Babe’s of Carytown

I’m a visitor to RVA from ATL and it was suggested to check this place out. I know small cities don’t usually have a lot of gay bars, especially nice ones so I wasn’t expecting much. I loved the crowd… It was very diverse and I love diversity at parties! Drinks were VERY affordable, though the bartender we had didn’t have the best attitude. I’m ok with the $ 5 cover charge… They charge more in Atlanta! Appreciated it being smoke free with smoking only at the outside bar. The music was cheesy but fun! Horrible DJing skills but good enough music to keep everyone dancing! A little bit of old, a few new, classics, Latin… The music went several different directions randomly lol! Overall I enjoyed it and would definitely come back! Maybe even for brunch today :-)

Has a great vibe, no fighting and foolishness. $ 5 cover charge. the atmosphere is fun and the other partiers are always fun to watch getting drunk and dancing terribly, lol. there is a pole in the middle of the floor that is great entertainment, as drunk ppl pretend to b strippers. I’ve been here several times over the years and it’s always fun. as others have commented the music does suck and the dj ALWAYS ALWAYS plays the cupid shuffle. it’s lik 2% new music and 98% old stuff like Britney Spears and old Ciara and stuff lik Miley Cyrus songs or Hannah Montana or who ever the white chick is who sings Party in the USA. it’s definitely a good place to go and ppl watch. there are pool tables inside and a volleyball thing outside. it gets very crowded inside but it’s still fun. it’s a mix of young folks, older ppl, drag queens and straight ppl and who ever else is bored and wants to enjoy a nite out.

I have only been here once but I did enjoy myself. I was visiting Richmond with a friend and we are both recently single and wanted to mingle. The previous night we had been to Godfrey’s, which was fun in a different way but what I liked about Babe’s in comparison was that it was very non-​judgmental. There were lots of different types of people… some good dancers, some not so much but everyone was just out on the dance floor having fun. The DJ’s song selection made me feel like I was at a wedding in a good and bad way. Playing pop songs and line dances is a fun way to get people dancing but I could have stood for a bit more Hip Hop. Drinks were decently priced and the décor is low-​budget but fun. I would definitely try it out again if I’m ever back in Richmond.

Staff is not nice. At last call we were waiting for a friend in the bathroom and one angry staff tried kicking us out telling how illegal it was to be there. Sorry we did not want our friend to come out of the bathroom and not to know where we were. I do not feel like I need to waste my money here again.

So happy Richmond has a spot like this. It’s the cracker barrel of gay clubs. Fills you up with comfort and leaves you feeling just the right amount of queasy.
The décor is special. Highlights are the random fish tank, babe’s spelled out in tiles on the dance floor, and the volleyball court out back. Also, honorable mention to the makeshift pole in the middle of the dance floor that could probably tell quite a few stories.
The crowd is eclectic and full of good vibes. Staff is good at keeping the drinks moving. Front bar tends to be faster. The cover is comparable to what you get inside. ($ 5 when I went.) Never had the food. DJ is hit or miss. They play 20% new stuff, 40% throw backs, and 40% songs that need to be retired. I’m looking at you Cupid Shuffle!
Overall, I recommend checking out this place at least once.

Great cheese steaks. Prices were decent. There’s carpeting on the walls. What’s up with that?

Fun place where everyone’s friendly. Could use a décor update but cheap drinks and a Richmond institution.

Cheap drinks, great food, nice staff. Oh, and they have the best drag shows in Richmond. Love XXX Divas on Thursday nights! $ 1 tacos and $ 1 tots on Thursday nights. Dinner and a show!
Oh, and go dancing on a Saturday night. Best place to go to dance in Richmond.

Good Place to hang out! In the summertime there is Volleyball outside on the patio. dj sucks tho. He alot of older music.

I went here for lunch on a Friday, and the food was pretty good, and our waitress was super nice, but just… The entire atmosphere of it was very off-​putting, and I just didn’t like the overall «feel» of it.
And they need to do something about the bathrooms.

It seems that Babes is stuck in a certain decade… the one it opened in. Forgetting that this bar is basically a landmark to Richmond, they really need to do some updates. The staff is amazing, but the décor of this place is just blah. We do go here frequently, but its mainly because it is one of the top people watching places.ever. and the drinks are affordable. Shot out to their terrible DJs who play recent music maybe once a month. I do appreciate a good throw-​back, but come on. And telling me «I dont take requests» is ridiculous, my request is not a song, its for the current decade of music!

