Taboo
Popular gaybar in the main gaystreet of AmsterdamAverage Reviews
About
Taboo Bar, a cherished hotspot that exudes inclusivity and fun, is nestled on the bustling Reguliersdwarsstraat in Amsterdam.
Taboo Bar is known for its engaging theme nights and daily happy hours that spark lively interactions among guests. Every Wednesday, the bar hosts its "Fabulous Cocktail Night," which features a live DJ and discounted cocktails, while Fridays see the bar serving complimentary hot snacks to kickstart the weekend. These events are complemented by Sunday's "Drag Me to Heaven," ensuring that there's always something special happening at Taboo.
The venue prides itself on a modern and inviting atmosphere, where everyone from the LGBTQ+ community and their allies can feel safe and celebrated. The bar features an extensive drink menu, from classic cocktails to monthly specials, ensuring that every visit offers something new.
Taboo Bar's commitment to creating a memorable experience is evident in its meticulous service and the diverse crowd it attracts. Whether it's dancing, enjoying a cocktail, or watching vibrant drag performances, Taboo Bar encapsulates the essence of Amsterdam's famous gay-friendly hospitality.
Taboo Bar is known for its engaging theme nights and daily happy hours that spark lively interactions among guests. Every Wednesday, the bar hosts its "Fabulous Cocktail Night," which features a live DJ and discounted cocktails, while Fridays see the bar serving complimentary hot snacks to kickstart the weekend. These events are complemented by Sunday's "Drag Me to Heaven," ensuring that there's always something special happening at Taboo.
The venue prides itself on a modern and inviting atmosphere, where everyone from the LGBTQ+ community and their allies can feel safe and celebrated. The bar features an extensive drink menu, from classic cocktails to monthly specials, ensuring that every visit offers something new.
Taboo Bar's commitment to creating a memorable experience is evident in its meticulous service and the diverse crowd it attracts. Whether it's dancing, enjoying a cocktail, or watching vibrant drag performances, Taboo Bar encapsulates the essence of Amsterdam's famous gay-friendly hospitality.
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Reviews
Based on 505 reviews
M B.
22:28 02 Dec 24
We first hit Taboo Bar on a Saturday night at around 00:30 because we were attracted by the "Dragshow" neon sign. Once inside we immediately liked the vibe, everyone dancing to major throwback hits and music from female icons (Lady Gaga, Destiny's Child, Kesha and the likes), and then also in between we were treated to lip syncing performances by the drag queens. It was amazing !I do have to say though that the bar service wasn't great. I ordered a cocktail for 12.20 euros which didn't taste like alcohol at all and bartenders were a bit chaotic with their orders, so if nobody claimed a drink they would just toss it out within minutes.Later that night, we came back to the same bar, at around 2 am, and they had closed the left part and opened up the right part and the place was packed with a different crowd than before (bit more predatory looking people). It was so full we almost didn't go back in and I ended up getting my phone stolen ! Apparently it's not the first time that it happens so although it's not their fault, they should either reinforce their security (there was only one guy at the entrance) or warn people before coming in because if warned I would have been much more careful !Overall really nice bar if you stick to the earlier hours when it's less crowded. Unfortunately my opinion of the place was a bit affected by the pickpocketing...Borislav Tomov
19:12 01 Dec 24
Great place located in the heart of the city. We enjoyed very much our time there, the atmosphere and the cocktails were amazing! Special ovations to Sam, who thanks to his professionalism and kindness made our visit there very pleasant.Dave Madeley
18:12 27 Nov 24
married straight couple popped in for a drink as we walked past, not intimidating or cliquey at all it was a friendly bar and the free tapas that came around every 5mins were deliciousLaurie B.
