1135 Decatur

This place made my trip.
Great drinks at great prices and the people are really friendly. American Psycho was playing on the TV when we walked in.
I have spent my fair share of time out at industrial/​ebm clubs in LA but the DJ they have on Friday nights here is really good. Great transitions!
We returned for a bit Saturday night and again, great music, Dark wave/80’s. When I think of New Orleans, the idea I had in my head of what the vibe would be like was here.
This is not a L.A. bar, this is not a fashion show or a place for elitist people to hang out and be pricks. The people I met at this bar were friendly, talkative and welcoming.
I’ll be back!

Checked this spot out on a Friday night, 4÷13÷12. I’ve been into the goth/​industrial scene since the early 90’s, so was looking forward to what I thought would be a cool night in NO. Strolled in at about 11pm (a tad early, I know) and there were about 7 people there, including the DJ’s. Left, came back after midnight, and there were the same 7 people. Music was so-​so. DJ did play my requests right away, and for that I was appreciative. Being a former DJ in the 90’s, I always pay attention to the way a DJ spins. Pretty weak mixing and track selections. I’d figure the only goth/​industrial night in NO would be pretty amazing. Sadly, it was not even close.

Went here for the first time last night. Was curious, as I had heard about the Whirling Dervish before, and that it had gone through many name changes and transmutations, eventually becoming 1135 Decatur. My experience as follows:
Firstly, I in no way interpreted this place to be a specifically gay club. It is definitely open to all persuasions and uncomfortable for no one. The ground floor was a little dark/​edgy feeling, which was quite cool.
They were hosting an even by «Pain Tribe» last night, an exhibition/​performance group who practices body mod and hook/​suspension play. Was cool to watch and lended itself well to the dark, industrial vibe of the place. There was a cover, but from what one of the regular patrons said at the door, this was apparently not common practice. I found the cover reasonable, as the venue obviously had to pay the performers. Door-​guy was friendly, cordial, and helpful.
Music was standard, thumping, dancy EBM/​industrial music. I am not a rivethead type, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I do understand, however, that such music may not appeal to all patrons. I found the music appropriately loud — it is, in essence, a dance club after all. Patrons from all walks of life were present. I was a little put back by the seemingly high percentage of fratty pop-​collar bros in there, but hell… welcome to the French Quarter, you’re always gonna get that I suppose. Drink prices felt a little bit high, but again, it’s the French Quarter, and they were FAR more reasonable than anything you will find on Bourbon. Bartender (dark-​haired girl, no idea of name) was very friendly and accomodating.
Explored upstairs. Standard House-​music dance party with capable DJ, lighting, and satellite bar. Did not hang up here much, only because it was a little slow… not too many people up there (probably all downstairs for the show I suppose). Nice spiral staircase to 3^rd level balcony overlooking 2^nd level dance floor. VERY DARK. Excellent for a bit of privacy and chill time. Drink shelf along railing was wobbly as hell though, very real possibility your beer could go plummeting towards a dancers head on the floor below with the slightest shake. Hopefully they fix that.
All in all, I felt this place was enjoyable and will definitely be back. Lower Decatur is really the only place I drink in the Quarter anyhow, so location is a huge plus. This club may not appeal to everyone, but if you are looking for a decent, dark, seedy place to weird out a little bit, it’s great.

I went here after a Unilocal event and I just don’t get it. Loud, not the friendliest, and they are too dark. I know saying a bar is too dark is out there, but I could barely see a thing all night.
A bar is too loud if you sit right next to someone and yelling doesn’t get the job done. I understand it’s more of a dance club but are you catering to the people there tring to talk or the girl that is ass tanked on the dance floor that thinks she is in a Nirvana video? I think if you come into a place with a group, this place would be better.
The bar tender downstairs just would break into random dance and ignored most the bar at times. I guess some people think that builds the excitement in a bar, but I want my beer and spread the vibes!
If I can’t see the stairs going upstairs, that is a bad thing. Even outside of that, I could barely see. I know there were some people in the joint I wouldn’t want to see probably, but I like to be able to safely navigate,
I know some people could love this place, but I don’t get it. If you like it, that is cool, but I’ll pass on the noise mainly.

