Really cool spot in a residential area of Northern Liberties. Great sound, very laidback. Not too crowded for the show we went to. Cash only bar with ATM on premises. read more

If you're looking for an event hall that delivers upon being almost exactly what you aim to make of it in Philadelphia, Then RUBA Hall might just become your salvation. But on top of that its also one of those you never really know what you're going to get kind of places until you actually set out to find out. In my experience with RUBA hall I've known it as the place for the perfect potluck (which would have been even better if more of the people who said they were going to show up with food actually did. Just saying!), a concert hall that featured 3-4 awesome acts, a place that housed the ultimate karaoke party, and a spot known for its cabarets (that I still need to make it down too!). When it comes down to it RUBA is a place that is generally open to letting its members paint a blank canvas for its events. And since it predominately likes to center itself on the performing arts that can be a very beautiful thing! Another awesome thing is how little it can cost to get such a coveted membership and throw an event. The membership rate for such a cool event hall and after hours club is $20 a year. And putting on events goes for around $300 which is practically nothing if you can pull off something fun and exciting. So when it comes down to it RUBA is solid gold! read more

Saw St. James & The Apostles & Kat Jagger here for a combination benefit for Ukrainian refugees & two birthday celebrations. The sound in the 2nd floor ballroom was professional, & the people running the place were cool. This place is around the corner from Silk City & is a hidden gem concert venue. It has a kind of old-timey theater stage set-up with folding chairs that can be set up (or not). That being said, could see more events being booked here of the local & underground variety. read more

Better known as RUBA club, this is the most subversive space to have a big-ass party in all of Philthy. Rent it out for Friday or Saturday nights and invite everyone you know for a dirty good time. Acronym time: RUBA stands for Russian Ukranian Boating Association- though there is nary a nautical element to this place, unless you count sailor-like swearing after a few too many. Since RUBA is technically a private club- you can join for ten bucks- it is one of the few places you can get a drink until 3 a.m. in Puritanical pennsylvania. Sunday nights are open to the public, and you can throw darts, shoot pool or just drink cheap beers served by the surly 'tenders. Cash only, of course. Don't get lost in the hood on your way to the ATM. It's technically "Northern Liberties" but prospective mugger-rapists don't much care about that. read more

At almost 2 in the morning a quick google search found this as one of the few places still open without a $20 cover (I think it was $5). We were greeted by a clearly end of the night dance party, relatively cheap beers and an incredible DJ. RUBA is hard to define - it's both slightly elegant and seedy. It has that flavor of a once great establishment that has seen better days, but also is probably much more fun now than its heyday. Bathrooms were kind of rank... but it was 3am and the clientele was trashed. Not my place - but clearly there is a market for it and a strong love for this place. I would love to see what types of shows and parties are thrown here, because it brings in a hugely diverse crowd. I'll probably do more research in what's going on if I make my way out again - but I appreciated the last drink of an awesome day. read more

What a little gem! I never knew this place existed until I went to an event sponsored by Philly Dance Fitness. It is a great intimate spot to see shows upstairs on an old timey stage. Downstairs looked like a cool place to hang out. Apparently, this club has been a community spot for many years. I look forward to coming here again for another quirky event. read more

While it can be a bit hard to find, this is a great venue. I've been involved with several events at this location and have had nothing but great dealings with the owner and other management folks here. This place has a lot of character and is well maintained. The after hours drinking aspect is just a bonus. There is a cover to get in if you aren't a member, so joining this club is a good investment if you find yourself wanting a drink between 2 am and 3 am. read more

Hey apt dwellers, did ya ever wanna throw a party with more than ten folks...then the Ruba is for you. You can rent the place for $120 on a Saturday night. If you invite twenty friends its six clams a head, in the Northern liberties to boot. For your buck twenty, you get two bartenders, one being the old dude who runs it. A doorman.Seven or eight circle tables set up,and a couple rectangle tables for food, if you so please. There is a old small pool table and a dart board, and plenty of room for dancing. I suggest getting a DJ and some cheap eats, and having a pretty inexpensive shindig with your pals. Oh the decor? Time warp from 1974( panaling)....but that just adds to the fun....and a private party in no libs for $120 on a weekend, you cant expect Starr decor. read more