10:33 27 Nov 24
Over opinionated bartenders, who slag off tourist patrons. Food was surprisingly good but the service was not acceptable.Cassandra A
16:05 28 Oct 24
Although we didn’t visit, choosing to rate it as we were two women who were too intimated to walk in the door from the amount of men outside, we did not feel welcome or safe enough to go in. Very unfortunate that many of the gay bars in the area were for just that, gay men.Alexej
18:08 25 Oct 24
What a Blast! Absolutely crazy and awesome!🥳🥳🥳Sunday night was such a surprise for us to visit and dance and enjoy drinks and show etc..👍💎🪩💎🪩💎🪩Aleandro Martimbor Zayas
12:46 26 Sep 24
The worst gay bar in whole Amsterdam, look out if ever go there , they always charge you more than what you have to pay , + look at your bank when ever you pay here cause even if you drink a beer , would always be 1 or 2 euros more after the first one .... no very professional staff is very arrogant. NO RecommendedFernando Pascussi
03:01 26 Aug 24
Very fun! Staff is very friendly, the music is good. Best option for a Sunday night.tt
23:06 01 Aug 24
Super crowded and they ask ppl to stand up, cause they wanna put the chairs away already. They are neither clothing, nor it would cause more silence on the street. Party poopers.Leif Harmsen
17:43 04 Jul 24
One time at the end of a great night out I went to go in and the bouncer asked me a couple of polite questions then told me he thought I had drunk a bit much to stay out. For a split second I felt offended, then realized he was right. I did well to go to my hotel, drink lots of water and get some good sleep before enjoying the Rijksmuseum the next morning. Thank you Mr. bouncer for doing your job. Tomorrow is another day.Rafaël Theunis
18:09 10 Jun 24
Fun gay bar with a good crowd. Attentive staff as well. Seems like it’s always bustling.S. Binder
06:15 13 May 24
Our experience at Bar Taboo was unfortunately disappointing. Despite looking forward to a pleasant last evening in Amsterdam, we were ignored for nearly half an hour before being served. During this time, our table was not cleaned while others were.When we finally received our drinks, the service was not only slow but also unfriendly. The staff appeared disinterested and not particularly courteous. Two of them openly gossiped about us, laughed, and made us feel unwelcome. This greatly affected our experience and made us feel uncomfortable.Considering the high prices, we expected at least polite and attentive service, which unfortunately was not the case.We hope that this feedback helps address such issues so that future guests can have a more enjoyable experience.S. Binder
12:42 03 May 24
Our experience at Bar Taboo was unfortunately disappointing. Despite looking forward to a pleasant last evening in Amsterdam, we were ignored for nearly half an hour before being served. During this time, our table was not cleaned while others were.When we finally received our drinks, the service was not only slow but also unfriendly. The staff appeared disinterested and not particularly courteous. Two of them openly gossiped about us, laughed, and made us feel unwelcome. This greatly affected our experience and made us feel uncomfortable.Considering the high prices, we expected at least polite and attentive service, which unfortunately was not the case.We hope that this feedback helps address such issues so that future guests can have a more enjoyable experience.Salomé B.
05:39 03 May 24
Our experience at Bar Taboo was unfortunately disappointing. Despite looking forward to a pleasant last evening in Amsterdam, we were ignored for nearly...Camila Buenaventura-Marquez
01:20 22 Apr 24
My recent visit to this gay bar in Amsterdam left me deeply disappointed and disturbed. My friends and I went there on Monday night seeking a safe environment to enjoy ourselves, but unfortunately, a series of events shattered that sense of security for the rest of our stay.Firstly, a group of men outside the bar took it upon themselves to mock and taunt the people dancing inside, while the bouncer stood idly by, neglecting to intervene. Then, things took a disturbing turn when the same bouncer inappropriately touched one of my friends. Feeling uncomfortable and not wanting to cause a scene, my friend remained silent.As if that wasn't enough, upon leaving the bar, the bouncer directed obscene remarks at me in Spanish, so the rest of the group did not understand what he was saying to me. It was an utterly horrifying experience. The individual tasked with ensuring our safety and well-being ended up being the perpetrator of harassment. This behavior is unacceptable and constitutes serious harassment.I cannot in good conscience recommend this establishment to anyone. It's essential that people avoid subjecting themselves to such unacceptable treatment for their own safety and peace of mind.Giulianna Gadelha
20:44 09 Apr 24
Amazing vibes! This was not my first time at this bar, having come here before at late nights. This time I came for a drink after work, and I was very well served, treated very kindly and with cute nicknames by the waiter which made me feel like a princess. Forget the other reviews, because we never know the full story. I work in hospitality myself and I can appreciate what they do here. Comfy seats outside and they went out of their way to make me a meat platter with some cheese because I’m gluten allergic, and I had the best time. They were serving some small appetizers with a smile, and I experienced the true Dutch hospitality ❤️❤️❤️❤️ thank you guys!!! Much appreciatedLisa G.
