Lava Lounge

Although on Carson around the annoying college crowds and bars, this place rules. Not really a bunch of annoying college kids here. Just cool locals. Great service and selection and a cool atmosphere. Its kind of steam punk. Gears and rock w/​red lighting. Really cool. Love that the bartenders are tattooed and edgy. My peeps! Haha.

As a dive bar this place is OK. If it was an Art Gallery, they could make a ton of money displaying Low Brow and Alternative art to go along with the very cool inside features.
We stopped in to experience the imaginative interior. The décor is unique and fun. It reminds me of an underground bar in Juarez Mexico. Though this is man made it is very artistic and displays so many odd objects and works of art, besides the fixtures. No 2 things are the same except maybe the bar stools. The person who thought it up should be given a first prize.
It was a slow night when we visited. I’m sure it would have been more fun with a crowd and band playing.
We did find a bad problem. All of our 3 different beers had the same funky/​skunky taste. We realized that the rinsing water used was either dirty or run through a filter and recycled or was just bad tap water. I licked the outside of my glass and it had that same taste, so we know the beer was fine.
I recommend a short visit for a beer and the ambiance, then hit the road to a cleaner location, unless your interested in playing a game of Pinball on the Ultra Cool Star Wars machine.

Pretty cool bar.

Went when there was a live band playing. Music was good, but extremely loud for the smaller venue. Other then that drinks were priced well and the bartenders were polite and attentive.

Got to give them credit for committing to their concept. It is like drinking inside of a lava lamp that is itself inside of a volcano. And that is a high compliment.
Out front it is all dark red lighting, funky steampunk electronics in the wall, magma shaped seats, and a full list of lava themed cocktails. Plus for Saturday night they had $ 2 rails until 11:30. Whaaaaa. That’s a steal. We got tipsy off rum shots for almost nothing.
After knocking a few back, we headed to the back area for the dance floor. The lights reflecting off your skin have that trippy lava lamp look that works great. The best part: there is a small sunken alcove with a booth, lined in bricks, where you can descend about 2 feet below the floor level and have your own private oasis. The dancing was fun, too, but not enough people shaking it the night we went. Lots of people just sitting around the floor.

This is probably one of my favorite places on Carson street. I went and saw Tigers Eyes and Reason as well as a few other acts and my mind was blown away. The set up, the sound, the crowd. This place is the essence of a gem. I can’t even explain it and it probably sounds crazy but the inside where the show is, is like being in a volcano and when you first walk in is like the lave flowing out, lol I’m being dead serious.
Find out who’s playing and visit this place at least once in your life or before they don’t exist anymore.

My first time at Lava Lounge was about two years ago with bobby. We were already pretty tipsy and stopped in just to dance. We didnt venture too far inside and then left to go home.
We stopped in last night for a drink to get out of the cold on our way home! There were a few patrons which was surprising for a sunday night. After being there a few moments, we found out it was karaōke night! How cool! I ordered the Goodnight Kiss– Bicardi Rum, Captain Morgan Rum, Myeres Rum, pineapple juice and orange juice. (the have a cool drink menu by the way) It wasn’t very strong for having 3 liquors but hey what can you do. next time i’ll stick to a normal coke & rum or long island. Bobby ordered a sprite and two shots of Patron. i should’ve went with that.
As i mentioned before, we never ventured to the back. Bobby went to check it out (im a little shy and didnt want to just walk back there in case it was closed off lol) He came back and said we can sit back there to enjoy our drinks. It was TOTALLLLLLLY cool back there! Plenty of cool seating, a little dance floor in the back. the atmosphere was awesome even though we were the only ones back there (minus the few people playing pinball)
We didn’t end up staying long because i just to get to my warm home, but i am superrrrr excited to head here on our next night out– which most likely wont be till St. Patty’s Day since that is the only time we bar hop anymore haha. Boy times change.

Very interesting vibe for a bar. Lava lounge is what a bar would look like if it were within a volcano. Plenty of seats and space, even though it’s a small venue. I was here on a Monday and there wasn’t much of crowd except for a couple comics one of which who was really rude… But It was an open mic, the bar had no bookings for comics.
Bartenders were attentive and drinks were inexpensive, making it an enjoyable place. Id love to play here one day… Chill vibe, unique looking, and cool décor.
Will return.