My wild, devil-may-care, dangerous friends somehow entangled me in their net of mischief one night in their sudden, random search to play ping pong. Yeah, these guys are the kind you don't want your daughters crossing the street for. Anyway, who figured it would be tough to get a game of ping pong. Dozens of minutes and confused phone calls later, my friend procured a game at a place called RUBA. None of us ever hearing of it before, yet up for an adventure, we packed in the car and headed over, visions of tough (but fair!) ping pong games dancing in our heads. What we were faced with when we walked in was slightly different. A single room with a ambiance I would describe as "dirty" still somehow felt inviting in a cold war kind of way. Perhaps it was the lone, neck-braced woman playing pool. Or maybe it was the white suited Russian "businessman" sitting and sipping what I'm sure was vodka. Still, it could have been the 3 Pagans, proudly displaying their motorcycle patches on their denim and leather vests. No ping pong table in sight. But did that matter? I asked for a bloody mary, at the bar. Right after breaking up what could have been a pro communism conversation between bartender and some guy. The bartender said the closest he could get to a bloody mary was a screw driver. I bought a Sam Adams. For a $1. Fast forward through the rest of the evening, as their are simply too many incidents to mention. We left late night/early morning, having our fill of beer, ping pong (yes, they wheeled it out for us), and interesting people. And the night was still going, as two lady deejays were just starting to unpack their equipment. I was told RUBA stands for Russian Ukranian Boating Association. But no matter what it stands for, you're always going to have an interesting night if you go. Sure, it's private club, not usually open to the public, but the security is less than strict, and we were offered membership at the end of the evening - for an annual fee of $5. So it's not like Fort Knox when it comes to enjoying the social club. read more

I have old documents from my Russian Grandfather. He was a member of the R.U.B.A. Club in 1947!

After a night of drinking and you're really not ready to go home before last call, get on your bike and head to Ruba Hall. It's the type of place you're likely to see people you wouldn't expect to, your boss from three jobs ago, your brothers ex girlfriend and maybe even your uncle who you thought was dead. Shots are 2.50, lagers are 3 and they stop serving at 3AM- the vibe makes me want to roll up in a flapper dress and have a cigarette holder in my right hand (not that I smoke?) while sipping on some whiskey on the couch watching the boys play ping pong. read more

Okay, I came to Ruba after being at Silk City...it was 130am. I understand this bar is considered an after hours bar. First off, there were about 30 people at the bar. The music was a playlist on an iPad (played by the retro boushy bartender) which was a mix of skater rap.? No one was dancing, people were literally twiddling their thumbs at the bar and we recommended to the bartender to play some different music. She clearly wasn't happy with our request. The next song was a popular rap song and the entire crowd got up to dance. The following song was also a great rap song (I am not the biggest fan of rap) but the costumers were very happy. They then decided to put their terrible playlist back on and once again we were left twiddling our thumbs. The bartenders and owner are rude and clearly do not care too much about making their customers satisfied. read more

Went here Friday night after a last minute change of venue for Bodyrock. As I walked in, I realized I'd been here before - years ago for some after hours drinking. I like the atmosphere: the totally unironic deer heads on the walls and the light fixture above the pool table advertising Genessee beer. I like that it's an actual dive, not contrived-dive. I figured this would be the type of place where you could only get a can of PBR as far as beer goes, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they do have beers on tap. I went with the Philly Pale Ale; they had some other Yards varieties. This is a good space for dancing - large open floor. The bar was kind of hard to access through the crowd and we had to wait a while for each drink. I would totally rent this place out for a party. read more

This is the first review I'm writing because I was truly displeased with the service. The location is great. Parking isn't the best but they're always willing to work with you on price for the venue. But you have to pay $35 to become a social club member. I had a party recently. Paul was great to work with prior but Rich was there throughout the night and he wasn't nice or working with us when we expressed come concerns. We had "social club members" coming into our private party all night to get drinks from the bar. Rich said they were able to come in and get drinks-which wasn't in the contract (the contract said they can come in after 12 AM). I didn't mind that as much but this one couple "social club members" kept coming in and out DANCING ON THE DANCE FLOOR-INAPPROPRIATELY TOO. Again, this was a private party and I had a contract that stated this wouldn't happen. When we talked to Rich he stated we got the place for a discounted rate (basically saying they can do whatever they want)...as if that should matter! I would not recommend this place! Unless you don't mind strangers coming into a private place. If you're going to work with anyone, work with Paul...he is friendly. read more

Cinemeray is showing films there all most every week. Depending on the day the screening the ticket price is $5 or $8 -can not beat that!

"If I Could only Remember My Name..." That's the Cros solo masterpiece and the sum of my dozens upon dozens of Ruba hangs. I've seen so much there, drank so much there and went on to meet many a sunrise. Nothing beats buying a round for $10, talking to a decent guy who looks like Popeye and then onward to another titan dressed strictly in leather talking about Cameo and how he can get you some free drinks at the concession of some pro sport or other. It's all a wash. Go there, though. read more

I helped out a friend in finding a venue for a 30th birthday and came across Ruba club. The party was setup for this past Friday and we had the place to ourselves between 9:30 and 1:30. It was a blast - beer pong, flip cup, pool, ping pong and we were able to play our own music. Paul was great to work with and even helped a stupid friend get out of a mess he put himself in. Overall, great venue and great staff. Would definitely recommend and go back! read more

