Barracuda Bar

This is by far the best happy hour in NYC! Who needs drama after work - well, there is no drama here! Amazingly friendly staff. Even better crowd. Super welcoming and fun…and no cover! Joshua is amazing!

Had a really lovely time today after the Pride Parade! No cover charge, unlike the other bars we tried, though we did have to pay $6 to check our bags. Just a really welcoming, fun atmosphere. The bartenders were really sweet and attentive, and just really happy amd excited. They kept spraying the crowd with water which was so welcome, as everyone was dancing up a storm.

Dicey gay bar. Love the back room w the stage and the sofa style seating. 💯💯🔥🔥 always a fun time here.

I pulled up at 1:50am sober and got denied entry because they "just did last call." I waited outside for my friends in the rain. The security is always rude. The bar staff is always rude. Only plus is getting ID'd when your hair is greying.

A great place for gay after work drinks. Super service, reasonably priced beverages and a friendly, diverse clientele. And did I mention the fun, efficient, intleeigent, helpful staff?

It's not my favorite place I've been. The staff was incredibly friendly, which I find rare in a place this busy. Drink prices were average. The hour of looped film was creative. Cash only.

I have been here a few times and I've really enjoyed it. The bartenders are really friendly and made great drinks. Not a huge selection of beers though. It's never been really busy when I have went, except one Friday night, but even then it wasn't packed. I was still able to mingle and hear people speaking to me. The bouncer on one occasion wasn't waiting at the door when I walked in so he got up and walked towards me without saying anything so I had to awkwardly walk backwards outside of the door, then he gestured to see my I.D., again without saying anything. I thought he could have been a little more tactful, but he was just doing his job.

Such a vibe! The performances were amazing, great dances, good drinks - highly recommend - all days of the week.

Celebrating 30 Years of Barracuda Lounge - Chelsea's Iconic Gay Bar Barracuda Lounge has been a cornerstone of Chelsea nightlife for 30 years, known for its welcoming atmosphere, loyal regulars, and vibrant entertainment. Stop by for their daily happy hour until 9 PM, a perfect way to start your evening. The bar has launched the careers of legendary drag queens, including Bob the Drag Queen, Monét X Change, Miz Cracker, and Miss Gay America 2020/2021 Pattaya Hart. Its legacy in the drag scene is unmatched. With DJs like TK and Max keeping the energy alive and a friendly team led by Joshua and Jeffrey, Barracuda offers an experience that feels both exciting and familiar. Owned by the same team behind Elmo Restaurant and Industry Bar, Barracuda remains a must-visit for NYC nightlife lovers. Celebrate three decades of unforgettable memories, great drinks, and incredible performances.

Come for cocktails cute local dive bar in a residential Chelsea neighborhood! We love it here thank you for the upgrade drinks and cozy sofas! Had fun by all!

Joshua is the absolute best! So friendly and sexy! Great happy hour and amazing groups of people. Love this place! Best service and the ambiance is perfect.

Excellent place for happy hour and to meet up with friends!! Funny, friendly staff, good service and a great 2-4-1 !!

Great place. Staff is amazing. Joshua is always friendly and attentive. Good music, positive atmosphere.

Great place, fun people. will come back again. conveniently located. best staff ever.

Fun bar, little quieter but strong drinks. The music was regular pop, but some oldies

Went in to grab and drink and the bouncer said they were not letting anyone else in at 2AM bc they did not like anyone else coming in even though they advertise closed at 4AM.

A fun low profile neighborhood bar that has a great Happy Hour. Josh, one of the bartenders is very welcoming and friendly plus makes a perfect cosmo! What it may lack in decor it makes up for in comfort with no pretension. The low lighting creates a good vibe and we all look better in that kind of lighting!

Bartender is RUDE! From the moment our group of friends arrived his demeanor was horrible. All around A HOLE! Not welcoming at all! . I'm sure by some of the reviews I saw , must be the same bartender. I will not go back. There was also a comment that was made from one of the employees that straight people should not be allowed. Rude!! I'm glad I told Mr.Bartender about himself on my way out! Adrienne was nice, but he had left shortly after we arrived.

A gay bar classic. The decor is fresh the bartenders are sweet and the drinks are strong. Excellent drag shows and a fun lounge vibe with very forgiving lighting.

It's so dark in here. I think this bar is ok for happy hour specials and cheap drinks. However, the cash-only policy hurts my feelings. :) Aside from that, during our visit, the bartender was really funny and inviting. Unfortunately, I forgot his name. We would have stayed longer, but we ran out of cash and I do not trust ATMs in bars any longer.