11:01 20 Mar 24
we went to this bar after Duke of Tokyo closed (if you are in the area, absolutely pick duke of tokyo out of the ones next door). We went in here for one last drink, we ended up at the police station the day after. After an argument with the main security guard (little guy outside the door), a friend of mine asked him for his name, as he wanted to mention him in a bad review. How scary this must have been, he was physically assaulted by the security for asking for a name. Another security guard, tall, blond with his hair parted down in the middle, came out of nowhere and FROM BEHIND, pushed my friend on the ground. I tried to talk to him to tell him what he did was absolutely unnecessary and dangerous, but his eyes my god, looked like he was heavily on something. i took a picture of his face to show to police and man, you need help!!We are not people that look for a fight, so we left, but went straight to the police station the day after to report the incident. Having people like this work in security is an absolute hazard. i heard that the blond guy that has seen Scarface too many time has been reported to the police several times and yet he still there pushing people from behind. What an absolute coward. The other security guy, is one meter tall so scared for his life that he has to call for support just because somebody asked him for his name. Tall high guy comes without having any idea on what is going on and just cowardly attack people from behind. considering that the drinks and music are not even good, i call this the worst bar in Amsterdam by far.Barbie
08:07 03 Mar 24
we were there during a devworld event & only had beers. The staff was very welcoming & nice; The music was the best on the whole street - loved their djАнастасия Галас
17:25 05 Feb 24
Very cool club, great music, excellent service, friendly staff, celebrated my birthday here, ready to come back again and again. Great place. Recommended ❤️💯❤️Paul Doherty
04:08 28 Jan 24
Do not go here under any circumstance if you are not from the Netherlands. The drag queens will find a way to rip you off particularly if they suspect that you are not European. Unfortunately for this bar we are European and we know exactly when we are being ripped off and it's shameful to rip off a queer person of any nationality. Do better or shut up shop.Strutcakes
15:46 30 Dec 23
Terrible bar with awful, rude bar staff.Ordered a round of drinks, despite repeating myself several times, but barman got my order wrong, refused to change it to the correct order and then forced me to pay for drinks I didn’t want.Will not be going back and refuse to give them any more of my money.TravelingGayPanda
15:12 23 Dec 23
A fun gay bar with 2 floors for dancing and hanging out. The bartenders were extremely nice and made good drinks. The crowd was fun and spill out into the street outside. A mix between youthful and more mature people. The music was great.Juan B.
07:12 23 Dec 23
A fun gay bar with 2 floors for dancing and hanging out. The bartenders were extremely nice and made good drinks. The crowd was fun and spill out into the...Matthias Woll
08:08 18 Dec 23
No entry fee, toilets got no fee either. Quick and friendly bartenders. Good atmosphere.Vampirinia
20:09 15 Dec 23
After a concert at Tolhustuin I wanted to have a drink with my girlfriend before going back to our hotel. So we decided to visit the gay twin of our "Schaafenstraße" in Cologne. It was monday so there was no great choice but we chose the right bar. It was a wonderful evening with plenty of drinks and the choice of music invited to dance a lot! We will come back 🙂Santos Herrera
13:09 10 Dec 23
Great place for a fun time, everyone sings along to the songs and the drinks are top notch!!Osman Boz
08:08 13 Nov 23
We are visiting from London, where we are use to order double Hendricks gin tonic. Barman at Taboo served us the cocktail with lemon, lime and cucumber in it, while Hendricks must be known to be served with cucumber. Anyway, 41 euros for 2 double gin tonic! We left!! This is absolutely a rob! Never seen this price in any gay bar! The day before, We went to Taboo (and had great time) and to Blend. We paid between 22 - 30 euros max for double gin tonics (which is normal prices) Different barman - Different prices though. Still in shock for 41 euros! Shame on you guys! Stop ripping off your customer/visitors!Osman B.
