Bossa Nova Civic Club

Not the vibe, not enjoyable at all. Do not know where they get the ratings from. We’ve been around the world to “raves, clubs and underground events” but this was just terrible. The bathroom & coat check across the 2 meters sq dance floor, where you have people shoving and bumping you every 5 seconds. You are dancing for 5 seconds then you are interrupted with shove, you cannot even enjoy the music. They overpack the building capacity. Not to mention the smell coming from the bathroom, you get huge whiffs of feces from the longest line for 3 stalls. The coat check is people throwing their coats on the floor, no organization, with people hanging around due to the lack of space. You have a high chance of losing your belongings. The crowd is weirdly arrogant. If you are into LGBTQs, it is predominantly that, but not labeled as it. Prices are decent, no entrance fee.

Cool. Music is good, or bad, but usually good. Club staff shoved me hard on the dance floor. There's a "men must be stopped" sticker on a bathroom door. Before I'm called out for male fragility, provoking people like this for not subscribing to their idea of power dynamics is getting old and gives the left a bad look. It's pretty clear who runs the west, and it's not strictly men.

Lovely audio and great music. Vibes were wonderful and so were the staff / attendees! Little foggy but I enjoyed it

Knowing that this is a pretty big dance institution of NYC, it was cool to finally visit. They didn’t let me down! Bartenders were nice, the spiked Yerba mate soda is definitely worth trying. DJ’s were going b2b all night and it was great. I personally liked the smoke machine, it added an ambiance. If you get there early enough, the cover is waved. Coat check was affordable (3). Overall, if I lived in the area, I would certainly be there more.

It’s a great escape but u must have an ID if not Carol will deny you even on ur birthday lol but overall cool spot to get lost in music I love it

Got kicked out for dancing along a wall and a certificate fell and broke. This was after I gave it to a staff member the first time it fell. The bartenders are so disgustingly rude especially the girl with blonde hair and a hat. She told security to kick me out after I bought two WHITE CLAWS (I was not drunk ). This place was rude and hostile for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.

Feels like home!! A phenomenal place to unwind and, if you want to, get to make new acquaintances at the bar, on the floor, or waiting in line for the loo. The barkeeps are delightful. Security is tight but low-key. The atmosphere is superb. 💗🦩!! *My favorite drink

I only came for a show so can’t speak for food. Drinks were good however. I really dug the vibe to this place and will hopefully come back soon.

Old school ish (for Brooklyn) underground ish dance place. You can still get cheap for Brooklyn drinks here for 8-12. We got tropical goth cocktails, and the dance floor didn't get busy till midnight. Couldn't tell the style of music, minimal techno or whatever. Can be a vibey spot.

Wanted to update my review as of a couple of days ago. Still awful. Idk why I tried it again with a friend. The bartenders all just hang out in the back and spewed poison to each other, were wildly transphobic to my friend (calling them faux-fa**ots while they were dancing). After cashing out, they tried to charge that same friend for a shot that someone else had tried to put on our tab. After i tried to fight this, my friend simply put a $20 on the bar with tears in their eyes and I was told by them "I get it, I shouldn't have danced". It was an awful time. Sorry I tried again.

Great place, good music, vibrant, low key.small but lively, perfect for meeting people, all around great experience.

BIPOC + LGBTQ stop giving your money to this place. I was standing in line, and they made a couple in front of me empty their pockets/bags, but they didn't do that to anyone else in the line or anyone else all night. Is it a coincidence that they were some of the only Black/brown people in line? Probably not. Check your racist employees, Bossa Nova.

One of my fave bars/clubs in NYC! Love the ambiance and always great music selections the DJ's have to dance all night to!

Love this place. Good drinks and great music and good dancing. Just a little tricky in the winter with coat check, and the bathroom lines are long but it's a club I mean what do you expect.

