Eighth Floor

The Eighth Floor 800 North Delaware Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19123

	Location: Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA Phone: (215) 922-XXXX Click Here for Map/Directions Overall Rating (1 to 10): 7 What I’d Do To Improve the Place: I'm not a big fan of the whole dance club scene. The Eighth Floor is one of the rare Delaware Avenue bars that weeds out the riff-raff by enforcing a dress code. I don't know what I could mention to improve the place, I like the set-up. CHECK OUT THE EIGHTH FLOOR ON THE WEB!

CLOSED!!!!!!

Right from the beginning, The Eighth Floor realized that even-though they were physically located on Delaware Avenue, they did not want the average run-of -the-mill Delaware Avenue patron visiting their establishment and causing trouble. The Eighth Floor has a dress code: no jeans, no baggy pants, no hats. The intent here is to keep out the riff-raff and to promote an atmosphere where "adults" can come and have a great time dancing the night away.

So dressed in your most presentable attire, you find the entrance (pictured above) at 800 North Delaware Avenue. Through the doors, pay the cover (usually between $7 & $10) and on to one of two elevators. What did you think, they were going to make you "hoof-it" all the way up to Floor Number 8? Elevator doors open and you enter the club. The entire club is surrounded by glass taking full advantage of being 8 stories above the city. Off to your right is an elevated landing with a bar and tables that present a great view of the Ben Franklin Bridge, especially at night. The dance floor is located just off the elevators to the left. Following the dance floor around to the left there are more tables and chairs set-up for taking in the views: the city skyline and the honeybabies shaking their moneymaker's on the dance floor.

If you like dance music, I'd make certain that I visited The Eighth Floor the next time I was visiting the city. On my past visits to the Eighth Floor, one thing that I noticed was that it seemed to attract couples by droves. My read on this phenomenon is that the dress code promotes a classier clientele and the view of the city is pretty romantic. Singles need not worry, there is a sizable percentage of clientele who are single (or at least appear to be single), hanging in groups of guys or girls.

Being eight floors above the city, really adds another dimension to the place. The only other eating and drinking establishment that I know of that even comes close to this view is the "Top of the Belleview" on Broad & Market. Since the "Top of the Belleview" is on top of City Hall, there really isn't a good view of the skyline. On top of that you have to mortgage your house and kids to have dinner and drinks at the Belleview, so we're talking apples and oranges here.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that The Eighth Floor has an upscale eating facility here called "Ciao." I didn't go to The Eighth Floor for the cuisine so I can not attest to how good or bad the food is. During my visit I don't even recall Ciao being open.

Unfortunately, as with the rest of the Delaware Avenue bars, parking always seems to be a problem. The Eighth Floor offers Valet Parking and across the street from the club (not Delaware Ave, but the side street), there is a parking lot. Get there early enough in the night to take advantage of it, since patrons from 3 other bars in the area use this lot also.

PROS:

Large Dance Floor, incredible view of the city skyline.

Nice place to take a date for some after dinner dancing.

Live DJ nightly spinning some primo dance mixes.

CONS:

Same problem as the rest of the other Delaware Avenue bars: Parking! Of course the City of Philadelphia won't build a badly needed garage down here.

If you miss out on the parking lot next door, take your chances with the side streets.