Barracuda

It’s the door with the red light, my friend advised.
As we walked down a dark picturesque street downtown.
«It’s buy one get one free for happy hour until 9pm, but you have to save your receipt.» She said with some enthusiasm.
I was skeptical if barracuda had outlived its hey day, having not heard much buzz about it in recent times from my friends.
The place was dark except for a red glow and vacant except for the bar top which provided a sort of mysterious borderline eerie early 80s quiet calm, with at least one cute boy sitting on his stool ass out in a way that advertised.
$ 8 drinks translated into $ 4 with the happy hour discount, the bar patrons and muscular tattooed bartender were neighborhood friendly and the bars unprentitous artsy style slightly elevated its dive bar status.
Barracuda might be under the radar, which comes as a bonus, especially if you can catch the buy one get one happy hour.
The sniff of a more lively and scandalous past was evident, but barracudas flame still glows.

Cheap drinks, divey bar, almost a bit seedy just cause the main colors are black and red. They place is actually pretty big with one Main bar, and a back room dance /​lounge area. This place attracts a mixed crowd of people, but all most are pretty chill.
Never rally been here when people are dancing. There is a big pool table in the back as well, but I am not even sure people can ply on it, as there is always a big wood cover over it, so I guess it’s converted to a table for putting drinks on.
This bar is similar to XES (which is closing soon) so I could see a lot of the costumes coming here next. Their happy hour includes 2×1 drinks. The drinks here are also pretty inexpensive, maybe cause they don’t take cards and only method of payment is cash.
Bathrooms are spacious and one of the bathrooms is an individual stall for anyone that is a bit shy or needs their privacy.
This is actually also the only reason why I don’t give them 5 stars. Having cash on you when drinking is dangerous. At least that’s what I tell myself, but more dangerous is ordering rounds of drinks and then finding out you do not have enough cash and need to use an arm with bank fees to pay for a round that has been sitting in ice for a bit. Just think about it… Bring cash if you plan to stick here for a while!
Great bartenders, always offer conversation if not too busy. The entrance has a small room so the cold air stays out. This room also Is always stocked with inflatable balloons a.k.a. free condoms! So no excuses, always play safe!

One of my favorite bars in New York, and it’s not just because I live in the neighborhood! It’s vibrant, yet casual. It’s sophisticated, yet a little wild. Chatty, friendly bartenders. Strong drinks. I’ve had some of my most fun memories as a New York resident inside the walls of this bar.
It’s pretty unassuming from the outside and is actually below an actual (higher end) apartment building on 22^nd St (b/​w 7^th and 8^th Ave). The front is the actual bar, with a few high-​top tables to stand at, then a wide hallway leads towards the back lounge area where there is a (covered) pool table, some large couches/​seats, and a mini-​stage where there are occasionally drag shows, but really it’s just a spot for you and your friends to drunkenly dance and make a fool of yourselves.
Also: Have seen both Andy Cohen and Jonathan Groff at this bar more than once! Stay til close as much as you can… that’s when it gets the most fun.
*Cash only*

Drinks were expensive and watered down. Within 5 minutes someone had already spilled their drink on me (not his fault it was crowded). Almost got into a fight in the bathroom line, which someone later told me happens a lot. Ew.

I would have given this place four stars. However, I take 1 away because my friend walked into the bathroom to a guy whacking himself off and another for having to leap over condoms filled with ejaculate on my way out (two guys decided to have a little fun at the bar). Otherwise, we had no issues with the bouncers, the crowd was good looking and the music was on point.

This spot was cute… music was aiight… the dudes were ok but nothing great… wasn’t very packed… still managed to have a great time!

I loved Barracuda! I was in town from Orlando Florida and I spent my last night out here! I wish we had more places like this in our neck of the woods. It was smaller and had a neighborhood vibe. The performance was great! Pixie put on a great show!!! Ryan, our server, made sure I was never out of vodka. Just had an overall great time! I would recommend this place to anyone!

One of their black bouncers is a fucking asshole. Me and my friends were dancing and he shoved my friend saying «get the fuck off me faggot» when he was just standing there in the dance floor. My friend didn’t even touch him he was just dancing! Fucking rude!
Then they locked the girls bathroom so all the girls had to use the men’s and the same guy got all huffy and pissed that girls needed to pee! Don’t go here unless you want to be treated like shit.

