A slow weekday at an old favorite.

Atlantis is an old favorite joint of mine. It’s located right below an Indo-Chinese restaurant in a decent West Philly neighborhood very near the University of Pennsylvania, so it’s a relatively safe area, accessible by public transport, and located near some decent cheap restaurants and bars if you’re up for grub. Also known for the relative generosity of dancers when it comes to negotiations.

I managed to stop by again recently this week. I walked on in in a Thursday afternoon around 4 PM. It was very quiet - just three dancers and two patrons including myself. All three dancers were African-American ; this is pretty typical for Atlantis, which tends to employ women of color as dancers.

Has a vibe I like - “seedy but not disgusting” is how I would describe the interior feel. No pools of vomit on the floor, and you aren’t accosted by the smell of stale beer and cheap perfume, something I’ve encountered at other Philly clubs. On the other hand, it’s a pretty bare, dimly lit interior with just a few TV’s up ; you know on walking in that it isn’t an overpriced no-fun, ahem, no-touch spot.