So recently I stayed in Philadelphia for work, and I did so during the NBA playoffs when the Philadelphia 76’ers were still alive. When I was in Philly, unfortunately the Sixers were playing in Atlanta. Philadelphia is renowned for some of the most loyal and most crazy sports fans in the country. Although I couldn’t go to a game in person, I decided that I wanted to do the next best thing, watch a playoff game in a Philly sports bar with real hard core Philly sports fans. As it turned out, my hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Philadelphia Center City (click to read the Philliver’s review) was just 100 yards from Bar-ly.

When I arrived at my hotel, from driving in the area I had figured out that my hotel was smack dab right in the middle of Philly’s ‘Chinatown’. I’m not calling it Chinatown, Philadelphia is. They have signs that say it.

I’m kidding!  It won’t really work from a picture, but how many of you tried it before you read this? Anyway, I didn’t know that Bar-ly was a Chinese sports bar until I walked in, and I couldn’t have been happier. Half of the menu is Chinese and Vietnamese. How great is that? The fact that this place is right in Chinatown means the food is legit.

Don’t you get tired of bar food sometimes? How many wings can you possibly eat without wondering if there’s something better somewhere? What if that something better was eating Chinese food, drinking an awesome local craft beer and watching your team on one of 37 televisions?

I heartily recommend Bar-ly if you’re in Philadelphia Center City. As a sports bar I give 4.5 out of 5 Philly’s. Great food, great atmosphere and a great selection of craft beers. The reason for the 4.5 instead of a full 5, is that they only take cash, quite possibly to fund the illegal casino downstairs. That may or may not be true, but you should read my story about it, An Amish Buggy in Chinatown, over on The Phil Factor.

Safe travels! ~Phil