This is a fun bar in Chelsea. We went here after having dinner at Spice and we had a blast! They had a two for one drink special, so we ordered our libations and sat in the big comfy sofas in the back. I love that they play 80s music here from David Bowie to SoHo. But don't let the dive bar decor discourage you, pull up a stool or sit in the comfy chairs in the back room and the friendly crowd will have you hooked. Cheers! :)

This place is so great, it's one of the last original gay pubs in Chelsea with that neighborhood feel. I used to live around the corner and loved stopping in here at the end of the week or happy hour to catch up with my friends..

Hottest men in Chelsea You will not be disappointed Please note the bar is cash only

I rarely ever write reviews, but I have never been treated so poorly as I have tonight. I have gone to Barracuda for years; countless shows, countless happy hours. This was home away from home and I never stopped for a second to recommend to it to anyone new to or visiting New York. I was denied entry for being "intoxicated". Beside the point that I wasn't and I was given multiple additional excuses for being denied entry such as "swaying" (find me a gay who doesn't sway), I was refused time to talk honestly with a manager who basically said that the bouncers could do whatever they wanted, even though I have been a loyal patron for years, and now I'm done. I will never go back to Barracuda, and this upsets me greatly because it used to be one of my favorite places and somewhere I always thought of as my home away from home.

This place is so awful it's a shame the pandemic economy didn't finally close it. What an awful relic of the 90s. You want to know the reason it's so dark in there? Because everyone is pushing 40 and it isn't cute. There's a much better party nearby that if you're in the know you'll know about and go there instead. What makes this place stand out the most as some sad relic of the 90s, though, is the DJ. I want to know what the f**k these owners are thinking. HIRE A YOUNGER DJ. It's a Saturday night and you've got this 55-60YO guy behind the tables... are you bitches serious? Playing the most obvious and typical crappy pop music you can think of, hasn't heard of anything trendy in the last 10 years besides Dua Lipa. Give ie up.

A cool little spot for a casual evening with friends. It's divey so if you're looking for a sleek, trendy place to lounge, this isn't the spot. The atmosphere is very casual and it has a relaxed mood. I was there on a karaoke night and had a good time.

So I knew something was wrong. Now seeing other reviews, all makes sense. Place is not like it used to be. I went years ago when I used to live in the City. It was warm and welcoming to all people. So this past Monday I came from Taj (W. 21 St./6th Ave.). They have salsa dancing there on Monday evenings. I needed the E train back to my hotel. I passed by what I thought was Barracuda; couldn't remember name of bar when I passed by nor was I sure I was even on the right block. Entrance is hidden too, like a speakeasy. So I was just looking around to see if that was the place I remember, then ready to go in, guy outside (was he a doorman or patron?) said, "Wait, hold up. Hold up. There's a private party tonight." I'm saying to myself...On a Monday there's a private party? I still wasn't even sure if I had the right place I remembered from years ago. So I said, "OK."...my only two-syllable word to him in all of this. He then said "OK" back to me, imitating what I said. Am I really going to get in a fight with what seems to already be a crazy person? I think he was hoping I'd make a bigger ruckus. I then just walked away. That's my entire story. I am sure it was empty inside after reading other reviews and I heard no noise either. They probably should have welcomed me in! Right?...or maybe not. They are allowed to do whatever they want but why not and who cares on a Monday?...at 10:30 PM I think it was even? Who's the guy anyway?...and he was ugly and fat by the way so ironic he is the one selecting people for entry. I guess they are striving for hot guy clientele as review above mine is reporting.... so understandable, but the attitude was unexpected from what I remember from years back.

Went there for Wednesday night and Saturday night with friends. good: bartenders are friendly. good location. bad: full of attitudes. Most patrons are 30-something pretentious white cis gay men. Asian-unfriendly.

This seems to be a place where it depends on the night and the mood you're in. I came in, and while there were very few people, everyone was very kind (patrons, bartenders, servers, djs, etc) and I'd actually recommend it for maybe a more low-key night. The events seem busy and I don't think it's the fault of the staff for anything mentioned below as it's an institution. Recommend on weekdays.

"Red lights in the basement". This bar is ok. I thought inside was kind of cute, with an interesting seating arrangement towards the back with the usual random gay video clips played on a projector screen. I didn't drink but my friend said his drink wasn't made well. I appreciated the older dance music they were playing throughout. Crowd leaned slightly younger than I excepted, like late 20's to early 30's. If my review is lacking in panache it's because there isn't really much to make this place stand out.

