Get Happy Pub

When my sister told me that our Saturday night plans had to do with a bar just off of South Street, I rolled my eyes and figured I was in for a long night. We arrived at Get Happy just as the Villanova game was ending, so there was a pretty large crowd in the upstairs bar where we were hanging out. The game ended and the majority of the crowd took off, leaving plenty of space at the bar for us to get drinks and maneuver around comfortably. A DJ started his shift, and our group of about 8 decided it was a good night for an old fashioned dance party.
In between rounds of cheap beer and shots, we danced the night away to classic tunes, including the majority of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, A-Ha’s «Take on Me» (by request!) and various others. By the end of the night, our rowdy crew was using anything that wasn’t nailed down as props for our dance routines. The staff, miraculously, put up with our shenanigans all night long and continued to serve us. I had low expectations going into the night but ended up having one of the best times I’ve had in months.

We were in the Get Happy Pub last Wednesday night for Quizzo and we had a great time! The food was great and the staff could not have been any nicer. The Get Happy burger is delicious and the pulled pork quesadillas are unbelievable! Check it out soon!!!

Use to be Kiladare’s. Now it is Get Happy Pub. wow… they actually named an Irish bar Get Happy Pub… either way it is pretty much the same as Kildare’s– one of the former owners stayed I was told. I have not been here in over a year but was there recently for a friend’s younger sister bday party. It seems to attract the same crowd as other popular Irish theme bars: Irish pub, tir na nog and Moriarty’s– younger twenties post college. I may be off base with the food b/​c I ate at Get Happy when it was Kildares– the food is better than average nothing miraculous but way better then the Irish pub=SHITE or Moriarty’s=very average and Tir na nog=I can’t recall one meal there yet and I have eaten there ½ dozen of times or so. Get Happy does not have the sports bar setting like Moriarty’s has during game day but is very large and has perhaps one of the nicest staff. They let my friend’s sister party turn the 2^nd floor into a beer pong tournament and always had a glass of Guinness for me nearby. They also didn’t mind when she was hurling everywhere when we carried her out– oh to be 21 again.

Why does this place make me think of the Partridge Family? Oh Yeah! -
Well at least the entertainment was better than Danny Bonaduce for better and worse (
), especially since I stopped in for a punk rock show that featured some of Philly’s finest. As a venue it definitely had it’s fair share of misses — There was no sound person employed by the bar, so it’s pretty much up to the bands and their friends to make sure that everything is ready. But the real stink eye was the fact that they kept the big screen TV over the bar on while some of the bands where playing. I was distracted during the first bands set because of Brian Dawkins going to the Broncos. Sorry guys! but it was one of their first shows, and the size of the stage and room for the crowd was decent enough to have some promise.
The Get Happy Pub used to be Kildaire’s (and it also used to be T.G.I. Fridays (good riddance!). damn I feel old!). And for better and worse they decided to keep some remnants of Kildaire’s around. All of the event listings for Kildaire’s in the bathroom were obviously pretty unnecessary. But I’m big time happy that decided to keep the Guinness memorabilia. and I’m super stoked that they still have the room that makes me feel like I’m dining with William Wallace in the middle of Stonehenge. Do yourself a favor and chill to some pints inside it!

I’ve only been here once since it changed over from Kildare’s. So far, so good. It’s a friendlier atmosphere. The upstairs bar was empty when we first went up (around 9pm) but got crowded later on (young crowd). The food (pork quesadillas) were great, service at bar good. Bathrooms nice. Will be returning…

The new owners really knew what they were doing when they named this place, ’cause I get happy just thinking about being there. I attended the Philly Twestival here and was wowed (yes, wowed I tell you!) at the spacious layout, aesthetically pleasing atmosphere and the food/​drinks on the menu. You might be thinking, «How hard is it to pull those things off; my local Applebees/​TGI Fridays /​Olive Garden, etc. is just like that,» but
these factors are extra special because it’s a PUB right off of SOUTH STREET. And if you’ve spent any time in the general area in the past couple of years, you’ll probably understand my surprise.
This isn’t a part of town I particularly love to spend free time in, but I think I’ll have to make an exception for Get Happy Pub. Upstairs there’s tons of space and is the perfect place for private events. I loved that the fried shrimp was flavorful and didn’t taste like standard pub food. And the bartenders were some of the nicest I’ve encountered in the city.
I talked to the owner and he told me how it used to be a corporately-​owned bar. Now it’s family owned and operated, and I love that. I’ll be showing my support whenever I can, and hope you can, too. Small businesses who care about doing right by their customers and the community? That’s something we can all get happy about.

They haven’t missed a beat here. The set up is great on both levels.
Darts downstairs with a huge 2 sided bar, bunch of tables. Upstairs has a small stage for acoustic acts, another dart board… and a separate room that transforms you to the 1500’s. The staff is great.