Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Jaffa Bar

    4.4 (70 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Jaffa Bar Photos

    Business Info

    JAFFA BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    More like Jaffa Bar

    Recommended Reviews - Jaffa Bar

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Today's the night
    Mary S.

    Drinks were good, we were able to grab a few of the drinks at happy hour prices...which made it even better. Oysters and cocktail shrimp was good. Good deal at happy Hour price. Jaffa burger is a smashed burger and it came out well flavored. We also got the Moroccan shrimp, the sauce was delicious. Best two entree items we got. Now some of the other items were a tad bit too salty for me (I'm on a low sodium diet) so depends on the person...in my case it was too much...but to others it might just be perfect. So I can't accurately rate those. (Boiled clams, salad that came with the crab cakes - crab cakes were okay). So will say that those two dishes were just okay. Golden beets and the yellow tail pastrami were good, nicely flavored and small plates. The spicy chicken wings were ehh to me...I didn't feel the spice at all. Service was good and attentive. They charge a standard 20% service charge so tip was included in the bill...but did note that by doing so they pay their staff a good hourly wage. I'm going to say this was a 3.75 out of 5 stars for me. Only due to my own flavor palette preferences. Clean and looked well kept place in a nice area where parking wasn't too difficult.

    Katrina W.

    I've been told to try Jaffa for a while and am glad I finally did! The service was friendly from the front to the server. Offerings matched what we wanted for meal options including a $40 "catch of the day" where each person gets an appetizer and entree and there's a shared dessert. The avocado salad was amazing, the trout was crispy and flavored just right, and the passion fruit bar for dessert was the icing on the cake. The restaurant is cute and open with plenty of room for different parties. Mocktails were available to boot! I'll be back.

    Gabriella L.

    More deserving of 2.5 stars, but rounded up. Went at 5pm on a Monday night a few weeks ago. It might've been the servers first day, he didn't seem confident about anything he told us. We ordered a dozen oysters to start, only 10 came out for some reason. The waiter said he thought 2 might have been out, which is fine, but it should have been something that was noted ahead of time. I went with 3 friends. We all got main dishes, which came out at all different times. If it was busy, I'd understand that, but just a few other people were there. My dish, the crusted tuna, was lukewarm at best, and fell flat of expectations. It was neither interesting, nor filling. My partner got the crab cakes, which she gives the same critique to. We ordered ribs for the table, which were fine, but nothing of note. Plenty of great restaurants all around Philly, I would not add this one is into the top 100 on my list.

    Steve J.

    Located in Fishtown, this gem is awesome. It's two floors with great vibes. The first floor bar has tvs for watching games, while upstairs is more of just dining. The food is awesome. The wings are in an awesome sauce that is unique and full if flavor. Great steak, cooked perfectly, good crab cakes, big meaty ribs, the trout was delicious. Save room for the desserts...and don't forget the delicious cocktails. Service was superb.

    Avena P.

    Great vibes. Really good drinks. Staff was friendly. Came here for galentines with some gf's and enjoyed the place and ambiance very well. Would definitely come back here!

    Retna S.

    We were expecting a wonderful brunch here. Unfortunately, they don't serve breakfast anymore. Crab cake sandwich: not your typical crab cake with bay seasoning. It has a lot of fresh herbs. Interesting twist. No filler, fresh crab meat. Ceviche is highly recommended. Super fine and fresh fish with ginger and chili. A good way to awaken your appetite. Turkish coffee pudding is amazing. A must for coffee lovers. Strong coffee flavor, topped with hard-shell chocolate. Garnished with a heaping whipped cream. Josh, our waiter, is very knowledgeable of the menu and the oysters on the menu. He helped us selecting the oysters. When the check came, the manager apologized about the oyster unavailability of the brunch. Very nice gesture.

    Tuna steak
    Colleen P.

