My girlfriend are on a quest to visit all the lesbian bars in the country, and luckily my sister goes to school in Bloomington. The weekend we went happened to be Bloomington Pride, so this place was packed. A fun mixture of college students, 20 something's, and older folks. You enter through a tall fence off of an alleyway, so I'm guessing it's challenging to find if you don't know where you're going, but that's part of the fun. Of the 4 lesbian bars we've been to, this place wins for best decor hands down. We're talking zebra print walls, stuffed unicorn heads, yonic art, glow in the dark paint. Great vibes. They have a super cute outdoor patio as well, and I loved the little food truck on the patio that opens at 9 pm! Great waffle fries and hot sandwiches. Nothing hits as right as hot cheese when you're drunk. They have tons of fun specialty drinks on a menu behind the bar! Also a great mocktail menu for the sober community! Everyone was super welcoming in this space. The one complaint I have is the Dj... we came here to dance the night away and barely made it to 11 pm because the DJ didn't play any recognizable songs or songs with a dancing beat. There were only around 10 people on the dance floor at a given time. On the other hand, this is the first lesbian bar I've been in that has had an operational dance floor with anyone on it, so that's a win. I can't wait to come back again the next time I visit Bloomington! read more

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Ok. Im biting my tongue some in this review. While i personally still do not agree with charging for mixers, i absolutely agree this place needs to do whatever is necessary to keep their doors open. Its a safe place to foster community of any kind. They support so many local organizations it makes my head spin. I do know the owners on a personal level. That doesnt sway my 5* vote. They are true women who do care. It is undeniably the best place to dance in BLM any day of the week. They do have great drink specials. Some of the bartenders make the best drinks in town, and its not over priced. Gay, straight, anywhere in between has a home here. Come join us. read more

A great vibe with a wonderful staff. And bonus points for being a terrific comedy venue during the Limestone Comedy Festival.

The Back Door is the only gay bar in Bloomington Indiana. It is a strange mixture of high energy but aloofness. All the customers were with their buddies, but not one of them reached out to me to say "Hi" and to welcome me. That felt odd. I have been to many gay bars and Back Door has one of the least welcoming clientele that I have experienced. Straight people, gays, lesbians, and transgender folks all frequent the Back Door and I like that. Drag show had a high energy from the local customers that loved it. I found it boring, I like that, in addition to the indoor bar, there is outside seating. read more

They love overcharging customers, as they are used to being prime location for the late night crowd that has nowhere else to drink. I love the people who frequent here but the staff are so rude. I cannot remember being treated so poorly anywhere else in Bloomington. When are we getting a new gay bar in town?? This has been monopolized for too long. read more

I rang in the New Years at "The Back Door" and it was a hell of a time! I had never been to the "Back Door" before but was delighted at the size of the venue and the fun crowd! Unfortunately, my friends and I arrived 5 minutes before the ball drop and were initially told that the bar was at capacity, so we ended up ringing in the New Years in the small waiting lobby. Not a big deal, as we were able to get in after 5-10 minutes of waiting ! We all ordered Long Island's which were $8 each, so a bit pricier than what I'm used to, but they were delicious! The dance floor is huge , the few tables were already crowded and the smoking area outside has several nice heaters as well, which was appreciated! This is the type of place you go to at the end of the night when you want to dance and have a few last drinks before heading home . I wouldn't come here if I'm just wanting a relaxing evening with friends and good conversation, but I'm sure I'll be back for the dancing the next time I'm in Bloomington! Also, coat check is only $2 so make sure you have a little bit of cash on you! read more

This could be a very nice bar and a great time. Unfortunately the bartenders are a bunch of angry old ladies that are beyond rude to the customers. I've never seen anything like it before. I've heard several people say they won't go here because of how terrible the service is. My suggestion is get younger people that actually want to do the job with a good attitude. Won't ever be back after I was treated and saw others treated. There's too many other bars with great bartenders to justify spending your money here. read more