Last night was my first time going to the Lava Lounge. It’s been one of the few bars in South Side I’ve wanted to go to for about 2+ years and it did not disappoint! LOVED the lighting, the music, the bartender was super friendly and made an amazing bloody mary. Also there was no smoking and plenty of seating with tables, and it looks small when you first go in but then you realize there’s a whole other back room with more seating and tables. Will definitely be recommending to others and returning myself.

I was here for just a minute, which is how long it took to chug a PBR. I loved the setting… dark and somewhat foreboding, but colorful. They had a DJ in the back, but I did not partake. I will the next time I’m on the South Side.

This is probably my favorite Southside bar! The drinks are cheap and décor is super neat-​makes you feel like you are in a volcano. Friday nights is 80’s night and the DJ is always spinning the jams. They even take request and have a small dance floor in the back room. Oh my last visit I was pleasantly surprised how many craft bottled beers they had. I had a Wild Blues blueberry and an Abita Purple Haze (they had a few pumpkin brews too). The cost for 2 craft beers was only $ 9.50! Grab your friends and head to Lava Lounge for a fun evening!

This isn’t the best bar in terms of drinks or prices but the atmosphere makes up for where other areas lack. The whole place is volcano themed and that in itself is pretty sweet. There’s enough seating to just chill with friends and there’s also a nice dance floor in the back. My experiences here have always been positive and I’ll definitely be back for more.

The only reason I gave this place two stars is because of the smoking. I was under the impression that Lava Lounge was completely non-​smoking on Friday and Saturday but I was misinformed. The non-​smoking rule only goes into effect at 8 PM AND only if the bartender actually enforces it. That being said, this is a cool dive bar and a lot of fun. I wish that the karaōke DJ paid more attention to us newbies (who might have been enticed into becoming regulars IF she gave us more time at the mic)… This bar reminds me of Hells Kitchen and the Lower East in NYC — a nice eclectic mix of people… not too many tourists and a lot of regulars. I doubt that I will go back solely because of the cigarette smoke.

I can finally say I’ve had drinks in a volcano!
Yes, it was on my bucket list… don’t judge me.
We visited this place while on a family trip and wanted to get away from the amusement park area. I came to Unilocal and my fellow Unilocalers led me here!
I LOVED IT!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!
From the moment I walked in and was greated by a lil puppy and lava rocks. I mean, the place is too cute. I walked around, ooohhh and ahhh about the crazy archeticure, the red lights, the cave like features… ahhh mah zing!
The music was super on point… DJ slamming!!! all my hits! I could barely stay in my carved out booth!
I was there with couples so we pulled out cards of humanity and played a couple of rounds and sipped on some drinks.
The drinks were really great prices also, not hitting you over the head. My DH didn’t love his gin and pineapple… maybe the pineapple was bad. I just got a straight gin the next time.
Overall, I wish I owned this place or at least it wasn’t so far away. I would love a spot like this in my town!

This place was awesome it had glass-​blown light covers, steampunk looking machines. In the back room there were tables to sit at, an unoccupied DJ booth and the only empty spot was on the dance floor, one of the tables was built into the ground, it looked like a hot tub made into a bar table. Weird. The bar chairs were awesome, they were that of a Nightmare Before Christmas aura, the back was super tall, they spun you in little circles. Some real cool artwork was on the walls all over the place. My friend said it may be a hallucination theme. I can dig it, definitely a grungy ass place. It is a real cool place to experience, not too heavy on good beers. I give it five stars for being weird as hell…

One of the strangest places I’ve ever been to. The whole place smells like a head shop when you walk in and the décor is a cross between the Honey I Shrunk the Kids park at Disney World and the sitcom Dinosaur from the 90’s. There was lava rock chair backs, gears in the tables, shell like seating areas, etc etc. I honestly don’t even know how to describe it. The bar wasn’t even bad, it was just so weird. The décor was not cohesive at all.
I will say that the music was awesome. Not your normal club/​dance music. It was just your every day music and I really enjoyed that. Plus the drinks were $ 2. My friend was so excited, he bought 8 drinks for the three of us… at one time.
I would definitely check this place out again and update my review. I’m just slightly baffled at this time.