    Wow they really knocked it out of the park tonight!! Jaffa is a reno'd fire station and has such a cool vibe. The service from start to finish was friendly and attentive without overdoing it. Felt very welcoming and genuine. Had dinner with a friend tonight (wednesday) after work and it happened to be happy hour. 2 of each oyster/clam/shrimp with all 3 "sauces" and it was all amazing. All raw bar was fresh and tasty and the cocktail sauce is so unique - prob the best Ive ever had. The passion fruit mignonette was equally yummy and really made the flavor variety of oyster origin shine through. We also had the shrimp cigars and black lime pepper wings. I could eat the shrimp all day for the rest of my life. Bring me just a plate of that and I will be happy. The wings were crispy & tasty. I had the tuna steak and my friend had the burger. Both fantastic entree options the fish is rly unique and tasty and the burger was cooked perfectly. For dessert we shared the turkish coffee pudding and each had a cup of turkish coffee...you need this experience I promise. We both had 2 rum/egg white cocktails which surprisingly went well with everything. Overall a great place and I will definitely be back here with other people. Good spot for a date or keeping it casual with a full bar. Parking was super easy and we walked right in no reservation. I would've taken more photos but I ate everything so quickly it just wasn't possible. Go see for yourself how good Jaffa is!!!

    Passion fruit bar delicious dessert
    Kimmesha B.

    This is literally my favorite spot for so many reasons. The service, the food, the flavors, the atmosphere it's just amazing! I'm here at least twice a week!

    Scallops
    Dominique S.

    This place was great! The dishes we ordered ranked in order of our favorites: 1) tuna - this has a crispyness to it from the way they sear it. It is served with avocado, pomegranate seeds and a chili oil. It is a wonderful combination of flavors. 2) roasted carrots - so good and tender 3) tuna tartare - served over a little tarter tot thing. Very fun flavor and texture combo 4) the bread with dipping sauce - unique bread but very good 5)scallops - not bad but just not as good as everything else Overall really like this place and would recommend for a date night or GNO

    Ray M.

    Nice addition to the area. Cool vibe though out. Parking is very challenging nearby. I recommend using a ride share or walking. Very friendly staff, and nice comfortable decor. Jaffa has a very decent oyster menu. I recommend staying downstairs by the bar to enjoy this experience. The mixology here is also top notch. Very knowledgeable and experienced bartenders. The food menu is well balanced. Small enough not to confuse you, but varied enough for you to explore your palate. I really enjoyed my time here and would recommend you add Jaffa to your Fishtown rotation.

    Tuna Tartare
    Morgan C.

    Absolutely wonderful on all counts! Food was incredible and fresh - didn't get pics of everything, but stand outs were the raw bar selections and the crab cake sandwich / fries (though I was too full from starters to finish it all.) Also a shoutout to the Green-Eyed Lady cocktail made with aguachille - so unique and refreshing (though very small)! Service was great as well though one of our apps came out after our meals. Loved the decor and two floor setup, we sat by the open doors on a gorgeous day. Only negative was it was surprisingly pricey, but totally worth the price.

    Raw Bar ordering card (Feb 2025)
    Sarah A.

    We generally enjoyed our meal at Jaffa Bar. The space was, well, spacious, spanning two floors, and our server was terrific--friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. We were seated on the second floor (quite a few stairs, which they note when you make a reservation) and were glad to be there, as it seemed slightly quieter (it's a pretty large space with hard surfaces, so noise travels well) and warmer (even with the curtains hung inside the front doors, wintry drafts traveled up the stairs whenever they opened/closed). If you're a fan of oysters, we enjoyed ours from the Raw Bar. My favorite of the three types we ordered was the Jaffa Gem (we also tried the Psychedelicate and the Moondancer). The Shrimp Cocktail from the Raw Bar is $3.00 per shrimp and they were rather shrimpy--unfortunately we recently had some amazing shrimp at another establishment, so these paled in comparison. After the Raw Bar, we tried the Yellowtail Pastrami (grilled cucumber), where the pastrami seasoning overpowered the yellowtail (could have been almost any protein); the Salt-Roasted Beets (fennel, baby gem, tarragon vinaigrette), which was more salad than beets, but quite tasty; and the Fried Calamari (shipka peppers, boom boom sauce)--sauce was great. For our mains, we tried the Fried Chicken Thighs (matzo meal crust, amba honey), which were nicely cooked and crispy, but needed a bit more seasoning, and the Jaffa Burger (green chiles, grilled onions, american cheese, shabuzi mayo), which was a bit more rare than I would have preferred, and French Fries (tehina ketchup), which were nicely crisp and a bit salty. Drinks were good and vibe was right, but will wait to return until the food is more consistent.

