Cha Cha’s of Coney Island

I haven’t eaten anything here but a glass of water that the concerned clerk offered me after I was dry heaving into a trashcan out front. Because I’m just that classy. But for being a rough looking place they staff was really very nice.

This is the original Cha Cha’s.
Cha Cha’s Club Atlantis’s is a dive bar that CORRECTLY hones the address: 1229 Riegelmann Boardwalk, Brooklyn, NY 11 224. A bar that contains a stage for live band performances, I presume, a pesky $ 10.00 cover fee for admittance. In the rear is a gift shop containing t-​shirts and other freakish items are available for sale. Outdoor seating is available and a rooftop deck also contain seats where Wonder Wheel is visible. Strike three for the air conditioning is completely inoperable as this bar is stifling HOT! This dive bar is the kind that attracts patrons heavily plastered with tattoos all over one’s body. Two poles are mounted to the stage fending a strip club atmosphere. The walls are heavily plastered with photos, flyers of upcoming live musician performances, and including oversize banner advertisements of beers.
No comment on the food, nor drinks, nor quality of performances, nor customer service as I briefly entered for the power of observation to attain a glimpse of the buzz of this original Cha Cha’s. Freakish paramount is what this original Cha Cha presents as befitting to the Coney Island hipster scene.

I’m not sure if we were at Cha Cha’s on an unusual night or if every night is unusual here. We stopped in for a few drinks and at the time they had an older gentleman singing tunes on their mini stage in the back. He was doing mostly Sinatra and few oldies. He had quite a gathering of groupies in the back intently watching him and singing along.
The drinks were cold, the atmosphere was fun and goofy. We would definitely stop back. We didn’t eat here so no comment on that. I had a very very strong piña colada and they sell 22 oz beers.

Don’t get duped like I did, yes this place has cheap drinks, not a lot of top shelf options just a small selection. They have «Georgi» hard liquor… really? I only came here because on the «beer island» website this spot was advertised as the «new beer island» BOY was this a big sham! My boyfriend & I were so pissed because we were expecting to get a great selection of beer options only to find they had like 4 kinds and thats it. Apparently Beer Island hasn’t opened back up yet again something about not having their liquor license. While their $ 4 coronas were a great deal & the service good, I wouldn’t come back.

Great place to grab a quick bite and enjoy cheap beer specials! I opted to wander over instead of standing in line for that super-​famous hot dog place that has lines out to the sidewalk… and I’m glad I did. I ordered the Wonder Wheel hot dog, which is reasonably priced at $ 4 and is a foot-​long. The snap and flavor was very similar to a «famous» hot dog.
The cheese fries were great, plenty of topping… definately no skimping here. Our server seemed kinda icy at first, but I get it… it’s Brooklyn. But he quickly warmed up after a smile and a couple of «please and thankyou’s».
I’d def come back to this spot, if I ever intended on returning to Ghetto Island.

Seriously, what else did you expect? It’s a joint where you get a burger and a beer… seriously.
The bar is full of drunks and the music may be a bit too loud but who cares! That’s the whole point.
The burger and fries weren’t the greatest, but it did hit the spot after lounging in the sun most of the day.
Again, it’s Coney!

trashy trashy trashy awesome.
If you’re missing teeth, have bad tattoos, a farmers tan… then this is your Mecca. Nah, it’s not that bad (ok it is). This will be gone soon due to Zamperla — the amusement mogul who is forcing all the indie businesses out. Come get an experience before you can’t.

It is what it is. Oddly enough, all the reviews I hve read are true, both postitive and negative. Is it a strange place where the urban poor and folks on the fringes of society mingle? Yes. Is the place a dive? Yes. Is it a tourist trap? Yes. Do some great bands play there? Yes again. So depending on your take, experience or interest in such things you may want to check it out, hang out for a beer or two and experience something that is unique, disturbing and pretty cool all at the same time.

