I feel bad leaving Barbara's this review because it isn't so much the bars fault. The Karaoke DJ is so rude, it really ruined our night. Came in with a group of 7 people and three different members of our group had interactions with the DJ and we were all wondering why he was so miserable and rude. We usually love Barbara's but really have no idea why he's working as a karaoke DJ when he clearly hates people. Service and drinks at the bar were great. read more

Dive bar in the bishop arts area. LGBTQIA forward. You'll always find me on the first Tuesday of the month. Cheap drinks and lots of fun times are to be made! If you can't find parking, use the street. Service is always great and make sure to remember to tip your bartenders. read more

Barbara's Pavillion - Misfits being misfits - Gay Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Apparently this is the best karaoke in dallas. This is my first karaoke bar experience here and it was a lot of fun. Great variety of songs. Good people and good drinks. Can't go wrong! read more

Awesome Sauce!! Service is prompt and the ambiance is a dive bar, but a great one in Bishop Arts area!

That KJ needs to go. So rude and unprofessional. He usually works Thursday's and Saturdays. Very argumentative and hostile. I miss double D. Steven the bartender from the past would not allow this behavior. read more

Location Bishop arts-hard to find doir-red door by lawyers office Parking Street-don't park in the lot! Atmosphere Dive bar-dog friendly, happy customers. Interesting bathroom Wheel of fortune on the big screen Seating Bar and tables Service Jade is awesome! Menu We didn't look for food-had seltzers-ice cold and many flavors! Tom Collins was tasty. Summary Local bar-come for karaoke! Great service! read more

This place makes you want to act like you're 5 stars: tip great, be nice, buy drinks, order pizza. This place deserves your attention. It's better than your phone. Bring your dog, you know you should. Sit at the bar. Buy shots , tip better. If this place disappears, everyone loses read more

Barbara's Pavillion - Gay Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I used to love this bar but they hired a new girl and she doesn't know what she's doing at ALL. She has a nasty attitude too. I wish I caught her name, but it's too late because I'm NEVER GOING BACK. Apparently this has been brought to the managers/owners attention and they defend her ?! Bad service, 99% of the time equates to bad management (which is blatantly obvious in this specific encounter), which always equates to bad ownership. read more

Every neighborhood needs a Barbara's Pavillion; a gay dive bar that welcomes all, and all show up! You won't be dazzled by the hidden store front entrance, under whelming ambiance, or limited liquor selection, rather, the friendliness of the staff, and locals, and their fair drink prices. Known for great karaoke and spoken word on select nights of the month, Barbara's still operates as a private club, so be ready to scan your ID upon arrival. If your thing is sitting at the bar chatting up the bartender, a fun game of billiards, or a smoke with friends on the patio, you can do them all at Barbara's Pavilion. Maybe you'll see me there belting out a tune. Heads up, parking is tricky! Xoxo Lorenzo! read more

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Love this place, Jade rocks! Great little hidden gem in Oak Cliff, highly recommend checking it out!

It is okay. Prices to drink are kinda high. if you know people, it's Inviting. This place needs better managed, but has an excellent bartender named Jade and Hattie. They have always been attentive (except for the nights of Saturday), but nonetheless. its an okay bar read more

Fun and local gay bar. Always have a great time here. Karaoke to outside conversations, good place to meet ppl and the dive bar experience too. The staff are very welcoming and friendly. Drinks are affordable than other gay bars read more

Barbara's Pavillion - Bathroom drama - Gay Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Horrible place. Service was awful. We stood at the bar for 20 min and the bartender was all over the place. Dirty glasses were piled up along the bar and empty beer cans littered the top. Barback was just standing around and not even attempting to pick up the glasses or trash. Bartender just kept serving the people in-front of her rather than work length of bar. I bartended major nightclubs for 10 years and she was awful. I finally asked the people next to me if she was serving our end at all and they were also frustrated. I said I have been waiting 20 min and the bartender heard me and yelled, "And you're gonna have to wait a little longer." I said ... "no... I don't" and we all left. It wasn't even that busy. #avoid read more

Amazing dive bar.... Reminiscent of the old dive bars one could find in the 60's -90's but almost all are gone now . Freaks weirdos and anyone with an actual personality is welcome here. If your not okay with people who beat to a different drum then this place isn't for you. NICE to know their are still places where people from different walks of life can go and mingle without hate or discrimination. Please help keep this wonderful spot safe and welcoming. read more