    Oysters
    Jasmine S.

    Jaffa Bar is a combination of an oyster-bar and a burger joint and in here for it! Can you tell what my favorites items on the menu were? :) Even with a reservation, this place is bustling so be prepared to stand around a bit. Luckily after a short wait we were moved from our pseudo seat at the bar to a table on the second floor and I preferred the vibe better than the main floor. Drink and food favorites: Clover Club; Gin, Raspberry, Egg White Jaffa Burger (Mayo on the side) Key Lime Bar - the meringue is divine I look forward to visiting in the warmer months, and enjoying more of the seafood preparations

    Oysters

    See all

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael S.

    Michael S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shae L.
    125
    3
    1

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael S.

    Michael S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael S.

    Michael S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael S.

    Michael S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael S.

    Michael S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael S.

    Michael S.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Steve J.
    334
    956
    7772

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael S.

    Michael S.

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 1
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael S.

    Michael S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ray M.
    181
    307
    2171

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 4
    Love this 3
    Oh no 3

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brittany P.
    106
    870
    324

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Michael S.

    Michael S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B D.
    4
    7
    25

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Irma I.
    139
    343
    1273

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ariana C.
    15
    20
    54

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jj M.
    372
    209
    28

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emma H.
    378
    6
    6

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Jaffa Bar

    Where is the best place to park if we are forced to drive to the restaurant?

    Parking is a challenge around Jaffa. I would recommend taking an Uber/Lyft. Best of luck.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    48 Record Bar

    48 Record Bar

    4.0
    (26 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    What a unique, curated, and enriching experience. The bar is upstairs of Sassafras, with a cozy…read moreclose stairwell leading upstairs. You'd be unlikely to find this unless you knew to look for it. The main feature of this bar is the cocktail menu; it's creative and ambitious and yet very approachable, with helpful adjectives for each cocktail. The Mango Sticky Rice made my jaw drop; not only did the juicy mango come through, but also somehow a sense of starchiness, while being entirely balanced with the liquor. Definitely some of the best cocktails in Philly. And the music and vibe is so cozy but lively; the live records spinning create a warm atmosphere that is not sleepy nor dancey, instead you'll find yourself tapping your feet and swaying in your seat while in deep conversation or just enjoyable contemplation. I have to shout out Carl and Brianna, who made our evening especially unforgettable. They guided us seamlessly through the menu, were so knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. They really made 48 Record Bar feel like a second home we can't wait to return to. Last thing- the bathroom setup was such a fun surprise, you have to check it out!!

    I'm a bit of a cocktail bar snob, and 48 Record Bar is definitely on my short list. They have a…read morecreative menu full of thoughtful concoctions and interesting techniques. My two favorites are Born Again and Buck 48. The Born Again is a clarified punch that's super refreshing--almost leaning tart, but in a really good way. The Buck 48 is also refreshing, with warm, spicy notes that give it an autumn vibe, though honestly, it's great any time of year. If you're in the mood for something bold and boozy, I also recommend The Golden Ticket. My palate leans away from anything overly sweet or overpowering--I appreciate balance--and every cocktail I've had here hits just right. The only sad thing is that my favorite bartenderess is no longer there, but the staff is still awesome, and the music is always on point, which keeps the vibe strong. Just a heads-up: this cocktail bar is upstairs from Sassafras, and the menus are completely different. If you're looking for a true craft cocktail experience, make sure you're upstairs at 48 Record Bar. The atmosphere is great. I usually go on Saturday nights around 8 p.m. and have been lucky to grab a seat, though it definitely gets more crowded later. The fact that I've been back several times says a lot--especially since I usually only visit a place once with so many options in the city.