Always a blast, great (cheap!) drinks, great vibes, great bartenders, great music. P.S. Don't whine about the music if you didn't do your research. There's literally 100s of other bars in NY for you to go listen to your basic 80s/90s top 40 and hip-hop. Don't go to a techno club and complain about the techno smh my head

I love this club and have been going there for years. I'm giving it a 5 star because its an amazing club that is chill and serves up great music and atmosphere all the time. The peeps there are down to earth and into shit. Not just a bunch of dj-backsnubbing-selphy-addicted-millenials wasting everyones space, but mostly real music heads who love to dance and and are interested in meeting new and interesting folkes. This is not a fancy club where they have dress codes and rules up on rules, this is a place to relax, drink, chat, and dance to great techno tunes. I feel at home in this space everytime I go there. This is a rare gem, a real club, with an underground vibe. Recently the bouncers are weird, and their door rules are strange. they should change that for sure. Used to be more relaxed. I mean come on folkes we are in Bushwick, lets keep it chill, its all about having fun right?

Lady's watch for the tall black security guard that wears a white beanie and glasses. Dude harasses every girl in the line to the restroom. Management has to fire him ASAP for the good of the business. Besides this major inconvenience...cool place, good bar, good music.

This place is awful. Paid to get in and then my friends weren't let in for not having there vaccination cards ready to go and having "too much problems" when I asked for a refund for the cover charge I was sent on a goose chase to get my money back... I ended up getting $40 even though I spent $45 on the cover fee for me and my three friends. Ridiculous!! Also got yelled at for holding the door open for someone to exit.

Nah! Rude service, kinda chill vibes but better spots I Bushwick. You're trying to appeal to LatinX, reflect it.

Bossa Nova is essentially a bar with a small dance floor and a whole lot of fog but ask the Brooklyn techno fans and it's one of the best nightclubs in NYC. I don't disagree, it's a good spot for sure. It's got everything a Brooklyn dance music fan would love and the more drunk you are the bigger the room becomes because of that disorienting fog that is pumped like they're curing sobriety with it. They've also got great cocktails, personally I'm about that watermelon flamingo but the club mate is a classic Bossa go-to. The only real downside here are the bathrooms, I can't tell you how many times I've almost peed myself waiting in line and then once I've gotten in there wondered how anyone could have possibly just spent so much time in there. Great for weeknights when there is usually no cover and the size of the space (small) means it doesn't take too many bodies to make it a poppin' party. Weekends after a certain time you will pay a cover and it will be tightly packed.

Bossa Nova is close to my apartment and a default for going out on weeknights. The shows here are hit or miss, it depends on who is playing. If you're a real person who likes music, you may do your research, and then you may know what you're getting into. Why is it that people who come out to a dance club expect it to cater directly to them? They play Techno and House here. Please don't come and review it and say you wished they played music with words. Please don't come here and review it and say it was too dark or foggy. Ideally these are things that patrons of this bar want. It's like going to a club in meatpacking and saying 'there were too many sparklers when they brought our bottles out" or "I'd have preferred if everyone didn't have unbuttoned collared shirts on". I don't go to those clubs, because I don't want that experience. Do you go to restaurants that have food you don't like, order it, then write a negative yelp review? Clubs cater to their clientele, you aren't it. In NYC there are places for all types of people. So if you walk into a club and don't really know anything about the music or people who frequent it, why do you then think you know what to change? Also here's a quick trick to get out of paying the 10 dollar cover on weekends -- just don't come here! I like going here and dancing in the fog where nobody can see me. I enjoy losing myself in music that is simple and evolves slowly. This club caters to me. I like it here. It is fun. Minus one star because the bathroom/coat room/dancefloor layout can be a buzz kill.

Came here on a Saturday night. Ambience: The area seems a little shady. Once you go inside, is not any less shady lol. When you walk in, you encounter a very dark hallway that leads into a narrow space, one side where the bar is and the other with booths to sit. Based on the smell, you could tell a couple of people were having a good time with Mari, if you know what I mean. As you keep walking to the back, you enter a square room with the Dj booth. You can barely see who you are dancing with so take a close look before exchanging any numbers. Mist is sprayed every so often which I personally liked. The crowd was quite diverse, from preppy, to hipster, to "bros", I was quite surprised. Music: It's techno, like the music with no lyrics. I'm cool with this music but only to an extent, I need some lyrics or be extremely intoxicated to dance to this type of music for more than 1.5 hours. Drinks: We got there before midnight and the mate drink was sold out, I was so so disappointed! Shots were $13. Service: Not that I had much interaction but everyone seemed nice. This was an experience worth embarking in at least once. Chances that I will return are slim but not impossible.

