Nikki Volpicelli

If it’s last call and you’re not ready to stop dancing, head to this tucked-away NoLibs club, open 10pm to 3am on weekends, and pay a small door fee to keep the night going. The bar, with its plastic cups of whiskey and draft beers, is cash-only and reasonably priced. If you’ve got munchies, deal with them before or after. The kitchen stays open till closing time, cranking out basic burgers, wraps, tacos, waffles and ice cream.

The Dolphin’s glowing neon-lit wall is highly Instagrammable, if that’s your thing, but chances are you’re here for the music (and the modest $5 cover). With one of Philly’s most eclectic mix of DJs and dance nights, you will find something you like at this South Philly institution—from “Danceteria,” a Friday night mix of music from Philly mixers Jayo and Ed Christof that blends Hall & Oates into house to “Club Congress,” a disco-heavy night with a diverse crowd and LGBTQ following. There’s also DJ Sweat Daddy’s “Lean Back” 2000s rap party—compelling you to remember all the words to every DMX hit you ever saw on your MTV box—and much, much more. The Dolphin is open Wednesdays through Saturdays only, and has a great 10pm happy hour with $1 well drinks and Tecates.

Sometimes you can catch a live show at the Barbary, and when that happens, it’s often to accommodate our underaged friends. Most weeks, the club’s schedule is stacked with 21-plus throwback dance parties including “Tigerbeats,” an indie rock party that’s been going strong for what feels like a decade’s worth of Monday nights, and “Through Being Cool,” an emo night that’s a lot less sappy than it sounds. During most of these events, you can snag a few free drinks if you get there early. After that, you’ll need green stuff for this cash-only bar.

North Bowl is a hip, retro bowling alley and bar situated on the busiest corner in NoLibs. The venue boasts what many consider the best tater tots in the city (get them wit wiz!), as well as pool, video games, live DJ sets, multiple bars and of course, a ton of lanes. For a deal, check out North Bowl’s $2 Beer and Bowling night happening every Sunday and Wednesday evening from 10pm to close, when, as the name suggests, you can snag a lane and select beers for $2 each.

Upstairs, the 700 Club looks a lot like your high school friend’s parent’s basement: There’s no cover, there are couches and it’s dimly-lit and residential-looking. But your friend’s parents probably didn’t host dance nights three nights out of the week and stock 800 different bottles of beer for your drinking pleasure, did they? Downstairs, the long stretch of seating is usually reserved for “footy” on the TV—specifically when the Philadelphia Union soccer team is playing—but on dance nights, you can usually snag a seat to rest your limbs. In the summer, 700’s heavily windowed first floor is usually wide open, providing a fresh breeze for the revelers inside, packed like sardines.

As you step into this unassuming Mexican cantina, you’ll see a horseshoe-shaped bar riddled with nachos, shot glasses and Tecate. Let the faint yell of a patron singing Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow or House of Pain lead you toward the backroom, where the “magic” happens. Saturday nights is probably your best bet to catch some of the jolliest, most unpretentious karaoke performances in all of Philadelphia. Here the vegan wings are good, the beer is cheap and the stage props—boas, wigs and a giant Corona bottle—are always at your disposal.

Here’s where you get your dose of metal, hard rock, punk and rap, or, if you’re waiting for a show at the Electric Factory, here’s where you get your pre-game. Drinks range from $6 to $8, with $4 domestic beers. The bathrooms could use some work, but that’s part of Voltage’s gritty rock & roll charm. So settle into a seat, order a drink from the bartender with a heavy hand, and try not to break the seal as you wait for the show to begin. Be on the lookout for Spellbound, the club’s longest-running dance party hosted the first weekend of the month and specializing in darkwave and synth.