I had so much fun here. Love the music and the atmosphere. The upstairs is my favorite part. Really looking forward to going back.

Been going for years!! But the DJ's suck now. Tommy is CRAP!! Where's Amanda and Rocky?????

I almost forgot to review this place this month. I had some friends visiting from Chicago on a Saturday. They wanted to catch up as we hadn't seen each other in awhile, and they suggested a placed called Bar Sinister. Never heard of it before. Dance club, maybe. Goth club, sounds like it. I was only partially right. Only problem is I was best man at a wedding that day so my schedule was tight, I didn't have time to change out of my tux and was wondering how uncomfortable I would be at a dance club. Its Hollywood, I was already 3 sheets to the wind after giving my groomsman speech and I hadn't seen them in close to a year, so what the hell. I arrive at the place and after plunking down a $10 cover and start sifting through the crowd of Goths looking for my friends. This place is kind of cool. I like the courtyard with the stage, it has a New Orleans feel but with people in black instead of drunken frat dudes. The interior is cool too, rustic, carved wooden bar, good music (Depeche Mode, Pixies and Garbage) and lots of semi-hot Goth girls making out on the dance floor. To top it off they have smoking hot Go-Go dancers dressed up like something out of 5th Element/Blade Runner shaking their asses. They liked the tux, got more attention from them then the guys tossing them singles. Awesome, awesome to the max. Still no sign of my friends, hmm. Oh, they have an upstairs, I'll go check up there. OMG! Whips, and chains, and gag balls oh my! Were not in Kansas anymore. I quickly reassess my no touch zones as I start moving through the sea of black. They have a full-on wooden post to strap people to as a professional whips them with a frayed leather whip, as everyone watches. Wow this place has got everything, except an Iron Maiden and a hunchback named Egor. Oh, there are my friends.... In full on fetish gear. Neato! Not really my cup of tea, but who am I to judge. They're good people. We proceed to catch up over some drinks and have a really good time, mixing it up on the dance floor and hanging on the patio. S&M is not really my thing, but the bar is cool and for a Goth club there was some decent eye candy! I recommend the place if your into this scene, but then again if your in this scene you probably already know. Surprisingly the tuxedo blended right in, EVERYONE dug it. Oh and parking sucks around here, the end! read more

This place is so laid back and the people are very friendly. It's a great place to people watch. It doesn't seem like I "fit in" Bar Sinister but everyone is so friendly and just really cool. I prefer to go to dance clubs like this rather than "trendy" ones any night where girls think you're competition and just stare at you like "Can I get more guys than you?" Pfftt..it's like "Bitch, I came here to dance!" I can literally be myself and enjoy the music. I've been here a few times since my friend's band has played here several times. And if you're feeling kinky, you can go upstairs and get spanked. OW! OW! :) I only come here with certain friends since I know some of my other friends would not enjoy the industrial/rock/alternative music. Luckily I like to dance to anything. read more

I LOVE this place. I've been going here since I moved to Orange County over 8 years ago. Interesting DJS, great bands and guests, KENT KALIBER!!! (of The Amazing Race fame), a (light) BDSM lobby, decent drink prices (for L.A.), monthly birthday parties which are free for guests, central location, reasonable prices for parking, and a gothic/victorian aesthetic (I lean more towards the latter, myself). What's not to love?! I'll tell you: it's cliquey. My ONLY issue with this place has always been that nobody seems to go here to meet new people. That's not the bar's fault, but it's worth noting. Now, the trick is go with your own clique (never alone) and try to mingle among the different groups. You WILL make friends, but it's not easy. And if you just go here to dance, I give it 5-stars! The floor's a little crowded, but the energy is perfect, so you probably won't mind. read more

I've only been here once. I attended the bondage ball last year. I really enjoyed myself. Half naked people, good music, whips, leather and plenty of booze = fun. Where's my whip!? This place is bigger than I imagined. It's got different sections all of which had cooshy places to sit in dim light and drink. I loved the pleasure playroom with all their toys. Most of the people being spanked were older people but the drunk spectators looked great. I think you need to book to be tortured in advanced. Anyway they have events every Saturday. Black attire is a must, it's their dress code. You'll pay an extra cover fee if you're not in black or goth attire. So Ed Hardy/Affliction lovers should continue on to their usual douchey clubs. read more