12:56 12 Nov 23
We are from London. Experienced gay bars in hour city home and also Paris. Ordering often double Hendricks Gin tonics. Barmen at Taboo bar served us 2...Michael Jung
05:47 06 Nov 23
Everything about the bar was awesome apart of the fact that no want would tell you where to get some Party sTuff to slam or smoke.I met a guy at the toilet shooting so he advise me to go to Bitchemic dot com if I needed some good quality IceVincent Smit
01:26 16 Sep 23
Manager is awesome. Makes you welcome. Best place to go in Amsterdam everyday of the week.Jerry C.
03:39 04 Sep 23
If I say I have a regular bar that I stop by whenever I'm in Amsterdam, it would be Taboo. It's in the heart of the gayborhood with a number of other gay...Laura
02:44 01 Aug 23
The waiter and the service and all was great. I'm giving only 1 star because they hired an I think somewhat mentally challenged security guard, which on its own is not a problem, but this guy is extremely aggressive. I saw him punch a customer in the face for no reason at all. The guy fell on the ground and was extremely upset afterwards. He was crying and clearly in shock. The whole terrace was appalled and tried to comfort him, none of us could understand why this happened. I'm actually still in shock now myself. I hope this will be reported to the police and the security guard will be (at least!) fired. And to the guy it happened to, I hope you are okay Arthur Neri
22:45 28 Jul 23
An Unfortunate Reality at "Taboo" - the name itself now an unfortunate jest. This establishment served us not with cocktails, but with a disheartening dose of xenophobia. Their refusal to accept payments from 'certain countries' exemplified an ignorance that’s truly the biggest 'taboo' of them all. For any true globetrotter, this is one place to sidestep in Amsterdam’s otherwise welcoming landscape.Myrto Symeonidi
09:07 24 Jul 23
It used to be one of my favorite places, but now it's infested with hetero creeps trying to hook up with any woman that tries to escape them from the straight clubs.Two guys were heavily harassing a woman that kept pushing them away until we intervened. And all that happened right in front of the bar, the staff behind it did nothing. A guy tried to grab my friends tongue, I wish I was joking.Security clearly has no idea what they're doing letting those people in and allowing them to prey upon others. As a lesbian I enjoyed Taboo, the community it hosted and the refuge from unwanted attention. Shame, I won't be going there againAlejandro Duarte
13:47 01 Jul 23
Great place with amazing service! I love the music and the vibes are really friendly. Is my favorite gay bar in Ámsterdam to enjoy the party ❤️ completely recommended. You can also enjoy delicious food!Samuel Francisco Figueroa Lanza
06:50 21 May 23
I am deeply disappointed by the discriminatory treatment that I faced at this establishment. While bar hopping with my friends, we were shocked when Taboo denied entry to me and my friends, solely based on our racial background.This experience ranks among the most disturbing instances of racial profiling I have encountered.There’s no possible way I’ll be recommending or returning to a venue that perpetuates such offensive practices. It's disappointing to see an establishment that prides itself on being part of the LGBTQ+ community acting more like a straight mainstream clubDanny Edwards
08:48 16 Apr 23
Totally bizarre experience last night where the bouncer quizzed each of my (gay) friends if they knew what kind of establishment it was before they would let us in, and actually physically removed one of us from entering (ps, he was sober). The bouncer did not extend the same treatment to the largely straight female people who made up the majority of the people inside. Have never felt less welcome as a gay man at a gay bar. Incredible.C 82
11:21 06 Apr 23
Went here after dinner across the street. Great for people watching with cosy blankets outside. Service is a little slow from the gossipy bar staff and the menu a little pricey. Bar itself is small but fun in its decor. Watch out for the steep stairs up and down to the toilets and lounge.Brandon Beaumont
03:05 03 Jan 23
Favorite gay bar to go to and the people there are the best. I love going on Sundays especially because of the wonderful drag shows. The owner and bartenders are the best and we love the bar queen Emma. This is a spot to visit.Milan Meriwani
