Not sure how many Philadelphians troll this forum but I wanted to represent.. Lived outside Philadelphia my whole life (Havertown) and in the city the last 6 years (graduated from Drexel in 09'). I know where all the good/cheap/fun bars are in every major neighborhood but I'm looking to upgrade and find out where the best lounge/hang out spots are that may be a little more pricey. Anyway, this is where I go in my free time:

Center City (bus district):

• Drinkers Pub is always fun and cheap. If I remember this is 18th and chestnut, could be wrong.
  Irish Pub - same as above and this is where Pat Burrell aka Pat the Bat used to get smashed and pick up every hot blonde in the city. Bouncers here can tell you some stories.
  Raven Lounge - Hipster hang out. Better music than most bars even though I'm not really into the hipster scene, they don't just play the same stuff - lots of variety and good DJs. I think 16th and samsom
  O.N.E. Rittenhouse - cool after hours club - open till 4am and right next to rittenhouse square. (all PA bars close at 2am).
  McGillian's Irish Pub - Oldest bar in the city and a lot of fun. If you can only go to one bar in Philadelphia, go here. Great fun every night of the week. 13th and Drury (between sansom and chestnut I think)

Olde City:
Lucy's - 3rd and Market, fun and cheap, same owner as all the Drinker's Pubs
Steven Starr restaurants and lots of clubs/upscale bars I haven't been too. Which are the best?

Been to bars all over the city but I just picked a few that are pretty fun.

Philadelphia Art Museum - never been, lol I'm a drunk
Philadelphia Zoo - great place to take a female and look at the otters

Events:
Manyunk Bike Race - professional bikers from all over the world come and race around manyunk - yearly drinking fest in manyunk - lots of fun
Erin Express - every Saturday leading up to St. Patricks Day in March. Lots of fun, busses take you around to every bar for free, total chaos all over the city. Tons of people young and old partying all day - awesome.

All I can think of at the moment. Philly people where you at?!

I found out about The Franklin Mortgage and Investment Co. just a few weeks ago. Old-fashioned bar with lots of nontraditional (for me) drinks. Pricey, but good atmosphere. On 18th, a bit north of Sansom.

Wrt Stephen Starr, I've never been to Jones, Barclay Prime, or Morimoto. Or Pizzeria Stella, now that I am looking at his wiki.

Pod is pretty good I guess, but I'm not the hugest sushi fan. Buddakan is fabulous. El Vez has great guacamole and is okay otherwise. Parc is right on Rittenhouse--fun atmosphere, overpriced food. Alma de Cuba is great, but overpriced iyam. The Continental has really hot waitresses.

Eurotrash sighting requested ITT.

Abner's steaks on Penn's campus is great--OP has prob. been there--and overlooked by most who don't live in the area.

Been to el vez and Alma de Cuba, good food. Haven't been to the other steven starr restaurants.. probably the trendiest scene in philly bars/restaurants so yea overpriced. Continental - yes hot broads. I've never been to the roof deck, heard its a good scene for that.

Barclay prime is obv baller, lots of philly 'elite' go there i've heard... I currently commute to and work in Princeton NJ (sucks) but used to work at 20th and Market and would go out to the bars downtown all the time... fun times

Have eaten there, but its been a long time and I forget if I liked it or not. My favorite cheese steak place is probably Tony Luke's with Pat's close behind. Jim's on south street is great too

I'm going to recommend Nick's Old Original Roast Beef located on S 20th St. I moved to NYC earlier this year after growing up in Philly and the next time I visit I'm going to not Pat's, not Geno's, not Tony Luke's, but Nicks. Without a doubt the best roast beef sandwich you will ever have and I would argue the best sandwich period in all of Philly...in fact, I still haven't found a sandwich in NYC that I like more than it.

Here is an accurate review from one Mr. Thad S. on Yelp:

Nick's is located in deep South Philly. It's old school. And that is what makes it so amazing. Although the prices have slightly increased since my last visit, the remarkably dingy, dark dining has not. Neither has the most incredible roast beef I may have ever tasted. Ever. Although they offer a few other items, the beef is where it's at. Hand carved to order, the au jus tastes as though it has been slowly reducing from the original slab of beef when they opened sixty years ago. That good.

