Bacchus House

Completely dead on this Thursday night. There was no one tending the bar, one person having a drink and another shooting pool.
I casually walked to the empty back room where barstools were turned atop tables. We didn’t wait for a bartender and left.
A pity star because the music video playing was Midas Touch (1986) Atlantic Star.
«…I’ve got the Midas Touch
Everything I touch turns to gold,
I’ve got the Midas Touch
Baby, let me touch your body and your soul…»
Sadly, there was no solid gold here this time.

I live across the street from Bacchus House and have 2 friends who DJ there, and quite frankly if it were not for that I probably would never go into the place.
It’s a great looking club that’s recently been remodelled, and every 1^st Saturday night of the month they have Bear Night which is fun and packed. This seems to be the only night this place can draw a crowd.
For one as some of the posts I’ve read have mentioned, they have very unfriendly staff, it almost seems at times that you are bothering them by ordering a drink.
Their mixed drinks… way overpriced for what you get. Now if they were packing the place… maybe I could see the charge, but as my friend mentioned on one of the latin nights that we were there of maybe 30 people in attendence hardly anyone had a drink in their hands.
Finally…charging a cover. I can see it on a Friday or Saturday night, and again if they were busy during the week I could see it, but its a slap in the face to be charged a cover to get in to a bar to find only 30 people in.
With new businesses bringing more people into the neighborhood Bacchus needs to step up there game or they may be out of business soon.

This place has really gone downhill these past couple of years. Latino nights used to be the best night to go, and they didn’t charge cover. Now they are charging cover, the place is totally dead, and the «performers» look like they just walked over from El Cajon Boulevard, I’m not kidding. You don’t put on a crappy performance then chastise the audience for not tipping. There are still a couple of class acts like Rosanna, the rest are hit and miss, mostly miss. Too bad. It used to be a fun place to hang out.

Not the greatest dance floor, okay service, and a cover, i am still not in love but i did love the crowd on bear night. Decent priced drinks and responsible service. I really don’t know what else to write, my experience was neither fabulous nor awful

My friend wanted to go here and see boys so we went on a Friday night. I think the cover was $ 8. It was pretty empty except for the smoking patio.
Not long after our arrival, I had to use the restroom. I headed over and tried to open the women’s restroom door and was disgusted when my hand touched something wet. Someone had vomited all over the door including the knob.
I was so disgusted I ended up washing my hands in the men’s restroom. The men didn’t seem to care I was in there while they used the urinal. I told one of the bartenders afterward and it was promptly cleaned.
Back to the boy-​watching, the three go-​go dancers were dancing in their boxer briefs and pulled down in the back to fully expose their asses. I tried to convince my friend to stuff a dollar, but he didn’t think any of them were cute.
The front area played hip-hop…it was completely empty. The back area played latin music… it was nearly empty.
I was somewhat amused watching a 50-​something year old woman with a mullet salivating at one of the go-​go dancers, giving him money and trying to get away with inappropriate touches.
Despite the vomit experience, I’m curious to see what Club 80’s is like here. Update to come…

My friend’s band was playing a gig around the corner from this place. As a means of wasting time, a co-​worker and I stumbled in to get a beer or two.
First gay bar I’d ever been too and I don’t think I was fully prepared for what I was walking in on. The place was kinda dark with a dive bar/Caligula’s palace kinda thing goin on. If that makes any sense. A couple t.v.s on the wall showed some dudes in their underwear or whatever…
Anyway, I had a beer and a shot and it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg. Plus, the bartender was pleasent enough to buy me another shot. Good times and no one looked at me strange nor did I at anyone…
Decent place just not my style…

I was there on a Friday night. The theme varies but this was a Latin night. It didn’t get busy until around 10:30 or so.
The front bar played good dance music and then the larger back dance floor was all latin. Miller light special only $ 2.50 so that was good.
It said that Saturday night was going to be bear night. I didn’t go back for that.
The biggest NEGATIVE was the COVER CHARGE! $ 8
No reason for anything that HIGH!
Decent bar but not worth the cover.
Bartender was very friendly and I got drinks anytime I needed them.

