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Babylon
Categories: Nightlife Bars Dive Bars Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Dive Bars, Music Venues [Edit]
317 Bank StOttawa, ON K2P 1X9
(613) 594-0003
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Has TV:
- No
9 reviews for Babylon
9 reviews in English
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Review from Patrick M.
Ottawa, ON
5/6/2012
Babylon Nightclub has been around for almost as long as I can remember. It has always been a dive. It has also been consistently one of the best venues to take in a live show in Ottawa. If DJ nights are your thing Babylon has a diverse rotation of different DJ nights that span music genres from Retro Rock to Electro to Punk. Most nights of the week this dingy, poorly cared for institution opens its doors and welcomes patrons to their stained seats, dimly lit corridors and neglected restrooms.
If you like: modern design, anything pretentious, or uppity STAY AWAY. If you can deal with some great music, decent drinks and cool people to enjoy it with, Babylon is a great place for you. I suggest anyone who wants to visit do your research and go on a night that suits your likes. The musical programming and crowd who frequent the place are extremely diverse. A bit of searching online will help you find whatever you are looking for. Some regular DJ features are: Mod Night, Grind and Shameless. You will also find live: indie rock, hip-hop, punk, blues and reggae from local acts to international touring artists playing at this venue.
Babylon is truly committed to the dive bar theme. It's a great place to unwind and throw aside your worries for a few hours. Just be prepared for roughing it in the restrooms! -
Review from Cheri D.
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Was here to see some bands play for Junofest a couple weekends ago. Hollarado was playing on the friday night and Babylon was only a 5 minute walk from the hotel.
It had a Horseshoe Tavern feeling on the inside, especially around the stage area. I really loved the vibe of the place.
I had a few gin and tonics and they were good.
The only issue i had, and i'm not sure if it was 'event specific', was that they made you check your coat. It was required. Okay, so fine. We turned around to check our coats and there was still a fee! Don't tell me i HAVE to check my coat and then charge me. I just paid cover to get in the place. -
Review from Samantha H.
Ottawa, ON
5/13/2012
Nightclubs will be nightclubs and you either love 'em or hate 'em, but I have a soft spot for Babylon - I met my boyfriend there two years ago and we like to go back every now and then to celebrate. I actually love the music. If you're into trance/electric music and don't mind smoke machines and laser lights, I'll see you on a Friday or Saturday night!
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Review from Danielle F.
Toronto, ON
8/9/2011
Babylon was introduced to me a while ago but only more recently have I started to really DIG IT. I've only been here on Sundays, "Mod Night" and the line is always longer than its next door neighbor's, Barrymore's. Please allow me to tell you why!
First of all, epic name. "I'm off to Babylon tonight" It's also the name of the bar that the characters of "Queer as Folk" frequent. I digress. Don't mind the line, just talk to the bouncers or other people and you'll make it in no time. They'll stamp you and... no cover!
The place is PACKED. There's a long corridor of people in between the raised, seated section and the bar but it's worth the trek to get to the dance floor. Like I said, on Sunday's they rock a "Mod Night" which basically means music from the 50s, 60s, 70s, but basically anything goes! Seriously, it was on that very dance floor that I found out Amy Winehouse passed as the DJ introduced, "Back to Black". Shockingly, that experience has not traumatized me away from Babylon.
I like that this is a place of few rules. No dress code. No set way to dance or not dance. No unnecessary protocol whatsoever. It's a very straightforward place where everyone goes to drink their $4 Steamwhistle, hang out with some fun people, sweat and dance the night away with no holds barred.Listed in: Out On the Town
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Review from Alan S.
7/30/2011
Clearly a dive bar, and the only such place I had a chance to hit up while in Ottawa. It was neat to see as a tourist. I got to check out some of the local "culture" as there were bands and an art show going on while I was there. The $15 cover seemed absurd, but whatever. Been there, done that, doubt I'd go back.
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Review from Darren M.
Ottawa, ON
12/4/2010
This is a legendary dive bar. When KISS came to Ottawa the last time they brought Shannon Tweed here because she used to work here! It's been around for many years.
Babylon is a non-judgmental place with lots of interesting people.
The DJ's are usually really amazing and unlike stuffy places, people meander onto the dance floor early and don't seem to care what others think. That's the way bars and dancing should be!
The washrooms here are spectacularly gross but again, it's a dive bar so I wasn't expecting a guy to pass me a towel after I dried my hands.
There's usually cover but it's worth it and the drinks are really quite cheap.
I'd avoid sitting on any of those couches or old living room chairs they have in the back of the bar because they've probably been there since the place opened.
Babylon is great for groups of people who just want cheap beer and to dance or hear some good music. It's also great if you can't get into Barrymore's (sometimes huge lineups) and you just swing over to Babylon. -
Review from Devon B.
10/10/2008
It's hard to put a real finger on Babylon, it's a pretty confusing place. It's known as both a bar and a concert hall, and tries to sell itself as both. To top it off, though, the style of the place changes by the day.
The physical bar is dark, has limited seating, dirty bathrooms and a pretty simple bar. The stage area is what makes this place close to unique. A lot of bands play here of varying types, off pretty hard music though.
But other nights they have reggae playing and back when Barrymore's '80s nights were truly busy, it tried to have its own '80s nights to get the run off people that didn't want to get into line at Barrymore's.
I have never really liked the place but there is so much that goes on, and it is so random, you just might hit a night that turns out to be pretty good. -
Review from Amanda D.
Ottawa, ON
12/2/2008
Babylon offers a mishmash of live music, including rock, hip hop and metal, by semi-popular bands from around the continent, including local favourites. The atmosphere is dive bar chic because it seems they go out of their way to make this place look dingy for the aesthetic.
Like Barrymore's, they also have theme nights. Every Sunday they have the Mod Club Dance Party with free cover; every Wednesday is Retro 80s/90s music; and every Thursday they have One Love (hip hop, RnB, soul, etc) with $3 drinks and free admission for the ladies.
They have the basic selection of cheap beer with some Sol, Heineken and Stella thrown in for flavour.
I enjoy this place, but I need to be in the right mood and arriving on the right night. -
Review from Eli G.
8/6/2008
i played here 3 days before my 25th bday... more to come
