It's always a fun time for a sloppy night out. It's a classic and prices are good, vibes are high. My only negative would be sometimes I'd personally play different music. And sometimes 80s music gets old not everyone is in the mood for it all the time aka me read more

The door person is a complete ball of negative energy. The amount of times they've been rude if you don't tip them 30% for stamping your wrist. Girl get a new job and be nicer read more

First time coming here and it was a lot of fun! They had a listening party for Beyoncé's Renaissance album which was really cool and the music was loud. They had a good size dance floor and a couple of stages for people to stand on. Unfortunately I never got a drink but I heard they were cheap and really good! read more

They didn't let me in because they thought I was drunk. I have autism and a speech impediment.

music has not been good at all since a different management took over. Glitoris is one of the owners and he USED to play good music but as of the purchasing of the establishment, the music has been very sub par and quite frankly, not good. If you are LGBT, this club has definitely changed from what it was back a few years ago. read more

I got roofied here in november. My keys were stolen and whoever did it also followed me home and stole my car. If you care at all about your safety, go somewhere else. read more

I've been a customer for six years. Tonight, the bouncers pushed me out because they disliked me. The bouncer has a racial agenda against me. They told me I wasn't welcomed. I don't see a reason to shine a flashlight in my face, and verbally harass me. I had been a patron for many years, but this disrespect was completely inhuman. I cannot return. I've come back to complete my review because this was also harassment by the red haired bouncer. His responsibility is to defuse situations and protect clients -- not harass and berate. read more

Theme music nights, music you might actually want to dance to! Dark foggy environment. Different music out back and different shows next door. Favorite place in austin read more

Great music just a shame that the staff kicks people out for drinking and being too "drunk". Was drinking and keeping to myself and their group of "tough" guy bouncers came up to intimate our group telling us to leave. News flags guys... it's a bar where people can drink. We weren't bothering anyone or being rude we were just at our table talking and keeping to ourselves. If you want to go dance and have the freedom to drink go somewhere else, there are plenty of other better bars in Austin. read more

For the most part I really enjoy swan dive. It's really a shame that I write this while tipsy at best, but kicked out of the bar by apparently being too drunk. I do enjoy my times here but do beware that you'll be treated like an animal for no reason at all. read more

Horrible place!!!! The bouncer literally told me my I.D. Was fake when it wasn't and then made up a lie as to why he couldn't let me in when I proved my I.d. was really real, just not these red fancy ones everyone is rocking. I just updated to the new I.d. Hoping this will prevent me from ever going through this again, but regardless, if you're legal you're legal and as a business you should be better than that to treat customers this way. Will always leave negative feedback when discussing this place! I HOPE BARBELLA GETS CLOSED DOWN NOBODY LIKES IT ANYMORE! read more

This is so insane that the bouncer flicked off a woman and denies a bachelorette party for absolutely no reason. I literally never will justify this other than they don't want a bachelorette party because we were super polite and classy. Please enjoy the bouncer flicking me off when I laughed at him for being a jerk. read more

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The review no one wants to write: I was cut off because I arrived sleepy, after an 18-hour day off travel. I livened up, was served multiple rounds of waters with please and thank yous, but was told I was not allowed to order. This continued for hours. If you're not a native and you're thinking of stopping in: don't. I understand that the bartender was afraid of being branded "bad" for serving someone who hours earlier had been sleepy. Conversations and orders made it clear I was no longer sleepy, but I was explicitly informed that didn't matter. I was told the the bartender and staff that night would refuse to serve me because I was tired when I arrived. No amount of reasonable discussion prevailed, and in fact I was told it didn't matter whether or not I could safely order. The bartenders made up their minds for the night and that is law at this bar. Go to a different bar read more

This used to be one of my favorite place to go dance in Austin.... sadly the bartenders that work there on Sunday 09/02/2018 made my night miserable... the guy who worked at the front bar that night , a blonde guy , clearly hates he's job... I have never meet someone so miserable with a gross vibe... I ask if they made margaritas and he said yes, and gave me pineapple juice with tequila... and when I ask him... he said yes and I said that wasn't an margarita... and he said I DON'T GIVE A FUCK... A completely asshole I hope the owner do something about it, and actually put people to work who can do their job and can handle a busy bar. read more

