I understand this is a topless bar/strip club with no cover charge. So I will make that clear before I get into my 1-star review. I went here with my boyfriend, because we were out and wanted to do something fun and it’s pretty conveniently located for us. The fact that it had easy parking was also a plus. I can’t say that I go to strip clubs regularly, but I’ve definitely been to enough that I understand how it works. So I get it, there is no cover charge, meaning that tips are practically required, but at least do SOMETHING to earn the dollar you are going to aggressively ask for every 2 minutes. Some really rude girl took our drink order. It was so loud that we couldn’t really hear what was on tap and she didn’t offer us a beer list or menu, so we just ordered whatever overpriced low quality beer we could think of first. Not even a minute after, some girl covering her breasts with her hands came up to us demanding a dollar. Now, we’re here with money and we are willing to tip, but I was under the impression that a strip club was going to entitle us to see boobs and this girl was covering hers and making weird faces with her tongue sticking out. She demanded a dollar. And I mean demanded. So we gave in to be nice. Then another girl comes around, not even 2 minutes later, and she shows her boobs and that’s great, but she pays no attention to me, the girlfriend who is here with my boyfriend. I get it. He’s into this, he’s a dude. But I’m here with him and half of the money is coming from me. The happier I am, the longer we will stay, and the more tips you will get. At least acknowledge that I am there. Nothing. He had his arm around me and she could tell we were visibly here together and she wouldn’t even look at me. Then, another 3 minutes pass, and the same girl who wouldn’t show her breasts the first time around was back, demanding another dollar. When I tried to egg her on to let us see more(again, the whole reason why we are there), she flashed us her boobs for a brief second, and demanded(I don’t use that word lightly) more tips. We tip her, and I try to have a conversation with my boyfriend, but can’t because we are approached again by a new girl this time. She does a little thing, not much to earn a tip, but enough. At this point we don’t have singles, and asked for a machine that made change and she told us not to worry about it. So now we feel bad for not tipping, but can’t find out how to break some of our larger bills. And there is no way I am giving some girl a $ 20 for wearing her underwear around a bar. My boyfriend gets that for free every day at home. To sum it up, this isn’t strip club etiquette that I don’t understand. If you are going to demand and yes, I mean demand tips, then you need to do a bit of work and let yourself go.
Jon E.
Rating des Ortes: 5 New York, NY
Don’t be mistaken by the name like I was. I went here last weekend expecting them to help me fix a flat on my bike. Boy, was I surprised!!!
Bo B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Brooklyn, NY
The bartenders and entertainment are great. They are sweet and accommodating. Please ignore the reviews from the clowns who are upset they went to a strip club with no cover charge and are being asked to pay a dollar to see tits. The women there might not be so aggressive about tips, if there weren’t a bunch of jokers there that weren’t paying them. These jerkoffs don’t buy drinks either but expect to be catered to. I’m sure they leave these reviews at ever place they burden.
Bern G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Cos Cob, CT
The club is very accessible and the girls were very polite
Brian P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Rochester, NY
I believe her name was Selena and she was the most gorgeous absolutely sexiest woman there. I’m sure she gets it all the time but incredibly worth a visit there. I was just visiting and she made it worth while.
Sean L.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Brooklyn, NY
There are many other clubs that are way better than this place. Yes there is no cover charge & it have $ 7 drinks. The bartenders watch you to make sure you spend money. If you don’t spend enough money or buy enough drinks they will tell you to buy another drink because you didn’t have one in a while. Most of the girls are unattractive & have no assets. Majority of the strippers here have no cruves. They would flash you then say tip me. Most of the stippers stand against the wall & wouldn’t even move. To the pumps staff that might read this teach the staff the importance of dental hygiene. If anyone is looking for a place for cheap drinks & don’t care about the dancers this is your place. If you care spend a little money & go to a nice place.
