Southbend Tavern

south side bar, south side patrons, we went once and once enough.

A fun dive bar. I have only been during the day. There are definitely «regulars» and they welcomed me and included me in their conversations. The drinks were definitely strong and a great price. The bartender (Thursday) was extremely friendly. Don’t expect this to be a hip and trendy place, its the local watering hole that is great for a low key drink and good conversation with the locals.

This is a good little dive. The day crowd is a hoot and quickly welcomes newcomers our favorite bartender there is Connie shes there for HH Mon, Thur and Fri until 8. She is fantastic!!! Cheap drinks, strong pours make me a happy man.

Big fan of this place. The bartenders and owners are freindly and make you feel like a regular. See old friends and make new ones. Live entertainment, including bands, drag and kateoke, even an amiture night. Pleanty of parking and they never charge a cover. Fun loving atmosphere where everyone is treated as an equal. Play pool, video game and darts. Feel safe and free and have some fun at the same time.

I have such a good time here! We are within walking distance, so when we are bar hopping in our area, we always make a stop here.
Its always been packed every time we have gone (been here 4 or 5 times now). Like some say, the drinks are super strong! Not a bad thing right?
The first time, My ID was left at home because we weren’t planning to go out. But as you all know, once you get enough drinks in everyone, you have to go the the bar! I tried to order a drink, but I was refused because of no ID. That hasnt happened to me since college, but it was okay because we just had someone else order for me, haha. Again, college trick.
All the customers do consist of a lot of regulars and it is a total dive bar. But, everyone is so friendly. We always make friends with the regulars and we end up doing multiple rounds of Jell-​O shots!
The drag shows are not professional, but they are a lot of fun as well! But as Bryant said in his review, I think they are professionals in the making. My memory always seems to get a bit foggy, but Im pretty sure my husband has been pulled on stage! :) Cant wait to return!

Dive bar with cheap drinks. A close walk to Fuel Bar which is like a block away. Neighborhood bar with occasional events or drink specials.

Luke T’s review is spot on! My experience was almost identical.
After a night of dive gay bar hopping — and a failed attempt at going to Fuel — trusty Unilocal pointed us to Southbend. When we first walked in, the place was packed! Everyone seemed to be regulars, and everybody was having a blast.
There was some type of drag show going on, but it wasn’t like the professional shows you see at Axis. This was more like drag boot camp for newbies and drag retirement for those queens in their golden years. Nevertheless, they were all great fun!
The drinks are dirt cheap — and dirty strong. But be sure to send someone with a penis to the bar to order. Trust me on this one — you and your girlfriends will thank me when you try your drinks.
Southbend won’t become my regular drinking spot, but it’s a great stop along a South Side gay bar tour.

Nice, divey little gay bar pretty far south in Merion Village. It sits on an otherwise residential looking street corner on a one way street, which can make getting there and finding parking a tad bit more difficult than it might be otherwise.
There’s a pretty sizable stage inside, although there are support beams that break up the viewing angles pretty dramatically. The bar is a decent sized wrap-​around, although the floor space away from that is limited. I was here with a group of friends for a buddy’s second ever drag show appearance. The event was a fundraiser for a local non profit. Nothing like handing out dollars to queens to support a good cause!
The bartender called me honey, which I’ve lamented in reviews of other gay bars is something that will always win me over (hint hint female bartenders). He also looked very familiar, but I couldn’t place where else I might have seen him. And let me tell you, my oh my, they were pouring some of the strongest mixed drinks I’ve ever received… for me. The females in the group were not so fortunate. The drinks were cheap and some decent liquor is the same price as the well options so ask what’s available.
Pro tip: The door sticks and you have to lift it to open it. The bar is not closed and the person who just went in in front of you did not lock you out.