OKOKOK — Went to the Sunday night show – not that I expected a show as good as other places, I lived in Bangkok for several years, but as far as Richmond goes, the talent and performances were as good as it gets! Of course, when I was in Thailand, the performers weren’t even born yet!
Drinks were good – got better as night went on. Crowd was a combination of regulars and party groups. Kudos to the performers and staff!
Suggest a better table lay out and use of the corner stage area – just sayin’

Ok, so it’s a lesbian bar. The only one in RVA, and it has been there forever. Get over the feeling that you can’t go there if you aren’t a lesbian. This place is great for everyone for a lot of reasons:
First-​the food is good~
I have eaten lunch there several times, and never was disappointed. It is your general American fare, pretty basic-​but it’s GOOD.
The hidden gem is BRUNCH. Best brunch in Carytown if you ask me. The last time I was there my omelette was cooked perfectly and was falling-​off-​the-​plate huge. My toast was warm (rare), the hashbrowns were good, the grits were PERFECT (yes, I got both-​be quiet) and the bacon was CRISPY, not floppy, not fatty, not burnt.
Everything was perfect. I even asked to see the cook to thank her.
Second-it’s CHEAP!!~
That brunch with a half-​caraffe of mimosas was under $ 20.00! Carafes of mimosas? Sure-​maybe six bucks for that half carafe.
Sure, my skinny friend only got and egg and cheese biscuit-​but in CARYTOWN people? Land of over-​priced everything? My last lunch for two was also under $ 20.00. If you want to drink…
They have a great happy hour~
Don’t ask me to rattle off prices-​but like I said-​cheap. Rail highballs, pitchers of beer-​go get ‘em drinkers on a budget.
They are usually not crowded~
Sure on busy nights with cover charges and the «regular crowd» they are, but at lunch or brunch or happy hour-​nope. Grab a booth-​no wait.
They have a cool deck in the back~
Smokers can smoke here, Drinkers can drink here. People play volleyball when the weather is warm-​yes people, meaning all sorts of people-​not just lesbians. It’s fun to watch. A wayward ball has landed on my table, but that’s the risk you take. If you do like the nite life…
You can dance there~
In addition to occasional drag shows and live music, there are several dance nights. So what you say? Do you dance? Do you wonder where to go? Now don’t ask me what type of music what night and all of that business-​but there is a big, usually uncrowded dance floor. I love it– there might be a $ 5 cover charge-​who cares.
If you happen to be a lesbian-​bonus.

More cute girls please

I went in on a Friday evening at like 9, paid my $ 5 cover charge and stayed till 1. It was so much fun I lost track of time. It has the most laid-​back atmosphere full of nice people all with one goal: enjoy yourself!
I danced my buns off and didn’t care who saw, and everyone else around me did too!

this is not your typical $ 20 dollar cover charge, upscale, strict dress code, VIP,
Dom Perignon champagne poppin’ type of club.
this is a «hey, i kinda don’t want to take my crocs off but I’m feelin’ pretty good and i don’t really give a damn» kind of place…
the crowd is so much fun!

Is this all we have, Richmond ladies?
Even though its a little depressing, my girlfriend and I still make it to Babe’s about once every couple of months to see if the crowd and atmosphere has improved. Nope.
Recently, I’ve started noticing creepy straight couples lurking around. Trying to find a hot lady to makes their fantasy a reality? I’m not sure — it’s pretty annoying.
I do love the bar staff — straightforward, hard working, and pretty genuine.
Lez be honest … our community needs a classier place to mingle over cocktails.
The best night I’ve been to Babe’s? Halloween. Everyone comes out of the woodworks.

Babe’s is great, though I’ve never eaten here. Primarily, its a bar and dance floor, with volleyball and a patio of tables set up in the back. I come here Thursday nights to support my fave DJ Androgynous Animal, and she never disappoints! From poppy, dance numbers to classic punk, the music is always hopping! :) Too bad no one’s ever dancing. The hot spot is usually the back patio, where the smokers can smoke to their heart’s content and where $ 1 tacos are delivered by the bartenders.
Drinks are pretty cheap; I like to do a rail liquor (gin or vodka) with a simple mix, like a gin & tonic or a vodka cranberry — $ 4 a drink. Bottles of Bud are $ 3. I would imagine other drinks would be on the same level, though my favorite Red Stripe is a bit more, like $ 4.50 or something like that. I don’t get any complaining about service; the bartender there last night was sweet as pie! I usually see another chick who is a little more snarky, but who cares? She remembers your drink orders from the week before! That’s customer service in my book.

What a rat hole. Went in after we paid our five bucks (for what?!). Had one beer and one soda (that was all soda water, no syrup.). The three bartenders ignored us (there was nobody there). Went to the bathroom and there was a bag of french fries hanging out in there like someone was just chilling, taking a pee and having a snack.
It was sad in the 80’s, it’s sad now.
The only time I had fun in there was if went with a big group of friends and got wasted.

I always have a good time when I go, and I happen to be strait
(*chanting* I’m here I’m not queer but please do your best to tolorate it, thank you for your attention in this matter)
the drinks are ok… depending on who makes it they are pretty strong. true the service is lack luster and they really aren’t interested in giving you a drink, and yes they play some off beat stuff some times and yes there is a cover when you damn sure are buying more than 2 drinks. the menu is the usual stuff wings chicken tenders and such … the kicker… MINI CORN DOGS!!! you havent lived until you have eaten them drunk in a gay bar mmmmmmmm mmmm tender viddles.
but over all a good crowd and its just a good time.