Badlands

Get there early! Line was long over the weekend but a fun place to dance. If you get a chance get two drinks to avoid the wait.... lol!

So right off the bat, the employees are respectful. However, there are too many patrons that SNIFF COCAINE (in the bathroom stalls and in the tables across the bar). Too much arrogance and cattiness from patrons as well. I love the efforts that employees do to prevent these but this weekend (9/29/2024) assholes got away with too much. I come to find out that a lot of those people from San Jose, go there and that's probably why the drugs and the disrespect are here. It was never like this especially before it closed down. What a shame to the LGBTQIA community, Latino community, and even Filipino community. I never had this problem in other bars (EXCEPT the Cafe and sometimes Beux). Bummer this was my spot before....I was going to give it 2 stars or less (especially because of disrespectful patrons who are also mostly from the dark corners of San Jose that do drugs) but the employees are doing their best to keep every situation at bay. So I'm giving this place a 3 stars.

I've stopped by the new, renovated Badlands a few times since they reopened in October. Since I visited early in the evening. I was struck by how empty it was compared to the likes of 440 Castro and Midnight Sun, both teeming with customers at the same time. I wondered if it had anything to do with the bar's checkered history.It had been closed for three years due to COVID-19 but prior to that, was a leading Castro bar for 45 years, in particular, as a video dance bar. Yeah, undulating shirtless to Duran Duran was definitely not me. However, the controversy back then was related to allegations of racial discrimination. Since ownership is still the same, there may be lingering ill feelings.However, there appears to be an ongoing shift in ownership, not 100% but hopefully an improvement. It looks like they spent a few shekels on the big dance floor in the back. The Happy Hour deal here is "Buy one, get the second for $1". Not quite 2-4-1 but close enough and certainly potent with $11 Tequila Sunrises (photo: https://yelp.to/VpV_4bGenA). The bartenders have been different with each visit, but they've all been good guys.DRINKS - 4 stars...best at Happy Hour and potent enoughAMBIANCE - 4 stars...good job on the renovationSERVICE - 4 stars...Adrian, Carl, and Braeden were all fineTOTAL - 4 stars...recovery from its checkered history hopefully will give way to a more popular gathering spotRELATED - Exploring the Castro? Here's my collection of places l've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2HrpFPC

Doesn't look any different than it did 10 years ago and we weren't even able to get on the dance floor. Bathrooms still stink but they somehow feel the need to charge $15 cover. That's the most expensive cover at the Castro. I can't. Definitely not worth it. Save your money and eat tacos at the corner of Chevron instead.

It's all about the money .. the people there are either on the clock working the cams or are in On-The-Go grift .., I see the same people week after weeks There is a theft from the inside A total network .., even when I catch someone in a grift excuses are made !!

We came here for a 49'ers event the place was clean and organized we socialized a bit the niners won! Bar staff were friendly & the drag queens were entertaining and pretty. Oh Music was good in between plays

Bearded bouncer denied us entry because we wouldn't let him take pictures of us on his personal phone, even though we were willing to show two forms of government ID in case he had any doubts, but it clearly wasn't about that. It was so pervy and creepy and we will never go back here. We went to The Edge for some great music and dancing and to Twin Peaks Tavern for a lovely lounge moment.

I don't go out very often for cocktails. When I do it's usually with friends. I went out recently in the afternoon on Friday or Saturday I believe it was. The had nicest bartender there. I think his name was Karl. He was polite, happy and talkative. It made my day when he asked " how is your day going?" He didn't use the word Sir, thank goodness. Sir makes me feel old. Thanks for people like Karl working in Castro

I love badlands so much, but some of the bouncers are super fucking sketchy. After waiting in line for 15 minutes they said the only way my two girl friends could get in was if they took photos of them but they didn't take a photo of me or other people in front of us

have you read that bar's past history? The bar's owner had instructed the door man to ask black men entering the bar to open their wallets to prove they had money and there was a separate set of admission policies for black and white people. And that's the REAL Castro.