Oh Bar Sinister, how I love thee. As a jaded East Coast gal, Bar Sinister was my only escape when I arrived in La La Land. I hate pretentious bull, but I felt right at home as soon as I stepped in the door. Maybe it was because of the calf fetishist who thought my legs were perfect. Who knows? I really enjoy the atmosphere. I don't find the crowd too old(I'm 22) and c'mon they have an aerialist! If you hate the place for being one of those "goth elitist" clubs, try going on their birthday. There's a "VIP list" on one side, and the regular folks line on the other. Stand on the regular folks line early, because when you do goth hilarity happens. You tend to get in faster and look a whole lot better than those who stand on the VIP line. Trust me, you won't want to miss it. Oh, and the goody bags are to die for. Free Tattoos anyone? The drinks are tasty(but pricey), and the music is always hot. There's always live music in the courtyard, and the band is usually good or has a member that is pure eye candy. Remember when in doubt of your gothiness remember there is always eyecandy. They just added parking so no more $15 dollar parking charges! Score. read more

I went here for the first time on Saturday night and wow this place is awesome!! Drinks are really pricey I've went to other clubs that weren't that much. I was just blown away by the inside I loved the design!! My absolute favorite part was on the second floor where you can watch a little fetish things happening ;) read more

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For all the hype about this place, I kinda expected more for my first time. The decor was cool. The people were all dressed up. The music was hit or miss. Maybe I've seen too much on TV but it felt kinda tame. That being said, I looked damned good in my fierce black corset! read more

This is by far the most beautiful goth club I have ever been to. The decor is gorgeous and gothic as hell. About seven of us came down from the land of health care to drink away our livers, and we would have completed this task with much more efficiency had the drink prices not been so obscene. Yes, we're talking $8 for a SINGLE, $16 for a double,. That's what I pay at the posh top 40 clubs back home, and your dollar is worth more! (Not by much, but still, thus the lack of the fifth star). So to help speed up the process, I started ordering doubles in short glasses, cuz I don't really need the extra pop ... er... soda anyways. Drink faster = more hammered. Everyone that I met was super nice, the other girls from the valley in the bathroom giggling as they all crammed into one stall, the guy that thought I was someone who I wasn't, the DJ's being forced to play my shitty requests, and the go-go dancers even let us dance on their platform for a bit while they took a break! I *think* this place closed at 2am? The night may be a bit blurry for me, but I remember being super upset that it was over already, and the bouncers having to help cart me outside. Heehee! Sorry! It was too much fun! It's all good though, we brought the party back to our hotel room until 5am, so everyone wins! read more

THE PLACE: Ohhhh so many memory's YIPPEEE: This place has been a goth location for a long time BOOO: Better places w cheaper covers Oh i'm sorry did i just hit you It's not my fault that the dance floor is so small $11 for a long island iced tea - Ouch you sadist Malediction whips this place read more

Chicks gagged and tied to ceilings where they are subsequently whipped; ass-less chaps, dark corners, industrial-goth music, and a friendly crowd to boot! I gave it 3 stars because I don't dig the music on weekends. However, on Mondays it's Blue Monday and it's all 80s. All sorts of different artists including the Material Girl! Features: *Dark, with cozy couches for anonymous make-out sessions. *Outdoor area featuring occasional live bands *Loft [I call it the "love loft" because that's where all the whipping takes place] read more

Have you ever seen those goth kids walking around the mall and you're constantly like....where the hell do you go dressed up like that? HERE! This place is friggin amazing. Wear all black so you can save on the door price (seriously.) If you're not into hip hop/club music and you're open minded. This place is for you! read more