Do not go here if you want to be safe as a woman. I was intimidated by 2 men and full on pushed on my chest (not like bumped into on the dance floor, he squared up with me and pushed me with 2 hands, like before you fight somebody.), to the point that witnesses started yelling at him then approached me after and asked if I was okay. Reported it to both the bouncer and the manager. Manager checked the cameras, saw it was his friend/s who pushed me, and denied that I was pushed. Only after I asked him to present the footage to me did he admit I was pushed, and he immediately tried to blame me for pushing back, and the men were allowed to carry out their night. (I even saw the bouncer laughing and dapping up the guy who pushed me after the bouncer watched the drama unfold.) Then, some vile woman who is somehow affiliated with the club and friends with the guy started screaming at me telling me I made the whole thing up...despite the fact that it's literally on camera and the manager even admitted it. It was mind blowing. Not only do they condone abusing women, but they actively support it.

Went here for the first time two years ago. Foggy, decent music, surprisingly small dance floor. Last night though, I went again with some friends and had a horrible experience at the door. My friend had walked in through the door on the right, which apparently is the exit only, and was physically grabbed and kicked out by the female bouncer who was working there. She's actually got a bruise on her arm now from being grabbed so tightly. The man at the door yelled at us how there's a cover and how we were sneaking in. None of us even realized he was working the door, and we were fine with paying a 10-dollar door cover. But the doorman was dismissive, accusatory, and needlessly aggressive, repeating how we tried to sneak in, and refused to let us in. Won't be coming back here.

Think Long Island dance club...but in Bushwick. The drinks are stupid cheap and they have a fog machine. This is that place you've driven or taken the train by a countless number of times but never dared to venture into. It's worth the trek, and you'll probably meet a few interesting locals if you get there before they crank up the fog. If you get there after they crank up the fog you're either (a) already drunk or (b) about to get grinded on by dancers that seemingly have crept up out of the mist. Good place to pre-game before heading into the city.

Waited in line for about 20 mins. Finally got in and paid a $10 cover per person and we strongly disliked the place it was super smokey and kind of weird. Legit two mins after walking in I asked if we could have a refund at the door but they said they didn't do that so we just left and tried to find a better place in the area. Would be better for you if you want a super dark and smokey vibe with house music.

Best I been to outside the city! Friendly staff and the girls are hotttt... Better then going to city and getting robbed with those crazy prices for drinks and admission...

This is a one-of-a-kind bar. You either love it or hate it, and my friends and I absolutely adore it. It's weird, loud, and sometimes a little crowded (pre-Covid), but it's a fun spot to drink and dance

I'm already in love with this place and I haven't even seen it on a Friday night. Whuuuut. Wednesday night and they have a killer DJ and a packed crowd? Decently priced drinks and its gorgeous inside? Love it all

If you've seen the Netflix series "Black Mirror," then you'll know what I mean when I say that being followed from Happyfun Hideaway to Bossa Nova Civic Club relatively early (9:45) on a Saturday night by a couple of square speckled "hipsters" in their mid-twenties felt like we were actively participating in a dystopian future of our own misdoing. After all, what were we even doing there? Intentions aside, we were able to take advantage of the final minutes of happy hour (which runs until 10 p.m.) and enjoy a round of well-mixed cocktails at a table before it started to fill up. The crowd, mostly young "hipsters," while not surprising given the area, was nonetheless a bore, so I was grateful when the fog rolled in and I couldn't see them as well. Though we didn't stay late, and left before midnight, a slightly unruly crowd had still had time to gather outside, making it even more unappealing, especially given the small size of the space. I can't say I'll return.

Bossa Nova Civic Club is such a fun little gem in Bushwick. It's one of those places that you can kind of rely on when you need something to do one night or people are in from out of town visiting. You can dance without needing to do the whole club thing, and a lot of times there's no cover to get in. Drinks are solid, prices are solid. The bathrooms can get kind of gross and the lines long (which can be a problem when people are lined up on the dance floor) but it's easy to get over.

Good music, needs to chill on the smoke machine because it was literally pouring into my mouth and tasted disgusting. It was at a point that I didn't want to talk. And plus because of all the smoke people were actually smoking inside.

