BUNKER

Bunker is my favorite club in DC! The staff are friendly and accommodating, the security does a great job keeping us safe while welcoming folks in, the music is always on point, the lights and lasers are incredible and noteworthy, and the ambiance is perfect for a fun night of dancing and meeting folks. I highly recommend bunker to all my friends when they visit DC!

I recently visited this establishment with a friend and spent over $30 on drinks. After using the restroom, I was shockingly and humiliatingly dragged out to the street by security, without any explanation whatsoever. Despite my repeated attempts to understand why I was being treated this way, the security guard and his team completely ignored me, making the entire situation feel even more degrading.I’m now at home, feeling deeply humiliated and utterly confused. I was treated like a criminal for no reason, and to make matters worse, I didn’t even have the chance to close my tab. This kind of treatment is unacceptable, and I refuse to recognize this as a legitimate business transaction.This experience was nothing short of a nightmare. I will never set foot in this place again, and I strongly urge others to avoid it if they value their dignity and respect.

My friend and I came here for a drink. my friend took a picture of me and I guess you could see a leak that was happening in the background and they kicked us out! they said we were being strange for taking pictures.... they also charge you a fee for using a credit card which is not mentioned on their website (they talk about sales of alcohol on there), or anywhere near or around the bar. this is a very unfortunate experience because I had been here once before and it was great. definitely leaves a bad taste in your mouth

It’s great that this space exists! Definitely on the smaller and more crowded side, but that’s not always a bad thing! Lines for drink and coat check can be long but the drag shows are fantastic and there’s a fun, friendly, outgoing crowd. Kind of a weird dynamic with the happy hour and cover- you get a ton of people arriving early to avoid the cover so the place is full while it’s still pretty early in the night. Hopefully they can figure out a way to get folks dancing a bit earlier too! Coat check line is a big issue they desperately need to figure out as well.

Ive been to Bunker several times and had a great time; however, tonight was unacceptable. When I brought a female friend, the outside security treated her with extreme hostility, in stark contrast to how they greeted me. The aggression was shocking and completely unwarranted. This abrasive experience left us both feeling unwelcome. Its deeply disappointing to see such behavior at a place thats supposed to be inclusive and welcoming. Management needs to address this issue immediately to ensure all patrons are treated with respect and dignity.

I came around 10pm on a Saturday night. There was no line to get in and cover was $20. The bar line was not long at all so I was able to get drinks quickly. The bartender was very kind and enthusiastic! The DJ was good and I enjoyed the lights as well. I love a crowded dance floor so I was happy with this place. The crowd itself was pleasant as well.

Watch your tabs at this establishment, LGBTQ community. I was sober and got my friend a beer and myself a cranberry soda water and the total was $16 and I tipped 3 dollars. I was charged fraudulently for $30. Management was notified via email and they replied a week letter stating they would respond and investigate and never heard back from them. I know it’s not much money but watch your bank accounts. This place is a disgrace and takes advantage of folks that are patronizing customers.

Went to see the Willam performance. The vibe was on point and the atmosphere was very upbeat. There was someone overly drunk and spitting on the ground. When security was informed they immediately took action. I felt comfortable and safe. Prices were a bit higher, but that’s to be expected in DC.

A great night here went downhill when I lost my wallet at Bunker. But the team found it, texted me, and met me after hours to let me pick it up (cash still inside). Grateful for Q and Jesus making my day today.

Best Gay club in DC without a doubt. If you wanna dance the night off, give Bunkers a visit!!

