RIP Black Cat Tavern. Where else can I have a beer in Deep South with a similar vibe?

Submitted by fox_in_the_headlight t3_11co6bv in philadelphia

Pretty much the title. I live in South Philly and Black Cat has been my regular. I am a grumpy nerd of middling years and BC was kinda perfect for me. There were always people there, but like, not *too* many. Held cool events, D&D nights, craft exchanges, quizzos but was still always pretty laid back. Mixed aged crowds- 20s, 30s, 40s-not too heavy on the kid party vibes or the old man get off my porch ones. Now that they are closing up shop, is there anywhere else that can fill the void? Tattooed Mom's does, but how about in Point Breeze/Passyunk/etc? Thanks in advance!

102

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Marko_Ramius1 t1_ja46pa8 wrote

Tap Room on 19th is solid. Lucky 13, Fountain Porter and Watkins in Passyunk may also be your speed

57

klaus_normi t1_ja63dhb wrote

Does Watkins still smell like a bathroom? I used to go there all the time, but had to cut back after it started getting grody...

8

BRi7X t1_ja47re0 wrote

Wait what? I was there last night for like the first time.

44

myothercarisapynchon t1_ja49jzv wrote

and the last lol it was their last day

55

BRi7X t1_ja5r8r5 wrote

t'was a really cool spot. i just moved within walking distance of the place and i thought it would be a really charming local watering hole.

7

Ng3me t1_ja42n27 wrote

Bummer. I liked that someone was making an effort for a younger crowd that far down. I only went twice and it was decent. Good stop before after Phillies games.

37

VanDammeJamBand t1_ja45gox wrote

Don’t know if the vibe is exactly the same because I’ve only been to Black Cat once, but you can check out South House just a couple blocks away.

30

pookypocky t1_ja5uhd6 wrote

I don't know about the vibe either but I can vouch for south house being a really pleasant bar.

5

zillah1985 t1_ja46wv1 wrote

Black Cat is closing!? Fuck. This is my fault for not going.

27

TheCardiganKing t1_ja6iehi wrote

People get older and trends change. Much of the Philly that I knew in my 20s is gone, but we all age, drink less, and socialize less as time goes on. Nothing lasts forever no matter how much we want it to. Old haunts can't stay in business on good memories alone. You're not responsible for keeping it alive.

8

benjaminpoole t1_ja4wsse wrote

This is unfortunately how I found out that Black Cat closed, what a bummer. Anyway, Southhouse around the corner is pretty similar, South Philly Taproom is also a good place. Triangle Tavern and Pub on Passyunk East (aka P.O.P.E) skew a little younger demographically but are otherwise great spots.

25

duderino424 t1_ja4dp6a wrote

Mcuskers.

16

hguess_printing t1_ja7lzp5 wrote

100%. Owners are a buncha sweeties and the musics good rock classics and beyond. Not too small. Projector screen for main sports things.

2

thatkoets t1_ja4j9m8 wrote

South house which is close to black cat tavern

14

xenawarriorfrycook t1_ja4a5c4 wrote

Did they say why they were closing so abruptly? I saw their social media post yesterday and was shocked but I didn't want to rub salt in the wound by asking

12

meeemawww t1_ja4c015 wrote

Come hang out w us at Rays. Very similar demographic you’re looking for especially on weekdays. Not so many events, but always an interesting time.

11

timbrelyn t1_ja4brym wrote

It was a cool place. So sad it closed so abruptly. I think the plan is to reform/return elsewhere eventually. I know the female co-owner is a Moore School of Art alum. I’m curious what happened especially since they seemed to have weathered the pandemic ok. My favorite place in the area that seems to have a similar vibe (to me at least) is Moonshine on Moyamensing.

10

GumshoeAndy t1_ja5l4el wrote

Part of what made Black Cat so great was the location. There are a bunch of bars on Oregon Ave. but, none of them cater to the Black Cat crowd.

8

Scumandvillany t1_ja43jmw wrote

12 steps down? Not exactly deep but still

9

GumshoeAndy t1_ja5ladg wrote

My line for deep south is anything below Oregon. Since they're on the north side of the street, I'm going to have to agree.

