Top Shelf Lounge

This place is a good time, the drinks are strong, the vibe is chill… Good place to go with friends and laugh, both times I’ve been on a Friday night, it’s packed but we’ve always found a table plus adjacent space at the bar, and just kept the drinks coming, definitely some characters but nothing to be concerned about. If you want to go out for cheap strong drinks then this is a decent place to go to. Plus the bartenders are nice :) oh and the food and music is good, I’ve had the wings they hit the spot when you have been drinking!

Topshelf Topshelf let me just say a great place to get a few drinks when you need to unwind. They have really good soul food prepared by the Divas Gloria and Cookie… The wings are great when you’re having a beer. For the best seafood in the city of Philadelphia you must come and get some of Curb Side Seafood made by the one and only Scooter Mac… Once you have had her blue crabs, you will never go anywhere else. They are the best!!! A great place to watch football. No matter who your team is you can come and watch football. Great sports bar Now let’s get to the staff… The entire staff from the Owner Vernon on down… THEY ARE GREAT!!! Just awesome!!! DJ Flex is the best. He plays whatever you request. From that good Oldies to the new music… (I prefer the oldies) There is a jazz band that plays on Saturday and Sundays (when there is no football) So if you are looking for all the above go to Topshelf you won’t be disappointed…

I discovered this bar on one of my random treks through the city years ago. I’m not a club person so I enjoy smaller bars/​lounges with a good crowd, drinks and dj. This is considered to be an «oldhead «bar meaning the crowd is pretty much 35 and over. Leaning more towards the over part. Drinks are so cheap, specials really aren’t needed. Dj is always jamming. No drama. Just fun. They serve breakfast and dinner. Top Shelf also hosts a lot of ski trips and crab feasts in Baltimore and other destinations. No frills bar. Nothing fancy
be prepared to yell your drink orders over the music. It’s loud, tight but always right! Some may be scared of the neighborhood but I’m from the hood so sketchy characters don’t scare me! Lol. I’ve heard about jazz bands but haven’t had the chance to hear one there.

To be honest, I went here for the first time this Saturday, because a friend was playing there 4 – 8. I LOVE a Saturday Jazz Matinée, partially because it gives me permission to get a load on in the middle of the day, but also because you can’t tell what time it is inside, and when you walk out and see the sun shining, it throws your mind for a loop.
I didn’t try the food (looks like great Sunday seafood deals.) The place was nearly PACKED, but I did get a nice seat at the bar close to the entrance, but had a clear view of the bandstand. Tony Smith, a swinging bebop trumpet man from Wilmington was there with an organ trio. When they played, the joint was transformed to the mid-​fifties. I mean, not knowing what time it is, and on top of it not knowing what DECADE it is causes some very pleasant cognitive dissonance. If you have never been to a Philly B3 lounge, you have to experience it once in your life. Of course the monstrous B3s and Leslie Speakers have gone the way of fins on cars, but today’s electronic keyboards can achieve a «close enough» sound that you’ll get the point.
From the sign on the wall (I hope it is current) Jazz saxophone legend Sam Reed plays every Tuesday night. I will double-​check this for accuracy. If anyone had been to the old Natalie’s before it stopped it’s decades-​long Saturday afternoon jams you will feel right at home, and probably meet some regulars. Like Natalie’s this is NOT an expensive date. I had two generous Jameson rocks and a Heineken, tipped a buck and a quarter after each drink and left with a few bucks change from a twenty. Yuengling Lite bottles are $ 2 all day /​every day. Service was friendly and my bar-​mates were cordial. I did not at all feel out of place being the only caucasian in the bar.
Will definitely be back if they keep Jazz saturdays going, and will for sure check out a Tues night if Sam Reed is, in fact, a regular there.