You're not ON dirty sixth but there's the distinct impression of the dirty sixth stank. The dance floor. If heaven forfend there is ever a fire in there, we're all screwed. Is that place even up to code? Bodies smashed together grinding away with three exits to be seen. If you're upstairs dancing you can literally feel the ceiling bouncing. See also: death. The bartenders. Look, I get it. People are clamoring for your attention and most of them are drunken monkeys but that's kinda the vibe here. And please, blonde bartender up front on Tuesgayz night, don't treat me like a criminal, DEMAND my ID and smugly refuse to return my credit card on an ELEVEN dollar tab when my card is declined. As a function of a fraud alert, I might add. I'm not giving you my ID so that it can get lost behind the pit of a bar covered in plastic with god knows what liquid trapped under it. The space: Any chance there's a cleaning crew that comes in? That bathroom is awful. Just awful. Sans toilet paper on the reg, gnarly bowls and the weird waiting area. Just revamp it so that there are more toilets or more space and check on the TP once in a while. The drink prices: A 6 oz cup of vodka and soda shouldn't cost me $5 unless I called a top shelf. By the time I wend my way back through the beglittered, behipstered grindage I'm finished with my shot of booze on ice and needing more. There may be method to this madness. And a cover. Ever a cover. I'm intrigued by the idea of grits n gravy as I think that's probably the only spot in town that's doing a soul/funk night. As long as the DJs keep being good and the location keeps being convenient and the space keeps being huge, this spot will stick around. I'd just like a return to "we want this place to be rad" and less of the in your face "whatever" attitude. read more

I've been going to barbarella for a year and half now and it just isn't the same. My best friend and I would come every Tuesday for Tuesgayz last year and we'd have a better night each week. I don't know if they switched DJ's but the music just isn't the same. The theme nights don't play the artists music, they play the same songs and it's just not as exciting now. I hope they go back to what they used to because I truly love this bar but it just isn't the same. read more

It honestly pains me to write this review because Barbs has been one of my favorite places since I've moved to Austin. I'm a regular almost every Tuesday for Tuezgayz and I probably frequent this bar more than any other in the city. Tonight I tried to get in and was denied entry due to being visibly intoxicated. Keep in mind that I am writing this review, 15 minutes later. I presented my US passport that showed I am clearly over 21, and the bouncer--very condescendingly--told me to go eat a taco and come back in 45 minutes (when they close). My friend and I tried to ask what his reasoning was behind not allowing me entry and he did not let us talk at all. I have never received such rude and unprofessional treatment here before--or at any bar for that matter. Unless you want to be treated like a piece of shit, do not go here. read more

