Had a great time there and everyone was polite
Was in Philly on vacation a few weeks back, decided we would hit woody's up, heard mostly good things about it. WERE WE WRONG for going. It was a Thursday night, around 9pm, you had to go through a maze of bars they put on the sidewalk, i guess to "control" the people. Before we got in, we were patted down by security, this was the first time in my life we have ever been patted down before going in a club, but i guess better being safe then sorry, It just kind of surprised us. Got in, and wasnt said welcome, or HI, or anything, all the rude guy said was "$10", I said "WHAT"? guy "$10", I said "really?", gave him the money, went in, thinking it was going to be a cool place, WRONG. ordered our drinks, then the bartender decided to go wait on someone else before he got us our order, after making us wait a while, while he talked to another bartender. Was just bad service, Its like you gotta spend money to be rude to. I'm not a cheapy, but $10 on a thursday at 9pm?? thats a joke.....
Very Straight
My bf and I spent NYE 2017 here and loved it. Two years later the entire atmosphere has changed. There were tons of straight women and men. Very few gays. What happened?? Will not visit again
Sounds like the gayborhood isnt as gay in 2018. When I lived there from 2000-2011 Woodys was all gay, all day! Good memories!
It used to be gay, now the straights have taken over. Its mostly straight and some gay guys there. Smh.
This is a straight bar in the gayborhood.
If you are visiting center city I do not recommend this atmosphere. The music is loud and the drinks are overpriced and it cheap plastic cup. My friend invited me to this bar a couple weeks ago. It is not one that I would ever visit for some reason. But my overall impression is loads of straight men with their girlfriends. They do have balances on the outside doors there is only a cover charge when you get inside to go up to the second level to dance. If you're going to charge someone a cover charge you should do it at the door when you checking ID so it's one flat rate to get in. The music is really loud that you can't even hear yourself. My Buddy saw one guy that he thought was hot the guy said he was strictly down for pussy and he had a girlfriend that was there with him. I'm used to going to bars / clubs dancing and a guy is enjoying the moment and no one screaming I'm straight. We are in 2017 and they need to stop advertising as a gay bar maybe gay-friendly is what they need to advertise under.
Best local bar
This is a great place to start the night in Philly. Strong drinks and friendly bartenders as well as patrons. Good place to start a conversation and see what's going on.
Woodys More Straight than Gay
Woodys used to be the go to place for gay men! The drinks, the parties, bartenders and doormen were all great at one point in time! I have dealt with both the racism and classism that happen on the regular here. Since its renovation the bar has attracted more straight females than anything and the bar seems to be catering more to them then their regulars that go there.
Woody's in philly
The bar itself was pretty nice, the staff was decent but they advertise cheaper prices until you get the bill. So just watch out on what you order I was amazed how my bill was to a surprise 3 times the special.
Is this all Philly has to offer people blacks?
I went there 3 times in a month. The first time I was treated like an adult because I happened to come in with an employee and the doorman saw that we knew each other. The next 2 times I came alone. I was treated like Rosa Parks. Even though i'm an adult and pass for straight and look legal, I was asked for ID, while people that would fit the gay stereotype walked in unobstructed.
I don't know why this bothered me, but they didn't have a coat check or coat room. I was told i could put my coat anywhere, but that's plain unsafe. I would think a bar/club that's been around for 30 plus years could afford to make a room for coats...
Back to the racist aspect. I sat on a speaker since I wasn't drinking and there was nowhere else to sit. I was told that I couldn't sit there and was asked to move, yet a few minutes later, 2 white men sat in the exact same spot and no one approached them or asked them to move. Typical for Philly and for gay clubs with white employees.
My best advice is to go with a white friend or be as flamey as the gayborhood expects, so you can be treated with what the Woody's community feels is dignity.
I would give 0 stars, but I actually liked the music played, and that was what I thought I would dislike the most.
Disappointed
My partner and I were disappointed the last few times we went to Woody's. The first time, I was taking photos with a small phone camera where it was generally dark and the only light was from the strobes and such used for dancing. I was taken outside and accused of this, and nothing else, but I had to leave the bar. Another time , much more recently, I came into the bar, ordered a drink and was discouraged by a bouncer. I left then also. Woody's doesn't always come off as friendly, especially when you are kicked out for nothing. My partner feels that he was treated rudely many times. He came there many times to escape the neighborhood he lived in at the time. If they clean up their act I'll fill in the middle star. But for now, with the weather being cold, we prefer somewhere warm to go to.
The service was incredibly rude. Questioned my ID because I am from out of state on military orders. Guy with the ponytail had a particularly bad attitude. Won't be going back.