This club definitely blows chunks now! I am being extremely generous giving the club 2 stars. Why? ...because they actually have good and old school bands play there, like God Module last night. They were great! It has been about a year since I last was there to see Leather Strip and left right after that performance. This time after seeing God Module my friends and I stuck around, why not, even though we knew the club sucked since a few years back- we stuck around to give the venue the benefit of the doubt. Bar Sinister used to be a Goth club, you'll be lucky if you even hear ONE goth song all night. Again we were there exclusively for God Module last night. What I'm wondering is if people even know what Goth music is? Especially in these reviews. Most people here on Yelp writing good & even bad reviews have missed the point that THIS IS NOT A GOTH CLUB anymore; you are just as retarded as the club. Some people that wrote bad reviews had the nerve to say the the music is great but everything else sucks- HELLO? People do you even now what Goth Music is? Shit stupid idiots dressing the part and not even knowing why! Last night we did NOT hear one Goth song at all! WTF? Then all the nasty voyeuristic perverts that are there NOT for the music and the scene, but to get a cheap thrill in the fetish room & on the dance floor! Ughhh, so annoying! This club and what it breeds has made a mockery of the Goth scene. I'm sure the owners or people that run the club are/or used to be old school Goths and now are probably in their late 30s or 40s+ but they have really fucked up the Goth scene all for money profit and greed. I guess everyone has to make a living even at the cost of selling out to their old school roots. Oh well :/ read more

First time at this bar was the most horrible experience !!!!!!!!!! Due to the fact that the security guard was inside the women bathroom watching over a girl that was taking care of her drunk girlfriend ......LIKE IF SHE NEED IT HELP WITH THAT!!!!! I felt the eyes of a PEEPING TOM over me Then to top it off my fiance was waiting for me outside the bathroom and the same security guard told him to move away from there...... WHAT A BLIPPPP!!! wasn't he in the freaking bathroom...... HORRIBLE unprofessional staff !!! read more

Located right next to Boardner's this place has kept it's popularity as a kitsch goth hang-out. I haven't been in quite a while as my goth phase was both short and not completely invested. A great place to see night birds showing off expensive clothing and vampiric tendencies. My friends and I have remarked about the drinks served (of which some sort of absinthe was available) and we always came out of there a little more than just drunk. Some very attractive girls put on a show when hitting the dance floor. Definitely a place that will transport you to a different headspace. DRESS APPROPRIATELY! read more

Bar Sinister was very fun. The bands were very interesting. The DJs with the GO GO dancers was probably my favorite part of of sin. I would recommend everyone outgoing and adventurous come here at least once. You can smoke cigarettes in the main hall which is a nice change of pace, if you're a smoker. At the door its ten dollars with a flyer before eleven. After eleven its fifteen dollars. read more

The best atmosphere for any dark soul..this place is my home away from home and I would live here if it were possible. read more

Bar Sinister - Bars Near Me - Hollywood, California

Shitty and extremely unprofessional staff. Especially the lady working the front and "security" with the dreads. What a joke...

I still love this place! I just wanted to make an amendment to my last review...I thought this place was only Bar Sinister, but I was wrong! It's soooo much more. I have recently started going on Monday nights, when they play 80's music to my hearts content. It's awesome, dude! On friday nights it's club "As If", and the DJ spins 90's music, which was different that anything I have seen lately, and it was a great mix, I got really nostalgic for plaid shirts and doc martens. So I heart this place. It lets me get my groove on many nights a week. (Only bummer is parking, usually I can't find street parking and have to use one of the lots.) Oh, and anyone can get up on the Go Go tables and dance, which is pretty cool, if you ask me. :) read more

Yes! Let me start by saying I haven't been since I turned 21, and I'm SO STOKED to go back and try their absinthe cocktails. Also, I've been dying to try Club Moscow, but I have class and work during the week. Le sigh, maybe over spring break! Anyways, the DJ is amazing, and the bands are usually pretty killer too. The place is GORGEOUS and feels very upscale. It's very dark, and the smoking patio is quite, well, smoky. The space seems a little cramped, but it's more cozy than anything else. The crowd is usually very attractive, but I've noticed that a lot of people here keep to themselves. If you're looking for a drunk hookup, go to Club Bang down Hollywood Blvd. (not knocking it- that place is great for the miniscule cover!) The go-go dancers are very pretty and talented. The S&M bar upstairs- it may not be for you, but I encourage trying it at least once, watching and participating. My master was Phoenix... he's incredibly sexy AND very sweet, because it was my first time and I was nervous. He was very professional but I had fun with him. ;) DEFINITELY a cool place, worth checking out once, even if you don't think it's your scene. When in doubt- wear all black. There is a strict dress code and you'll be charged a more expensive cover if you aren't dressed in "upscale goth attire". read more