I came here in April for a birthday party. I found it to be a nice little dive bar, in the mold of my fav dive bar Skinner's. They don't have any beers on tap, only cans/bottles. It isn't very pricey, and it stays open late. I found it to be a bit bright in here though...which I don't associate with dive bars. I dunno. Everything your normal neighborhood dive bar offers - cheap beer, open late, friendly help, diverse crowd. read more

I've been to Ruba on a few occasions, mostly for events. The upstairs and downstairs are both geared with bars (cash only), but the downstairs boasts a pool table and a large area for dancing. I find the downstairs space rather dim as far as lighting goes, but when you're dancing, lighting probably doesn't matter, especially if you're trying to bust a move while holding a drink. The upstairs is air-conditioned, which is preferred in the hot, summer months. Dancing downstairs in the peak of the summer makes for a sweaty mess, no matter how many fans are running. Great space for events. read more

My husband and I held our August wedding at the RUBA Club and it was an undeniably wonderful decision. We highly recommend checking out the RUBA Club if you are seeking an affordable and unique venue for your special event. The largest factor that made our experience at the RUBA great was Paul, the on-site coordinator. Paul handled our numerous questions and requests to visit the reception space with grace and speed. He made himself available during our set-up process the night before and strategized with us about furniture placement. During the event, he was on site and went beyond what was necessary to make the reception run smoothly. The same could be said for the other staff members at the RUBA. When searching for a wedding venue, cost and personalization were our top priorities. We didn't want to be offered option A or B from a venue and feel like a cog in a wedding-industry wheel. At the RUBA, we felt a sense of connection to the reception we were trying to plan every step of the way. The cost was also quite a step down from other venues that we explored in the Philly area. Finally, the eclectic decor suited our personalities and there wasn't a big need to purchase/create additional decorations. If you are considering planning a wedding at the RUBA, please note that we did have to work with some constraints. We needed to rent additional tables and chairs. We did all of the work on our own (with the help of friends) and were in charge of setting up and breaking down the furniture. Parking in the neighborhood is limited, so we had to plan around that. About 120 people comfortably attended the reception, but we rented both the upstairs and downstairs rooms. We had a buffet dinner and long seated tables, allowing people to sit or mingle at their discretion. We also could not purchase our own alcohol and bring it in (club rules). Instead, we selected a variety of beer, wine and spirits and set a bar budget. In the end, the final bar tab was lower than we expected. We can't say enough about the RUBA, Paul and the staff. Definitely check out this place for your wedding or special event. read more

Haven't seen many Russian or Ukrainian boaters here. I may or may not have been sold a membership here for $2. Divey, smokey after hours club. Pretty weird, good for nights when you don't wanna go home at 2am. Sometimes the bouncer from Silk City is working the door, sometime you will walk into someone's wedding. read more

Chill space in Philly. I saw my friend's rock opera here a year and half ago. Any place that hosts them is awesome in my book. The other week when I was in town for business, I walked by this place and recalled fond memories. read more

I always come here for after hours. This place is very cool. It can't decide what it wants to be. It's got a little bit of everything for everyone. Best part is everyone is even tempered and ready to have fun. Some nights there is dancing, and if nothing else there's darts, pool, and well, ping-pong. Every type of drinker was here. The sports pub enthusiast; Sports team hat and 10 year old worn Adidas shirt with matching shoes, The hipster; black framed glasses and thrift store nightmare, The beard; pretty much don't want to piss this guy off, turns out to be a nice guy, The wasted; The people that probably should have stopped drinking an hour ago; The skater; ripped up jean shorts with skateboard in hand. read more

If it weren't for Old Man Surly, this place would be the best ever. But no, he had to interrupt our game of pool by shoving all the balls into the pockets midgame. One word: nagl. read more

another one of those places where i ended up when clearly should have gone straight home, the RUBA does have it's perks. the biggest two being that A. it was right around the corner from silk, and when we finished djing, we could stroll on over and keep on imbibing, and B. they had a dart board. it was always like a hipster void just sort of spit it's contents out in there, though, which is beyond unfun. read more

Come early (9pm) and stay late (3am)! You'll never know what to expect out of this place, sometimes packed out the door and sometimes mellow. Open every Sunday and occasionally other nights. Free ping pong, a full sized billiards table, and dart board almost complete the ski lodge like vibe... Just a heads up, try to leave before Val hits the lights or you'll be blinded! read more

love this place. it makes me feel like i am hanging in the basement of one of my grandfather's friends in the northeast. a friend rented it for a surprise birthday and what a success. no idea what it would be like on a night that did not involve rental for an event. but i would like to find out. read more

