you'd hear on any juke box where one dude spends five bucks. Lame overall. No more dirty and I mean unshowered strippers. It's a shame philadelphia. The man has hit town and he's cashing in. It's like jersey in here.
(1)Hope W.
guy asked for my phone number right in front of his wife while a male stripper wearing a pig mask grabbed my shoulders from behind and pulled me away.
(5)