Philadelphia’s Best Nightlife

Best Jazz Club [1]: Jazz enthusiasts come from far and wide to experience Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus [1], an intimate Northern Liberties venue that has hosted some of the top names in jazz on its small stage.

Best Live Music Venue [2]: An intimate venue with spectacular acoustics, World Café Live [2] hosts a diverse lineup of small- and bigger-name acts.

Best Dance Club and Diner All in One [3]: One of the hottest dance clubs in Northern Liberties, Silk City [3] also has an adjoining upscale diner and second bar area.

Best Dive Bar [4]: More than just a dive bar, Bob & Barbara’s [4] is a local institution. The $3 special — a shot of whiskey and a can of PBR — can’t be beat, and a wide array of events throughout the week attract a diverse clientele.

Best Quizzo Game [5]: In a city where competitive bar sports are all the rage, there is no shortage of intense Quizzo (team trivia) games. Fergie’s [5] has the best — with big prizes and fierce competition.

Best Bar Burger [6]: Locals come to Good Dog [6] as often for the eponymous burger as they do for the chill bar scene.

Best Wine Bar [7]: The food, microbrews, and of course, the wine are spectacular at Tria [7]. Now with two locations, you’re never far from delicious cheese and a perfect Riesling.

Best Gay Nightlife [8]: Woody’s [8], the center of gay nightlife in Philly for nearly 30 years, boasts a variety of spaces, moods, and themed nights that appeal to a wide variety of gay men, and also some women. The alley behind it is home to Sisters [9], the only club in town specifically devoted to lesbians, complete with a lively upstairs dance floor.