I order the roast beef combo, on the outs, meaning they slice the crispy bits off of the outside and mix it with your sandwich meat. A slice of provolone makes it a combo and oh, SO good (can you tell I like this place?). The interiors of the bun are lightly dipped in the meat gravy, and you won't believe how good it is. Rich, salty, indulgent, simple and oh so satisfying. The only condiments are banana peppers, horseradish and yellow mustard, all served table side.

That does sound good, I have to go check it out. I forgot about probably my favorite steak place (very hard to get out there, it closes at 2pm weekdays not open on the weekends so I haven't been there too many times), but John's Roast Pork off delaware ave at snyder. They use the best bread I've ever had with seseme seeds - good stuff check it out

Awesome to see a Philly thread now!

I live in Manayunk and grew up in Lafayette Hill. It's getting late and I'm tired, so I'll be brief for now...

Good bar recommendations (esp. McGillian's), though the better Drinker's (Tavern) is on 1st & Market in Old City. I will add some more this weekend.

A good dive bar I used to go to during college and a little after (2003-2006) when already very lit up is Bob & Barbara's on 15th and South. $3.50 for a PBR (for the hipsters) and shot of Beam and live jazz, though sadly the band leader passed away earlier this decade. Not sure if the clientele has changed since I've last been there. Just don't go on Thursday's as this is Drag night!

I've eaten at Pizzeria Stella and the prices were surprisingly not ridiculous. I've only had a few of the pizzas, but it's good if you're looking for something different (i.e. prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella & arugula ). Not sure how tough it is to get a table, but the time I went with 3 friends we walked up and got a table at 8PM on a Saturday night (though being a few days after one of the stupid snowstorms probably helped).

Tony Luke's is probably my favorite cheesesteak, though the others mentioned are all good. Pat's is probably my favorite drunk cheesesteak, and Dalessandro's is the local choice for me.

I've heard good things about Paddy's Pub. It's in kind of a sketchy neighborhood but the owners are a riot.

FYI, Drinkers is at 19th and Chestnut. Great place to go after midnight and a grab a 40 and end the night on a good note.

Devil's Alley is also right next door. Great place for lunch.

I'm a fan of Ladder 15. 15th and Sansom. Always packed on Fridays and Saturdays. Wait in line for like 5 minutes. $5 cover. But it's a good crowd. Dress to impress. Drinks are pricey, but you should already be feelin' good by the time you get there. LOTS of talent here.

I'll also second the el vez and the good guac and their margs are awesome. Right nearby is Lolita, which is upscale Mexican and its BYOT. Solid place and not crazy expensive.

The problem I have with One at Rittenhouse is that it's like a $15 cover (although there are always guys right outside giving out coupons for $10 covers), which is kind of ridiculous. But no many places to go after the bars close, so I guess they can do whatever the hell they want.

Good idea for thread, btw. Just moved into Philly. Been in suburbs entire life, save 4 years of college.

The Drinker's group of bars are all good, there are drinker's pubs on 1st and market, 19th and now 39th and chestnut. They also own Lucy's on 3rd and market and No Che, right above Drinkers in center city. Not sure of any others but they are all fun and cheap.

Been to ladder 15 a few times and its good as long as your not eating, food isn't very good. But yea, lots of talent.

Also I'm moving to port richmond in a few months, an area I don't know a whole lot about. I know northern liberties isn't too far, but I'm looking for some good local spots in Port Richmond if anyone knows

Headed down there tomorrow night with some friends. How is the strip club scene? Anyplace to definitely go or avoid?

If you're downtown, Gold Club (14th and Chancelor, I believe) is your only option, unless there are others that I'm unaware of that are in the heart of the city.

All the others are on the outskirts of the city. Delilah's is arguably the best (especially if you want a nice steak to go with your bewbs).

Yeah I hadn't heard of GC, but Delilah's and Christine's I had heard of as well as Daydreams. But I didn't know the differences in price, service, caliber of chicks, etc.