Came here with my boyfriend to see his friend’s band play. The place is pretty much a dive bar. The bathroom was pretty gross (almost made me vomit). The crowd seemed to be regulars. Ended up being sold on their funnel cake which was pretty awful (the sugar wasn’t powdered and the cake itself was chewy and not fluffy). My boyfriend pointed out that one bartender in particular was very rude (didn’t surprise me!).
Probably would not come back by choice. However it’s a place to hear live music and drink on the boardwalk.

I have to admit, I like this place better than Ruby’s. It doesn’t smell like stale grease, and it actually has a pretty kick-​ass beer selection.
It caters to a bit of a younger crowd than Ruby’s. Good place to catch a live band too — usually in the punk or rockabilly vein, so that’s who you’re gonna see here, as well as folks grabbing a drink after a Cyclones game, and random people wandering in from the boardwalk.
Last night there was definitely a friendly crowd, welcoming bartenders, and we even got a table outdoors with the breeze coming off the water… pretty cool.

Seriously dunno how the elitist Unilocalers rate this place above 3 stars-​what a shame. the place is filthy, the crowd is definitely welfare at best and the bartenders are unattractive and uncourteous. My drink Miami Vice was $ 10! And it had cheap watered down liquor.
The place has many obvious signs of wear and tear-​and features many things including the crowd that appear to be «Rough around the edges»
I do not reccomend this place at all-C’mon fellow Unilocalers lets be honest about this DEEEEEEPPPP DIVE bar.

There is a bartender in this place who has an amazing matador and bull tattoo — rather, there’s a matador on one arm and a bull on the other.
This place is excellent. I made my friend come to Luna Park to ride the new rollercoasters with me — when we were finished I was nauseated and feeling defeated — but then we went to Cha-Cha’s for a beer, and it brought my afternoon back from the dead.
While we were sitting at the bar, this guy with a moustache and one of the bartenders were discussing an ongoing issue with the ATM — I could not tell if this man was the owner, manager, general ATM maintenance guy, or what — but he had determined that «the customers don’t know what they’re doin. They get drunk, put in the wrong pin number, and no money comes out. I checked the machine out, there’s nothin wrong with it. Nothin.»
In summary, Cha-Cha’s is perfect. 5 stars.

Horrible experience — after getting beat by the sun, my friend and I went here to get a drink and away from the sun. However, a money grubby waitress came by to get my order. I ordered a margarita in hopes of getting a buzzed chill. However, after she brought my drink, she told me the price right away and tapped her feet. I gave the money plus a tip that i shouldve gotten a refund for. I looked at my drink and realized saw that I got half a cup of some chilly lemonade drink and the rest foam. I was pretty pissed but I was too tired to argue. Might as well vent thru Unilocal: P

Funny story…
My first encounter with Cha Cha’s was back in 2003 during the Siren Festival in Coney Island. I was actually talked into joining their annual wet t-​shirt contest in the back of the bar.
My memories of this particular day are hazy, at best, and that is probably due to the DJ literally pouring vodka straight out of the bottle into our throats while we waited, nervously, for the contest to begin. I do know that I made it to the final round (being a whopping 34B, this was quite the achievement) where I was beaten out by what can only be described as a modern day Dolly Parton in a white, soaked t-​shirt. I had no shot…
I digress…
I’ve been back to this place more than a handful of times and I must say that while I have never had the wet t-​shirt experience again, I have enjoyed each visit very much. Coney Island is the perfect place to go if you are tattoo’ed, midget-​loving, booze-​guzzling, roller-​skating crazy person such as myself. It was like Coney and Cha Cha’s were created by the Gods (or Satan) just for me. AND I say a little «thank you» before Thanksgiving dinner every year…
They get 4 stars and NOT 5 only because the drinks are very expensive. I get why that is, but it doesn’t mean I have to like paying out the bum for a beer.
Go and get ur FREAK on!