John R.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
Keep in mind that this visit was 3am on a Monday night. I show up the place was actually pretty full. No cover charge so that’s a plus. I sit down at the bar and order a beer. The bartender wasn’t very attractive but she was nice. Took a bit long to address/serve me but still nice. Honestly I was pretty disappointed with the girls on for this night they were all lacking in the TnA departments which is the sole reason I’d come to this kind of place. There were a lot of super skinny chicks that no matter how hard they shook it there just wasn’t much to look at a lot of the girls also came equipped with a bit of belly. They came around literally every 5mins or so «asking» for tips which kind of ruined the experience for me. I’d much rather spend money on the girl or girls I favor rather than just give it to the girls that didn’t impress or catch my attention. The girl who I actually thought was cute came and sat next to me and chatted me up a bit which was nice. I offered her a drink in which she respectfully ordered an average priced drink. I asked for a private dance($ 20) and she eventually leads me to this not so private room where I’m literally sitting next to this other guy getting a lap dance. This was the worst most amateur lap dance ever the woman actually smelled a little funky(I guess it’s because it’s toward the end of the night and the heat was on full blast) and once it was done she actually had the nerve to say«Can I have a little tip?» I gave her another $ 5 bucks, put my jacket on and left. Can’t say I’d actually go back to this place.
Minty M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Manhattan, NY
A fun spot that has retained the appearance of a little grit despite the gentrification of the neighborhood. It’s more of a bar than a strip club although there is plenty of stripping behind the bar. After each song, the three dancers sort of flash each person at the bar for tips. About twenty dancers in rotation. The dancers are genuinely friendly and seem to enjoy their job — most have tattoos, piercings, and are very skilled on the pole. Semi-private dances are available although you have to ask, they’re not as aggressive as other places. No cover charge but prepare to be patted down by the bouncer. The vibe was very chill before midnight on a weeknight. A noticeable comradely and support among the dancers, which makes for a fun and positive experience.
Sooze L.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Brooklyn, NY
You can write extensively about strip club etiquette, but this review is to help other customers understand the culture of this locale. I’ve been to many strip clubs and titty bars, from New York to New Orleans to Houston to Portland(all the fabulous strip club capitals). In my experience, this place simply not any fun at all. I found it boring, trite and after a while, bothersome and uncomfortable. I just wanna chill, not be interrupted every five minutes by an aggressive girl. This was most similar to my experience at Magic Garden in Portland, except there you can sit at the bar, enjoy great tunes and microbrews on draft. You can sit at the stage if you want, and pay a dollar(or more) per song as usual. You don’t really have an option here, and there’s like half a dozen girls around demanding tips even as you are just sipping your beer. Maybe this place is so small it’s awkward. I prefer a more chill, plush atmosphere and girls going for the long game.
Lamela C.
Rating des Ortes: 1 ASTORIA, NY
I’m sorry for being so honest and straightforward with this review that I’m writing but I believe the person who’s responsible more than anybody else for the extremely boring weeknights that take place here is the«weirdo» bald manager who runs this place. This dude instead of pushing the dancers(who by the way seem more in the mood to chit chat with each other, texting and taking selfies with their phones) to socialize more, try to entertain and draw attention and as a normal consequence make the patrons more comfortable and tempted to spend their money would rather just rudely harass the guys that he thought weren’t spending enough money by prompting them to leave of course and I’m sure never go back there anymore. Seriously either he has mental issues or maybe he just needs to take more business classes and advises on how to run a strip club the right way and potentially maximize the income otherwise the way he’s handling things it will keep getting worse during those nights where the action is supposed to be more ordinary. Whoever is defending his attitude should acknowledge that in this business most of the times you should try to make things happen and tempt somebody into buying a lap dance by sending some1 over and it’s never the other way around… P. S. I assume Steve W. has never been to any other strip club in his life if he believes that tipping a dancer is mandatory for drawing her attention since in so many other places I’ve been to most of the times they’ll be the ones who will walk up to you first and act friendly in order to try to gain themselves some extra money.