I walked in at 9pm on a Friday night. The crowd was moderately thick, attentive wait staff. There was no music. People were watching TV. I ordered a Rose, it came in a can with a plastic cup. read more

Being from Indianapolis, I had never heard of The Back Door until some friends were performing in a show there, so I decided it would be a good time to head down and support them and check out a new place. I would like to tell you that it was a great experience, but that would be a lie. Instead, this place gets marked on my "never again.. Ever list". I arrived early, so I walked around downtown and watched the Lotus Festival for a while. At the suggestion of one of my friends who was performing, I got to The Back Door early so I could make sure that I got a seat. When I walked in they checked my ID and I paid the cover charge, walked in, and headed to the bar to grab a drink. I grabbed a seat while there was a comedy show going on, so I watched a couple of the acts, and then hung around after it was done.. waiting for the show. Someone came on the stage and told everyone that they needed to go to the patio because they had to flip the room for the show. OK, no big deal... I walked out to the patio and hung out. I saw the line that was already starting to form of people who were arriving for the show and was glad I didn't have to wait in line. It wasn't until somebody else came up and told everyone on the patio that they would have to leave, get in the line and pay a second cover to get back in that I became a little irritated. Okay, not a little but a lot. I went up and asked the person why we had to leave if we had already paid a cover and why we had to wait in the back of the line when we had gotten there early for the show. The response I got was they have many different shows they go on throughout the night and the covers are different for each one. Annoyed and pissed off, I walked back to my car and drove home. read more

I am VERY disappointed in this place. We came here for an event and while there, my wallet was stolen. In attempts to get in touch with the management I noticed there was no phone number to call and the only way I could was to email the manager who had helped us plan our event. 24 hours later, no response. While I was there and trying to see if anyone had found it, I was quickly dismissed, "Just contact us tomorrow, we can't do anything right now." I was also informed that a lot of meth heads come to The Back Door and are more likely to steal from people. I had some important items in my wallet including medication. Thanks for having zero concerns that people are stealing from your paying customers in your establishment. Running a great business there. Bravo. read more

Get ready for a night of dancing. And sweating. Drink names: The Donk, Maliboobie, Grow a Pear, Pear of Melons, Citron My Face, Cherry Poppins This bar is true to its name. The entrance is in an alley. Behind the Atlas bar. Some cartoon characters on the side of a brick buidling lead you to the main door. Once you've arrived, you'll realize that Bloomington's gay bar is magical. They don't put up with bullshit or sexually aggressive behavior. (They've banned patrons and made it very public on social media). They always have events to empower the LGBTQ community and fight for progressive causes. I've been to a ReproTrivia and then a ReproBingo fundraiser here that benefited the Hoosier Abortion Fund. I've been here countless times dancing. This bar is super small, but I like it that way. Intimate and close. There's a large patio area for chatting and smoking. There's zebra faux fur on the wall, a disco ball pulsing overhead, and flashing colored lights pouring over the crowd. The Back Door was even kind enough to host an after party for my organization: the Feminist Student Association. Do not come to the Back Door if you are straight as an arrow and just want to experience the novelty. This place is sacred. Don't ruin it with your onsie bar crawl. read more

I have been to a lot of gay bars in a lot of cities. Many of them are cliquish and I feel like an outsider. At The Backdoor, I have always felt welcome. It is one of the few bars in Bloomington where I feel completely free to be myself and the clientele and bartenders are supportive of people for who they are. Exactly what I expect from a gay bar, but often don't find. The drink specials are delicious. There is a night for every mood - dancing, drag, karaoke, cabaret, fundraisers. And the staff is super friendly. Great place to hang out. read more

This is the best place to go for entertainment and dancing in Bloomington. Signature drinks, good people, and good music. Don't miss nights where they have Drag shows! read more