It’s not your typical «South Side» joint, which I mean as a compliment. The décor is what I’d call volcano-​chic, with fixtures that are curved like they eroded that way and sparkly bits all over the place, which gets especially fun when you check out a dance night such as their 80s Night Friday (at which I’m becoming something of a regular).
If you do like the 80s Nights, this is a – ahem — rock-​solid one. (Sorry.) Seriously, though, you’ll hear a lot of great tunes, especially later into the night. Downside? It gets constant-strangers’-elbows-in-your-sides crowded as you dance past midnight.
As for the drinks — it’s been said before that they’re rather weak in the booze department, and I have to agree. The bar service is actually quite good on a customer service level, especially considering the wall of humanity they’re tending to, but unless you’re drinking the MD ²⁰⁄₂₀ they’ve got for sale, don’t expect any sort of wallop in your glass.
Overall, I’d recommend at least one go-​round here; it’s a unique and welcoming place. (Double-​plus welcoming if you’re a smoker.)

This place makes South Side cool. This place is not your typical Carson Street bro fest. This place is where you want to be!
If you created a bar in a cave, this would be exactly what it would look like. It’s dimly light with red lights illuminating the rock walls. You can hop into one of the little seating coves or grab a table with swirly looking chairs. Nothing about this bar is boring as far as ambiance goes.
As busy as the bartenders are, they’re super friendly and quick. I told the bartender chick to make me something fun and she whipped up this delicious cocktail she called the refreshing side of a margarita. Wasn’t too sweet, but had just the right kick to it (thanks tequila!). I loved it! At $ 4 it’s a steal too!
There’s also a decent DJ on Saturday nights with a small dance floor in the back to werk your thang. I appreciate a place that let’s me werk it on the weekends! Actually, coming here for the first time in a while, it makes me want to come back sooner…

What else is better than sitting in a pit inside a bar that looks like you’re inside a volcano??? NOTHING! (Do be careful though getting into the pit, you don’t need to fall) The décor is amazing, they did an outstanding job to make it feel like you really are experiencing an inside of a volcano, not that I personally have been inside a volcano to be able to compare.
Drinks are amazing, everything you can think of and more. DJs are excellent when spinning their sounds. The crowd is always lively. If you are in a bad mood entering the place you definitely will leave out of there in a better mood.
I love being able to just sit and collect my thoughts in the pit. But seriously, watch your step. It’s great to get down there faster, but not worth the pain.

We come to Lava Lounge for their 80s Night on Fridays occasionally. I’m a recovering Upstage-​r, so any DJ who is even moderately comparable to EZ Lou is, in my book, a great find. I’m happy to say that the DJ at Lava Lounge is just as good, and for that, we will definitely keep coming back to dance.
To drink? Well, that’s a different issue. I understand that this is the South Side, but the bartenders use teeny tiny measuring cups for your mixed drinks, meaning that you end up with less than a full shot of booze in each $ 4.50 drink. Personality-​wise, the bartenders are usually great: friendly, and good at handling the crowd that will all turn up at one time for the next round during an ‘off’ song. I haven’t been on any other night besides 80s Night, so who knows if this is just something they do when they’re super crowded. Thankfully, I will dance to 80s music without a single drop of booze, so I manage pretty well :)
My only other issue with the Lava Lounge is that they could definitely use more space in the back dance area. It gets SO crowded by the end of the night (which, good for them, we want a rockin’ 80s Night to stick around!), and I wish there was some way they could expand a bit. I realize this isn’t possible, so just take it as a heads-​up that you will be sweaty and dancing with people you’ve never met before because of space constraints before the end of the night.
Other than that, and the fact that you *do* have to deal with a few annoying typical South Side-​rs (although there are quite a few former Upstage kids who come here now), this is a great 80s Night. The DJ plays a ton of new wave and 80s pop. He throws in a Bön Jovi or Journey song here and there, but the majority of the setlist is made up of The Cure, Depeche Mode, Prince, Madonna, New Order, and similar bands. I appreciate a place that can make me feel like it’s 1986 in 2004 all over again.