I just turned 21, which playa bars are the best?

[Dr. Dust]

Hey everyone,

I just turned 21 on Dec. 8th and I'm excited experience the playa bars in 2013, my third consecutive burn!

What playa bars are your favorites?

(I don't post a lot but I read often),

Kindest regards,

Dr. Dust


cue snarky comments

[BBadger]

Whatever bars you happen to encounter? It's not like there's a "city plan" for bars or something.

[Dr. Dust]

I believe I am most excited to go to the Jazz Cafe. I enjoyed sitting in on the drums at the jam sessions, but it was disappointing that I could not use my ID to accept a drink from the kind gentleman behind the counter. Now I can do that without putting anyone at risk, and I find that really exciting! This will be a new way to experience the burn, and I've anticipated it for two years!

[ygmir]

they all have their good points.

sloppy drunk, will make it all so much different........

[Dr Helix]

The Vomiting Sparrow in the morning. The Gherkin at 3am. Find them and you'll understand.

[Eric]

There are no "best" playa bars. There are bars you like the best, or I like the best, or someone else likes the best, but there are very few that every single person will go "that's the best" to. Like Jazz Cafe - love that they do it, would rather rip my ears off my head than have to camp next to them again. They have some fantastic talent play there, but they also have a lot of the jazz I can't stand, personally (twiddly modern crap). You love it - it's one of your best. That's all the opinion you need.

My best? I like dive bars & out of the way spots. Fandango is and always will be my home bar, as long as it exists. I feel at home there, I love them, and it's dirt trashy & all about strong booze. The Midnight Bacon Bar was a blast, and I'm vegan. Didn't eat the bacon, but had some of their lovely strong concoctions, drew on their bar as requested, laughed & hung out. There's Egg Bar, there's the secret bar I can't talk about, there's the semi-secret Absinthe bar, there's Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro...

Honestly, if you were going to do it my way, then your best bet is to wander around the backstreets & stop at inviting looking establishments. Don't be fooled into thinking all the best stuff is on the Esplanade, it's not. Don't be fooled into thinking the best place to have a drink is at a bar - often times it's not. My best night ever drinking on the playa (and in my top 2 or 3 nights ever out there) was during the night-time white-out on Friday last year, when our little party of 6 decided to take a break in my RV for a while before we headed back out into the dust. We ended up there the rest of the night, with a fluctuating group of 15 or so people, drinking & laughing our asses off. In our RV, on the Esplanade... go figure.

Then again, that's my way. May not be yours. There is no one way to do the playa.

[^Rhino!]

Word. Eric's got it going on. There are no 'best' bars. There are only opportunities for unique playa magic.

The Egg Bar was fun this year during the day, even, and Hair of the Dog was pretty nice for an afternoon stop. I've had fun at the Seven Sins Lounge, too, in previous years. The Moonshine Tavern in '08 was really a happening place, too, come to think of it, as was 'Porn and Eggs' for breakfast.

I'll have my porn well done, thank you, though vintage rare porn has its moments.

[Dr. Dust]

It's not so much that I would plan out a route from bar to bar, but with everyone's feedback I could recognize a bar that someone recalled having a great time at and make it a point to stop there. Regardless, I'm sure I'll be more preoccupied with my interactions with people, and bars will be a secondary factor to that. That is, until I go out on my own

[Ugly Dougly]

From year to year, bars, DJs and theme camps come and go.
Release expectations and leap into the playa.

[theCryptofishist]

The "best" bar out there in 2013 may never have been there before.

I keep trying to nail my certainties to the playa, and that damn dust sheds them every time.

[Bounce530]

A couple of my personal recommendations are:

Dusty Swan for a relaxed bar. Great place to duck into during a big blow.
Suck 'n Fuck for some of the stiffest drinks you've ever had.
Red Rooster for some great conversation.
Frogma for a partying happy hour.
Kantina Apok for...well hell I can't remember why..stumble, stumble, fall.
Barbie Death camp. You gotta have one of Wild Mans Bloody Mary, and some of Doc's Absinthe.

But by far, my favorite was the Boobie Bar...

[mudpuppy000]

I think all my favorites have been in the backstreets. Vomiting Sparrows is amazing. We hosted our own pub this year too, which was my favorite but then again I'm biased.

[JayBobBoy]

I like the look of the kind that you can see through, or the shiny kind. Some people just let it all hang out.

Oh...you meant bars...I read that wrong!

[Turtleburp]

There are no "best" playa bars. There are bars you like the best, or I like the best, or someone else likes the best, but there are very few that every single person will go "that's the best" to. Like Jazz Cafe - love that they do it, would rather rip my ears off my head than have to camp next to them again. They have some fantastic talent play there, but they also have a lot of the jazz I can't stand, personally (twiddly modern crap). You love it - it's one of your best. That's all the opinion you need.

My best? I like dive bars & out of the way spots. Fandango is and always will be my home bar, as long as it exists. I feel at home there, I love them, and it's dirt trashy & all about strong booze. The Midnight Bacon Bar was a blast, and I'm vegan. Didn't eat the bacon, but had some of their lovely strong concoctions, drew on their bar as requested, laughed & hung out. There's Egg Bar, there's the secret bar I can't talk about, there's the semi-secret Absinthe bar, there's Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro...

Honestly, if you were going to do it my way, then your best bet is to wander around the backstreets & stop at inviting looking establishments. Don't be fooled into thinking all the best stuff is on the Esplanade, it's not. Don't be fooled into thinking the best place to have a drink is at a bar - often times it's not. My best night ever drinking on the playa (and in my top 2 or 3 nights ever out there) was during the night-time white-out on Friday last year, when our little party of 6 decided to take a break in my RV for a while before we headed back out into the dust. We ended up there the rest of the night, with a fluctuating group of 15 or so people, drinking & laughing our asses off. In our RV, on the Esplanade... go figure.

