February 28–March 7, 2002

naked city|first look

McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon

photo: Scott Weiner

What the hell could a "modern Irish bar" be? Silver Mylar-coated casks of ale? Space-suited leprechauns a-leaping? A place where neither U2 nor Sinead O’Connor get discussed passionately or played repeatedly over loud speakers until they blur in a wave of noise that matches the slurry crowd’s sing-along?

I found out by stepping into McFadden’s, the nouvelle modern-traditionalist Irish bar at the bottom of a towering office-warehouse building in the middle of N. Third Street. Rounding the block with lines since its opening, this McFadden’s — the fourth in a chain of urban-oriented post-pub locations — is centrally located for now-ness. McFadden’s neighbors are A Touch Of Jazz studios and Philly Style magazine as well as the NoLib nightlife underground of DotDash, 700 and Closet Fever. Better still, it’s so near the Gaelic mall that is Finnigan’s Wake, you can practically hit it with a shillelagh from McFadden’s highest tower.

Maybe that’s the point.

Drive down N. Third and look up once you hit Callowhill. That white building, the one with the visible elevator shafts and the blue metal girders? Underneath that futurist decor is McFadden’s.

At first, the pine green- and gold-lettered pub sign stretched across its block-long glass-windowed brick front leads you to believe it’s the same old shanty. But step inside and be blasted by the loud, dressy crowd, more ethnically blended than triple malt scotch, dancing to the DJ’s mix of De La Soul, Steve Miller, jungle, house and funk and you’ll realize that McFadden’s is a different animal. "New Irish" is what manager Keith Reilly calls it as we move from the top floor, with mahogany pillars, mixed bag lighting (from "smart" to deco to chandeliers) and a saloon-size bar, to several back rooms. The wood and copper motifs — lined with beer tubs and taps — throughout these huge rooms suggest a hint of the traditional pub. But put one foot down below, and you’ve hit bottom — a blue bottom, to be exact. Here at floor level, you’ll find yourself in a blue-light special/aquatic lounge with back-bar aquariums, deep, liquid, loud house music, silver metal columns, plush leather couches and a ceiling so low you’ll feel as if you’re hiding from your mom in the basement. This spot is a cozy respite from the funky frenzy of McFadden’s top floor. But either way, top or bottom, there’ll be no Riverdancing at McFadden’s.

—A.D. Amorosi

McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon, 461 N. Third St., 215-928-0630.