Steve W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Brooklyn, NY
My experience of Pumps is super positive. I realize most people have never worked as an exotic dancer or in a strip club, and therefore don’t always understand how it works. However, in reference to the negative reviews about this place, which I have read, they seem to not take context into account, as well as project unrealistic expectations onto the strip club experience. I go to Pumps regularly because I’m familiar with the range of things that go on in various clubs, and Pumps is by far one of the most fun, and least demanding strip clubs around, on either coast. I noticed that in the negative reviews there appear to be a lot of comments which seem to imply that exotic dancers should just act like trained monkeys or sexy clowns that hop around from customer to customer with huge smiles painted on their faces. It seems that some people don’t understand what it is you are actually supposed to be tipping the dancers for. You are not tipping the dancers because they walk up to you and do a little dance or a little shake. Every dancer you see there spends fifteen minutes of every single hour of the shift on stage dancing their ass off. That’s an automatic two hour work out every time she works, and that’s in heels! That is what you are tipping for. That is the primary reason you are expected to tip, because all of the women there are contributing to the show which you, as the customer are enjoying. Anything beyond that is to show your appreciation to a particular girl you are fond of. Otherwise, you should be tipping all the girls, who are on stage if you are sitting at the tip rail, and getting a close look. At Pumps, the tip rail is the entire bar, however there are seats in the back to use if you just want to enjoy your drink, but sitting at the bar is like paying for front row seats at any show. It costs more. And, most importantly the girls are working hard to create the whole experience that you are there to view. Giving each girl on stage a dollar when she comes up to you is a show of respect. Otherwise you are enjoying the spectacle, but then forcing the girl to work for free by not tipping. Strippers only make tips. I know there are a lot of misconceptions about that, but it’s the truth. Only tips. Not tipping her, would be the same as going to a bar and ordering a cocktail from the bartender and then saying, «well what else are you going to do for me?» In this case the dancer has just danced a full stage set for you. That is what you are tipping for. After that point if you want to spend extra money on one or two specific girls that’s up to you, but it does not justify not tipping a basic amount to all the girls who are on stage working hard for you. And, to the customer who was angry because girls were not catering to him, in all likelihood, the girls are not coming up to you because you are not showing basic appreciation for their primary job function, which is dancing on the stage. If a customer shows appreciation to the girl when she’s on stage, then the girl will come up to him or her after, and be friendly. But, to suggest that the dancers should just shower their charms on every customer who walks in the door, regardless of how that customer behaves is short-sighted. Why would the dancer in question sit with someone who doesn’t show adequate appreciation when she could sit with someone who does? And as far as the manager at Pumps goes, all I’ve observed is that he is doing his job by protecting the dancers from cheap peeping toms who just come in and nurse one beer for two hours and don’t tip anyone. This club is very pro-female, and that is another reason I love going here, because I feel confident that the girls love working at Pumps. The girls there are great dancers, sexy and playful. And, not to mention, THEREISNOCOVER! Pumps is a wonderful, and simple place. You get what you give. The dancers are already giving a great show on stage. Just showing up and expecting the dancers to fawn all over you when you won’t even stage tip them is just unrealistic and dehumanizing. If you go there to have fun and show appreciation your efforts will be rewarded. These girls are fun as hell. A strip club is just like any other place of business. There is a basic etiquette that is worth looking into so that you can be a class act when you show up. As far as I can tell, the coolest chicks in Brooklyn are shakin’ it on stage at Pumps. If you show up with some singles, and a great attitude you WILL have a great time. If you come and are not quite sure what to do, just ask the bartenders and they will bring you up to speed. This is still the least expensive strip club around, and a lot more chill than the clubs in Manhattan. I love Pumps!!!