Torn on how many stars to give this place. I had a really fun time there last night. People were friendly and it was kinda fun feeling like you were at a night club but a miniature one. Two problems though: it's way too dark and smokey - can't see anyone! But biggest problem is the music. It was awful. I'd probably want to come here all the time if they played 80s or 90s, dance, hip hop - anything you can sing along to! But this was that awful music that's just a repetitive beat with no lyrics. Cost $10 to get in also which seems absurd. But still had fun despite the assault on my ears so 4 stars.

Amazing place to relax and wind down. Met a lot of people here. Definitely loved the environment and the water tasted so good.

For some reason I was expecting this place to be more fancy but it's a lowkey divey neighborhood bar with a small intimate dancefloor. From all the reviews and Facebook events I see, I thought it would be nicer and bigger like the more well known clubs (Good Room, Schimanski). They set off a lot of fog on the dancefloor and it's dark inside. The drinks seem reasonably priced and the sound system is good. A lot of their events are free before 12AM. I recommend coming early for well-known headliners or else you can't get in when it's packed beyond capacity. I can't imagine how's that like when a small bar is filled with that many people. For the size of this place, it's comfortable enough for you to come in alone, grab a drink and enjoy the music there. You can hang your jacket yourself in the free coat check room. Overall, a chill place for techno music!

We visited this venue last night, when trying to find it navigation said we were right outside but we couldn't see it, then we noticed it was a house-like building right in-front of us with only a tiny sign on the door. I wouldn't recommend this place unless you are off your face on narcotics or something of that effect. We passed the dance floor which was populated by what can only be described as zombies, people with no sense of what is ongoing. Heavy heavy techno music. That said, this may be what some desire - take this as you will.

I heard A lot of good things about Bossa Nova but sadly it did not live up to my expectations. Firstly, it was pretty empty for a Saturday night. There were only about 10 people in the entire bar. I just find that weird. Maybe I was just there too early? Also, you definitely want to get in before 12AM so you don't have to pay a cover. The interior has a cool trendy vibe, what I could make out. It was so dark. It also did not help that there was fog everywhere. Look, I love a good fog machine but I have to draw the line somewhere. When it goes off be prepared to lose the group of people you went there with because everyone disappears. Their drinks were pretty expensive so I ended up splitting one with a friend. It was....ok. I did like that they have water and cups out in the open so you don't have to get the bartenders attention to get some water. Overall, I wasn't feeling Bossa Nova but I'm not opposed to giving it another try.

Always good music, some staff are really nice, but gets really packed with NYU students / cokeheads. "see you in the fog..." BNCC

Great club for getting wasted on your day off. The bartenders r in outer space here. They seem to be mad about their job. The drinks r eh. But love the fog and the weird deep house music!

The 2 stars is literally only for the bouncers outside. They're dicks. Rude, intimidating on purpose and jackasses to the wrong people. I get you need to have this image that your a tough person and you can kick us out if we're out of control but my friends literally weren't drunk or being difficult, and it just killed the vibe. Personally I like everyone else inside. The bartenders are chill and get you ur drinks as soon as they can. They do they're job right and allow people to have fun & party. Music could be better but it gets the job done.

Really like this bar especially during the week when it's not too crazy packed. Music is always good, drinks are on point and vibe is cute. Have to leave this negative review due to one tall skinny bitch bartender. I've never encountered someone so horrible in my life at any establishment! She treats customers like they are a complete nuisance because she has to stop checking her phone to do her job. Not sure what cloud she lives on to treat others with such little respect, but it's extremely insulting. For an establishment that says they respect genders, sexuality and is a free space to be one's self, they really are very hypocritical with the type of employees that they hire. Really thought she would be fired by now considering I've watched her be a bitch to countless customers for what it seems like years now. Yet there she was again a few days ago refusing to acknowledge my existence and then basically throwing a drink at me getting it all over me and a fellow customer. Won't be back here until this bar actually practices what they preach.

This might just be the worst place in NYC, and I am including the DMV, post offices, central booking and 230 Fifth.

1 star for the tasty cocktails 1 star for the sweet and smiley staff. that said, shit was a boring place to be on a saturday night. the place filled up with stink-eyed bitches and the music was seriously nothing i would ever dance to. was wondering if the majority of the patrons were on drugs. the bathroom line was completely absurd, radegast style. if i were interested in returning on a busy weekend evening, i'd have to find some sketchy public pee spot around the corner. i'd come back on a weeknight for a drink, or maybe in the summer to enjoy a lil sunshine in their backyard. EDIT: -1 star for the clearly embittered staff that personally attacked my friend for her review. Despicable.