We ended the evening here since there was 40 minutes to the new year. WOW $ 6 cover. The staff was pretty friendly or maybe because they really know how to work it on a night like this. My partner’s drink was strong. I had to have a coke because I was driving.
The dance floor was packed and we felt like we were in a different country. If you’re into Latin/​Hispanic/​Mexican men, this is the place to go. And yes, there are some trannies and some trashy male whores. We ran into some friends who we haven’t seen in a while. It was an interesting ending to 2008 because of the happy drunk people. Midnight countdown and two glasses of cheap champagne and we were done.
He: Ready
Me: Yep, let’s go… run…(wicked laughter)
He: I guess we don’t need to say goodbye.
Me: They won’t remember anyway.
12:05, we were out the door.

Wandering around North Park one night, my buddy Ruggy and I were headed to another bar when we stumbled upon this bar.
Ruggy asked «You ever been in here», I said «Nope», so we tried it.
I found it kind of odd that neither of us had since we have both lived in the area for quite a while.
It didnt take us long to realize this was a Latino themed gay bar. No big deal, whatever.
As Ruggy ran off to use the restroom I stood by the bar trying to order a couple of beers. It was loud so I didn’t bother yelling, the bartender was 3 feet away and reading some list. When he finally looked up he walked away to the back giving me an odd look.
We were getting some strange looks from other workers. There were maybe only a few other patrons in the place at the time. I walked towards the back of the place and discovered a huge room that could have been some awesome dance floor or stage. They also had TVs in the rest room which is a cool idea.
I have to give this place one star because of the horrible service. They totally ignored us. If they were closed, they could had just said so and we would have bailed, no problem. If for some reason they wouldn’t serve us because we were strait (how would they have known?) that’s pretty low. This could have been a cool place, this review could have been a nice one.
Thanks for waisting 20 minutes of our time.

I never was a fan of Bacchus House until CLUB 90’s ARRIVED! This by far is one of my favorite nights to go out and have fun! 90 cents to get in, 90 cents for strong ass drinks, and 90’s music that’s mixed really well to dance to! What more can you ask for?

A fun and happenin’ place on BearNight… the first Saturday of each month.
In front is a video bar with poppy hits playing. In back is a full-​on dance floor that gets packed by 11pm or so.
$ 5 cover, not bad.
Surprisingly, the nearby parking garage usually has plenty of parking available.

Why I don’t like Bacchus House
1)Music is cranked up WAY TOO LOUD, there is no place to escape it.
2)There is a dangerous ramp leading from the dance floor area into the front area. Just some wobbly chains preventing your local drunk from breaking an ankle.
3)It’s hot in there… even on a cool night when the place isn’t really that crowded.
4)Pr icy drinks
5)They charge a cover for nothing out of the ordinary.
6)Staff not very friendly.

Call me crazy, but I had no idea this was a gay bar! Where have I been? Hmmmmm…
Went in there last week. It was a Tuesday, actually. Strange vibes, for sure. It was 9:00 p. m and I don’t know if the place was still closed or what, but not one single employee said a word to me or my buds in the 15 minutes we were sitting there. We were literally sitting at the bar, watching Family Guy on the overhead TV’s, and they guy behind the bar never even knew we were there. Another four or five employees were milling about, but again, not one word. I was curious to check the space out, so I walked around a bit. They have a HUGE dance floor in the back. I had no idea. I’ll bet that place gets PACKED on a weekend.
They also have TV’s in the bathroom. That’s pretty cool. You can drop a deuce while watching Queer Eye, or something.
After all that exploring, still not a word. I guess I could have approached them, but why? Isn’t it their job to at least say «hello? I just left.

