5 stars, the place if you call bethlehem home. this place is a trainwreck, in a good way and in someways, a bad way. dive bar with the best music in the lehigh valley. staff is incredible, in every sense of the meaning, and the sound is fantastic! the bathroom is pure american dive bar. back porch is a great scene, chill and still incredible service back there too. there is a cover, which is fair for the free tunes, and the whole place is smoking, which is very odd, coming from new england smoking is taboo indoors, and if you cant hack the smoke well stay out of the kitchen i suppose. rock on read more

Calling this place Fun House is a joke. The second you walk in, you're hit with a wall of stale cigarette smoke so thick it feels like you're inhaling an ashtray. The smell clings to your clothes, your hair, your soul -- I had to shower twice just to feel human again. The entire bar feels grimy and neglected, like no one's cleaned anything since the early 2000s. Floors are sticky, the air is heavy, and the vibe is just straight-up disgusting. If you enjoy wheezing your way through a drink while questioning your life choices, this might be your spot. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and go literally anywhere else. I've been to dive bars. This isn't a dive bar -- it's a health hazard. read more

We loved Funhouse! Open pretty late and punk rock vibes. We had great drinks and met cool people. Would definitely be a regular spot if I lived in town. read more

The Funhouse - Bar views - Pubs Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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I'm currently working a remote project in Allentown. I've been looking for a place with live music and a good atmosphere! Finally found it! Had the best time! Music was great! Staff were even better! This will be one of my go to places for sure!!! read more

Been going there off and on for years. Slightly expensive, but on account of live music at night the owner believes she should get top dollar. Great staff. Some great bands have played there. Some mediocre as well. People tend to get all Gaga over jam bands. To each their own. read more

Bartenders are awesome Drinks are cheap Ambience is very cozy This was lovely, live music read more

The name says it all. There's always fun to be found along with fun people and sometimes some fun music. UnFun people need not visit.

Came here twice to grab drinks. Very fun and clean dive bar. Cash only. Friendly waiters. Both times we came it was on a weekend and they had live bands. The bands both times were actually very good and there was a good vibe. Would recommend if you are in the area. read more

I LOVE going to shows here- this place is TINY and you get smushed up against each other and you're usually just inches away from the stage/band. I love that energy and intimacy! The only bad thing is they do still allow smoking inside. The bartenders are always awesome, and classic communication is a thumbs up if you're good or handing her your empty for another one. There is an outside deck, but I never use it- I'm there for the musical experience. Great venue. read more

The Funhouse - Pubs Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Best little bar around. Absolutely love the girls that work there! Always a good time never any drama. read more

The Funhouse - I won't put names but Bartender (left) Me (center) Bartender (right) - Pubs Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Where fun people meet and party. I have met here. I have partied here. This establishment houses fun. They even accept cash.

Our group stopped here to kill some time before our dinner reservations and we had such a great time! The bartender was friendly and the outdoor patio had a cool vibe. We really enjoyed the pool table and dart board. The only downside was the indoor smoking. read more

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Easily the best bar in the Lehigh Valley. Been going there since they opened in 1981 and they have not changed a bit, which is the greatest compliment I can give. Most places get worse with time but not this place, they started great and have stayed that way! read more

What I like most about this place is that you never have to wait for a drink. The barmaids are friendly and always hustling drinks, behind the bar and out on the floor. On weekends it can get pretty busy. There is often a large college-age presence in the area because it's so close to Lehigh University. This place usually doesn't attract the higher-quality trim; those chicks can be found at some of the other nearby bars. At times you get a lot of amateur drinkers who get sloppy drunk and make fools of themselves. Never saw a fight break out though. The rest rooms are tiny single-person and the men's room doesn't have a lock on the door. It's right next to the pool table and when you open the door you're staring straight at the toilet. I mention this because if you have to take a dump make sure you do it before you get there. Unless you have someone who can stand guard for you. One thing's for sure: when you leave this place you're going to smell like booze and cigarettes. And if you're lucky, one of the local town sluts. Overall a decent downtown hole-in-the-wall for drinks & local bands. read more

Good place to get drunk any time of the week. Was a lot more fun about 30 years ago. They had better bands playing.