Now that Bossa's been open a few years, it's really started to find its niche. Once they started charging a cover and issuing membership cards, the shitshow taxicab demographic thinned out considerably. Cool DJ's have gotten word that playing Bossa is more fun than other venues, and some surprisingly big names now take gigs here as a result. Bouncers will definitely eject people who are disrespectful and/or clueless, but the place still gets depraved. Some gaggle of anorexic blondes will still try to cut you in line for the bathroom. There will still be a creepy guy on drugs. It will take a long time to get drinks. The sound system is recently updated, though still not spectacular. It doesn't matter. This is the best club in New York.

$10 cover (it was a Saturday night) for a dance bar on Myrtle Ave? You've got to be kidding. I used to love coming here because it was a nice addition to the neighborhood (and it was free to enter). Clearly, this has gone to their heads.

I think this place would be great if I were still 21 years old. Otherwise, it kinda sucked... but that probably has to do with the crowd. Frankly I am too old to be coaxed into arguing with bathroom line skippers and seat stealers. Note to self and YOU: bars with terrible dj's in Bushwick will probably be full of douchebags who model their lives after the show "Girls".

Cool little spot, comfy bar with nice drinks and some banging house and techno tunes. I got there just before 10pm and there was hardly anyone in there but there was a happy hour and it filled up after midnight. Definitely looking forward to going back.

My favorite dance club in Brooklyn, hands down. And by favorite, I mean one of the few in Brooklyn I've been to. And by dance club, I mean more of an area of space where creepy people congregate. But, having said that, I had a blast here. I suggest pre-gaming a bit before you get here though, because the crowds can definitely be sketch. However, once you're a few shots in, I swear you'll have an amazing time. There's a pretty large dance floor, with a more lounge-y area in the back. Thing is, the lounge area is super bright for some reason, and really does a good job at trying to blind you. Also, I'm pretty sure there was a mist machine, cause I recall walking around in a smoky haze. Either that, or I was just super trashed. Eh. Anyways, we danced our asses off all night, and met a bunch of cool people. Looking back at my pictures, there were definitely a few "WTF" moments though. BUTYOLORIGHT?

Last night i couldnt get in because my ID is from Chile. I'm 32 by the way. "Why?" i asked, "because people with foreign Id's are stealing things" the guy in the door told me. I spoke with the guys in the bar and you have to bring a passport. Thats what the law says.

The bartender was as rude as a bartender could be. And I'm a bartender, who was there with other bartenders. I'm incapable of leaving less that 20% and this woman somehow managed to talk me into it. We came to drink and dance and after a few minutes were inspired to do neither. All I felt inspired to do was leave, and apologize to my friends for dragging them away from a decent bar to go try this 'new place I heard about.' Don't bother, you can do much better in Bushwick

The Bossa Nova Civics club has a checkered floor and a crooked coffered ceiling that indicates that it was founded a couple of years ago when the vogue was the rusty razor school of hipster manliness pulled from gentleman culture of the 1890s, When it was ok to groom an outrageously curled mustache and cure your own artisanal ham. Stripped down and hackneyed like the McClure's pickle typeface. It came in with the flood of homogeneous locavore American restaurants like Northeast Kingdom and nondescript bars and coffee shops like Wyckoff Starr or Wreck Room. Thankfully, on this particular night it doesn't blare the Girl Talk Pet Sounds Indietronic remix. People aren't sporting the Dixie cup colored windbreakers my family foisted on me when I was 10 or the neon Ray Bans of some extra in One Crazy Summer. I have to stop referencing that movie. I have to. But, I can't forget the unsatisfying Belle and Sebastian droning of several years ago, in the awkwardly positioned downstairs "Green Room" in my college freshly graffitied by the art students who called themselves "The Goldbricker Society." Because it's young and hip! I can't stop being shocked and refreshed that I'm reliving my favorite childhood memories and acting like I was old enough to be into obscure grunge. On this night the stench and humid fog of the smoke machine is everything you imagine it to be, stinky and suspect like in a cheap lounge. The air is packed, sweaty, and dusky blue. People are wall to wall dancing or taking up space to 90s inspired music because 1990-1994 is back or haven't you heard. The preferred way to "update" 90s fashion is with blue ombre hair, black "HOMIEZ" beanie, and something else black with combat boots. If you're wearing that you are probably under 20. Among the sweaty humans who take up space with their white dancing, women with inspired take offs on the moody "Dirty Girl" documentary riot grrl derived outfits abound. Thank god. Even if I can't get the twee, smirking irony of 2007 out of my head, I am having a good time in the hemmed in musical space, waiting for a heavy beat, photographing weirdos in the bathroom line, pretending I'm at Fillmore East or Limelight.