2

sunbone t1_ja4eefz wrote

Not sure if they still do it but upstairs at american sardine bar had some d&d nights and rock paper scissors tournaments

7

DisgruntledNCO t1_ja5awmc wrote

Awww man, black cat is closing? First Memphis taproom, and now this

7

ValiMeyers t1_ja5xdrl wrote

Stick with T-Moms. It’s the best

2

TheCardiganKing t1_ja6i11o wrote

How is it these days? I loved Sugar Mom's back in the day (R.I.P.), but Tattooed Mom's was my other favorite. I haven't been there in nearly a decade since I now live out in West Philly and, well, I'm not 22 and much of a big drinker anymore. I'm curious if the vibe's changed much at all.

5

ValiMeyers t1_ja7n7d8 wrote

I am most certainly not a kid lol. It’s always cool there. It’s chill. Not too many people but people. Staff is chill. Good vegan and vegetarian options and lots of good drinks and beer on tap

3

mala_cavilla t1_ja8vibl wrote

Oh hell yeah sugar mom's! My sister took me there about a decade ago when she was living in Philadelphia. No one seems to remember that place.

I just moved here over the summer and went to tattoo mom's around then. Cool vibes inside, but the specialty cocktails and even draft beers tasted terrible.

2

hoochie_215 t1_ja7inve wrote

Mccusters you can play games in but they don't have food typically. You can order food to there, though

2

tonberryjr t1_ja86g75 wrote

The Pub on Passyunk East (aka "The Pope") is pretty friendly. Played Pandemic there - which hits different in the year 2023 - and the bartenders let us use the back room for D&D

2

Aromat_Junkie t1_ja4uue3 wrote

These are all fancy bars, Try "Brothers 2" or rosewood bar, or fireside tavern on oregon

1

TapWater28 t1_ja5d5e7 wrote

I used to love getting takeout beer from the Rosewood on Sunday nights during football season. Grown men blubbering in their blackberry brandy about all the money they lost.

9

BackpackGotJets t1_ja5tdyu wrote

I will never go back to fireside tavern. Moved here 10 years ago and went there because it was in walking distance. I'm mixed race and my friend is white. We just walked in and sat down where there was a seat. Next thing I know, for whatever reason every black person in the bar went outside at the same time and the bartender locked them out. Then a customer approached us and asked "You guys are white right?". In my head I'm thinking now is a good time to be white, so I said yeah. He responded with, "Good, next time use that door. points to door behind us The blacks use the other door. And we sit over here, they sit over there." Then he proceeded to buy us drinks. I felt awful about it, but at the same time didn't want any trouble.

What the actual fuck. It was 2013, but they were still practicing some segregation bullshit. Never went back

9

fastedzo t1_ja6bqsp wrote

I’ve been there a few times, never seen anything as odd and fucked as that. It’s just a shitty dive bar, but I never felt uncomfortable. Sorry that happened to you.

3

BackpackGotJets t1_ja6cdys wrote

Thanks man. Like I said this was 10 years ago, but I've never seen anything like that in my life. Could be different now, but I don't care to find out

6

Firm_Airport2816 t1_ja7udr8 wrote

Thats just strange because all the regulars I know there are black, and one DJ'd there for a while

1

BackpackGotJets t1_ja7w7le wrote

Like I said, this was 10 years ago and it shook me so hard I didn't want to go back. There were black people when I went, but like I said it was separated. I didn't notice it at first until the bartender locked them out when they all went outside at the same time for some reason, and the other guy came over and said that shit to me. Could have been a totally nutty customer and a series of weird coincidences, but it certainly didn't feel like it.

3

hguess_printing t1_ja7m9uz wrote

Rosewood is sooo cramped. But they do a white people taco Tuesday once a month that I have definitely indulged in haha

2

jphilly11 t1_ja8lh57 wrote

Triangle tavern seems a spot you may like

1

Firm_Airport2816 t1_ja7un9v wrote

Rays happy birthday bar! Laid back, cool crowd and staff and could easily chill in the back room. They don't do any game nights, but karaoke gets a bit crowded...other than that, it's always a chill vibe

0

throwawaitnine t1_ja4zpqf wrote

Tankies maybe

−10

GumshoeAndy t1_ja5lmmh wrote

If OP is looking for a bar with a Black Cat vibe, Tankie's ain't it.

10

throwawaitnine t1_ja5rzei wrote

Hey bro, the truth is, I ain't had a drink in 12 years and I ain't been in either one of these places, I just live in the neighborhood. How about South House?

4