18:05 22 Dec 22
Such a beautiful bar. There was a bartender named Nate and they were very nice ❤️ I had a blast there. Recommended 100%. If you reading this Nate, you were amazing and keep shining.Wanda Borter
15:55 11 Dec 22
Good drinks, not too cheap in pourings, great atmosphere, nice staff. Even in winter you can sit cosily outside if you want, there are heaters and blankets. Inside is great as well. There are little events often. Worth the visit, go and see what they have in store that night!Kelly Michael Heesink Dumasig
15:56 17 Oct 22
Great to chill/relax here. Servers are really friendly! But the wines are not the best ones! My husband didn't like it.Dario
00:05 17 Oct 22
LOVE IT!!! Been to Amsterdam multiple times and never had this much fun. Drag queens are funny and entertaining, staff is lovely, drinks well priced and overall had a great experience!Sophie Gensicke
14:35 17 Sep 22
Foot and service where amazing TJ took amazing care of us we will return on our next trip to Amsterdam 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽Mary Brown
18:18 04 Aug 22
Such a cute bar!! I love the decor and the manager is a hottie who is super personal and sweet. 10/10 recommend coming here. Also welcoming to non cis men gays hehe. - Xoxo ur non-binary qtAlon Malhi
14:12 25 Jul 22
Liked it!Liked the drag queens in itLiked the mini eventAt some point there was a guy harassing a girl, and then he went to the bartender - but she handled it pretty quickly and efficient and he got kicked out fast, without allowing him to come back.Prices are normal to Amsterdam, nothing too high I feel.A pretty small bar but goodYou can also sit outside but inside is where the fun isandrew felisberto
16:08 08 Jul 22
A must go! Great music, great drinks and just an overall fun atmosphere. Make sure you see Monique and Sam, they really know how to throw a party! And make sure to check out the unique “stained glass windows.” So much fun, ten out of ten would recommend!Jordy G
06:41 26 Jun 21
Service is not ok, when you're coming from outside, you don't get treated well. A shame, since they do need local people as well to keep the business running.Skycruiser Travel Channel
18:55 18 Jun 21
Best gay bar in town, wonderful staff, friendly attitude and crowd!Elixir Rubei
22:01 25 Aug 20
Used to come here very often, very fun, but after Corona it's not that busy. The service got a lot better though, David ( I think that's his name.). brought us drinks and entertained us. He was really amazing, will def come back. Love taboo 🥰🥰Danny S.
06:30 11 Oct 19
Friendly atmosphere, drinks were yummy, great DJ, Drags popped in for a set or two and the crowd was attractive! It was in somewhat of a gay district, cool...Ervin Zarka
14:23 04 Aug 19
Being recently often there and im so dissapointed of staff. Very rude and impolite. Of course their behaviour come from above. We were a group of guys and we left without ordering coz the bartender didnt want to serve us but to someone who came much more later. And also another bartender on other side was trying to avoid a couple waiting to order. Pffff ridiculous!Neil M.
23:41 09 Jun 19
Taboo is one of the best bars anywhere with a great vibe and FAB staff - especially Nordin, Manuel and Collin who always make us all welcome.Happy hour...Thomas W.
13:34 12 May 19
This was a nice bar in a pretty central location to several other gay friendly bars and restaurants or just entertainment in general. I saw a few things...Rebeca A.
05:41 11 Apr 19
I went there with a friend yesterday (Wednesday) we were really exited to go at first but as soon as we entered we saw that the place was really crowded, we...Ervin Zarka
15:54 27 May 18
Being recently often there and im so dissapointed of staff. Very rude and impolite. Of course their behaviour come from above. We were a group of guys and we left without ordering coz the bartender didnt want to serve us but to someone who came much more later. And also another bartender on other side was trying to avoid a couple waiting to order. Pffff ridiculous!Torrpedo T.
09:59 28 Apr 14
prosfree wifi (!!)friendly dutch menlocals when it's not kingsdayinteresting music videos (not the typical recycled trash)friendly bartenders bicycle...
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