Barbara's is a fun dive gay bar. You won't get a fancy cocktail but if you like basic drinks, terrible singing during karaoke, and a small patio that someone is always smoking weed on, this is the place for you. And I totally mean that as a compliment. read more

We came to Barbara's for a few drinks on a Saturday night. They were having karaoke night which we thought it would be fun. Instead the person mcing was extremely rude for no reason. He or she kept making remarks about the singers in a rude not a funny way. At the end of the night the dj and the manager kept yelling to pay our tabs and go BUT the bartenders were having trouble providing the checks so we could pay and go. One of the bartenders even told us that the manager is an ahole. Definitely avoid this place. There are so many other places in Bishop Arts you can go rather than this crappy place. read more

Have been there several times Jade the bartender has always been extremely friendly as many of the clients there always end up in interesting conversations there read more

Great places. Fun people!! Great prices and a very friendly relaxed atmosphere. I highly recommend. It's out of my way but worth the trip.

Here is a video of Jade unlocking the exit to barbs at 2:22am after locking me and 10+ other patrons inside. She decided to lock the door at 2am and proceeded to go hula hoop and have fun in the back patio while everyone was locked in, with no way out, just trying to get home. We had to basically beg her to let us out. I love barbs, everyone there is amazing, all the bartenders are very nice, but this is not acceptable. I could not say enough good things about barbs, which is why I am giving it 5 stars, but this person is a problem. read more

Best bar in town! I love the service and the vibe overall. Dan is one of my favorite bartenders! If you're ever in the mood for a good drink, plz stop by this bar read more

I just began bartending here on Sundays last month, but I've been coming to this bar for 7 years. Everyone is welcome whether you're on a bicycle or motorcycle, if you're gay or straight, no matter your ethnicity or religious views. The only requirement is to be open minded and polite. Karaoke starts at 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, and all kinds of other events happen throughout the week. There could be a movie watching party or crock pot potluck. You never know what you'll find when you walk in. All holidays and birthdays are celebrated here. It's a hole in the wall just two blocks from the historic Texas Theatre. read more

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Tucked back on a small street well south of Bishop Arts, Barbara's Pavilion is one of those classic speakeasy like dive bars. It is easy to miss. There is barely a sign out front. Simply the best place for karaoke in town. Bab's does free karaoke on first Saturdays, every Thursday and Sunday nights. The place and the crowds are small, so you get to sing often. The books are good, and you can choose from a great collection of songs. The drinks are cheap and the pours strong. Great fun! read more

I think I found my most favorite place in Dallas. We were staying a couple blocks away and wandered in here late one evening. The first thing I hear is someone singing some Lion King karaoke. It gave me life! As the night went on and the drinks flowed, the songs (and singers!) were even more wonderful. Service was great. Pricing was pretty standard, if I don't fully remember the exact numbers. Then, we just had a short stumble home to our AirBNB! read more

Great local bar with hot bartenders long pours and cold beer. There is an outside casual space for socializing. The main floor has a Kareoki stage with professional lighting and sound. The pool table is a great place to hang out with your friend or that special someone. The Happy Hours are awesome. read more

Barbara's Pavillion - Gay Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Barbara's Pavilion is a Dallas institution. It has the cult status and appeal of a gay dive bar out of a John Water's movie. Barb's is where dreams come true; everyone is a star. The drinks are generously poured; I'm a big fan of everyone who works there, and quite frankly I don't think I would still live in Dallas if it wasn't for the strong sense of community I get at this establishment. Barbara's forever! I'm a fan! read more

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Funky little neighborhood bar, refreshing alternative to the bars on the strip along Cedar Springs!!! I love to make a pit stop here when I visit my buds in the Cliff. read more

Love this gay dive bar! Barbara's will always have a special place in my heart. When I moved to OC a few years ago, I spent many a drunken night there singing karaoke. Took my mom to B's for Mother's Day once and she LOVED it. So many menz bought her shots after she sang "I Feel Pretty.:" (Alas, she doesn't drink.) And now neither do I (nor smoke), so I can't imagine hittin' Barbara's if I can't do either vice. So a year ago I'd have given it 5 stars, but since I'm a mom now and can't enjoy my Kools like I used to, it's 4 stars. In other words, beware. You're liable to have the time of your life AND develop emphysema. read more