Rented the downstairs room at the Ruba Club out for a birthday party on a Saturday night. I'd do it again in a heartbeat! Aside from the rental fee, I had to pay a $35 membership fee for the year - fine with me! The people who work there are super easy to work with and extremely accommodating. We never felt rushed or bothersome. The space is great -- plenty of tables, seating, a ping pong table (which they'll move if you want dance floor space), and a pool table. If you're looking for fancy this isn't your place. If you're looking for comfortable and familiar with an edge, this is your place. read more

Went here for a friend's birthday party and this place brought back to many memories from middle school. Well middle school plus a bar. We had a good time and they were tolerant of our hi-jinx with their decorations. I will keep it in mind for future party space ideas. read more

Beautiful old building with two performance spaces--a big hall upstairs and a cocktail lounge downstairs--though noise from one tends to bleed into the other. Pity the place reeks of cigarettes tingeing it's grandeur with an edge of decrepit skeez that's detracted from every performance I've seen there. Still, they're open to hosting community events, so if you want to revive that feeling you got in your gradeschool's auditorium check 'em out. read more

You know you're getting yourself into some trouble when you head to Ruba after hours, but that's the beauty of it. There's always a story to tell the morning after a night at Ruba. read more

Great venue. Excellent soul food was served downstairs so I watched Pop Erotica while eating fried chicken and collards and the bartender way over-poured my date's jack 'n cokes so she got nice and drunk and laughed uproariously at all my corny jokes and threw me around like a rag doll when we got home (Note: Date former Division 1 soccer players at your own risk!). read more

I attended Club Ruba for a special event, a freak show/circus. I am going to try to keep my impressions of the circus out of this review of the club. This place was hard to find. Actually it was easy to find only we were not sure we'd found it. I suppose once you know where it is it's pretty cool being the insider who knows. I enjoyed the decor. it was divey and clean. Our show was upstairs and that is pretty much the only place I was. There was a large open wood floor room with a stage area at one end. They had a bar in the back. I was definitely intrigued by this place and will definitely consider looking into membership in the club and visiting again. read more

Went last night to see Verna Jean Merman. Fantastic show -- this review is not about the show as Ms. Merman was great as usual. When I was purchasing tickets on line and as there was a group of us and all the "A" tables were taken, I opted not to take the seats that were behind the "A" tables (as explained when I was purchasing tickets on line), but to pay a bit extra and have the "B" tables on the side. I figured since we had tickets for a table it would be no issue if we arrived not exactly when the doors opened. In fact, our tickets actual say Table Seating. We arrived at about 6:30 for a 7 pm show. Upon arriving we were really surprised that the person at the door pointed to a long pew like row of chairs along the wall and said those are our seats. There were tables and chairs in front of the "pew" which made getting in nearly impossible. All the tables had 2 people sitting at them already (sitting forward facing the stage). However the seats we were directed to were not only extremely uncomfortable, impossible to get in or out of, other chairs, table legs or people's legs were blocking any of our ability to move, but they were facing across the room and not at the stage, which again made it possible to see and enjoy Ms. Merman. And since so much of her show is visual, this was really unfortunate. And these were not Table Seating in any way. Why- you may ask did we not tell the guy at the door that we paid for a table? Oh we did - and he said that this seating was near a table and we would still have access to the table -- yeah, if you asked the person next to you to stand up while you twisted your arm to actually put a drink down on the table. We can only assume that we were actually meant to sit at a table and they gave our seats away. And what really sucked was that the chairs in the middle, behind the "A" tables were 100 times more comfortable looking then the brutally uncomfortable "pew" we were sitting on, they were actually facing the stage so you didn't have to be a contortionist AND they were cheaper!!!! And you actually had a place to put your legs. Not sure if this was a Ruba issue or the promoters over sold the show. But it will be the last time I go to a show at Ruba. Just wan't right! read more

Everything you'd ever want or need in an after-hours indoor smoking cash bar

This is the sort of place that would appear more appropriate in a remote eastern european village than the party town that is Northern Liberties. Yet, its pool and ping pong tables and a late liquor license (with cheap drinks) make it increasingly attractive to those party goers who are just not ready to call it a night yet. Part of its charm is the mixed crowd: from hipsters to old men to the russian mafia - with noone seemingly out of place. Ruba Hall's owners must have caught up with its street cred, as upon arrival last night my friends and I suddenly found ourselves in the middle of an improvised dance floor, shaking to the tunes of Santhya Manivannan's new pop (check her out on http://www.myspace.com/santhyam). And right at the nick of time, Old Man Surly pops up yet again in his quest to preserve Ruba Hall's authenticity and sucks the fun out by physically unplugging the band. Brilliant. read more

Awful experience. Found a hair in TWO of our drinks, service is terrible. Owners and managers were the least helpful of them all, being rude and offering no help or remedy at all. They told us it was our hair.... STAY AWAY read more

I have been here for a few different events. Had a great time. The downstairs is great for a cabaret style show and the upstairs is perfect for a large show. There is also so much history to this place. I hear its' haunted... read more