1135 is a trip down memory lane.
Wow, does this place bring back memories. Back in the 90’s I used to come here although it was called Crystal. back in the good olé days when Eddy Vedder got arrested here and Jack McDowell got knocked out by a bouncer. How I long for those days.
Fast forward to 2012, and not much has changed. Sure the name has changed a few times, but the bar remains the place I remember. Call it what you want, Goth, Industrial, Hipster, etc. that is what this bar caters to. The cool thing about it is that they don’t give you a second look if you don’t fit one of those categories.
The dance floor is smokey, loud and there are lights shooting everywhere. That being said, it is a great place to dance if you’re in to that sort of thing.
The second floor is more of the same, but has a more private vibe.
The PBR was reasonably priced and cold. I am not normally a PBR guy, but in a place like this it somehow seemed appropriate.
While this wouldn’t become my normal hang out again, It wasn’t awful. If asked, I would probably come back.

Crystal… Whirling Dervish… ie the gathering place of NOLA goths in the mid/​late 90s-​mid 00s. This place has changed a lot– and in some ways not at all.
There was a pretty great Morrissey/​Smith night going on here Saturday, though the volume kind of pushed our group out onto the sidewalk. That’s fine, too, because on certain nights there’s just as much going on outside as there is in. This is a good place to get your dance on, so if that’s what you’re looking for, the sound system will treat you right. There are often two parties going on, one upstairs and one down. Make sure you make the narrow, winding climb up to the third level balcony, giving you a birds eye view of the second floor festivities.
It’s dark. It’s smoky (via machine). It’s loud. It’s a club. Oh, but a major plus is that the drinks are not crazy expensive, pretty rare for a club. Yay for the bathrooms being much better than they were in ’98.

Cool bar I love the music they play, especially on Friday nights, bar is very goth in décor, somewhat dark, but very cozy. Drinks are good, and the bartenders are friendly.

Friday night is the main alternative night (industrial/​darkwave/​goth music). Downstairs gets a lot more crowded and tends to play the best dancing music. Upstairs is a great spot to chill out in a more intimate setting. Most of the bartenders are fun and sociable.

Great place, with Diverse music. The last Saturday features a proper house and techno night that was featured on resident advisor ((Kompression). They have stiff drinks at a nice price. This place is definitely in my top 5. There are also goth/​industrial nights, AAR has a monthly on the third Saturday of the month and Thursdays feature Dj Matic. I also love the fact that no matter what’s going on, ALL are welcome!

First, I love the new 1135 Decatur sign with the skulls. I think this change gives a much better impression of what you’ll find inside, at least on most days.
The crowd in here is always laid back. The drinks are cheap and good. I love the bar tenders, especially Matt and Wendy. This is the kind of place that if you come often enough the crowd is so regular that you will make friends. They are always having different themed nights which keeps things fresh. The dance floor is there, but isn’t that large. However, it seems to be just the right size for this place.
My favorite nights are the goth/​industrial nights and the 80’s nights. If you’re interested in fetish they have a different themed night every month. I never feel like I just walked into a gay bar when I come here, but I assume that might have to do with the nights I attend.
For smaller functions, yes, even smaller than the downstairs, the upstairs is actually a really nice room. I would definitely recommend checking it out if its open.
This place is good for going out for cheap drinks and dancing.

I’m really not impressed by this place at all. I have a ridiculously hard time getting a drink here, even when it’s dead and the drink prices are sort of steep for the location.
I probably wouldn’t ever set foot in the place again if it weren’t so willing to host a lot of alternative events.

