Elysium

This was my first stop during my weekend in Austin. We arrived late (around 11pm) and caught a glimpse of Elysium from afar and decided eh… what the hell. We visited on a Friday night which was the same day as a Cure concert — so they were having a Cure-​themed drag show. It was my first time attending a drag show and it was FABULOUS! They periodically do band-​themed shows that I would definitely go back for. Elysium was a fine example of why it’s okay to step out of your comfort zone.

Just go on a Sunday night. Seriously the most diverse and interesting crowd I’ve seen in a long time. It’s 80’s but more pet shop boys and depeche mode style music. People have a blast dancing… myself included.

Best night of my life. I met a man who took my breath away. Walked in, was wearing my favorite top and had glossed up my lops with my favorite gloss, and thought to myself that this place was relentlessly flawless. When I ordered a hairy dog, my favorite cocktail, I was certainly not upset with the results. The man I spoke of earlier whom you are probably dying to meet, was in fact, a dog. He was so handsome that he, like I said, truly took my breath away.
Please visit this place. You will meet the love of your life because they let dogs in and you will not be disappointed.

I loved 80’s night about a year ago before they stopped having AC. Now it’s a sweltering pit of angry people and heat stroke. The only air blowing on the whole dance floor was a small oscillating floor fan in the corner. What gives Elysium? I’d drink a lot more cocktails and less gallons of water if you actually get a real working AC. Such a shame because the DJ is the best in the city!

The owner of this place really gets the red river scene. He knows what we want and has salvaged every thing he could into a trio of bars he owns. This is a great spot, great bartenders and great events its someplace i recommend to anyone from out of town to check out.

Last night was my first time visiting this venue. Considering the other reviews below mention no one is ever there, turnout seemed pretty good for a Sunday night! Probably 130 – 140 throughout the whole night. Alcohol prices are decent. Big dance floor, a plus! Lighting, bathrooms, pool tables were all good. Punters seemed carefree and just out to have a good time. It was «80’s night», but somehow it was mainly euro synth pop. There are lots of other genres with great danceable tracks! This leads me to the dj’s. Have you guys not picked up on the fact that club/​dj culture is roughly 45 – 50 years old depending on when you started raving, club-​going, etc. I mean there is a fn Zac Effron movie coming out about dj culture and how big business it is now. Even the mock film composed w/​in the new Entourage movie is about Vinny Chase acting as a dj. Point is. These days there is NO EXCUSE for SILENCE during a dj set. I was very dissapointed w/​tonights experience. The dj’s felt like they were performing their 1^st gig ever. Austin is changing. Im very happy many other venues are updating themselves and trying to catch up with the rest of the world. Believe me, Austin clubs are behind! So could you please consider letting go of the Austin of 20 years ago, and move forward with the rest of us? All im asking are hiring djs that can put a transitioning set together (beginning-​middle peak hour-​end), with smooth mixes so the club goers dont stop dancing after every other song waiting on the next vibe. Keeping the crowd interested is key, and there were soooo many moments last night when the dj lost my interest and i wanted to walk out. If I had driven myself, I would have.

Maybe I’m missing something but this place was like being in someone’s dirty old basement. The girl at the front looked like a 12-​year old in a dominatrix outfit. No makeup & I brushed hair in a full latex getup. Super strange. Best part was her eating this big sandwich that smelled awful and talking to us with a mouthful of food going everywhere. (Puke) There was hardly anyone inside & definitely not worth paying a cover. The music super sucked although the super talkative dj seemed like a nice guy. This is not a club as much as a hangout for the group of people that go there a lot. Not my cup of tea for sure.

I love the concept of Elysium… but it never truly delivers. It’s just that no one really goes. It’s always kinda empty. The drinks aren’t strong. The bartenders are always kind of scary and mean. I DO appreciate their patio! It’s fun to watch the people walk down Red River late at night.