Bobs show is hilarious and educational. He’s the best queen in NYC. Aaron is so cute and adorable he can be my teddy bear

Let me start off by saying I Had high expectations for this bar. That got shot down really quickly when my friends and I met their bouncer who needs to take a course in customer service. One of he rudest front doors ever. Then upon getting inside you find you can’t move. They cram anyone in like they’re not keeping a count at the door. Took forever to finally get to the bar… the whole time getting bumped, elbowed, and drinks spilt upon yourself.

Did you hack my spotify?! This place was amazing! Every song on point. Britney, fifth harmony, Beyonce, tinashe, etc. I left a piece of my heart at barracuda xoxo

Was here last night and the cute server with grey hair gave me his number but I lost it. Kill me!
Nice staff, decent drinks (except the LITs; they sucked), good price. Wasn’t too packed but it was nice to just hang out on a Thursday night. The videos shown on the screens where really cool and the music was very good. 90s house vibes; right up my alley.
Would definitely want to come on a Fri/​Sat night when it’s busier and get my dance on (and maybe find that server again!) Great spot.

Biggest jerk offs ever running this bar. It’s comical when bouncers have horrifying and entitled behavior. Loser central
Can’t even explain how pathetic these guys are — yelling and berating customers because they feel they have some kind of power. Pathetic ! Get a life

This place has kind of a drab atmosphere now. I brought a date here once and he wanted leave immediately! But the performers are alright and work their butts off. Not a bad bar to come bar-​hopping but you probably won’t want to stay long.

I came here with some friends from Norway on a Thursday night after visiting G-​Lounge. This place had the right mix of coziness and seediness. The crowd seemed pretty laid-​back and the red lights definitely added to its ambience. I enjoyed it.

This place used to be good, but like most places in Chelsea, it’s going downhill. It’s filled with so many impolite people, drinkers and staff alike… bartender here was completely rude to me. I asked for a ginger ale, and he asked for my ID. I chuckled and said, «Haha for a ginger ale?» Then he began SCREAMING at me and said, «EVERYONE IN THE BAR NEEDS TO SHOW ID!»
I totally get that but it could’ve been said to me in a kinder way that didn’t make me feel like an idiot and create a big scene. He screamed so loudly that even the other bartender across the bar came over and asked him what’s going on. This is the kind of bitchy gay attitude people talk about you don’t want to come across ever.
Avoid and go somewhere more friendly like Boxers in Chelsea.

I was in here last night for a little post-​Pride imbibing. They were not charging a cover, a good sign already. There not no seat available around 6PM but thankfully a little later there was. I ordered an Absolut with soda and lime. I got my drink but it was an Absolut and Seven-​up which is fine too. And it was served in a real glass which was another plus. All the while I was sitting at the bar, the bartender was attentive and professional which is no easy task on the day of the Manhattan Pride parade.

Thank you, Andy Cohen for the drink. Seriously, I bought a drink and right before I could pay, a drunken Andy Cohen came over and asked the bar tender for a shot. The bar tender was way too distracted to take my money even after I waved my $ 20 bill in his face 7 (I counted) times.
I guess I just can’t compete with Andy Cohen…
This place is alright. It’s small and the bathroom is unisex. When I was here, they just played CD’s which I guessed saved them the expense of hiring a DJ. Maybe I was too busy trying to figure out how to pay rather than enjoying the bar?

Richard T. said it best… this bar is almost divey (but not in a bad way). With touches of elegance, this could easily be one of my favorite bars in NYC. Walking up, this bar could be unassuming. We had to ask if we were in the right place, but it turns out we were. The bar area is situated right when you walk in, so it could get a bit crowded, but once you find a spot, stay there and drink up. The drinks are decent and the crowd is fun. If you walk to the back, there’s a huge lounge area if you need a more comfortable place to sit.
The bathrooms, however, need some cleaning and maintenance. There’s piss on the ground and paper towels littering the ground. Clean up please!
I didn’t stay long, but overall, I really like this bar and would definitely return. The crowd doesn’t seem very local, so you’re going to get a pretty diverse group of people.

The Bar is a very nice place well located. but unfortunately the manager works in the bar and his behaviour is nasty and unfriendly with tourist or locals.
Customers are not treated with respect by the manger he preffer to resolve calling the security guy and throwing out instead of resolve. also the comment by the staff of the the manager is: he always has issues with clients… a tip to consider if you go. good luck.
El bar es muy bueno y bien localizado, pero lamentablemente el manager trabaja en la barra y es un tipo rudo y poo amigable con turistas y locales.
Los clientes no tienen derecho y el manager si se enfada prefiere resolver llamandote a el guardia para sacarte del bar, segun el guardia siempre es asi de severo.
un dato para considerar si te pasas por el bar.