This place is so good, it’s gotten me though a job I had in the area. Without the shows here I would have been lost.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Nathan H.
Great music! Drinks were strong and at a good prices. The getting locked out because you went into another area of the bar even though you have a stamp to get back in was super annoying. The guy at the door said not a word about it. All signs said re entry's must have a stamp. And the still didnt let us in.
Tabatha G.
the energy of the club itself was really fun; the music was nice but my friend and I got to the door and were immediately made to feel unwelcomed. i stepped forwards and smiled and said Hi! and i was ignored for a long pause before the woman helping me looked up and asked us something about why we looked nervous, I just laughed and told her it was my first time at the club and immediately the vibe felt condescending. she said "Oh if this your first time I'll need to do a full check then" but I had just witnessed her barely glance at or not even scan the people in front of me's ID's. Im not quite sure why she chose to target me and my friend? I'm not mad about having to walk the weed pen to the car, because that was her complaint when she found it in my pocket, thats reasonable and i wish i could have read it somewhere on the website rather than being made to walk another 2 blocks back to my car in the pouring rain on my besties birthday night because they only tell you at the door. that you cannot bring in wax pens or vape pens. real nice first club experience, we did not come back. i also wish it didnt seem as though the bouncers looked the other way on certain people and gave randoms a hard time, had i not said anything about it being my first time would i have gotten through like the others may have?
Ryan Griffith
This place is a joke. Not worth the cover. Bouncers have rage issues. Stay away! Not a friendly place
Mikayla M.
I love this place, it's always fun and I highly recommend coming for the drag race viewing parties and the live drag shows.
Kailee Jhade
The bartender double charged me and was rude on 02/18/24.
Atmosphere: 2
Service: 1
C A.
Horrible top 40's looping soundtrack! EVERY SINGLE weekend they play the SAME music over and over? It's basically OLD top 40 hits from over the last 3 decades and today! No EDM/circuit/"gay" club music. For a "gay club" there is ALWAYS WAY MORE STRAIGHT/HETEROSEXUALS! We just moved to the Sacramento area a few months ago and I believe we have been to Powerhouse (SF) more than Badlands! There does not truly seem to be a great "gay dance" club in Sac!
Royland R.
02/10/2024 I was outside sitting in the back in the smoking area and watched a guy come down from the stairs with his joint. Security came up to him and said that he can't smoke weed in the smoking area. I was confused considering weed is legal in California. I mean all the cigarettes are killing me more than a blunt. Why can't people smoke weed in a smoking area in a state where weed is legal?? It just doesn't make sense to me.
Anisah J
Please refer to Kyle F. Post:I went here on 2/9/24 for the drag show. Spent about $100. Once the drag show was over, decided to hang by the stair wells which happen to lead to the bathrooms and the breaker which why would I know? I know because I saw a guy hanging by the breaker. All of a sudden, all the lights come one. For the bartender to get to the dude by the lights- he decides to shove me with both hands on each of my shoulders. Another sign that queer females and black queer females are the lowest on the totem pole. I wait for him to fix the issue and then I pull him aside and tell him “hey it was unnecessary to push me even though I get it” he brushed me off and acted like I was nothing. Cut to my PTSD and general unwelcome-ness. I got to many other staff of the bar and they tell me to calm down and get over it. DO NOT ATTEND THIS PLACE IF YOU ARE BLACK AND QUEER UNLESS THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR DISREGARD FOR BLACK WOMEN/QUEER WOMEN.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kyle Foster
The bartender with the hair pulled in the back and shaved sides - ran over to fix a light issue after lights were turned on during a drag show. On his way, he decided to two hand push a Black female friend of mine while telling her to move. Not just push - but a two hand forceful, disrespectful, and unnecessary shove.I saw the entire thing and need their management to review their cameras from this evening around 9pm and reach out to me. I plan to follow up with a police report for physical assault if the establishment doesn't properly investigate - I contacted numerous staff members.Everyone is extremely nonchalant and I am sick of the Sacramento queer scene not showing respect for all people - especially Black folks, women included. Literally no one cared and once the cameras are reviewed, management will see why this would be deemed physical assault. He must've been on a drug or blatantly out of his mind. We had just gotten there and ordered one drink each, before this happened. Not worth this sort of experience whatsoever and I would urge the establishment to have due diligence in releasing that individual from their staff immediately prior to me contacting counsel Monday.