BARBARELLA IS THE HOTS. This is what nightlife is supposed to be. Ok. Its a dance club. Austin has a lot of dance clubs. What makes Barbarella so great? Fortunately I have the Samuel C mathematical formula that allows for a precise statistical estimation of Barbarella's awesomeness. The excellence of a dance club can be calculated with this formula: Give Ten Points for every stylish attractive same sex couple. Give Thirty Points for every stylish unattractive same sex couple that doesn't give a rats ass what YOU think These first two components determine how much crazy stuff you can do on the dance floor - since everyone here is here to dance and no one is here to judge or show off or go looking for strangers to bed. So no one is watching - dance how you like and as much as you like. Add up the first two items and multiply by 100 if the music is good. The music at Barbarella totally rocks. (I particularly like 80's nights, which will make you fall in love with the Smiths, Billy Idol and the B-52s all over again.) Subtract One for Every Girl in a Black Cocktail Dress (Barbarella does not have much of a black cocktail dress problem - especially compared with the rest of Sixth Street. But you do have cocktail dress types staring at their phones - which you can do perfectly well at home or in class.) Subtract 10 for every drunk fraternity type male staggering into the place vaguely looking for a good time - standing on the dance floor beer in hand and not dancing. (They have a place for that guys. It is called the street.) Lower the penalty to three rather than 10 if they ulitmately get the idea that this is a dance club and start to jiggle. Deal with Mosh Pit behavior as an occupational hazard - and then wish for more stylish same sex couples since they aren;t into the mosh thing at all. Barbarella has a low drunk fraternity boy count early in the evening - but the drunk males will show up after a while. However, they will start jiggling and many are friendly so it is not all bad. Add up the total score and multiply by 50 if the bar is good. Barbarella does not have the mixmasters of the century - and they serve in plastic cups (a possible necessary concession to the frat boys and the density of the crowd). However the selection of bottles is pretty good - and you just want something good to chug or have as a shot so you can get back out on the dance floor. So mixology is not strictly necessary. Decorating? Great lighting. Kind of a Rainey Street pit - but the light show saves it. Fine lights. Bathrooms ? .... well hope you don't get sick - do your other business quickly and leave. Overall - the high ratio of serious dance fanatics in the crowd - the stylishness of the pre-cocktail dress crowd - the excellence of the music and the all out commitment to dance dance dance and dance (as opposed to mate mate mate and mate or talk talk talk and talk) make this place a winner. This is a place to dance up a storm. *** Since I posted my original review - which appears in its entirety above, I read other people's reviews. Many people have had worse experiences than I have had. There are a lot of Barbarella haters out there. A few comments on the slams on Barbarella which range from off-base to legitimate points. Listed From Most-Off-Base to Most On-Target 1) The Bouncers Are Mean. Don't do anything to get yourself Bounced! Most of the complainers acknowledge they have had way too much for drink. (But check out the one creepy exception below). If you behave badly, Barbarella won't fool around about tossing you out fast. 2) I Had To Wait a Long Time to Get My Drink Come earlier - or go to clubs that are less crowded. There is a reason clubs are crowded. This is because they are good. Note - whenever I go to Barbarella I tip on every drink - ESPECIALLY the first drink. Bartenders come around to me very promptly after that. Folks - bartenders work hard and don't earn very much on Sixth Street. Tip! The tip jars at Barbarella are usually nearly empty. 3) There was a Screw-Up with Me Getting My Credit Card Back - or With Me Paying the Right Tab. This is a serious problem. The bar is crowded and the staff is handling a long list of tabs. Be safe. Pay cash. Pay cash after every drink. Save everyone the hassle of remembering who you are and what you have been ordering all night. The ATMs are there for a reason. 4) I hate the Music They Play. This is No Fun. Everyone has their own taste. I hate the music on Rainey Street ---- nearly universally. 5) The Place is Filthy. Yeah. The place IS filthy. The worst is the bathrooms. Pray to God you never have to drop to your knees near one of the johns. Spilled Drinks on a Dance Floor Allows You to Do Wet Floor Foot Moves. I am always happy when someone else has lubricated the floor for me. 6) The Staff and Patrons Gay Bash. If this is true, this is despicable. I hope management has cleaned this one up - and fast. read more

We came here Friday night and had a blast!!!!!! I loved all the 90's music. We entered through another headbanger bar and came outside to find a load of people dancing to some old school 90s. It was fun! I definitely would come back, because it was the hip hop place to be! read more

Red River Dance Club This dive-y dance club is in an old exposed brick building. They've got tons of lights, speakers, strobes and disco balls up in here. It's a loooud bar, where they blast all the 80's music you can think of. They have a variety of beers and liquors. This bar is connected with its neighboring bar, Swan Dive. They share a cool back area porch, which is spacious and shaded with plenty of seating. Swan Dive is a little nicer than Barbarella, but they both have their own different vibe. Barbarella is more fast-paced and more dancing going on over here than next door. The bartenders are fast and efficient. They're used to slinging bottle caps or cracking open tallboys. They're not making craft cocktails here, just easy drinks and shots. The restrooms are shared by the neighboring bar, but they can accommodate a lot of people coming through there. This place is a good dance bar to go to if you're not sure if you want to go to a dance bar. If it's not your scene, you can go next door to Swan Dive. read more