"Funhouse: Where fun people meet and party" Where fun people meet and party indeed. I love this place. Definitely one of the best bars in South Bethlehem, which really isn't saying much when you have options like Leon's and Molly's around. It is definitely a dive bar. Dirty, dark, smokey, relatively cheap; now that's what I call a freaking bar! It is a little small inside but that's why there is an awesome deck out back. Do not believe Lehigh students when they tell you this place is sketchy. It is "sketchy" because it has locals and people older than 25 that haven't been driven away by Lehigh students yet. read more

I once learned to play pool at the Funhouse. There was a lot of traffic near the pool table, and there's a tiny cue because there's some walls that are pretty close that make navigating pretty tough. For hours, a friend schooled me on trick shots, defense, banking...all the while sipping on brilliantly cold PBRs and listening to some sweet 90s cover music. Nothing about that sounds too special. Indeed, the band that night was particularly bad. But that's exactly why the funhouse is so perfect. There's an alchemy inside (and yes, out on the deck, too) that just makes it all work, even when Collective Soul is blasting into your skull played by some dudes who definitely aren't Collective Soul. The Funhouse has a deck that makes it a total gem during summer and it has enough smoke and loud music to keep a lot of Lehigh students away. That's fine by me - Bill J is right to call it a dose of sanity, much like Your Welcome around the corner, the Funhouse is a loud, smoky haven where Bros fear to tread. Oh yeah and I don't remember how to play pool. So that's how that evening went. read more

very cool bar, fun, funky and reminds me of someone basement in a good way. the bartenders were very nice, saying hi as if they knew me and were attentive wanting to get us another round as soon as we were done. There was a band there that night that had some good covers and originals. Beers were cheap and there was a $3.00 cover. The clientele varied from (mostly) college kids to some 30-somethings so I didn't feel totally out of place. We got a spot at the bar and had a great time checking out all the kitschy wall décor and stuff. As other Yelpers have said you can smoke in this bar so that might not be a good thing for some but I didn't mind. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area. read more

Best bar in town. By far. This place was my dose of sanity while I was at Lehigh. I hated all the other bars that would be mobbed with greek life and pumping house music. Great bartenders. Great music (usually). Cheapish beer with a couple of micro breweries on tap. In the summer, the porch out back is great - especially if the music gets a bit loud. Wish I didn't smell like an ashtray the next morning, but that's a price I am willing to pay. Don't let the facade fool you - The funhouse isn't the Stephen King murder scene it looks like from the outside! read more

If you're looking for a no-frills, unique bar with live music come here. Service is quick and friendly. The radiohead cover band my girlfriend and I saw was amazing. Since quitting smoking, i find it more difficult to enjoy the environment but thats not really the business's fault. read more

Cool little dive bar had an outstanding mellow jazz duo strumming away in the background the night my wife & I stopped in for a few beers. Like to see the Jazz Hands again. read more

A total dive. We would go here for cheap beers in college. It was never my bag, baby. Very small inside - so if you are a regular - they'll get to know you QUICKLY. If my friend's band played- we went more. read more

This little hole in the wall bar is actually pretty awesome. I went here a few weeks ago and really enjoyed myselfI just really liked the feel of the place. Nothing special in terms of drinks, but it's a great place just to enjoy yourself. read more

The Funhouse is unique, and unique is good. This is a dive bar, but they have live music every night - no where else in the area can provide this! There is outdoor seating in the back, and a pool table if you don't mind playing in a cramped space. Minimal cover some nights, but where else can you get live music? read more

Cool place for Lehigh students and locals if your not from here best to stay out. Music is mediocre at best and local crowd is not friendly as they may seem at first. read more