Fisher C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Brooklyn, NY
Ohh my, ohhh my, ohhh my. Cheap drinks. No cover charge ever(says on their voicemail and it’s true). Hot girls and hot bartenders that are also friendly. Check this place out. It’s worth the ride from the city or anywhere in brooklyn! Tip the dancers, spread the love and watch the magic happen. :) :) :) :)
Paige S.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Emeryville, CA
Went here last night and had a horrible experience! My boyfriend and I hit up the strip club from time to time and I’ve probably been to 20 around the country. This place was terrible! 1 –the girls demand bills, even if they weren’t really dancing, or if you weren’t even watching. And I don’t mean ask for money, I mean demand money. Oh and there is nowhere else to sit but the bar. 2 — the«stage» is behind the bar and it’s about 4 feet LOWER than the bar so you can only see the top half of the pole 3 — lastly, every girl that came by only made eye contact and spoke with my boyfriend, as if I was completely invisible. I mean come on ladies, you’ve got to be smart enough to know that if I’m having fun hell have fun and we will stay and spend money. Strip clubs are supposed to be entertaining, I left feeling like I had been hosed.
Andrea B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Brooklyn, NY
Are you joking!!! This is hands down the best bar in Brooklyn! Dive bar with babes and boobs! Count me in. The staff is a blast and the bartenders are awesome. It’s a super relaxed vibe, just remember if sitting at the bar, have your stack of cash ready to give these lovely girls. They can dance!!! Otherwise take your broke ass home!!!
Anna W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Brooklyn, NY
We went here this weekend for my friend’s bachelorette party. I love a good strip club, and as I walked in here I realized that not only have I driven past it many times, but also it’s the FIRST strip club I’ve ever been to in NYC! I don’t know, somehow I expected that a NYC strip club would either be more expensive or less welcoming than in other towns. Pumps proved me wrong on both counts! First off, there’s a small parking lot which was much appreciated. Second, our group of mostly queer women didn’t get a single weird look or annoying comment as we walked in. Third, no cover charge on a Saturday night! The place is small, but wasn’t too crowded, and the strippers dance right behind the bar so it’s a convenient two-for-one experience to sit at the bar. My girlfriend told me before we went that this is the kind of place with«busted» strippers who have«c-section scars» and such. Wrong! These were mostly hot women with diverse body types and, yes, the occasional scar. My favorite was that one of them was visibly pregnant and still hanging upside-down on the pole. We bought our friend a lap dance where the stripper had to remind her to breathe because she was so petrified/delighted. It was very sweet. I’m told I’m not supposed to feel special that several of the girls flirted with me and touched me. I guess it’s true that they walked away once I said I didn’t want a lap dance. Still, I feel special and that’s all that matters. I will be going back to Pumps soon!
N W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Brooklyn, NY
Straight up five stars. I spent about three hours here on a Friday night. I’ve been to strip clubs before and this is best you’re gonna get for your money. There’s no cover. A dance is $ 20. A beer is $ 6. Honestly you don’t find that anywhere. Even outside of NYC. Yea expect to pay girls when you sit at he bar. But otherwise buy a dance and enjoy the show. The girls are fun and sexy.
