Verified Company
DO NOT GO TO THIS VENUE. MANAGEMENT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR SAFETY.
On Pride Sunday (6/28/26), moments before the Nick Gaga show at Balcon, a woman physically choked my best friend.. in public, in front of a crowd..because she wanted his seat. Bystanders around us were screaming and begging her to let him go.
When security finally arrived, they did not remove the woman who had just assaulted someone. They removed my friend, the victim.
When we refused to leave, security physically grabbed him, bruised him, and threw him out of the venue.
No one on Balcon's staff checked on him. No one asked if he was okay. No one acknowledged what had just happened to him.
This was Pride. This was the anniversary of Stonewall. And this venue chose to protect the aggressor and discard the victim.
If something happens to you or someone you love inside Balcon, do not expect the staff to be on your side. We learned that the hard way.
I had a great time. Myself, my boyfriend and some friends came here on Father’s Day. Jasmine Rice and Lexington Banks are stars in the making. They are stars already. Super talented, and amazing dancers. Jasmine is very quick witted. She seems to have comedy and playful shade ready set to fire in her arsenal. I can see them on tv. I’m sorry I don’t recall the name of the bartender. But he was very professional and accommodating. I’m sober as he is too. He made a nice shot of something a bit spicy. Which I rather enjoyed.
I've given Balcon several chances, but this bar just can't stick a landing for me. Semi-rude bartenders, tiny glasses for cocktails, somewhat arrogant drag queens. If it's not completely dead it's packed and impossible to move around. Overall, there are much better gay bars in the city!
IIf I could leave 0 stars, I would. Came here on a Saturday excited to dance and have a good time. The space and music were great, but the bartending was a huge letdown. I ordered two Ranch Waters and watched as they made them. Somehow ended up with cups full of schnapps (which shouldn’t have been poured at all), club soda, and ice. No tequila. $22 for that. Hard to enjoy the vibe after paying for drinks that weren't even made right.
Reply from Balcon Salon
2026.06.07
It sounds like your bartender grabbed the wrong bottle. All you had to do was tell them your drink was made incorrectly and politely ask for them to remake it. Very simple.
Security man at the door was kind both nights. (Tuesday and Wednesday.) Bartenders took their time, even though no one was buying drinks. Iannis, the table server on Wednesday, was helpful, but, again, the bartenders took forever to pour the drinks, even though they weren’t busy. Many people (customers and performers) were vaping, giving an unwelcome sweet smell to the air. The performers walked in after 10:30 for a scheduled 10:00 show. Nothing started til after 11:00. Locals arrived around 11:00, so they seem to know the real schedule. The show was fun but very short. Iannis told me all forms of payment are accepted. (I asked because of something to the contrary that I read on Google Maps.)