    Photos
    48 Record Bar
    48 Record Bar
    48 Record Bar

    See all

    Sassafras Bar

    Sassafras Bar

    4.4
    (457 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    I wish Jen and I had shown up in matching flapper dresses because Sassafras feels like stepping…read morestraight into the 1920s. Huge bar, giant wall of liquor bottles, dim lighting, and a cool old-school vibe. I told the bartender that ordering a beer in a place like this felt like I was insulting him. He laughed and told me not to worry about it. The drink special was called "Naked and Famous," which honestly sounded like the perfect cocktail to order in honor of Jen. But then I spotted a dark beer on the menu that sounded too good to pass up. If you follow me, you know I'm slowly becoming a dark beer guy. I liked it a lot. The sandwich special was a cheesesteak. Sorry, I should've taken a picture of the menu. But I really enjoyed it, and for $18 it came with a mountain of seasoned fries, which feels like a bargain these days. Bomb Shell: the two people working absolutely crushed it. I don't know if they were understaffed or if Monday night got busier than expected, but they were working their tails off the entire time. Even with that, they stayed polite, friendly, helpful, and incredibly accommodating to the guy carrying around a mannequin. Great visit to Sassafras!

    Found this on the first day of our trip and ended up going back the 2nd night as well. The drinks…read morewere such high quality and they had something for absolutely everyone. We also ordered a grilled cheese with sweet potato fries which was so so good. The service was top tier. I cannot recommend this place enough.

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Pretzel
    Pretzel
    French 95

    See all

    French 95
    Buena Vista Mexican Restaurant

    Buena Vista Mexican Restaurant

    4.5
    (10 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Showed up for dinner right around 5 pm and sat down at the spacious bar. The whole restaurant is…read morehuge and so much bigger than you expect. Service was impeccable from David. I got a crisp XX on draft. The tortilla soup was hot and mildly spicy, just the way I like it. But the real star was the chipotle chicken. Juicy and tender chicken, stuffed with cheese and peppers then smothered in the chipotle sauce. It was perfect. Absolutely love this place and will be back again. P.S. they also host dance parties on Saturday nights and a pool table in the back ;)

    This restaurant occupies the space where Han Dynasty used to be. The entrance is on Chestnut…read morestreet. Very big space. I got there on Wednesday around 6 and there were only a couple of customers at the bar. I almost left because I didn't see any employees. Finally someone came out to greet me and seated me in the middle are. He had to put some paper at the bottom of the table because it was a bit wobbly. A lot of choices in the menu. I ordered guacamole and chips for appetizers and it came out right away. The chips are fresh and not stale. Good amount of guacamole. Street corn aka elote. The corn is juicy. Unfortunately, it was not enrobed with mayo and cotija cheese as a typical elote should be. Fried plantain: not many slices. They are dry and not sweet . I was hoping for more ripe plantain Birria tacos: small tacos, the consommé lacks of depth of flavor. I could only taste saltines. The waiter asked if I wanted rice and beans. I said only beans. It's basically mashed refried beans. I wasn't aware that it costs extra $4. My husband ordered this dish served in half pineapple. It has chorizo and shrimp. Again , lacking depth of flavor, very salty. Service was great. The staff is friendly. Credit card is accepted but with a fee. There's an ATM if you prefer to pay with cash.

    Photos
    Bar and seating area
    Bar and seating area
    Queso fundido
    Queso fundido
    Chairs

    See all

    Chairs
    Almanac

    Almanac

    4.4
    (32 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Staff and my new friend made me feel like I was the only person in the room, paying attention to…read moredetails and my unspoken cues, making the evening magical and flawlessly easy to just sit back and enjoy every moment. Thank you. One for the 'princess secrets for Real Men'. Watch out for the article boys. This night nailed it even for a pro player;)-