$2 well drinks happy hour that ends at 11pm on Thursday nights? Count me in! and no cover before 10pm? Get your stamp at the beginning of the night and make your way down 6th street before returning here later! Drinks are generous, dance floor is spacy. Lights are trippy, while the vibe is funky. Didn't know there was an upstairs, but hey I had fun rocking out 80's style downstairs. To the awkward-dancing man who's clearly there by himself: don't let anyone get you down! If you're having fun, then forget everyone else! read more

We went here on a Thursday night and had an AMAZING night! I love the music, I love that I can be there an not worry about some drunken frat boy or slimy drunk guy approaching us and that we can dance all night to music I really love! The drinks are perfectly poured and the bartenders were pretty darn cool. Listening to wonderful music from the 50's 60's and 70's while documentaries about said music showed on the various screens around us was superb. Fabulous time. read more

Finally had the priveledge of experiencing Barbarella on a Tuesgay... and it went up. Truthfully, I've needed to do this for a while. I consider it to be an Austinite right of passage, like sighting your first man bun, or sighting your first man bun with a side braid. You know what I mean. The time was right, the drinks were flowing and the music was hot. I had on these killer red heels and I thought I was going to die, but I was busting moves like Elvis meets MIchael J anyway. Best of times were had by all and I will definitely celebrate here again if the mood strikes. I'll bring my dancing shoes next time though ;) Get there before 11/12 (I cant remember which) and you won't have to pay a cover. I got there literally 1 minute after the cutoff and paid to get in. Paying a cover is ridiculous, especially if youre cute. ;) read more

Barbarella - Dance Clubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

I think my first Barbarella experience was during Free Week when it was so damn freezing in Austin. We needed a warm place to shake it. And we'd heard tons about Barbarella. If you know me, you know this is my absolute favorite place to be in Austin. Hipsters aside (and really, who complains about hipsters anymore, get over it), this place is magical to me. There aren't many places in Austin that you can go to dance, that just play your favorite song. Sometimes they play remixes, but for the most part, you pick your favorite themed night and you just hear and sing and dance along to the songs that you know and love. The crowd that is not on the dance floor is not all that great, I agree. But it also gets pretty cramped on the outskirts of the dance floor, so I think crankiness levels are just elevated. The best thing about Barbarella is their willingness to listen. You can request songs via Twitter or their Facebook page. You can post complaints about the bar or bathrooms here as well. And guess what? They change things based on this. They'll play the song you request. They added more bartenders (and these bartenders are freaking NICE, whoever said they weren't). They even renovated the bar to account for more room inside and a longer bar counter. Haters gonna hate. This place makes me happier than Disneyland. read more

Barbarella is a dance club that avoids crappy music such as top 40s, rap, or country. Come dressed trendy and ready to see some really odd characters. Last Saturday there was a guy there who looked like he just crawled out of a coffin and he was jumping around and landing in the splits. The laser lights and fog machine get everyone in the mood to bust out some crazy moves. The only downside is the drinks are kinda pricey (like most clubs downtown) and everything is kinda dirty. Just don't sit down anywhere and you'll be fine. read more

This is a great place to make out. Also wonderful dancing. Watch out for the slippery floor (and hands)! I really love Barbarella. Everytime I come here, not only do I meet a hot guy to dance with, I have a complete blast. The music is off the chain and the dance floor is big! I've never bought drinks here so I can't say anything about that. I come here just to dance my heart out. I've looked for a Barbarella equivalent in Dallas and pretty much every city I visit, but there is only one! Also, it is open until 3 am so you should definitely add this to your Austin list of must-sees! read more

