12 Steps Down

We came Here From Chi-​Town Looking for a Low Key Spot and We Found this Diamond In the Rough. JUDE The Bartender is The Man!!! So, if You’re in Town. You have to Come here and Come See Him. Awesome Guy.

I am very grateful for 12 Steps.
There have been a number of occasions when the staff have looked out for me and my friends in terms of dealing with creepy dudes.
Their karaōke nights (Tuesday) are amazing! You end up with this very inclusive and eccentric crowd that can make the most inexperienced novice feel really warm, and supported! However, that sort of environment can often attract people who are trying to take advantage of the open – community-​like aspects of the space. Sometimes people get touchy, sometimes people get close. And as soon as it has becomes uncomfortable for me, or the people I am with, they have been on top of it. They meaning the bouncers and/​or bartenders.
It’s so hard being a woman or a group of women going out because men just take it as their opportunity to commandeer a conversation that they know nothing about, or put their hands on you without asking, or take your kindness for weakness, or be completely oblivious to the fact that you’re not interested. and somehow all of these situations are potentially dangerous for the women involved. it’s just dope to go to a place where they’re considering that, and really looking out for the wellbeing of their lady patrons.
I couldn’t recommend it enough.

Stumbled upon this gem while desperately trying to walk off the Philly cheesesteak coma and looking for something to wash it down with. This place is a legit Dive bar, with a pool table and a cigarette machine. I haven’t seen this relic in years!
The happy hour was bangin! Prices were very cheap and unheard of especially for a new yorker! most beers were ½ off and bloody Mary was $ 3. The Mary was excellent, however mine was so spicy i couldn’t feel my mouth for quite some time after I had it. If you are a fan of spicy Mary you wont be disappointed here.
Place was filled with locals whom the bartender knew and gave them their drink as they sat down. Also this place lets you smoke and there are ashtrays at every bar seat.
I am not a smoker so we left after one drink, but those out there can really take advantage of this gem. Not many like this one left around, enjoy while it lasts!

Great dive. Wish there was no smoking.

smoking bars shouldn’t exist. sorry to you smokers. 12 steps was cute but I couldn’t breath. came for karaōke and couldn’t enjoy myself so had to leave

Best happy hour around, but beware of smoking.
Get a great beer at a great price during happy hour, and pair it with their ultra-​tasty french fries on the cheap. I once had happy hour drinks and snacks here with my wife, and we were shocked when we couldn’t pay with credit card because we didn’t meet the $ 10 minimum — awesome.
12 Steps Down used to be a little unbearable if you can’t tolerate cigarette smoke, but in warm weather they have outdoor tables that are just perfect. Sit in the sun, watch people honk at each other on Christian Street, and just generally enjoy the atmosphere of South Philly.
This is the right bar in the right spot — enjoy it.

Favorite bar. The bar tender is always great. That one guy server with the glasses is so sweet and on top of things. The food is awesome. The atmosphere is always on point. Usually a great selection of music playing. All in all, this place is a late night favorite.

Good cheap drinks but the service was horrible! They tried to take advantage of us and over charged us on drinks thinking we were drunk (we’re from Miami it’s going to take a lot to get us there) we paid our bill to be cordial. We tried to order more drinks but they literally cut us off with no question! We did not behave obnoxious or out-​of-​hand and were pre-​judged which I found very distasteful! I guess they aren’t used to tourist or let alone diverse citizens. Won’t be visiting or recommending this place even with their good prices.

Bar tenders were very rude and overcharged me for shots I didn’t have. He even cut us off after a couple beers and a few shots. We where in philly celebrating a friends birthday so we didn’t bother forming a show. Don’t waste your time traveling to south philly where people are far from friendly. The bartender «Coleman» was rude from the beginning. I get it could be annoying dealing with tourists but at the end of the day, we’re bringing in money. NEVER AGAIN.

I’ve never eaten here as the kitchen doesn’t open until the late afternoon. Great mimosa deal that doesn’t skimp on the champ.
Not a place for brunch with girlfriends but definitely a place to continue day drinking if you had an early brunch and trying to figure out your next move.