The bartender with the hair pulled in the back and shaved sides - ran over to fix a light issue after lights were turned on during a drag show. On his way, he decided to two hand push a Black female friend of mine while telling her to move. Not just push - but a two hand forceful, disrespectful, and unnecessary shove. I saw the entire thing and need their management to review their cameras from this evening around 9pm and reach out to me. I plan to follow up with a police report for physical assault if the establishment doesn't properly investigate - I contacted numerous staff members. Everyone is extremely nonchalant and I am sick of the Sacramento queer scene not showing respect for all people - especially Black folks, women included. Literally no one cared and once the cameras are reviewed, management will see why this would be deemed physical assault. He must've been on a drug or blatantly out of his mind. We had just gotten there and ordered one drink each, before this happened. Not worth this sort of experience whatsoever and I would urge the establishment to have due diligence in releasing that individual from their staff immediately prior to me contacting counsel Monday.
Jake Soeters
Great space & A Sexy Bartender that can pour a killer margarita!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ariel S.
First of all, WOAH. My friends & I first & probably our last time here. We noticed many people dancing on the boxes on the dance floor (many were white women). My friend waited her turn & when the two girls who were up there finally got down, my friend (Native American) went up, the security guard told her to "get the fuck off!". He was extremely aggressive & was speaking to her as if he had repeatedly asked her to get down. POWER TRIP!! This wouldn't be an issue if he asked respectfully, we paid to get in, we paid for their services. NOT TO BE DISRESPECTED. He then began to harass a man near us & was cursing & was just being extremely hostile. Everyone who was near us was just watching him in disgust & confusion because he was acting crazy! Don't know if he thought he could intimidate us because we were women? Power trip was insane.
Thom W.
We went to Badlands to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Ru Paul Drag Race watchers. Had a great time. Drinks were really good. Staff on point. We stayed for the local drag show which was also good. The thing that ruined it was the put downs of white people and the political comments of stopping the genocide. As a person of the white color, why would I want to go and get attacked. I guess as a gay man, I want to feel welcomed by my fellow gay family. Certainly not to have the division from the outside world brought in and thrown in my face. It's drag, why's it gotta be about race.
This place is so good, it’s gotten me though a job I had in the area. Without the shows here I would have been lost.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Great music! Drinks were strong and at a good prices. The getting locked out because you went into another area of the bar even though you have a stamp to get back in was super annoying. The guy at the door said not a word about it. All signs said re entry's must have a stamp. And the still didnt let us in.
the energy of the club itself was really fun; the music was nice but my friend and I got to the door and were immediately made to feel unwelcomed. i stepped forwards and smiled and said Hi! and i was ignored for a long pause before the woman helping me looked up and asked us something about why we looked nervous, I just laughed and told her it was my first time at the club and immediately the vibe felt condescending. she said "Oh if this your first time I'll need to do a full check then" but I had just witnessed her barely glance at or not even scan the people in front of me's ID's. Im not quite sure why she chose to target me and my friend? I'm not mad about having to walk the weed pen to the car, because that was her complaint when she found it in my pocket, thats reasonable and i wish i could have read it somewhere on the website rather than being made to walk another 2 blocks back to my car in the pouring rain on my besties birthday night because they only tell you at the door. that you cannot bring in wax pens or vape pens. real nice first club experience, we did not come back. i also wish it didnt seem as though the bouncers looked the other way on certain people and gave randoms a hard time, had i not said anything about it being my first time would i have gotten through like the others may have?
This place is a joke. Not worth the cover. Bouncers have rage issues. Stay away! Not a friendly place
I love this place, it's always fun and I highly recommend coming for the drag race viewing parties and the live drag shows.
The bartender double charged me and was rude on 02/18/24.
Atmosphere: 2
Service: 1
Horrible top 40's looping soundtrack! EVERY SINGLE weekend they play the SAME music over and over? It's basically OLD top 40 hits from over the last 3 decades and today! No EDM/circuit/"gay" club music. For a "gay club" there is ALWAYS WAY MORE STRAIGHT/HETEROSEXUALS! We just moved to the Sacramento area a few months ago and I believe we have been to Powerhouse (SF) more than Badlands! There does not truly seem to be a great "gay dance" club in Sac!
