Billiards, Games, & Live Jazz Under Basement-Style Lights…Welcome To Cellar Dog, Howl At The Moon’s Successor On 15th Street
Cellar Dog NYC’s Philly cousin slides into the neighborhood as a pre- or late-night hangout option with more games and live music than you can shake a stick at.
If there was a runner-up for “most fun street” after Sansom, especially off of 15th, we’d think 15th Street between Walnut and Spruce could be it.
Of course, it depends on what your idea of fun is. But with several bars like Good Dog, a food place or two such as Jose Pistola’s and the future Amma’s II, and nightlife options like Spin and Vinyl, is it completely out of the question?
Sliding into the discussion is another contender for being a nightlife option: Cellar Dog, expanding from NYC to replace Howl at the Moon and Down Philly. Whether or not it attracts the bachelorette and the “just turned 21” crowds those 2 former haunts had in spades (do bachelorettes like premarital billiards?) remains to be seen.
Full disclosure: We did not go to Cellar Dog’s predecessor, so we had no expectations walking into the venue. But as soon as you walk in you can see how it’s organized: Jazz and the pews to sit in and worship it on the right, shuffleboard tables past that, and the bar to its right, and straight ahead of the entrance.
If concerns about not getting a table, i.e., a shuffleboard table, are an issue then know that you shouldn’t have those issues here. Shouldn’t, but no promises – together we’ll find out more.
Likewise with pool tables: You shouldn’t have any concerns. Possibly. But know that the tables are first come, first served, and you pay by the hour. At the end. Also, they said they have professional pool sticks, and the ability to swap out any that aren’t working or bringing you any luck (just say they’re defective so they don’t suspect it’s your luck.)
If live jazz and pool aren’t your thing, what about no-frills, cellar-style ping pong? No frills meaning no one will come around to pick up your ping pong balls (sorry.)
They also have some vintage arcade games like NBA Jams circa 1993 or so in the back and a neat ice hockey game. Thinking vintage, but we didn’t double-check.
The prices for games don’t seem to be too bad! They charge by person per hour and you pay when you’re finished.
Cellar Dog also offers board games like chess, checkers, Jenga, Uno, and Jenga, so you can also get into competitive and (hopefully) friendly fights with friends.
The food is normal bar food which is always what you want at 11p, 12a, 1a, or whatever, so we’re okay with this! They also have a full bar which is always nice for that fancy friend in the group who always wants an old-fashioned.
Good news: Cellar Dog is open late on weekends. Really late, like 1a or 2a. The not-so-great news: There IS a cover charge – check out their site here for info. The good news (again): There is live jazz so musicians are getting airtime! Follow them on Instagram for hours and performance updates.