Its a modest, cozy bar located in a basement with an insignificant dance floor. I will only caution you to watch the bartender as he prepares your drink. I paid for an alcoholic drink and received a cup of water without any alcohol. (Happened last night by the restroom at the second pub). Although Id like to think that he didnt mean to but it did happen, so be watchful

I didn’t eat the food neither did I have a club experience. So, I refuse to rate those categories. There was one lady who wanted to use the restroom. The security guard who said she’s the security manager didn’t allow her to enter. She later on implied that she was really high or drunk. (Totally not professional when you are dealing with people). Later on, a friend and I went back to the club later on. She scanned my I.D and then said, “the cover charge is 20 bucks and you need to pay over there”. I said ok. As I put my I.D in my wallet, she said “then get yourself over there”. Regardless of who she feels, no one should abuse power and feel as if they should talk to someone in such a demeaning way. Usually security guards are not directly employed by the company they are working for, but they do represent the establishment. I encourage BUNKER to crack down on who they hire. Nobody was aggressive or belligerent. But entitled disrespect is something that I cannot ignore. Many places do not know what goes on outside of their clubs. This happens all over the city. Hopefully people will see it.

DC has been in need of a queer club space, and the team behind Bunker provided exactly that. I visited back to back nights of their opening weekend and closed out the club each night because I couldn’t leave the dance floor. The music was great, energy was high, and the staff was awesome. I highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the mood to drink and dance the night away!

Bunker is a fantastic club located under Subway. What really left a big impression on me was the well thought out theme throughout the club. Attention to detail really makes this club shine. You can really tell a lot of time and effort was put into this club. The coat check is fast, security getting in is fast, drinks are fast. Everything runs so smoothly. I love that there are different types of music every night! I definitely recommend checking this place out!

Starting with the positive, the place is beautiful, the drag queens are warm and welcoming, and the bartenders are friendly. The stone wall feature is cool, and the bunker theme is well executed. However, the physical space has lots of choke points and is nearly impossible to move around when busy. My group and I had fire safety concerns. The $5 coat check line got so long, it stretched to the dancefloor and made it too cramped to have a good time. The $30 cover is kinda unreasonable for such weak drinks and long lines. This place has a ton of potential, and I hope they figure out the operational issues.

Fun crowd. Descent, at best, club. Vibe is cool and has so much potential, but doesnt quite deliver. DJ is all over the map in their set, and not in a good way. Bar service is bad. If you request anything other than beer or vodka and something you will have to educate the bartender. Be aware, also, bartenders pour well liquor even when call is requested. But, they charge you the up charge for premium.

It seems like a lot of the negative reviewers went on opening week and were shocked to find out that grand openings are both crowded and more expensive... The usual cover is nowhere near $35 (it ranges from completely free, which was the case when I went on a Thursday night, up to $20). One of the smart things this place does is having NO cover before 9pm, which means that there will actually be a solid crowd before 10. They also were very quick to respond to feedback and have gotten rid of their rule banning heels, so dont be discouraged by the old review.The music changes for each night so theres something for everyone, and theming and decor is insanely detailed, creating a much-needed queer fantasy space in a city lacking many. I hope its here to stay and that it becomes a nightlife staple of DC. Come to see the space, stay for the dancing.

Incredible dance club that the DC LGBTQ+ has been in desperate need of! The art, design, and attention to detail are beyond compare. 2 bars with amazing and experienced staff. Happy to pay the door cover to hear the awesome dj’s paired with top notch sound system (dare I say better than hydrate?) and lighting! Dance floor is lit and plenty of places to retreat for a break. Coat check line might be long but is well run and moves fast.Get there early to avoid the wait. Bathroom line moves fast and has plenty of room. So great to have a space to let loose and DANCE!

Had so much fun on opening weekend! The music was amazing and the drinks were strong. I appreciated that it was packed but still possible to move around and dance. Thank god DC has a new dance club!

Bartenders.Some of the bartenders could be more friendlier, especially Alex. I remember him from the Baltimore Eagle. He was not the most engaging person and would have attitude at times. That carried over to Bunker I guess bc it was the same experience when I ordered from him one time. I now avoid ordering from him whenever I would go here. Although, other bartenders are more chill.Atmosphere.Pretty good but depends on the night. I’ve been here a handful of times and sometimes there are a good mix of people, even a significant amount of pocs, but other times, it’s visibly a white/light-skinned “conventionally attractive people”-dominate crowd. However, they host a few events to attract specific communities (e.g. their LA LOCA nights).Great attention to detail with the interior design.Drinks.Slightly more expensive but not terrible.Music.Mixture of EDM, and pop remixes. I like some of the music more than others but not everyone will like every song.Final Thoughts.I’m being as objective as possible with this review — incorporating my own experiences but avoiding making any conclusions from those experiences.Aug. 4th Edit: Notice how with every less than 4 star review, there’s a flood of 5 star reviews? Bunker’s “friends” leave 5 stars without any comments as to why, possibly to negate the negative reviews so I’m gonna change my 3 star review to a 1 star. Two of the last few comments appear from the same guy. White/privileged fragility at its finest. Not everyone in the community is the same as you and experiences the same things.