Little unmarked gay bar next to an Adult video store. This was not our original destination but rain drops scared us inside. Be prepared for $8 drinks even at happy hour buy one get one. I have no idea what was up with the mixed drinks, yuck! The strange pictures on the back wall gave us a laugh but that was about the only thing entertaining here. Will we go back? No, but we can cross it off our Yelp List :)

Oh Shaquida....you slay me! And I heckle you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZSclJUVGD0&mode=related&search= Barracuda is a great little neighborhood bar with two little rooms. The back room is a lounge/performance space where you can watch drag shows or have more intimate times on the sofas (ALTHOUGH, I don't recommend it 'cause you don't where who/what has been on some of those sofas!)...the front room is where the friendly bartenders are waiting to heavy handedly pour you your drinks. Did I mention...dark? Yep, it's dark. Overall, not an impressive bar but definitely a good place to meet up and have fun with a group of no-fuss friends! Light attitude but nothing more than any other Chealsea bar. Drinks and entertainment, I will definitely come back to this place for more fun...especially if Shaquida is performing.

Tonight was my first time at Barracuda, and let me tell you it was not a good first impression. To be witness to the bartender welling and cursing at a customer, that was just not a good feeling. As a woman I cannot tell you how hurtful this was. This fellow guess was just having a good time like the rest of us, and to be spoken to in such a manor was so unacceptable and disappointing, from the screaming to the aggressive manor and tone I will never reaturn to your establishment. I know this doesn't make a dent and n your business but I refuse to support a place that treats its guests like this .

This is my "go-to" bar in NYC. The bartenders are funny and nice and everyone was really friendly. As a business traveler I felt very welcomed here. I make sure to have a visit any time I am in NYC. If you are looking for a bright club this might not be the place for you, but if you like dark bars this is your jam.

Honestly, I was having a great night. The drag queens were great, the vibe was great until you meet the failure of Project Runway who bartends there. My drink slipped into the toilet, and after I explained the situation to him, he scolded me for not bringing the cup back and asked me where I was raised several times back for not doing it in the first place. I did not come here for a lecture nor did I need to be put in any place by the bartender. I was willing to pay for my replacement. I was kicked out by him after I stood up for myself and told him not to talk to me in a patronizing and condescending way. Even the bouncer commented on how ridiculous he was. Aufwedersein you petty bartender. Won't be back. There are plenty of other great drag shows in the city

This place is my new goto Friday night. The drinks are strong and the boys are hot, Plus there's dancing in the back space and no COVER CHARGE!

One of my favorite bars in New York, and it's not just because I live in the neighborhood! It's vibrant, yet casual. It's sophisticated, yet a little wild. Chatty, friendly bartenders. Strong drinks. I've had some of my most fun memories as a New York resident inside the walls of this bar. It's pretty unassuming from the outside and is actually below an actual (higher end) apartment building on 22nd St (b/w 7th and 8th Ave). The front is the actual bar, with a few high-top tables to stand at, then a wide hallway leads towards the back lounge area where there is a (covered) pool table, some large couches/seats, and a mini-stage where there are occasionally drag shows, but really it's just a spot for you and your friends to drunkenly dance and make a fool of yourselves. Also: Have seen both Andy Cohen and Jonathan Groff at this bar more than once! Stay til close as much as you can...that's when it gets the most fun. *Cash only*

Cheap drinks, divey bar, almost a bit seedy just cause the main colors are black and red. They place is actually pretty big with one Main bar, and a back room dance /lounge area. This place attracts a mixed crowd of people, but all most are pretty chill. Never rally been here when people are dancing. There is a big pool table in the back as well, but I am not even sure people can ply on it, as there is always a big wood cover over it, so I guess it's converted to a table for putting drinks on. This bar is similar to XES (which is closing soon) so I could see a lot of the costumes coming here next. Their happy hour includes 2x1 drinks. The drinks here are also pretty inexpensive, maybe cause they don't take cards and only method of payment is cash. Bathrooms are spacious and one of the bathrooms is an individual stall for anyone that is a bit shy or needs their privacy. This is actually also the only reason why I don't give them 5 stars. Having cash on you when drinking is dangerous. At least that's what I tell myself, but more dangerous is ordering rounds of drinks and then finding out you do not have enough cash and need to use an arm with bank fees to pay for a round that has been sitting in ice for a bit. Just think about it... Bring cash if you plan to stick here for a while! Great bartenders, always offer conversation if not too busy. The entrance has a small room so the cold air stays out. This room also Is always stocked with inflatable balloons a.k.a. free condoms! So no excuses, always play safe!