This place has its own gothic movement. They have unique menu drinks. Minumum about 10 - 14+ dollar drinks. An atmosphere of dark kinky sexual bondage. Good to visit this place especially the music. Indoor and outdoor music. I like this place something different out of the ordinary. read more

Had a blast! Felt like I was in the Matrix!, I've never been to a place like this before! The music was great and the people were also very chill. Goth kinda vibe read more

I've been to more clubs than I could ever want to remember, which is not something I'm exactly proud to admit. However, I do admit to liking Bar Sinister. You see, I too am one of those who've been there recently and have been there back in the "good ol days" as well. While I can understand how some people might feel it's not the same as it was "back in the day", I think it's important to realize that hardly anything is the same it was, anywhere you go. But that's not a bad thing. Things change over the years. As do people, the crowds they're in and the clubs they go to. If they were to never change, likely things would simply become too stale. But whatever the changes, Bar Sinister is still one of the few clubs you can go into today where you won't hear a single song from Kanye West, Ke$ha, Katie Perry or any top 40 songs from any year for that matter, and that's not a bad thing either. But it's hard for a night club NOT to cave into the trendy commercial scene and the business it brings in, especially for long. The club business in any town is a tough business to be in, and in Hollywood it's extremely competitive to boot. The reality that Bar Sinister has not only survived all these years, but thrived as well says something. The fact that they've done it for so long, and catered to so many broke-ass underground outcasts and managed to do it their way, in an unapologetic manner for so long? Well, that speaks volumes. read more

One of the good LA staples. Been going infrequently for years. Great drinks, great people watching/talking, music, and hot goth gogo dancers. For some reason, I find the goth gogo dancers 100x sexier than the trendy club gogo semi-stripper chicks. The extent of my gothness is wearing a black shirt with my jeans, but I've loved the music since it came out originally (yep I'm old), so suck it goths lol. Seriously though, never felt unwelcomed there and people are always cool. I'm not the HWD shinyshirt type but also obviously not the goth type, but never been given even a hint of attitude from the obvious regulars there. It's been me and the wife's "go to" place when we get bored of everything else. We're kind of cyclical that way. No surprises and we know we can expect a night of fun and good people. Keep an open mind, try not to looky-loo too hard, dress in black, mind the regulars (don't come with the "we own this place! bottle service wut?wuuuttt!?" douchetard attitude/idiocy), and just have a good time. read more

Its getting 5 stars even though I lost much of My interest in going there, because I have awesome friends that are still able to be found there. I really prefer the neighborhood bar that owns and is attatched to Bar Sinister, Boardners. I do like that it is 2 clubs in one. It is a live venue outside, and inside it's a dance club. I know that there are other clubs that are kind of like that, but this one is DISTINCTLY two in one. Not merely a different room with a different DJ, but live music vs dance mixes. read more

Went on Saturday night. As a long time member of the Phoenix fetish/industrial community I have been to many a goth type club and have vast experience. Bar Sinister is a wonderful example of merging several different communities: bondage, goth, punk, rocker, and putting them all in one night. The layout is fun, the 2nd floor bondage area while small is active and the main tent/smoking patio is well smoky but breathable. Entering through the outside is unique and the entrance is packed full of what appear to be the regulars. Music is exactly what you expect from this kind of club. The sound itself was not super terrific but the music is similar to other clubs in Phoenix. More people dancing but more people in the club in general. I liked the different kinds of outfits not just all goth but a very wide range. Awesome decor and the smoking tent/patio is really tricked out. If I lived in LA, I would come here often. Pros: Dancing, outfits, dresscode mandatory, fun crowd and participation Cons: Insanely expensive drinks, $15 cover, ATM outside has $4 surcharge These cons may be consistent for LA but as a visitor it was a shock. Otherwise it was a very fun night and I would go back again. This time a little bit more aware of what is going on. ps. Did a full 50 minute play scene with my wife and friends and enjoyed putting on a show for everyone. There was happiness all around. read more