This is the diviest bar I've been in a three-state radius but all of the bartenders are really hot and friendly. They have a couple cheap Taps and pour their whiskey well. Entertainment 6 nights a week! :-) read more

A nice surprise! A few of the earlier reviews mention how cool the bartenders are... CONFIRMED!! Tammy & Jessica rock! Check this place out TONIGHT! read more

You can still smoke in here, which says a lot... beers were cheap'ish and the decor was something to laugh at and start a conversation around (i.e. a blow up doll riding a plastic alligator). If you're looking for a local dive this is an option. read more

This is probably my favorite Bethlehem bar, after Loopers. Yes, it looks a little struggs but this is definitely a fun bar. There is usually live music going on and the drinks are really cheap. There is a deck out back for when it finally gets warm out. Lehigh students will usually tell you to avoid this place but I will tell you otherwise- this place is fun and has a good laid-back vibe. Order an electric lemonade! read more

A friend of mine was coming into town and, unsure of which happenin' joint in the thriving metropolis of Bethlehem I should take her to for the evening, I Googled "Bethlehem nightlife" for inspiration. I know. It's tragic. Anyway, The Funhouse popped up in the search and after a cursory glance at the website, I dismissed it as looking shadier than a deciduous tree. As Julia Roberts once said in Pretty Woman, BIG MISTAKE. BIG. HUGE. A few days later, my boyfriend and I unknowingly found ourselves at a bar around the corner (Your Welcome Inn), where the vibe seemed a little off. Determined not to spend the rest of the night listening to fraternity brothers taking turns selecting increasingly terrible tunes from the jukebox, we walked up the street and found ourselves in front of Molly's. A glance in the window revealed that the interior was like a flashback to a high school dance crossed with the promising beginnings of what might turn into the worst night ever. We immediately backpedaled and found ourselves face to face with The Funhouse. I believe my exact words were, "Oh god," to which my boyfriend replied, "Do we dare?" Okay, I know we sound like total snobs slash losers at this point, but I'm pretty sure there's a little snobby loser in all of us. What I'm trying to say is, don't lose faith, this is when I actually start reviewing The Funhouse instead of just recapping my anticlimactic evening. We walked in and immediately, I started to feel like maybe I had misjudged the place. It was personable and cozy inside. We went on a Wednesday, and it was crowded enough that we didn't feel like lone alcoholics, but not so packed that we couldn't get a seat. We sat at the bar and instantly, we were asked what we wanted to drink. Then, just as instantly, our drinks appeared. I'm not even kidding -- Jess, Alix, Tammy, and Dion aren't even bartenders. They're MAGICIANS. No matter how packed it gets, they take care of you *and* remember your name, which is more than plenty of us can say about some first dates we've been on, am I right? And once we found out they had Hoegaarden on tap, we were sold. We came to realize that they have live music every night -- it's hit or miss, but it's usually pretty enjoyable, and regardless, I'll take almost any live music over a jukebox dictated by people who are unintentional walking Hollister posters. As an added perk, we've basically met some of the greatest people in the Lehigh Valley within the confines of The Funhouse. What I'm trying to say here is that if The Funhouse isn't on your weekly agenda, you're missing out. read more