So obsessed with this bar. The music for electro pop was everything and the crowd was actually dancing! In DC! Lol I really love the design that is like so detailed in every square inch. The staff are so sweet and the line for the bar goes quickly. It’s super busy rn because it just opened, but you honestly have to check it out. They don’t overcrowd the bar so there’s never the feeling of being crushed by the crowd.

The premier location in DC for circuit , house and Latin music. Consistently attracting excellent acts, superb sound system, and wonderful staff. Only criticism would be that sometimes there’s a big line.

It’s ok. Very cramp (it’s a basement) but good design. I’m glad we have another LGBTQIA’s bar in dc. They have performers but they need a stage. it felt kind a like party at yours friends house lol. So sad this is the only gay club left in dc. Everything else we have are bars.Music it’s only for the circuit gays. Same beat the entire nightWhere is TOWN 2.0 lol

The good: The setting is great, it’s giving laser tag meets the eagle. Clearly the owner had a vision of sexy nostalgic apocalyptic realness and it was executed very well.The bad:- The drinks were cheap (for DC) but weak. Think alcoholic flavored soda you share with your parents at a bbq. The wine cooler of mix drinks.- coat check was over priced and under staffed. $5 per person, not per bag and is cash only. But they had Venmo for tips? The line wrapped around the interior of the bar causing confusion and crowding.The ugly- the place was far over capacity for the space and was definitely at the level of fire hazard. There was only 1 obvious exit if an emergency happened. Not sure how they passed any sort of inspection.- $35 dollar cover is not worth it. If you even manage to get in you’re met with a wall of people and an at least a 30 min wait to check your coat (which you’ll defiantly want to do since it is standing room only and hot as balls as it’s over capacity).- There is only 1 ATM outside the entrance with a $4 service fee which most staff weren’t aware existed despite the cash requirements inside. That is if you get to use it since they were telling people to go across the street since it’s a cash only cover. What self respecting homosexual carries cash in DC anyways?Clearly this was built by someone out of touch with the average gay bar-goer without a 6 figure income.If you’re still debating on going my advice is to wait for a month and try again when the crowd figures it self out and the cover comes down.

Had so much fun last night at Daddy Disco! It was my first time at Bunker and it exceeded my expectations. The amount of detail and design that went into this place will amaze you. The staff was so friendly.

The door staff and bartenders were very nice. I was pleased to see the club atmosphere was reminiscent of Omega and Town days with a go go dancer on the bar, but the music left much to be desired.

Big, dark, cool room, good sound system and great DJs. If you ever went to Man Ray in Cambridge before it closed this reminds me of it. I highly recommend!

Overpriced cover that makes you wait in line until after 9, overcrowded coat check lines, drinks subpar. Hopefully they find a more reasonable customer model, or theyll just continue to cater to the 6 figure gays, which is ok if they do. Definitely wait or come at 8pm and check it out for free.

Great opening weekend. Spacious bathrooms. Good and reasonably priced drinks. Good bar service! Decent amount of space to walk around and mingle. AMAZING music. Good staff. Not that small. Will be back!

The attention to detail at Bunker is what sets it apart. From the art and murals to the incredible sound and light systems, few expenses were spared. The lineup of DJs has been great as it attracts very well known ones. I would think of Bunker as a boutique club, not a largescale one, and thats exactly its charm.