I'm from Las Vegas so I'm used to polite friendly service in nightclubs no matter how small or large the nightclubs can be. Anyways, my local friends here in LA wanted to show me a great time so we all decided to come here Saturday night Dec 28th. There was some friendly staff such as the wonderful amazing photographer, but sadly, we had a horrible experience thanks to a staff member in the upstairs area. The security guard upstairs (an old black man)(named Sid or Sue) (I believe someone said he is the head of security) harassed our group of three, Not 1 but 3 times. I'm from Las Vegas, where you dress very nice and fancy to go out, so I don't think we looked like trouble makers, but sadly this security guard felt the need to flash his little flashlight in our face and accuse us FIRST of taking pictures, the SECOND time, he accused my friend of smoking and began spouting very uncalled for personal insults to my friend without letting my friend explain himself. This security guard started yelling "you don't belong here do you!" over and over again to my friend (when I'm the one who is the tourist and my friend is a local who has been to this club several times). At that embarrassing point, I decided we should all just leave instead of stay and continue to be HARASSED by this unprofessional employee who felt the need to verbally abuse my friends for absolutely no reason. When we explained to the coat check woman why we were leaving after just 1 hour, she said "oh, when he's mean to you that means he likes you". Umm, if this is true, I can only imagine how much money this establishment is losing from just this one TERRIBLE employee. We were spending money on drinks and dancing just trying to have a good time. No one wants to get yelled at for no reason when you're just trying to show your out of town friend your previously favorite nightclub. Totally ruined my first impression of the place. The owner of Bar Sinister should come to Las Vegas sometime to learn about how to keep having return business , because now, my local friends are never coming back thanks to this disgusting experience. It's sad that one terrible terrible employee will cost the establishment lots and lots of money in lost business. Sincerely- used to much better in Vegas read more

This is the place to go if you wanna get tied up and whipped by a bald dude in a kilt. It's also an amazing place for people-watching. I've been here for a concert and on a regular DJ night, and both were pretty entertaining. They've got the decor to make you feel totally evil while breaking curfew and pissing off your mom. I know people take this "scene" really seriously, but I just like to play dress up and head down to pick up WWII fashion tips and greasy ponytail grooming techniques. I guess as Ministry would say, everyday is Halloween. The whole bondage and S&M shit is hilarious. I watched some dude in a hanging chair get prodded with spikes while the surrounding crowd pretended not to notice his clearly aroused meat torpedo poking up in his leather pants. I was also reprimanded at for taking pictures in the S&M area, something about "ruining intimate moments." Get a good buzz on first though, because the dranks will hit your wallet harder than the paddles on your hindquarters. Also, for some reason they're clinging to their MySpace page and have a $5 off admission flyer that you can print out and use at the door. read more

9/10. Industrial. Goth. Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism. Nothing else matters.

Great place to dance and drink the night away, although the music does get boring, I wish they would change it up a bit or just stick to industrial music because they try to mix other stuff and it's not cute. Anyways, I highly recommend this place for lounging and chilling at the bar, as for the club and dance area it's too small, it's impossible to dance without hitting someone or stepping on someone else. The lady in the front charging money could also try to be more kind. read more

Why is this place a blur to me... I was always sober... ish... I think?... Hmm... Not a clue... I never got in a dancing mood here much... somehow I always end up being a flower in the wall... But I remember something about a bar... a fountain... and an outside something something... oh yeah... and some flogging going on upstairs... if you're into that. read more

Got there around 11pm on a Saturday night and the line outside was about 30 people long but moved quickly. Inside, everyone was friendly. Other reviews describe the experience inside better that I could. Although I wasn't really dressed the part, I didn't feel out of place or judged. I'm glad LA has such unique places to experience! read more