This is one of my favorites in Bloomington. They have drag shows during the week and on weekends, which are so much fun! The atmosphere is very open and friendly to everyone! Also, if you're into Bloody Mary's, Lauren makes the BEST ones. My only complaint is that the female bouncers can be pretty aggressive and rude at times to customers. Some of them aren't very welcoming. read more

We tried gong here on a Wednesday night and it was....interesting. Wow. The best thing here was the bartender who was so sweet and made very good drinks. I'd go here on a Wednesday or Thursday just to have on her of drinks. We went back on Friday evening and were forced to pay a cover charge to walk into an empty bar only to be met by a bartender who could not make drinks. After a few minutes, 3 other bartenders joined her and with he 4 combined, they all seemed confused as to what to do and wiping the sticky bar was clearly not one of their tasks. This place has a lot of potential. read more

I went to the backdoor on a whim with a few friends. It was gaga night and we had a great time. My friend's bf ordered us drinks (no idea what they were or what was in them) but they were delicious! Perfect taste and alcohol content. We were all dancing the night away and decided (stupidly) to leave our bags on the floor and unattended on a lounge chair. We danced the night away and had so much fun I didn't realize that my wallet was lost until the next day. When I emailed the establishment to see if I had left it, they were very pleasant and had it safely locked away until I could come by to pick it up. When I did pick it up on Sunday, I saw karaoke was going on (so need to come back for that) and a lovely bartender was able to get my wallet for me. I was pleased and grateful that nothing was taken from my wallet and they were able to keep it for me. I will however note that the backdoor contacted me (assuming I posted a negative review about my wallet being stolen) and that was slightly disappointing. I am very appreciative that my wallet was found and I had a wonderful time at the backdoor. Please don't make assumptions. If it wasn't for that.... 5 stars. read more

My only complaint is I wish they had a bigger space. Best place to dance in town if you're not an undergrad. Drinks are good and fair priced. Great shows. read more

A FABULOUS GAY BAR IN BLOOMINGTON!!! WHOOP! This place is wonderful! Hip, welcoming to ALL, great music....the list goes on. It is so great to have such a fun and easy going place to hang out and get your dance on if the spirit moves you! read more

The last time we were here was when they had no liquor and were just starting out. We were happy that the bar was still in business!! I read through their website and that provided all the info needed, even a cocktail program!! A side-note...every cocktail should be able available, and there is no reason to "not have this tonight" . The servers should know the drink menu. I liked that the bar had someone coming around to change large bills for singles. In a land of debit cards, getting cash is hard enough let alone a bunch of singles. The website had very specific table schedules as far as what time door opens and the time limit for tables themselves. We felt kinda "cheated" because the specific show time listed on their website was 11:30-1:30 am. The show did not start until way after 12 midnight and was finished at exactly 1am. This was the first I have never seen a less then 1 hour drag show. I might be the only one who hates "ballads" , esp on a sat night show. This just kills the vibe. The performers did give it their all and def deserve a bravo! We def would go again. read more

One of the best bars in Bloomington, amazing drinks and atmosphere. Definitely stop in for one of their shows, they did Gayme of Thrones awhile ago and it was an amazing time. Gender neutral bathrooms. read more

Love this place. The staff is amazing! I've gone here through good and bad times and have always felt welcome. I love going during the week when there's a smaller crowd. Good drinks all around. After going here for the past 5 years I can't really complain. Every issue I have had has been handled great by management. The dance floor is so much fun on Friday/Saturday nights. The shows are awesome. read more

This is a nice place to dance. Very safe space for the LGBT community. Can't say I'm a fan of the drink pricing--that's the main thing here, so why stick it to folks who are paying anyway? But overall, much better than most places, and less of the college-kids-out-to-get-some vibe you find elsewhere. read more

For a bar that prides themselves on EQUALITY and ACCEPTANCE, they do everything that contradicts that. I came down from Indianapolis to support my friend who was supposed to perform, and I will NEVER come back. Worst drag queens I've ever seen, and thankfully I didn't even have to see them perform. Unpolished, unprofessional, and extremely rude. read more

