SPOTLIGHT: Dolphin Tavern, 1539 S. Broad St.

Do you love to drink beer and whisky? Do you love to dance? Do you love the 70’s and 80’s? If you said “YES” to all of these questions, then you will love the Dolphin.

I recently discovered this bar just this past October when I went for a friend’s birthday. I went once and was quickly trying to make plans to go back. Everything from the atmosphere to the dance floor neon lights to the drinks is exciting. And it’s literally across the street from the Broad Street line, making transportation easy.

The Dolphin has live music, usually a DJ set, from Wednesday to Sunday every week. The bar is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Some music sets are loyal to the Dolphin, happening every week on their given day but also, some are rare and exciting for fans. For example, Animal Collective has come to the Dolphin a few times to do a DJ set drawing in crowds of people. With that said, there is a door fee that may turn off some people ranging from $5-$15, depending on whose playing that night.

As soon as you get past the doormen, the bar is dimly lit with black lights and lights from the dance floor. The actual bar itself isn’t huge, leaving room for a sit down area with tables and most importantly, the dancing. Just because the bar isn’t huge though doesn’t mean the drinks aren’t endless. Aside from the traditional beers and liquors, the Dolphin has a unique cocktail menu that they paired up with Art in the Age to make. And let’s not forget their happy hour (8:00-10:00pm) when EVERYTHING is HALF OFF!!!

The dancing and music are the best part of this bar though. Hands down. If you don’t like to dance, this isn’t the place for you. The dance floor is equipped complete with a disco ball and surrounded with light up walls with squares of different colors. And the music? It isn’t your typical Top 40, EDM crap. It’s mostly oldies with a unique spin on it, thanks to the talented musicians that stand overlooking the whole dance floor. Some examples of songs that I’ve danced to are: Once in a Lifetime by the Talking Heads, The Name Game by Shirley Ellis. You get the picture.

If you’re looking for a fun and new place to check out, and maybe get kind of sweaty in the process, the Dolphin Tavern in South Philly is a great option.