Nicely decorated and a great atmosphere, but pretentious and snobby. The atmosphere and decorations alone make this place worth of checking out. As far as goth clubs go, this one is really nicely done. Spiderwebs, fountains, and fog make this place seem almost like a haunted house. It's also small and VERY crowded. Shoulder to shoulder on a good Saturday night. Bands perform outside in the enclosed patio until about 11 or 12 and then it reverts to hangout space. There's a bar outside and smoking is allowed on the patio. Inside there is a very small dance floor that's always crowded and go-go dancers on boxes for eye candy. The main bar inside is usually packed and it's hard to get a drink. I can never seem to find a place to sit down. The crowd is generally very pretentiously Gothic... Tourist Goths come here as well, but the majority of the attendees are people who come often. It's not some place I'd be interested in frequenting. If you're in town visiting, new to the area, or just haven't checked it out yet it's definitely worth seeing. But it's not a place I'd visit regularly. read more

Behold! the creatures of the night. (And watch out for those weirdos). Wait.... I am one of those Weird, cReatures of the night. Anywhoooo... I used to come here just to dance. That's it. But seriously, you get maybe one hour's worth of good music. An hour and 10 minutes, if you're lucky. The DJ sure loves playing Marilyn Manson (is he goth?). You also only get a quarter inch of tile space to clear your invisible cobwebs and silently writhe, which proves to be quite the amusing challenge. I'll elbow you, I don''t care, get off my vinyl brastrap. Back away from my dance peg. You may or may not run into one of your old high school math teachers or soccer mom neighbor-cum-dominatrix by night. Yes, I have seen it all here. And have the mental scars to prove it. read more

Dancing and music is great! Everyone who works there is terrible and extremely rude. Second time coming here with the same issues with people being terrible. First I asked the bouncer which line I should go to since I was here for a birthday party and they paid VIP, and he rudely told me to get to the other line and as I walked to the line he made fun of me. Then when the birthday girl came she asked me why I was in the other line. We were let through past the line... Then got in, and the person at the door was rude to the birthday girl and kept refusing to look at her list. This and last time when a bartender was an a-hole too, are enough. I don't recommend anyone come here. Go to Dick's Last Resort where that's what's supposed to happen. read more

When there on Saturday night for an industry award show For the second year in a row. Staff is always really cool and it's a great space. I was look forward to going there and always have an incredible time. Love checking out everybody's outfits and the music of course. Even if it's not your scene you definitely want to go check it out just to get the experience. read more

All staff was great except for the bathroom guy on 7/10/21 night. Asked the guy watching the line if this was the bathroom entrance line and he said yea and let me in. After using the bathroom he asked to see a stamp to let me out of the bathroom area. I told him no one gave me a stamp before going in and that I had asked if it was the bathroom area before going in. He gave no fucks n wouldn't let me leave. He obviously had a small man power complex because what was the literal point of stoping me from leaving the bathroom area, I already paid the cover, it's not like I snuck in the club. I asked if he was trying to illegally detain me and kept asking about a stamp even after telling him no one gave me a stamp. He tired to imply I snuck into the bathroom despite me asking before going into the bathroom area. Multiple people were also let out without him checking for stamps and when I said something he just said they worked there. Gf had to come n diffuse the situation n stroke his fragile ego for him to let me out of the bathroom area. After being let out I waited to see if other people were being checked and no others were check for a so called handstamp. Idk if he was tying to scam me or something but he ruined my whole vibes for the night. read more

I had a good time when I went. Descent band outside, saw some whipping of bare ass, cant complain. It was like I stepped into a 80s movie straight up. Super dark, lots of people wearing black, teased dark hair, trench coats, etc. I was probably the only person who "LOL'd" when the hardcore dark band said "And you can visit us at myspace.______.com It is hollywood, so everythings fake. Including PTA parking and $$ drinks. I'm a goth tourist (not there is anything wrong with satisifying your fetishes!), and probably wont go again for a long time - but if you are open to new things, just go! (oh, and they HATE jeans and white shirts, so be warryyy, the are elistest about that shiza) read more

The drinks are okay - when I asked for absinthe, I ended up getting some licorice liquor (FYI, I hate licorice.) It's loud, it's nasty, and if you're into it, oh boy - you're into it. I liked the fetish gogo dancers -- they are hot. And upstairs a lot of making out is going on -- combine that with bondage, floggers, and a little spanky-poo's... and it's awesome. Not sure I'd come back/pay the cover to get in, but if they ever had a ladies' night, hells yes. read more