    My husband and I went here as a little birthday celebration/fourth of July vacation treat…read more My husband's food ranking: Yuzu Miso Glazed Wings - Addictive Cucumber - Spicy Miso Mazeman Ramen - Ocean Trout Crudo My food ranking: Addictive Cucumber - Yuzu Miso Glazed Wings - Spicy Miso Mazeman Ramen - Ocean Trout Crudo We agreed that the Miso Ramen was easily the best bang for your buck and the Ocean Trout Crudo was the only thing we wouldn't order again; it wasn't horrible it just had waaaay too many almonds which took away from the fish itself. Unlike others, we felt the portions were not too small. Overall a very respectable dinner showing from Almanac. I kind of regret ordering a pre fixed cocktail because his Omakase was so on point to what he asked for and was delicious. I love rhubarb and Gin is my usual spirt of choice, so I didn't want to pass up the Hanamachi Rikki, but while I found the tart rhubarb refreshing, it fell flat when placed next to the Omakase. While I enjoyed the music choices, he did not and it was also INCREDIBLY dark/moody which isn't our preference, but makes sense for the intimate vibe they are clearly going for.

    Photos
    Table for two
    Table for two
    Sweet Potato Cheesecake
    Sweet Potato Cheesecake
    Complimentary tea

    See all

    Complimentary tea
    National Mechanics

    National Mechanics

    4.0
    (1k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Such a Philly kind of day... a half hour meander from my office in the Gayborhood to Old City for…read morean entertaining evening at this bar. Tiny pockets of garden squares with burbling fountains. Cobblestone streets. Around every corner is a sign or plaque boasting about this city's history. From the outside, it looks like you're walking into an old bank. Inside, it's just about 6:00 PM and the place is packed for happy hour (one of the few places, by the way, that has happy hour until 7:00 PM) and for one of the monthly talks sponsored by local science museums. As soon as I walked in, they found us an open spot right up front. A cheery waiter took our order - the $8 burger sliders didn't come with any fries, but they were tiny and delicious. I love the idea that this place sponsors monthly science talks. Just a bunch of nerds all gathered here to listen to local experts talk about different topics. One week it might be about rare Galapagos birds to how to preserve fossils or the etymology of vampire lore.

    This spot is super fun, and the food is great. The breakfast burrito is probably the best one I've…read morehad in the entire east coast, which means a lot given I lived in Arizona for 10 years which is positively known for amazing breakfast burritos - and they largely suck here out east by comparison. THIS breakfast burrito is excellent. Service is also great here and I love the building/space!

    Photos
    National Mechanics
    Nachos Grande
    Nachos Grande
    The bar

    See all

    The bar
    Vista Peru

    Vista Peru

    3.9
    (272 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    Get the lomo saltado with the green sauce and the ceviche vista Peru! I think those two dishes are…read moredeliciously! The first time I came here I got those two dishes as well and thought it was delicious! Then went to Miami and kept thinking of this place!! Had to come back to verify that this place was better than most of the places in Miami! Granted it is much more expensive but it's worth it!

    I was eager to find a Peruvian restaurant in Philly and came to Vista Peru with a group on a Sunday…read moreevening. It was easy to make a reservation for the time we wanted. The main dining room is pretty narrow without much in the way of decor, and I think more could be done to help the space pop, but as always the food is my main concern in the end. The complimentary crunchy corn snack for the table was a nice surprise! We ordered an app, a ceviche, and four entrees to share between the six of us and found that plenty filling. The Yuca Frita app was tasty with a delicious dip we held on to, but I wish it came with more as six pieces felt small for the price. The Ceviche Mixto was a more solid portion with a great variety of seafood; it was on the tart side but came with a really nice cilantro sauce that the table ate clean. Out of our entrees, the Lomo Saltado was the highlight with well-cooked and tender chunks of steak and yummy fries (simple, I know). The Pescado a Lo Macho and Arroz con Mariscos were very generous portions with a ton of various seafood; even the fried fish dish came with shrimp, mussels, and scallops on top. The Aji de Gallina was maybe the least noteworthy entree, a chicken stew with cassava and rice, but even that was hearty and filling. Service was good throughout with plenty of water refills, and the cost was surprisingly reasonable for what we ordered. I'd definitely recommend this place for seafood lovers, and I'd be interested in coming back to try the roast chicken and to have the lomo saltado and ceviche again!

    Photos
    Lomo Saltado!
    Lomo Saltado!
    Pisco Sour!
    Pisco Sour!
    Vista Peru

    See all

    Jaffa Bar - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...