I go to Austin at least once a month if I'm lucky, and every time I visit this is where we end up the night of arrival. (Usually a Friday) 80's night is the best night. I hate dancing, but when I'm here I don't really care and I can't help but dance. Shots are cheap, bartenders are usually nice.. and if you need some water they have a water station. They also have an outdoor area for smoking or getting some fresh air. I have never encountered any rude people or perverts here either. Usually there's no cover if you're there before midnight. We are always here until last call, and it's my personal favorite place for drinks. *Don't be one of those people standing at the bar ordering at 2:01 AM though, because yes they might still give you your last shots, but they will be annoyed and it won't be what you ordered and the bartenders will disappear.* If you live in Austin and haven't been here..what are you doing with your life? If you are visiting Austin, it's well worth it. read more

Barbarella - Dance Clubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

I danced to Safety Dance. I might explode. It was awesome. Barbarella is perfect for what it is. What is it you might ask? It's an awesome place to get your dance on is what. I've only been a few times, but I pretty much love this place. Every night they've got a different theme so there's a little something for everybody. It's super fun when it gets crazy and packed and you're dancing like you don't care and no one should ever judge you for your moves or lack of moves or whatever. I mean, we can dance if we want to. read more

This place is and looks dirty. They (on Saturdays) mix indie dance indoors and R&B/hip-hop on the patio. I counted three bars, the back two of which are not very busy. Come by in your get-down dancewear and have a blast! read more

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I think this building is cursed to have a mediocre bar in it. We came here after being at Shangri-La, and I quickly wished we were back at Shangri-La having another pint outside, eating more from the food truck. 80's music with the video playing on the wall was a bit passe in my book. Yawn. Not a bad crowd if you're out to relive your youth. I'm okay being old though. read more

"I'm getting too old for this." My thought upon entering, staying and exiting Barbarella. My first and only time to the venue, I was gobsmacked with happy surprise that the well drinks were $4. But they tasted like turpentine and I promptly dumped mine. The interior has a large main dance floor room with a DJ and seriously absurd music and music videos playing. Like how are we supposed to dance to Gotye? By midnight or so the place got packed to the breaking point so I ventured outside where it looks like someone's messed up patio. Watch your step a lot and good luck trying to get to the outdoor DJ stage. Music was much better at this spot - though the DJ did play (no joke) like 6 Kanye songs in a row. Step up from the weirdness inside but also kind of like my gym playlist and not really a ton of skilled music mixing. TL;DR: packed, cheap, sweaty, hot. Go very drunk or don't go at all. And stay the heck out of that front room. read more

I really liked Barbarella and I would totally go back. I went here with friends. I don't know where this place is. I followed blindly after what I felt was walking all around downtown Austin. We were there on a Saturday night and it was 80's night. It was packed. There was a line to get in, but it moved quickly. The music was great. It was many 80's hits including videos on the numerous TV screens. I love video dance bars and it's fun to go to one that's all 80's. The crowd was very eclectic. There were frat guys, preppy guys, brides maids, woo-girls, hipsters, gays, etc. The crowd seems pretty fun and friendly but the dance floor was pretty packed and it was a little tense. The drinks were reasonable. The bar beyond the dance floor seemed to extend forever. There were many rooms with booths and alcoves, etc. Oh, one thing happened while I was there. I was standing by a booth and this guy threw his leather jacket over my head and didn't get it all the way into the back corner of the booth so kind of moved all around me then left it. He didn't say a word. I was mad so I put his jacket on the ground. He came back and his jacket was on the ground but he didn't say anything. I would have been much nicer if he wouldn't have been so rude. I would return to Barbarella if I was in the neighborhood. read more

Amazing hole in te wall bar with inexpensive drinks, lots of space in various parts of the bar, fantastic dance music for those that love alternative dance vibes on a Saturday...I wish I lived in Austin so I could make Barbarella's a regular place to frequent. I'd like to throw water on it and duplicate the formula a la Gremins. I have to say, the staff really doesn't give a poo about customer service, which for all practical purposes is fine as long as the drinks are coming. read more

Last night, I observed three extremely aggressive staff members escorting a young girl out of the club. They surrounded her with flashlights and were basically shoving her out of the bar. It was awful to watch them humiliate, harass and embarrass someone for simply dancing on a bench. Meanwhile, three men continued to dance on the bench and were not forced to leave. I left disgusted. I've been a patron here since they opened and will not be returning. read more