Then again, that's my way. May not be yours. There is no one way to do the playa.

This is bullshit Dr.Dust... Eric is holding out on you to keep all the best bars to himself- since he is easily recognised you should find him and not let him out of your site at any point to avoid missing out.

[BBadger]

The best bar is the one you're already at, and if it isn't, go find another one down the street.

[Eric]

This is bullshit Dr.Dust... Eric is holding out on you to keep all the best bars to himself- since he is easily recognised you should find him and not let him out of your site at any point to avoid missing out.

no... please... don't make me spend my whole Burn with a 21 year old boy... stop... don't....


Daddy wants a new chew-toy...

[Dr. Dust]

Thank you, thank you, thank you to those of you who understand and are cool enough to let me know what your favorites have been. I reiterate, this post is primarily for the purpose of re-familiarizing myself with the names of bars that I've walked past and heard so much about, but have never had the opportunity to fully participate in (granted, there are other things to do besides drinking a drink at the bar, but to be perfectly honest, I enjoy alcohol).

As many of you have pointed out, one of the most exciting things about Burning Man (for me at least) is the spontaneity of the experience. I'm not that guy who's like, "bro, if you wanna go watch burns that's cool, but I'm postin' here at Suck and Fuck because I can tell the bartender thinks I'm sexy." Actually, in 2011 I found out that one of my friends is that guy, and it disappointed me that he was so hung up on a single person/ experience (clearly, he's doing it wrong).

Eric, does this mean you won't be visiting my deep playa Krug-pong table?? *sob*

[danibel]

My favorite bars are not necessarily the best. One time I wondered into a saloon on the esplanade and they filled my flask with tequila. It wasn't top shelf but hey, I really appreciated it! I like my own camp's cocktail hour(s). I love the Ashram. It's got good DJ's and the bartender prioritizes the patrons by bring your cup (which I always do). I have met some fine people at the Ashram and the dance show on the bar is fun. HOTD was on my way home last year and they were certainly friendly and accommodating. We stopped in the Jazz club last year on burn night, but never made it to the bar. I usually take a smaller cooler with beers and flask out with me for my wonderings. I try not to rely on bars for my drinks. I'd rather offer a cold beer to someone that is thirsty. That saloon was an exception, I was out too long and ran out of my own provisions.

Be self reliant and create your bar. That would be the best.

[Elderberry]

My absolute favorite is Celestial Bodies. They serve the best playa cosmos, and they don't bitch if you forgot a cup.

[lemur]

[dangerous]

we stopped in at The Naked Tiki Bar daily. the drinks were aweful, but i like taking my clothes off in public.

[theCryptofishist]

And the Naked Tiki Bar is the only place in Black Rock City where that happens.

[Eric]

Eric, does this mean you won't be visiting my deep playa Krug-pong table?? *sob*

um... did I say something that implied I wasn't interested in champers & 21 year-olds? Because the quote above is almost too painful not to riff off of...

[Savannah]

we stopped in at The Naked Tiki Bar daily. the drinks were aweful, but i like taking my clothes off in public.

Sig worthy.

[EspressoDude]

And the Naked Tiki Bar is the only place in Black Rock City where that happens.

LOL...




more like naked playa

[Ugly Dougly]

Dr. Dust, now that you are 21, there is one other thing you can do this year besides drink.

That is, bring us your own bar and make it the best ever!

[Dr. Dust]

Dr. Dust, now that you are 21, there is one other thing you can do this year besides drink.

That is, bring us your own bar and make it the best ever!

Wow, I feel silly for not having thought of that already! I brainstormed this idea as I ate my Chinese food and have come up with a concept. The building materials will be cheap and available in Reno, too.

*drumroll*
















THE RE-BAR

Built almost entirely of rebar, of course, complete with rebar stripper pole and rebar-staked tiki torches!!

I'm sure someone has thought of this already, but I'm going to do it anyways! Hopefully the logistics work out and I can do it in 2013. (Might be a bit tricky to haul it in my 4-door sedan is the only issue).

Thank you for the inspiration!

um... did I say something that implied I wasn't interested in champers & 21 year-olds? Because the quote above is almost too painful not to riff off of...

Um... with an attitude like that you'll have to pay VIP if you want ice in your drink

[Eric]

THE RE-BAR

Built almost entirely of rebar, of course, complete with rebar stripper pole and rebar-staked tiki torches!!

Love the concept of The Re-bar, but on the tiki torches (from here):

Tiki Torches, Candles & Lanterns

Winds pick up without warning and blow things over -- tent fires have started due to tiki torches, candles and lanterns being blown over in or around tents. Tiki torches are restricted to The Esplanade, the pedestrian boulevard at the fron of our city; Villages; in our Center Camp; and within the two Plazas on 2500' at the 90° and 270° intersections. We are tentatively allowing their reintroduction only in specific pre-approved locations along the esplanade. Unattended candles are discouraged and safe use of lanterns is encouraged.

um... did I say something that implied I wasn't interested in champers & 21 year-olds? Because the quote above is almost too painful not to riff off of...

Um... with an attitude like that you'll have to pay VIP if you want ice in your drink

Ice in champagne? You are 21...

[Dr. Dust]

Ah, good catch on the tiki torches. Glad I won't have to learn that one the hard way.

Ice in champagne? You are 21...

Check mate. Guilty as charged

[Eric]

Ah, good catch on the tiki torches. Glad I won't have to learn that one the hard way.

That's where creativity comes in - something rebar that looks like tiki torches, but uses LEDs or EL Wire, or even those battery operated "candles" you can get at gift sotres...

There's always a way to make something even cooler than an off-the-shelf tiki torch.