If you are a person in Austin with tendencies toward the dark side, then this is the club for you! It’s one of the few safe havens in Austin for Goth/​Industrial/​Deathrock minded types. They also boast a multitude of other unique events including live musical acts, theme nights, fabulous Drag shows, Burlesque and Sideshow events, Korean Pop music nights, and the ever popular 80’s night on Sunday. Cover is low and drinks are reasonable. If you’ve never been here before, I highly recommend you give it a try. Did Elysium put the beast in you? Or just let it out! :)

Serious props to staff for ameniability and friendliness. As for music, it can feel lazy on a sloooow night. Mixing from one song to another (dead dance floor = coma) can be improved upon. I feel I must have come on a night when I was only 1 of 3 parishioners on a Wednesday. Even still, had a most lovely time. Will def be a regular in no time after moving here recently from LA. Posting playlist on website from each night would be super legit.

Went here for the first time with an old friend of mine and his girlfriend (who is also a performer) for the Vampire Court Ball. Goth clubs aren’t really my thing, but I kinda liked this place. I just wore a black suit and black shirt, and I didn’t feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb. Hell, there were even some older people in jeans and T-​shirts. But most patrons were decked out in corsets, studded leather jackets, leather pants, contacts, etc. And cleavage. Sooooo much cleavage.
Both the bars (the main one up top and the VIP one on the lower area) are pretty nice. Beers and ciders are $ 4.25, mixed drinks like a Vegas Bomb are $ 5.50, and then their signature Blood Shots are about $ 5, I believe.
There’s a good sized dance floor, with silks hanging overhead for aerialists, a stage, a raised DJ booth, a curtained-​off VIP room with sofas in the lower area, a large smoking patio out front, and of course the two bars. That night there were also several stalls selling corsets, flogs, masks, little coffins with chicken feet in them, etc.
The DJ music is a lot of what you’d expect. System of a Down, In The Moment, etc. I kept waiting for some Rage Against the Machine, but sadly it’s not that kind of a place. There was also a live band that did everything from Marilyn Manson to opera. Surprisingly really good opera. Then there were the performers, who did everything from aerial acts to burlesque routines. I wouldn’t call it stripping per se, because they did not bare everything (the most was one woman who had red sparkly pasties), but they are incredibly sensual. And hot.
Most of the people there did not have that super pretentious, holier than thou, make-​hipsters-​seem-​down-​to-​earth air about them that I’ve noticed with other similar groups. These folks were there to get dressed up, escape from the daily routine for a few hours, and have a great time. One dude out on the patio even made my e-​cig disappear and reappear, which blew my drunken mind.
Not some place I personally would frequent, but that night I had a blast! Even met some people I haven’t seen since high school. I’ll definitely be coming back in November, when my buddy and his awesome girlfriend will be in a production of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Last night was, I believe my 3^rd visit in six years to Elysium. Every time I have been it has been for something unique and interesting. The first time was almost 6 years ago for the weekly 80’s dance party. Michael Jackson’s Thriller came on and BAM! The stage was flash mobbed with a crew that knew every step. The second was some SX event and last night was for 20×2’s Austin start up week event. Impressive lineup. That was followed by an actual freak show which was crazy cool.
The reason I am writing a review now is because I am really happy with the improvements that have happened since my last visit. Bathrooms in Austin bars can be very dilapidated. Many of the buildings are ancient and poorly maintained. Elysium was at the top of my list for the worst! Clearly not a male that originally furnished it! The toilets had cracked, padded, vinyl seats. Just imagine the level of sanitation this lacked. I was very pleased last night to see that these have finally been replaced with the normal white plastic kind. This an inexpensive but very appreciated improvement! My suggestion for future improvements would be to make the bathrooms wheelchair/​drunk person accessible. I haven’t viewed the men’s room but the steps for the ladies loo is a hazard.
Other than the variety of acts, I am a fan of the liquor and beer selection. Certainly a larger selection than the average Red River establishment! Lastly the girl that was helping with the technical stuff was very helpful. She has a lot of passion for the place. I would trust this place for events.