It’s like I stepped out of Bill and Ted’s phone booth and into Wayne’s basement. Except it wasn’t Wayne’s basement; it was a cigarette smoke filled hole in the ground that I wouldn’t have hung out in even if I did walk out of that booth and into the 90’s. Not to mention the French mustache wearing treasure troll of a waiter who guards the door and plays flag the sober man upon entry. Yes. My fella and his mates came to meet me at this so called social establishment, when one of our buddies was told he «looked too drunk» to enter. He was entirely sober. Perhaps they mistook his rosacea as a drunken flush? Or his recent dental work leaving him unable to annunciate clearly as «slurring his words». My suggestion: spend your money elsewhere. It’s hard to even get through the door here. Literally.

I began eating here recently and I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious their menu is. They have a great brunch menu to go with their $ 3 mimosas or bloody marys, including blueberry and cream cheese stuffed french toast, but on their regular menu they have a blue cheese and arugula chicken sandwich that I adore. This lovely dive bar has now become a trifecta for good eats, good beer, and cigar friendly.

So they should call this joint 24 steps out and 100 steps to the next place that will actually serve you… That’s if you aren’t american and have anything other than a passport for ID …

You put yourself at an increased risk of cancer and other heart diseases when you send time here. Nevertheless, the people are friendly, the drinks are great,

Fun little dive bar with karaōke. No stage makes it less intimidating, and everyone was still nice to me after my pathetic rendition of Gold Digger. Super inexpensive. Smoky. I was airing out my coat/​hat/​scarf for days afterwards.

We came here on New Year’s Day, around 1 PM. We had just experienced the tail-​end of the Mummer’s Parade (i.e. drunk Mummers in U-​Hauls), so we arrived in a confused daze.
The afternoon drink specials include $ 3 bloody Marys, so I drank a couple of those. They were strong and good.
The atmosphere was cozy. There were several types of people present, from hipsters to an older, silent man drinking cans of foreign beer and looking sad. (I guess they’re not so different.)
Their draft selection is enticing, and the menu is full of tasty-​sounding bar food. They have single, gender-​neutral bathrooms. Pool is free on Mondays.
You’ll leave smelling like cigarettes.
I’ll definitely be back.

One of the most divey places in Philly and one of the few bars in the entire city that lets you smoke inside. So if you don’t smoke, you may be overwhelmed and will definitely come home smelling like cigs.
The beers are cheap ($ 3 Yuenglings when it’s not happy hour).
They have one of the best karaōke systems in town. MUCH more updated than bigger/​more popular karaōke spots in Philly. Do you want to sing some Joy Division, Lil Wayne, and N Sync? Well, this place has that large of a variety. They keep their songs updated too, so there are Top 40-​type songs that just came out in the past month already on their karaōke system.
3 stars because 1) I don’t smoke 2) men’s room is this awkward, super tiny, shared space (plus you can’t poop here if needed because there’s no lock on the door) 3) it’s underground so I couldn’t get cell service all night when waiting for friends

One of the best dive bars in South Philly! The place is right near the Italian Market and it is literally 12 steps down. They have a decent bottle and draft list, so you’ll find a good beer. The place is inexpensive, so don’t worry about going broke. Bartenders are cool and patrons are a mix of hipsters or old regulars. The one drawback is that people are allowed to smoke, so you’ll smell like an ashtray. It is still a good place to get a beer and meet interesting people.

Great divey bar which is indeed 12 steps down (I counted the stairs). Besides offending a few AA members, 12 steps is a great bar for any demographic. There is a large selection of draft and bottled beers and the three dollar mimosas on a hungover Sunday morning are life savers.
Go in to escape the heat, play some erotic photo hunt and pool and leave a little happier than before.

A no-​frills dive bar in South Philly serving delicious (and cheap!) Bloody Marys. I’m not really sure what to say about this place but I know that I like it. I feel like it’s a no expectations kind of place. I see they are getting a lot of flack for it’s attraction of the «hipster» crowd, but I always feel out of place in those types of crowds. I don’t feel out of place when I come here.
No, I’m not crazy about the smoking but that that doesn’t effect the rating. I’ve been in far smokier establishments. Besides, if you go here you know what you’re getting yourself into.