The Handle Bar

I can't put into words how much fun I had here on Saturday night.  The dj was playing every bad song we requested, the bartenders were attentive, and the atmosphere was great.  Everyone was drinking citywides and singing along to Salt'n'Pepa (but mostly me).  One of my favorite dive bars in the city, by far.

Wow so last night a bunch of us decided to go to Philly for some good old fashion drinking. We visited one bar a friend of our's works at then decided to move on. We went to 2 old favorites of mine and one was boring as all get out and the other had all these silly new rules. We were thinking of going home when my one friend spotted a pabst sign in a window. We stopped at the handle bar and I think this is my new destination when I go to Philly now. We walked in and the bartenders were smiling and waving at us like we knew them for years. We sat down had excellent service all night from the bartenders Jon and Chuck! Another thing that was awesome about the bar was when they serve mixed drinks they give you a straw topper (I got a flamingo)! The prices were all very reasonable but the only thing is they do not take card :(. That's ok though because they have a atm right in the bar. The music was also really great the Dj B-Rad was playing all sorts of good music and taking requests all night. I can't wait to go back to this bar! Last thing before I'm done ......they hand out ring pops !!!! So even if your the DD you can have candy ! Well hats off to this place because in my opinion they are doing it right :D !

If there were such a thing as The Hall of Extraordinary Dive Bars, The Handle Bar would most definitely belong in it. Whatever hipsterity exists here is but a thin veneer, easily wiped away to reveal its true non-hipster, working class origins.

It's in a great spot too. Within the context of the rise of NoLibs and Fishtown, it's near the "center of things" yet simultaneously off the beaten path. I dig that.

I've done my time on the dive bar circuit and this place quickly became a favorite of mine. If you like dive bars, you should check it out.

Get fu-shnickened and be sure to take care of your bartenders.