I am surprised by some of the other reviews on here! First of all this place is still very new (few months old?) Of course it is hit or miss. They are NO COVER electronic music EVERY day of the week! It's not going to be the most amazing night of your life 24/7/365. But honestly, when there is no cover, there should be no bitching! I've been here when there were only half a dozen people sitting around the bar and I've been here when every inch of the place is packed (bar, couches, dancefloor, and outdoor space) They've gotten some really good 'big-name' DJs and producers to come out to Bushwick and have the dancefloor packed full of energetic, happy, friendly, dancing, people. There have been other times when the dancefloor was filled more with some stuck-up people who were using the dancefloor for conversations but obviously that is no fault of the establishment.. This + Tandem or This + Bizzarre equals a great and full night. Also, the decor is so decidedly non-hipster, non-repurpused wood, non-everything else in the neighborhood, that you have to love it for being so bold and different. I have had many great nights there already with friends and look forward to many more. There has never been a cover when I went. The cocktails are great, beer selection, also....and the outdoor area in the back is great, even in winter. GREAT for groups.

Been coming here for a few years. It was worth it when it was free but now I question it. Great neighborhood spot though. Probably the best dj's in the neighborhood. Note there has been a rash of pickpockets as of late. I have had multiple friends pick pocketed in the last couple of weeks and had their phones taken. Be careful.

The winey, negative reviews are hilarious, and also..INSANE. I always have a good time when I come to Bossa Nova...whether I'm wasted or just a little bit tipsy. I don't know what everyone else's problem is! This place really is the best of both worlds: you can choose to chill at the bar (with bartenders that are actually nothing but super nice) or in a booth, OR you can break it down on the dance floor! The cocktails are rocking, the DJs know what's good, and it's one of the ONLY 7 day dance club venues in North Brooklyn, and definitely the ONLY ONE IN BUSHWICK...and it's about damn time! Thanks for bringing some beats to the 'Wick' Bossa Nova!

CLOSED ?!?!?!?!??? I love this place. Great music. But we went on 1/23/15 And it was all boarded up. What's the dealio????

Only go here if you're on drugs. The music sounds literally like you're in a video game. You can't even dance and it's all Smokey

I myself happen to be one of its MANY gorgeous regulars, so this may come off as a bit biased, but that didn't deter any of you foul (and probably sexless) naysayers, so here we go. First of all we gotta talk about the staff, these lovely people all have more charm than a leprechaun, and if they were mean to you you either A.) have a toxic aura and need to get your bitchy chakras balanced ASAP or B.) got caught pissing on the side of the bar (no but seriously, just like don't be gross.) The staff are all living breathing Earth Angels and if I catch you breathing any word otherwise I will put scorpions in your tampons when you're not looking. Also: backyard smoking area. Can we talk about how great of a thing that is to have? The majority of other bars provide no such luxury and because of a crippling nicotine addiction I am all too often forced to stand outside like a fucking leper while my friends frolic without me. But not at Bossa Nova. Bossa Nova knows. They understand that this is FUCKING AMERICA and that SMOKERS ARE PEOPLE TOO. If your bar was cool you'd have a smoking area too, its what Jesus would do. On to the drinks. Their specialty drinks are some of the finest creations to ever glide over my tongue. The La Mayimba is a spicy temptress who has latched onto my heart. I cannot quit her, and it is beginning to make me question my sexuality. Also their juices are FRESH, can you fucking imagine? You don't have to, because its actually really truly real. And don't even get me started on the verditas. A shot of tequila followed by a verditas chaser just may be the most delicious way to ease yourself into a drunken state of bliss. Trust me I'm a Dr., I may have went to DeVry but it still counts... right?????