Total dive bar and kind of a dump. Very unclean. The bartenders were absolutely rude and after standing at the bar for 15 minutes being completely ignored I decided to leave. I definitely would not recommend or be returning to this dump.

Chelsea boys are still alive and well, Only they aspire to be bros now. Super clicky. Think Mean Girls insecure. Some Late night bartenders mirror the crowd. Early evening bartenders are very nice.

*** Great selection of music, dancing This is a great bar, fun vibe with a great selection of music in addition there's an amazing dance floor where i like to wet my knickers.

Went there 11:30 PM New Year's Eve. Almost empty, maybe 20 people total there including the help. They had the big screen tv on with the volume turned WAY up. It was just a live stream of Times Sq. I left as it was ear splitting for no reason that I could see. Big sign on the wall "Watch your stuff". I have lived in the area 30 years have gone here off and on but it has really gone downhill.

Was here last night and the cute server with grey hair gave me his number but I lost it. Kill me! Nice staff, decent drinks (except the LITs; they sucked), good price. Wasn't too packed but it was nice to just hang out on a Thursday night. The videos shown on the screens where really cool and the music was very good. 90s house vibes; right up my alley. Would definitely want to come on a Fri/Sat night when it's busier and get my dance on (and maybe find that server again!) Great spot.

This place used to be good, but like most places in Chelsea, it's going downhill. It's filled with so many impolite people, drinkers and staff alike... bartender here was completely rude to me. I asked for a ginger ale, and he asked for my ID. I chuckled and said, "Haha for a ginger ale?" Then he began SCREAMING at me and said, "EVERYONE IN THE BAR NEEDS TO SHOW ID!" I totally get that but it could've been said to me in a kinder way that didn't make me feel like an idiot and create a big scene. He screamed so loudly that even the other bartender across the bar came over and asked him what's going on. This is the kind of bitchy gay attitude people talk about you don't want to come across ever. Avoid and go somewhere more friendly like Boxers in Chelsea.

This place is called Barracuda, yes. Note that this place has nothing to do with fish. Just wanted to point that out. Anyways. It's an almost divey gay bar. I say almost cause it is way too glittery to be a real dive. If my drunken memory serves me correctly, I recall a lot of pink. No real dancefloor so I don't recommend coming here to get yo freak on. Oh and the front area gets incredibly crowded. A little too crowded for my tastes. But whatever go to the back or the middle. Problem solved! And finally, I swear the music came from some gay boy's iphone cause there was no mixing going on. I could be mistaken though. Come here with low expectations and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Last weekend, I visited this bar to meet up with a couple of friends for cocktails and the music. It was fairly good. The bartenders were attentive however I have had better cocktails before. The place itself is not overtly fancy. It is a standard bar. The restroom was clean and well lit. Overall, it was a pleasant visit.

Hard to find, just a door with a number on it, but friendly staff and a nice way to dodge the 10-15 drinks of the local hotels and restaurants. 2-4-1 happy hours at 8 bucks a drink really helps cut the expense of the city.

Right around the corner from the Hotel Chelsea I discovered this tiny little bar. It's only 2 rooms, and not very large at that, but I fell in love with this neighborhoody place. After I sat down, I looked the bartender in the eye and said, "I bet you make a good cosmo." Without breaking my gaze, he proceded to pour me two gorgeous cosmos and slid them both to within my reach. The 2-for-1 Happy Hour meant I got my cosmos for 4.50 each, which I thought perfectly reasonable, and deeeeeelicious! Great attitudes in this place, my little tourist self felt right at home in Barracuda with all the friendly and chatty locals. The bartender Jeff now owns a solid 1/4 of my heart, and when I return to New York, it will be as much to see him as any other reason.....(sigh)....

What is it with NYC bars and NOT accepting credit cards. I mean seriously. Daniel L and I would've stayed longer accept Monica R. can't afford to use real cash. So Daniel and Monica walked their lil asses to Elmo where they DO accept credit cards. I tend to speak in the third person when I talk about money- it distracts me from the truth that I'm broke... We were there really early last Friday night (745ish to be exact) so it wasn't packed at all contrary to most of the other posts. I much enjoyed the moderately priced cocktails and the fact that there are spinning bar stools- it's so much fun to spin...You should try it sometime. Trust.