This is the only club I have ever been to that has half naked greased up man candy dancing on pool tables. For that, one star.
They charge a $ 8 cover, which I think is a little steep, especially considering they’re kinda in the ghetch-​ro, so minus a star for that.
The smoking patio is really cool, although the clear plastic ultra-​hip Camel stools are a little tricky to sit on while inebriated. Which brings me to another awesome selling point, the CAMEL PEOPLE!!! They are there every Friday night, and they give you 2 packs. Maybe I’m just a leeching bum, but I think that’s awesome. And I’m not even a full time smoker. Some people drunk-​dial, I drunk-​puff.
Dance floor is really dark and a little lame, I think the whole time I was there I sat on the patio and effed around with the radical stools.
An ok bar, nothin to write home about, but not a complete shit hole either.
I have a parking secret, but if I told you I would have to kill you.
Just kidding. You can park on Ohio, in the spaces between the alley and the dry cleaners after hours. Just make sure your car alarm is on so the trannys that wander around there don’t try any funny business.

My first time there I couldn’t find the darn place because the sign was barely readable. And yes, I’m not from the area so I was a little clueless. Once I did find the club I parked just off of Grim.
I was meeting my friend there for a show, which thankfully was running late. This time around I went straight to the back bar for the drag show, solely to see my good friend perform, and we stayed for a few others. The drinks were good, not kickin’ but at least there was something to em.
The women’s bathroom sucked, dirty, no tp (What is up with this?) and yet again, a door that wouldn’t shut. Good grief.
A few weekends later my friend (not in drag this time) and I returned and tried out the front bar. Alas, we were there on what was promised to be a Latino night of some sort (his weakness, my preferred dancing music). In the front music was playing along with the videos on multiple tvs. The crowd was very minimal in the beginning and barely thickened by the time we left over an hour later. It felt more like a local hangout/​dive bar than a club.
In the back room there was a drag show going on but it wasn’t any performers we knew nor cared about so we only popped in every so often to check for familiar music. Eventually the show ended, the DJ started and we got some good dancing in.
Again, drinks were good, not pricey, so I won’t complain there. I never would have picked this place if it wasn’t for my friend’s performance and another show of his is the only reason I would return.

A review for a restaurant called Confidential that I just ran into claimed that their venue was unique for «offering tempting tastes of Latin American, Pan-​Asian, and Mediterranean flavors, accompanied by world-​class DJs spinning a variety of music.» I would say the same for Bacchus House. Anyone who knows me knows that’s worth AT LEAST five stars from me! LOL. Seriously, though, it was a good place, the drinks were reasonable, and the crowd was fun.

Bacchus House is great. The bartenders are friendly and the drinks are stiff. Its a gay bar just like Kinsee said, but its not going anywhere. Its much tamer than Rebar, and should continue to do good business because of the areas resurgence.
This area is becoming a nightlife destination which can only help local bars and business. The only thing La Boheme has done is replaced a Rite Aide and a parking lot, (lots of «character» there)?? and infused the ‘hood with more gays.
Big up to Bacchus!

Eh. I dunno. They used to be okay but now have the nerve to charge cover, even on weeknights. Still, it’s okay, I guess. Weds and Sun are $ 2.50 margaritas/​beers and Thurs are $ 1 well drinks. Still, having to pay a cover in order to get these specials kind of defeats the purpose.

I was last here on a dead quiet Saturday.
Decided to give the place the benefit of the doubt as we had arrived at 9:30 with some out of town guests.
By 11 the place was still dead. I have no idea why.
The front bar has a nice ambiance and the bartender seemed friendly. I walked into the back dance area and it seemed like your usual dance floor if a bit smallish.
Parking can be miserable. Welcome to North Park. Street/​meter space shuffle or better yet just pay and park in the shiny new garage on 30^th and North Park Way and walk back.
And, just for Kinsee M. regarding queer — I don’t find it offensive but I’m sure someone on here will. YMMV.

It’ s a queer bar. My friend just wrote a story on the word «queer» so I thought I’d throw it out into the Unilocal universe. How do you feel about the word? Does it offend you?
Anyway, Bacchus is one of a dying bread of gay bars in North Park. In the midsts of major gentrification, this part of town has lost Rebar (leather daddy bar) and a few other places with «character» only to be replaced by the monstrosity that is La Boheme – a mountain of condos crammed across the street from Scolari’s.
Bacchus has character. Support it before it has to move out and a real estate company moves in!