You ever go to a bar where everyone knows your name? This is definitely one of those laid back places to go and drink and socialize. They have rock bands playing often although a couple times they change it up a bit. I have been here with my parents and friends or even both groups; parents and friends and there is nothing weird about it. The bartenders are great and are practically sweethearts. They permit smoking inside and have a patio in the back too. There are only two restrooms: one for females and one for males, on a busy night expect to wait a couple minutes. There is a pool table for recreation as well. I like the deck they have in the back, it is awesome during the summer too. The people are usually mid 30's-40's and are beer drinkers, but this is super close to Lehigh university so you find many college youth coming around too and me too (early 20's). This is a bar for everyone's crowd and it is not ghetto whatsoever so don't expect gangster people or hip hop music or rap, but even of rock music and white people crowds are not your type of bars, you do find people like me, Hispanic American and even some of my black friends coming in to sit down and have a few drinks. Hahaha I even wrote my name on the ceiling with chalk with the help of my dad and guy friend to get up there. I have met the owner, but I get along with the owners son since he is younger and for some reason I catch him Bartending there and miss his mom most of the time. They ONLY accept CASH, but there is an ATM inside. Once a year the the bar owners husband does a pig roast and brings it in, I miss it all the time, but dad says it taste awesome. Like I said if you like a laid back bar, to smoke a cig, talk and meet people that are not going to be jerks with you (mostly), where everyone everyone and knows your name, this is the place to be. :) read more

The Funhouse - Pubs Near Me - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Cool place. Lotsa character, cozy, nicely battleworn, with affordable drinks and live music. Loud. The waitresses carry trays around and wear skimpy little outfits, which is a nice touch and goes with the casino town theme. I went on a date there and it was a good date place. There was a live band set up and I prayed really hard a mantra: "please don't let it be a jamband please don't let it be a jamband please don't let it be a jamband," and it was a jam band. Nonetheless, the band had a blind bassist who was amazing and fun to watch. You can smoke inside, and the place is narrow but deep, so it gets smoky. We ended up here after two other bars in town were oddly closed on a Saturday night (?!) and I'm glad we did. Parking was easy, but I needed a few coins for the meter. Good location on the main drag in town. Very positive vibe at least on the night we went, friendly people. I had wanted to have our date in a dive bar and this place delivered, but also they kept it classy if that makes sense. read more

a complete dive bar. and that is why it gets five stars. go here around 1:30am, dance with the hipsters to live music. ...at 2:00am walk across the street to sotto santi and get a $1 slice. then walk home. :P read more

Hands down, the best bar I've stepped foot in. Every subsequent bar automatically gets the Funhouse run down in order to properly assess its merit and metal. Finest cheapest vodka money can buy. read more

Fun hangout for locals. The bartenders are friendly. The service is fast. The drinks are cheap. The live music is generally good and if you don't like it there is outdoor seating in the back where you can also escape the smoke. Always a good time at The Funhouse. read more

Live music, diverse clientele, beer specials, friendly, charming waitstaff, it's smoking to keep out the most annoying of hipsters, back deck in the spring and summer is an oasis on the south side. And of course Tina! read more

Stopped by early and quiet enough for a long chat with Derrick behind the bar. Great small bar with amazing musical history. Love the atmosphere and hospitality. read more

The waitresses here are incredible. They want nothing more than for you to have a good time. Also the popcorn is out of this world. DO NOT VISIT BETHLEHEM IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO FUNHOUSE. read more

Great music! Great Staff! Fast bar service. Fastest beer on the south side. Only issue is the cover for band nights. Its usually 2$, which is well worth it if the band is up your alley. read more

It's been the live music mecca of the Lehigh Valley for 30 years now, and as the live music scene has waned , so has the Funhouse. It just doesn't seem as they're trying anymore, and the one cosmetic improvement made in the last 10 years was the worst thing they did: cover up the twenty something years of bathroom scribble by tiling over it. The vibe is pretty chill, and many bands apparently LOVE playing there on account of the intimacy and perhaps the historical relevancy of the place. It just seems that they are relying a bit too much on the past successes and just going through the motions. Beers are substantially higher priced than the South Side market would dictate, and mixed drinks are notoriously weak and pricey. Your best bet is an import/micro bottle, which are kept in the only cold cooler and only a buck or so more than the macros. The back deck is a pretty chill spot for fresh air, as it can get smoky in there. If you know of a good band that's gonna play there, this is obviously a safe bet. Just don't expect to be blown away by ambience, value, or anything. read more