Such a beautiful club but what a shame, Saturday night, memorial weekend and the music was not up to par. When I visit a night club, I expect the music to be pumping and not to hear typical commercial music that I can listen to on the radio when Im cleaning up the house. What a lame night and waste of money.

Had so much fun and can’t wait to go again! Amazing space with great DJs and fun drag performances. So happy DC now has a permanent LGBTQIA+ dance club!!

Great new addition to the DC gay scene. Huge renovation from when the space used to be Tropicalia with fantastic intentional new design aligned with the Bunker theme. Solid sound system as well!

Paid my $20 to get in. As soon as the door opened, a blast of hot humidity hit me, and my glasses steamed up. Well into the 80s. Way too many people were allowed in, and was a fire trap. $23 for a redbull and small mixed drink was excessive. Overwhelmed by the heat, I left, 5 minutes later, without finishing it.

Experience being the gulf between expectation and reality, I was glad to have been warned that this is a bunker for gentlemen who hit the town wearing only a jockstrap. I pay it forward here. Would come back, but without women or straight men.

Such a fun bar! Ashley is the nicest security guard I’ve met in dc. Had a blast here.

I wanted to enter and have some good time for pride but this hispanic lady told me in Spanish you have to pay 10$ and in cash only. I used to enter with no fee. What happened to this place!!???

While I agree that it was overcrowded and hot in there, the bar staff were very friendly. In addition, I had accidently lost a valuable item at the club, and it was found with nothing missing from it, which I greatly appreciate!

I had a blast for my birthday! The club is always full of hot boys and daddies. Circuit and pop night are my favorites.

Absolutely great place! opening weekend was absolutely insane, it was time DC got a place like this. Staff was super friendly and welcoming. Cant say enough good things about the place.

Apparently, there is no cover before 9p. We got there sharp by 8:40p, made us wait outside with a bunch of guys just to let us in at 9:15p and charge us $20 cover. LOL Try better, Bunker!

Overpriced drinks and very rude hospitality

Great food, get there early for lunch to get a seat! Great drink selection of you drink! Lots of craft beers!

If I could leave zero stars I would. If you are wearing heels you will be denied entry. Crazy rules for a club. As an ally I couldn’t enjoy the club with my lgbtq friends bc of my this rule.

Under what conditions are people 18-20 years old accepted?

Great space! We went for Barbie night. It was small and crowded but everyone had a great time.

Nice spot, reasonable prices and music was good, been there once only, if anything the bathrooms are in a tough shape and they dont seem to bother much with maintaining them.

Fun place inconsistent drink pricing from bar tender to bar tender couldnt get the advertised $7 drinks during happy hour but overall is fun and lively music with very good dj and atmosphere

This place is a tiny space and fire hazard. Been therr twice to confirm my 1st impression.

DC was in dire need of a real gay club! I’ll support it as often as I can and btw, the decor is well thought out andbeautiful!

Amazing new gay club that provides a safe space with so the most attention to every detail - a real game changer for DC gay nightlife!

Very friendly, welcoming, fun, and exciting environment. I always have a great time here!

Very thoughtfully designed interior. So great to have a safe space like this to dance in DC.

I love this club! Closest club experience to Berlin in North America. I can’t wait to go back.

As of April 1, 2023, I can confirm that the sound system sucks. I mean it’s really bad. Great potential; so unfortunate.

Good spot. I had a fun on Sunday. It’s WARM in there so dress appropriately.

I had an amazing time with my friends during noche latina!

Really cool new spot! Looking forward to going back and seeing how they continue to engage the community 🔥

Great spacious bar. Alex is the cutest bartender. Will be returning.

I’m not showing up for a $35 cash cover fee lower it to $20 then we’ll talk

Love this place. Strong drinks. Good price.

Great new gay club. Happy to have a great place to dance

Great gay night club in the district of Columbia

Very cool vibe! Great sound and lighting!

Atmosphere is unparalleled, always a great time.

EDM isn’t a personality, spread the word.

Amazing atmosphere!!!

Amazing tonight!!!!

Ammmmmmazing place!!!

Absolutely fabulous. Pure fun!!!