Oh man, where do I begin here... First of all, I'm not really sure why anybody really likes this place to begin with. It seems like a large group of my friends frequently want to hit up "Barbs" or spend at least a portion of their night at this place (or the adjoining Swan Dive) as part of the whole 6th Street routine, but every time I've been here I've left with an extremely sour taste in my mouth. The people who work here (aside from the bartenders) are rude, aggressive, and seem to really enjoy power-tripping every chance they get. Some of the things that I've experienced are: -A worker insulting my friend based off of his appearance (he's Cuban) and even going as far as to try to square up against him and goading him into attacking him. Completely unwarranted. My friend obviously declined and wanted no part in this, and was promptly kicked out regardless. He wasn't breaking any rules and is generally a very polite person. -Not allowing my friend re-entry because he was "too drunk", after paying the cover charge and starting a tab. He had only gotten one drink from the Swan Dive (his only drink that entire night) and had briefly walked outside to take a call. Never talked to anyone else out there, never stumbled or slurred, and they refused re-entry after he had already given them his money. No refunds, of course. -Multiple occasions in which I saw employees roughly escorting customers out for 'breaking' very minor rules (standing in the wrong area, dancing the wrong way, etc.) or, you know, no explained reason at all. And it's not just me - When sharing these stories with people I know, I'm often met with other similar tales. In addition to this, these two locations are notorious for demanding cover charges even when there's only 5~10 people in either location. With a group of friends on 6th and wanna check out a bar? What's that, we each have to pay 5 dollars to get in? No big deal, I'm sure it's gotta be pretty busy, especially if they're charging to get in. A-a-and, it's empty. Woohoo. This has happened twice to me. Anyways, the bar kinda sucks IMHO, despite the bartenders being generally nice and cool. The rest of the workers are racist (I suspect, based on my experience and the other reviews I've read here) and constantly looking for excuses to flex their 'power' and try to assert dominance over seemingly random paying customers. It seems like the place at this point is just coasting off of some legendary reputation it once had, but it doesn't back it up. At all. It's really a shame, because I quite like the floor plan and the whole setup it has going on. You can almost tell that once, this place was probably really cool. Too bad all the BS you have to deal with now makes it absolutely not worth it. There are way better bars and clubs in Austin that deserve your time and money more than Barbarella's or Swan Dive. This place sold out. read more

One star is being generous. The door staff were ludicrous and rude. Me and two of my girlfriends went there last night. One staff member told my girlfriend she could use the ATM just inside the door to get $ for the cover and as she was doing so another bouncer went over to her and demanded she leave because she stepped inside to use the ATM. She was not intoxicated or aggressive yet this bouncer put his hands on her to get her out, which was frightening and upsetting for her. All the while, I had already pulled cash out to cover the entry fee for all of us but the door guy refused the money and said we were denied entry. Based on previous reviews it seems as if the door staff are regularly rude and inappropriate. And quite frankly, for a bouncer to unnecessarily put his hands on a female is a lawsuit begging to happen. read more

BILL was so considerate! He intercepted a sexual predator who targeted me. He deserves the highest praise!!!

Absolutely the WORST venue on 6th, and that's saying a lot. If I could give them 0 stars I would, just all around terrible workers and corporate. read more

This bar is the worst bar I've ever been to. I was on a bachelorette party with my professional friends (MD, teacher, producer) the door guy was discriminatory against myself & friends. I can't believe anyone would treat us this way, I hope they find new staff to run this bar with such great potential. Really unbelievable. These people are so rude read more

If zero stars was possible, I'd write that review in no time. The bouncer was terrible and would not let a bride inside for saying she had been drinking before the bar. The bouncer was WAY out of line and made my friend CRY before her special night out. We had 18 girls ready to spend money at your bar and it was ruined right at the front door. I will never recommend this bar to anyone ever again. SUCKS! I've managed a bar before and nobody has ever acted so rude. Don't waste your time. I'm currently at the bar down the street having a WAY better time and SPENDING MONEY! read more