About
With its roots tracing back to at least the mid-to-late 1960's, the hallowed ground located at 951 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia has been Fishtown's place to dance for as long as our eldest neighbors have fought gentrification. Known back then as The Colonial, it was a go-go bar highlighted by girls in sequin-adorned bikinis dancing to the hottest song of the time: Wipeout by the Surfaris (1963). How do we know? Because our 98 year-old neighbor's 78 year-old niece was one of the dancers! And yes, she offered to come out of retirement when we re-opened.
After a year of discovering and fixing myriad hidden building issues, then surviving the Covid-19 Pandemic and then closing for 3-years to perform a massive structural renovation; The Barbary was reborn in February 2025 as a proper 2-floor dance-focused venue highlighted by robust sound and light systems and augmented by fully upgraded restrooms facilities, HVAC systems and an outdoor patio.
Inspired by their favorite underground dance institutions from around the globe; The Barbary's owners have brought the same feeling they get when dancing in Montreal, London, Chicago, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Berlin and Ibiza; home to Philadelphia.
Blending party favorites that brought it to Best of Philly heights with the driving underground force of house and techno music; The Barbary of today is bigger, sleeker and crazier while staying true to its roots. Because one thing will never change about 951 Frankford Avenue: It will always be Fishtown's renegade, indie, pirate bar.