When you get sick of trying to see if you can scam those Coney Island frozen drink stands that offer free refills by going to each and every one and demanding a refill on the same cup, you should go to Cha Cha’s. (Not that I’ve done that or anything.)
And even if that’s not what the day holds for you, you should still go to Cha Cha’s. Then you should grab several rounds of whatever the special is and see if you can beat the shit out of that punching bag game by the door.
Then you should plan on staying to listen to the rockabilly band that’ll inevitably be playing at some point that day.
Then you check your watch, see that it’s only noon, and plan on sticking your happy ass on your barstool for a while.

I came here two days in a row with different friends each time. It is my new favorite spot on the boardwalk. Outdoor seating in the front with a nice view of the water and smoking allowed there. Good selection of beers and a jukebox with a good sound system. The people watching here was insanely fun. This place gets all kinds of people ranging from Jersey guidos to swimsuit babes to lesbians to Mexicans, all playing different styles of music (yesterday my entire stay was full of salsa music alternating with Rolling Stones tunes). The bathroom was interesting. You walk in and there are 2 toilets, but no stall doors, just a shower curtain. You can’t lock a shower curtain.

It is almost as if one were experiencing two very distinct businesses. The outdoor seating area, young and full of life, where people with artificial smiles told lightly amusing stories to the feigned entertainment of friends. Kid friendly, very open, here is the Coney Island boardwalk, to which all too many visiting or birthday friends request my accompaniment.
The open air entrance into the kitschy interior reveals a sense of life at different volumes and pitch. The barflies at their seats, now sleeping, then swearing, perhaps next breaching a reasonable rule. This takes them from the hands of the pretty and very nice if exasperated bartenders to a friendly but somber bouncer who requires their exit with all respect.
The bartenders are nice, some pleasantly talkative in a way that makes you want to return, though wary of an owner who does not want drinks too stiff. Beers are not cheap, nor are most cocktails, and though this is Coney Island it is still quite a shame. (Though I do seem to recall a vodka/​ice tea for $ 5.)
And a curtain on wheels is the only real defense the bouncer and cohorts have reserved for a burlesque and freak show in the back, PG-​13 depending on how you feel about pasties, that is cheaper than the big one near the Q. So as the drunk inadvertently distracts the bouncer, a small number of other patrons drip into the show, only to be courteously requested the $ 5 cover as he returns.

Cool bar.
Reasonable prices. Good, Thick Brooklyn crowd.
This is kind of a «in your face» kind of bar, so if you’re not into the ocassional person with a cane, and blinder sided sun glasses, and arguing about the Yankees, then… you miiiiight wanna skip this one.
I’ve never seen a band here, but they have a very large back room with the silver streamers hanging down around the stage.
Very 80’s, I’m sure it rocks, but I’ve never made it to sunset in Coney Island.
Ok bartender lady’s. Not wonderful.
Some good seating outside, and shoot the freak right next door. What more can you ask for?

The bathroom sinks look like jail house sink… I’ve never hung out on Coney Island, so I don’t know what else is around… Lies, I’ve been on CI for the Mermaid parade, but that was years ago… This place is kinda rock a billy… I’ve seen a few bands plays here… I’ve seen a few burlesque shows here… The drinks are cheap… The crowd is either there for the band, or from differnet parts of BK…

To fully experience Coney Island, I think you need to visit Cha Cha’s at least once. I went here recently for a few pints one night, and there was a Freak Show going on in the back area.
The bar itself is only open during the summer season, so it has a bit of a worn look to it. I love it though. It really fits the feel of a summer bar on the boardwalk where you never know who you might run into. It’s the kind of place you visit and think ‘THIS​.is Coney Island’.
Cha Cha’s homestyle wine isn’t that great, but it’s worth trying anyway. You can order any number of beer styles here, so they’ll wash down the taste afterwards!
There are a few tables out front to hang out and the Shoot The Freak section is next to the place, so that’s always worth a visit too!