Barracuda is like a good martini - classic, but dirty. Went there for a Rue McClanahan book signing. I love Blanche, and so do gay men, who made such a push for the poor little thing on stage that her bitchy (but fabulous) assistant had to take the mic and shut them down for not showing Ms. Deveraux respect! Amazing. It was jam packed (like, someone call a fire marshal packed). It smelled like my ex after a raunchy night. I swear, there are so many sex eyes being shot around the room that even I got lucky. They have couches in the back room, the music was eh, there was a pool table (covered with plywood but there), and both the Drag Queen who hosted and the cocktail waiter sashaying around in the tight capris were ballsy and fabulous. They got 'er done and stood up to the idiots who got too out of control. And my friend won the Golden Girls Trivia Contest - in that room - quite the accomplishment! Congrats Ethan!!!!!

I've been coming to this place for years and love the Barracuda Bar in comparison to some other clubs/bars in the neighborhood but it has steadily declined over the years. I went to celebrate my birthday with some friends on a weeknight so the place was practically empty. If it hadn't been for me and my friends with the exception of a few other folks that were not in our group the place would've been empty. Like many of the other reviewer's have stated this establishment is a cash only bar which means that you'll have to run out to the nearest ATM to get cash in order to be able to keep the drinks flowing. That has never been my issue. I have no problem going to an ATM and doing that. What bothered me tonight was the fact that my group was actually having a really good time and we were dancing, laughing and just living it up when all of a sudden I started noticing that one of the drag queens whom I've never seen before kept glaring at me and my friend. My friend and I are two trans women with a large group of friends who are cis-gay men. I observed the drag queen performer motioning to the bartender that two of the people from my group were I guess up on the small stage area which looks like part of the dance area. There was no notice posted up nor was that particular area cordoned off to prevent people from dancing there. When this one bartender took it upon himself to come bee lining it over to us yelling for my other two friends to get off the stage. He was beyond aggressive and rude and the energy from the young drag performer was that of that it made it to the point where me and my girlfriend uncomfortable to the point where we just decided to cut the night short. It just felt like the staff were trying to get something started with my crew so we opted to leave on our own accord. I feel better about our decision given these other reviews I have read. It's sad that people just don't know how to treat folks who are actually giving you the business. Just baffling to me and my crew.

Okay , so it's kinda dirrrrttty, but LATE one Tuesday night , I had fun here.. DJ Nina sweet boy DJ- good spins... Made three new friends, one of whom frequently says " hallelujah, hollaback!" Had a mediocre drink, and was the token straight girl in the drag show So Barracuda ..Thanks for the memories. I might stop in again, but probably in the same fashion- by accident

Dive bar - Gay Dive bar. just know what you're getting into. As far as gay dive bars go, this one takes the cake! It is so fun ... drag shows, good music/DJ. Fun bartenders, good "eye" candy ... cheap drinks. Are you getting the vibe? Love this place -- I went for the first time 10 years ago and went again recently - it's still a blast!

Over-priced, even for NYC bars, many times out of basic drink mixings, not always big on keeping the A/C at a comfortable setting on hot, humid evenings and depending on the night, you may score a charming, helpful bartender, or one who smacks gum or munches nuts and poses behind the bar as if YOU'RE there to serve HIM. With so many great neighborhood bars in and around Chelsea, you could do better than Barracuda.

This place is good for the Drag shows. Love Candis Cayne! She is one of the reasons this place is worth going to If youre in that kind of mood. Sat next to Richie Rich here a couple times, but avoid the sunday night performances!! The really bad emo-rock was horrible and reminded me of a high school talent show. Still packed on a weekend night around 12 though and a chill place to hang with a group of friends!

As a witness to Shannon W's drunken drag fest. I have to tell you she loved every minute of it :P This place was a fun starting point for some debauched evenings on my latest NYC trip. The amateur drag night was a blast until some queen almost got mauled for doing a "tribute" - I use that term loosely - to Anna Nicole Smith the evening she died. It was in bad taste for even the most tragic drag queen. I have never seen a bunch of queers turn so fast. I thought we were all gonna recreate that scene from "Suddenly Last Summer" where the crazy homo gets ripped to shreds by the villagers - seriously. Met some nice people and made some new friends, so 4 stars.

first night in New York City, which was on 3/20, TUESDAY NITE. ok, i'm a bar-goer, but that nite was also a karaoke nite! OH BOY. but hey, i didn't sing yo! i watched throughout. damn..talents were shown and awesome (and HILAARRRRIOOOOOUS) host and hostess (and drags). me and my friend missed the happy hour, but we still had pretty decent deals on drinks. oh, did i say that one of their barback was cute? UMMM.yea, i said HI, he said HI..but that's it. oh wells. i will definitely go back here... pretty small and awesome! LOVED MY TIME HERE.