Love this place! Great drag shows, burlesque, bands and karaoke. They are always coming up with creative shows. Also very connected to the community and support Positive Link, Box Car Books, the Pride Film Festival. The staff is very friendly and the drinks are delicious. My favorite time to go is in the warm weather when I can sit outside on the patio. It's a fun place to meet for drinks after work. On certain occasions they have different food carts on the patio; hot dogs, tamales, iced coffee cart. I'm not much of a late night partier but the few times I've been it has been fun. My favorite was the burlesque show accompanied by a New Orleans jazz band. Very cool! The drag shows are always fun. There is a small surcharge for using your credit/debit cards so when I want to avoid that, I bring cash. The Back Door has something for everyone. I always bring friends who are visiting from out of town. It's a fun place with a social conscience. read more

This place is incredible! I stopped in on karaoke night and what a blast. The crowd was very mixed and everyone was having a great time. Some singing, some dancing, some canoodling out on the patio. It is great that bloomington finally has a refuge from all the the "brew bro" bars that seem to be proliferating. read more

The Back Door is a gay bar that is brilliantly named on several different levels. We were in Bloomington for the Limestone Comedy Festival and one of the official after parties was hosted by The Back Door. I had a pretty good time here, even though I'm not a gay boy. There were tons of people there dancing, taking over the back balcony, and sitting everywhere you could imagine. The bar has a weird thing going on for it in that they weren't serving liquor shots, only sake shots. I'm not sure if that's all the time or just for this particular night. They had a decent selection of beers, but nothing out of the ordinary. There is a huge, spacious dance floor with lights and music and people seemed to enjoy it. The outdoor patio is massive and can hold many, many people. We partied with Doug Benson and several other comics while we were here and that made the entire experience even better. I'm not sure if I'd ever come here by myself as I'd feel somewhat out of place, but it was a fun time nonetheless. read more

no complaints. i was devastated when i learned e's closed (i've been going there for years & before that, used to pick my mom up at closing!) but i had been here a few times already so i was sure they could hold the gays of btown. whether i want to chill with one of my guys at the bar top or get wasted & sing/dance/act stupid, it all seems ok. like someone else said, it does have more of a bull's vibe (ok, so i only went once, somehow when i was 18, but i LOVED it!) than e's. i'm not gay, but i support the community & love my guys/gals who are, so this place never disappoints. i'm a rum & coke girl, but they always have fun drink specials that i try with the guys. ready to go back, that's for sure :o) read more

Came here right after my wedding because we were trying to find a karaoke bar. What we found was better. First off, the bouncer let our cover charge go because we were a wedding party. Second, we were instantly greeted and announced by a drag queen, which made my life complete. Third, people were amazingly nice and were somehow shocked that we wanted to go to a gay bar after a straight wedding. Everyone was so sweet to us and kept complimenting us about how "open minded" we were. It was so weird because it was so unnecessary, we love gay bars and drag queens. Very welcoming and friendly environment. Amazing playlist. Huge dance floor. Great drinks (didn't pay for any because people kept buying us drinks). And great drag performance. Loved this place. read more

This establishment has extraordinarily good workers. I was having a very rough night this news years and the workers Holly and Alex helped me until my friends were able to find me. I've never had such nice workers who were willing to help someone at a bar. Definitely would suggest this bar. read more

Great place to let loose and have fun! Very friendly staff been here several times and always felt welcomed and always had fun with the Drag Queens read more

This bar i s one of my favorite bars in bloomington. With somethign going on every night there is always somethign to do. Weather its sunday karoakee, wensday open stage, or weekend dance partys always have a blast here. The bar tenders make some of the best drinks in town screw getting watered down drinks elswhere. The only bad sides of this bar are the surcharge on credit cards so just take cash, and they don't have as good of specails but with the new 1/2 price monday nights that could be changings/ read more