Great little gay dive bar. I came here with some gay friends for a late night of drinking. If you're looking for the "hot spot" for lots of dancing, this isn't it (try S4). This is more casual, have fun, be who you are, karaoke kind of place. They have lots of regulars, the bartenders are hilarious and helpful, and the drinks are strong and well-priced. It's a small place, but full of charm and fun. I'll definitely be coming here more often. read more

This Dive Bar has a Vibe other bars wish they could Get! Celebrities pop in incognito to experience what their celebrity friends have told them about Barbs. It's so welcoming. You feel a part of a crazy mixed family! Double Dee Karaoke on Thursdays and Saturdays, is one of the best around. Steven, is quite the entertainer bartender! Dan is so funny, also bartender. Drinks are very reasonable. Nice patio on back. Funky Fun Bar! read more

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Small Neighborhood Bar and fun place to have a party. Friendly Staff and great Patio area read more

Barbara's Pavillion - Gay Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This place is such a gem. Everyone is so friendly and there's always a really positive and laid back energy. It's a spot that I feel lucky to know about. read more

I had the best time here on Halloween. The bartender honored my trashy drink request ("something chocolatey") without an eyeroll, and almost everyone was in an elaborate costume. The MC for the contest had a quick wit and the crowd was very good natured. There were cute queers of all genders to be seen. It was a warm and intimate hole that I will revisit ;) read more

Great neighborhood dive bar in Oak Cliff. Come as you are! Great atmosphere and diverse cross section of people! Karaoke on Thursday and Saturday nights. Great place to have a birthday party ... Will decorate and everything. read more

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Great little neighborhood bar and boy do the bartenders know how to shake up a delicious cocktail. A good friend of mine and I have a boy-girl date there every Friday night. Come see us! read more

I went with a friend to this bar I never heard of before until last night. I had a great time. The staff is very friendly as well as the patrons who are willing to help each other out. The only downside is that the chairs are pretty bulky for such a small place. I had to squeeze in and out of my seating area because the tables are very close together. They should just have less bulky chairs and there would be more move room. read more

I recently did karaoke at Bab's Pav. It was a blast and everyone had a great time. The other great thing about that night is that it was a benefit for needy pups and kitties! Everyone is welcome there, gay or straight, puppy or kitty! read more

What do you get when you cross a gay bar with a dive bar? Designer shoe clad interesting men & cheap drinks! My favorite! A friend of mine took me out to dinner and we decided to end the night at Barbaras. Being an uptown girl, I always find it necessary to step out of that darn bubble that so many people get stuck in. Oak Cliff was definitely a different experience and I didn't quite know what to expect. Needless to say, I loved it and I can't wait to be back. It has been a while since I have gone to a bar and actually had stimulating conversation with guys, AND they weren't even trying to get in my pants! Karaokee was not going on when we arrived but I would love to attend that. Instead it was a jukebox that someone had loaded a bazillion Mariah Carey & Madonna songs onto. I can do that. I normally would not think to order wine at a dive bar, but was given a couple of other inclinations to believe they may actually have decent wine. I was right! Had a delicious glass of Cab. read more

This gay dive bar is a straight-friendly karaoke spot on Mondays and Thursdays for all the hipsters living in 'el barrio fabuloso.' Locals used to call it the 'Open' because it offered no other sign of life outside. Since Oak Cliff is dry, it can be tough to get a drink after 10pm, but fortunately, 'The Pav' is here 'til 2am (or until the place empties out) seven nights a week. read more

Best hole in the wall gay bar EVER! Well, it's the ONLY hole in the wall gay bar I've ever been to, but still! It's awesome! The first time I went, there was a crawfish boil benefit, which was great, and they sometimes have Rock Band available to play. Awesome. I love sitting out on the patio in the early evening while the sun goes down. Only thing that weirded me out is that the bathrooms have symbols on the door that make no sense, so it is not clear which is male and which is female. I think the second door is the ladies', but I've seen many a man come out of there. I guess it really doesn't matter. But LOVE the Pavillion. read more

What a neat little find in Oak Cliff. If you're tired of all the twinks on the Cedar Springs Strip head here for a perfect neighborhood bar experience. Bartender poured the drinks stiff and they were decently priced. Not a huge spot, but everyone seemed to be having a great time and the energy was awesome. read more