Formerly known as the Whirling Dervish, Rubyfruit Jungle is one of the few lesbian bars I’m aware of in New Orleans. (Okay, it’s the only one I know of, so I guess I’m not the best person to ask.) As such, it’s always easy to convince my guy friends to go in (good luck, boys) if we happen to walk by. (It seems that most times I’ve been here it wasn’t planned, we just happened to pass by, and whatever was going on inside looked fun.)
This is a cool event space, with a stage and two bars (one upstairs, one downstairs). I’ve seen burlesque shows here, I’ve attended DJ parties here… Once, I even went to fetish night or something. And yes, I was on the list that night. (Not kidding.)
Great space, interesting crowd, and worth checking out if you’ve never been. This isn’t one of my regular hangouts (mostly because they don’t have a ping pong table), but I’m here once in a while, and I’m sure I’ll be back soon.

First off, this place has pretty cheap drinks and good pouring bartenders.
Secondly, it’s a goth/​industrial bar for the most part. Always was and always will be, regardless of how it occasionally tries to buck the «will of the people» that frequent it. The bar is nice and dark, so the vampires don’t get sunburn from the bulbs (just kidding). The music is pretty good as some great DJs work there (and just for total honesty, yes… I occasionally DJ there a few times a year and NO I do not consider myself to be one of the great DJs that work there).
The bar has had several names… let’s go through them: Blue Crystal, Crystal, Pendragon’s, Crowbar, Whirling Dervish, Ruby Fruit Jungle and now (possibly) simply, 1135 (best name yet, IMHO). There have been some great managers and some not so great. Currently, I think it has a great manager who listens to her customers and her employees.
The bar upstairs is nice. Not like Mythique (an upstairs club during the Crowbar period), but nice. Cozy, as one other reviewer has already suggested. Nice for relaxing or being able to actually hold conversations with friends.
Basically, a small goth club. But, as big as it can get. A good place to hangout with friends or when your in the mood to dance, which only happens when I’m really drunk… lucky for me the drinks are cheap (and full circle!)

Went tonight for «industrial» night at my friend Travis’ suggestion.
Good bar. Good crowd. Good music. I have seen a burlesque show here in the past, and the place was packed.
From what I hear, it is a lot how «Krystal» and «Dervish» used to be. I can’t speak to that, it was before my time.
I went and had a good time.

Not really a gay bar at all. It’s much more of a «goth» type bar. I believe they are in the process of changing their name to «1135». It’s still pretty much the Dervish. Relax.
I go here at least once a week. The 1^st Saturday of every month is classic goth music night. Last month’s was the smiths, which was awesome. All the DJs on Friday and Saturday night are awesome.
There’s a bar upstairs, and I love how intimate it is.
All the staff are great, and take good care of me when I come in. I usually have a cocktail waiting for me by the time I sit down. Try this place if you want to dance your ass off on a weekend night!

Awe! That explains alot! I went to this bar with my boyfriend? Doh! Didn’t know it was a gay bar for women? We haven’t been here since it was the Dervish! And the Mystic bar in the years past! The music was always good… except last night. Use to darker goth sounds coming out of here, and no one was in the bar… Dead! Music was okay, not what I like to hear. They never offered us another drink… so took the hint and left.

I’m surprised that I’m the first to review this!
It’s nice that there is now again an actual gay bar for women in New Orleans. This place was open in 1994 and then closed, and now it’s back a great location in the Quarter (right down from Molly’s, where the Dervish used to be) with the same owner. This is what another site says about it:
«This multi level gay and lesbian dance club opened it’s doors Dec, 2008. Check out the sexy white acrylic bar with LED lights Hot DJs mixing on two different levels. Great dance floor, good drinks.»
I went on Krewe de Vieux night. They were charging a $ 5 cover, and the place was packed. I didn’t go upstairs, choosing instead to sit at the bar. So I can’t tell you about sexy dancing or anything, but the service was good and the drinks plenty strong. I had a good time here and I’ll definitely be coming back.