02/10/2024 I was outside sitting in the back in the smoking area and watched a guy come down from the stairs with his joint. Security came up to him and said that he can't smoke weed in the smoking area. I was confused considering weed is legal in California. I mean all the cigarettes are killing me more than a blunt. Why can't people smoke weed in a smoking area in a state where weed is legal?? It just doesn't make sense to me.
Please refer to Kyle F. Post:I went here on 2/9/24 for the drag show. Spent about $100. Once the drag show was over, decided to hang by the stair wells which happen to lead to the bathrooms and the breaker which why would I know? I know because I saw a guy hanging by the breaker. All of a sudden, all the lights come one. For the bartender to get to the dude by the lights- he decides to shove me with both hands on each of my shoulders. Another sign that queer females and black queer females are the lowest on the totem pole. I wait for him to fix the issue and then I pull him aside and tell him “hey it was unnecessary to push me even though I get it” he brushed me off and acted like I was nothing. Cut to my PTSD and general unwelcome-ness. I got to many other staff of the bar and they tell me to calm down and get over it. DO NOT ATTEND THIS PLACE IF YOU ARE BLACK AND QUEER UNLESS THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR DISREGARD FOR BLACK WOMEN/QUEER WOMEN.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The bartender with the hair pulled in the back and shaved sides - ran over to fix a light issue after lights were turned on during a drag show. On his way, he decided to two hand push a Black female friend of mine while telling her to move. Not just push - but a two hand forceful, disrespectful, and unnecessary shove.I saw the entire thing and need their management to review their cameras from this evening around 9pm and reach out to me. I plan to follow up with a police report for physical assault if the establishment doesn't properly investigate - I contacted numerous staff members.Everyone is extremely nonchalant and I am sick of the Sacramento queer scene not showing respect for all people - especially Black folks, women included. Literally no one cared and once the cameras are reviewed, management will see why this would be deemed physical assault. He must've been on a drug or blatantly out of his mind. We had just gotten there and ordered one drink each, before this happened. Not worth this sort of experience whatsoever and I would urge the establishment to have due diligence in releasing that individual from their staff immediately prior to me contacting counsel Monday.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
The bartender with the hair pulled in the back and shaved sides - ran over to fix a light issue after lights were turned on during a drag show. On his way, he decided to two hand push a Black female friend of mine while telling her to move. Not just push - but a two hand forceful, disrespectful, and unnecessary shove. I saw the entire thing and need their management to review their cameras from this evening around 9pm and reach out to me. I plan to follow up with a police report for physical assault if the establishment doesn't properly investigate - I contacted numerous staff members. Everyone is extremely nonchalant and I am sick of the Sacramento queer scene not showing respect for all people - especially Black folks, women included. Literally no one cared and once the cameras are reviewed, management will see why this would be deemed physical assault. He must've been on a drug or blatantly out of his mind. We had just gotten there and ordered one drink each, before this happened. Not worth this sort of experience whatsoever and I would urge the establishment to have due diligence in releasing that individual from their staff immediately prior to me contacting counsel Monday.
Great space & A Sexy Bartender that can pour a killer margarita!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First of all, WOAH. My friends & I first & probably our last time here. We noticed many people dancing on the boxes on the dance floor (many were white women). My friend waited her turn & when the two girls who were up there finally got down, my friend (Native American) went up, the security guard told her to "get the fuck off!". He was extremely aggressive & was speaking to her as if he had repeatedly asked her to get down. POWER TRIP!! This wouldn't be an issue if he asked respectfully, we paid to get in, we paid for their services. NOT TO BE DISRESPECTED. He then began to harass a man near us & was cursing & was just being extremely hostile. Everyone who was near us was just watching him in disgust & confusion because he was acting crazy! Don't know if he thought he could intimidate us because we were women? Power trip was insane.
We went to Badlands to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Ru Paul Drag Race watchers. Had a great time. Drinks were really good. Staff on point. We stayed for the local drag show which was also good. The thing that ruined it was the put downs of white people and the political comments of stopping the genocide. As a person of the white color, why would I want to go and get attacked. I guess as a gay man, I want to feel welcomed by my fellow gay family. Certainly not to have the division from the outside world brought in and thrown in my face. It's drag, why's it gotta be about race.
Always a great LGBTQ bar to go to.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4