You have to hand it to Elysium. They’ve kept things going strong for 25 years. They are fiercely clinging to that corner of red river. I think they’ll outlast all of us. I dropped in here Wednesday night at the behest of a friend who digs the «goth» night. I had no idea what I was getting into. Would there be hundreds of people who looked really depressed milling about?
Actually, it was pretty empty. Good drink specials, great Cult, Clash, Cure music vids playing and just a couple of people on the dance floor until we left (about 12a.) I dug it. I’d go again. Good music, lots of elbow room and a $ 10 bar tab is a decent option on Wednesday nights.

The staff here were very friendly. They have a large dance floor. They have a pool table or two. And the environment looks like it could be a lot of fun. However the night I went it was completely dead. Even after 11 there was pretty much no one there. I will revise my review as soon as they can show me a good time!

During the week you can stroll by Elysium and see the seedy goth underbelly of Austin smoking and brooding outside. This kind of place is not the spot for those douchey dude-​bros that frequent 6^th — Except on Sunday.
Sunday is quite possibly the best day of the week at this bar/​club. Sunday… is when the 80’s come back full swing (in an awkward goth setting). It is the most entertaining night of the week and I get fully decked out in proper 80’s gear (and most everybody else does too!) sans neon shit. The 80’s were not all neon. It was big hair and animal prints. The 90’s were neon. Get your fucking history straight Sorority houses.
Anyway, I love strutting right in with my tights and leopard print shirt and big fat belt and weird earrings. If you have the secret password you won’t pay a cover and you’ll get your hand stamped and you can mosey right along.
The dance floor is all lazery, they spin the best 80’s jams, there is a fog machine and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be sweating your balls off and praying for a stronger AC unit. Sometimes there is an industrial sized fan around and I prefer to sweat to the 80’s in front of that. Don’t worry, my perfume is quite alluring.

I love, love, loveeee dark strobe light lit dance floors period. But the people here dancing their cares away is my most fave
Sunday night 80’s dancing is where it’s at!

Okay… granted, I went here on a «school night»…Wednesday, I think… and it was fairly dead. But… with that said, I did see one of my fav bands, Three33 and I got to see Dead Love Club as well, which I really like… but the bar itself is kinda dark and dank. They have a great outside seating area that allows you to watch the other drunks walk on by, which is fun. At any rate… it was different for me… not a favorite hangout for sure.
The waitstaff was super nice and attentive, though… and that totally works for them! And, they have a great dance floor – pretty big for lots of folks…

NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AT ELYSIUM! Always a VERY diverse crowd, good dance music, large space.
Often have bands, acts, or «theme» nights. Vamp, 80s, goth, glam. you name it! Always a good time, More than just a bar; it’s an «experience.» Have never been disappointed… until…
During my most recent visit, their was an «aerial» act ($ 6 cover). Was told it would begin in about 10 minutes. Over an hour later the «act» began. It was one of the most ridiculous, embarrassing things I’ve ever seen. No Cirque du Soleil here! Two women all twisted up and hanging onto the aerial ribbons for dear life! hahahahaha They had NO IDEA what they were doing! Bless their hearts. :) It was «entertaining» though — just not how I think they intended it to be. Every bit worth the 6 bucks spent because I laughed so hard I inadvertently got an awesome ab workout!
I’ll be back!

I used to be intimidated by the goth-​ness of this bar, but I gave it a try and found it to be amazing!
Like Barbarella, it’s got 80s and 90s music videos. However, it is much larger with lots of room to dance.
Give it a try and see for yourself!

If I lived in Austin, then I would probably frequent here. This place makes the little goth/​industrial girl in me happy.
Elysium is a divey bar/​lounge with dance floor and pool table, along with quite vintage looking a/​c blasting on. The drinks are cheap (well I’m coming from NYC) and the bartender is nice. The bathrooms’ décor is on acid but it is kind of cool.
Come and chill or dance your heart out, I’m sure nobody here will judge.