Kyle S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Brooklyn, NY
I’d like to put some of the reviews below in context… First, @Tyler D, the stage is right behind the bar, so if you’re sitting at the bar, you’re sitting at the stage. At a normal strip club, if you’re hanging out by the stage you’re expected to throw a dollar at the girls every now and then, they don’t work for free. This doesn’t change because there’s a bar separating you. Also, one time when I was in here, when they were having some deal on beer, I tried to keep tabs on how much money you’re expected to give to the girls. At bare minimum around 8pm or 9pm on a light night, you end up giving them between 2 and 4 dollars a song. If you’re in a bar that has women to take their tops off and dance around and are too cheap to spend roughly $ 24/Hour($ 2×5 minute song x 12 songs an hour) FIRST, you’re in the wrong city, SECOND, feel free to go home to Atlanta and enjoy the nighttime entertainment there. Second, @Deoroop M, the fool who was complaining about the quality of the girls on a Monday night… I shouldn’t have to say this, but I will anyways, it’s Monday night so you shouldn’t go to this place expecting the A Team. You see, over here in the US, we have this concept called, work hard, play hard, but really what it means is work hard from Monday to Friday and Play Hard Thursday to Sunday. That means that usually in any sort of entertainment venue, strip clubs included, you’ll generally get higher quality attention and workers on a day Thursday to Sunday. Third, when you walk into this place, and if you have any sort of common sense for the world at all, you’ll see it for what it is, a BAR that has dancers, not a strip club. If you go here expecting a Vegas style strip club you’re in for disappointment, but if you come here expecting really cheap beer and girls to try their best(note I didn’t say they ARE the best at this, I said they try THEIROWNBEST) to dance sexily, you’ll enjoy yourself. I for one really enjoy this place, it’s a good place to get really drunk for reasonably cheap and see some girls give it the old college try. I for one couldn’t name a single dancer in there(I mentioned the cheap beer right?), but I can say that it’s like the only strip club on the L line that opens really early. So put it into context before you come here. I’d suggest getting some friends who want to pre-party for cheap before heading someplace else, definitely not a place you want to end your night at. NOTE: If anybody has any problems with anything I said above, remember, I’m 7′ tall, black and sound like James Earl Jones
Deoroop M.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Brooklyn, NY
What a legitimate waste of a space for a strip club. I decided to pop in a Monday night because Brooklyn doesn’t have too many good, legitimate strip clubs. I figured Monday night it would be nice and slow and I would go and throw it up, throw it up, throw it up some more and just ball out and have a good time. Perfect way end to a Monday-Funday night. Could have I picked a more worse spot to come to? The place was virtually empty and the women inside were not even that attractive at all. I know it’s a Monday night but still give me some incentive to come back over the weekend. Rather than hastily leaving, I gave Pumps the benefit of the doubt and sat down to have a drink, got some singles and was just relaxing and reluctantly tipping some women here and there. I’m a supporter of working women but these women were barely working anything at all. Of course, it really didn’t matter, I still gave them a tip because maybe someone was having a rough night but were ALL of them having a bad night? Highly unlikely. I spent a few dollars, had my drink and saved my money for another night. Best thing, there was no cover charge. Maybe they were used to men who just come in and spend just one or two dollars and not used to people throwing it up. Somebody lend Pumps some air, they need help, desperately…
Cpl Dwayne H.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Brooklyn, NY
oh hell noooooo!!! as soon as i came in i was being bombarded by desperate, greedy, phony smiling ass bony, overly tattooed bimbos they would’ve milked me broke in under 27 minutes if i hadn’t pulled away from the front of the bar and escaped from the fake bitch who invited herself to sit next to me as her friends shamelessly kept asking for tips for doing nutting and giving me no conversation!, this place is a moneypit and a trap for guys with tons of lesbian’s as far as the eyes can see, the bartenders were rude as fuck i had already bought drinks for me and the ho who came to me, plus tipping all the shameless ho’s that do nuttin on the stage and appear from nowhere, but the bartender then has the nerve to say are you gonna buy something like a customer does??? wtf?! I gtfo got da fuk outta there. plus theres a lack of diversity to the utmost all of the girls are either blonde with no hips or ass, or walking freakshows with a overabundance of tat’s smh? or latina and can’t speak proper english which means they can’t converse wit you and will jus keep asking for $ 20 dollar drinks for doing nutting. in short guys… stay da hell away!!! ps. and who’s writing all these possitive reviews they must work for the club? smh just don’t do it!!! save yourself and your lives! evil dead moment.
Henny R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Brooklyn, NY
Pumps! I had such a rad time. A friend of mine had a birthday celebration here. about 15 of us came through ready to throw some $ and have your typical cliché strip club party. I was a little iffy reading the prior reviews but it was so worth it. The girls who work here are hot, friendly, and could work the pole. We treated some of the ladies to shots and it turned into a party. I noticed a lot of guys sitting in the back tables sipping a beer just«window shopping». Yes, the girls will come up to you with their boobs in your face for a tip, thats what a strip club is. I had a great night, but I also left the house with money in my pocket. Do not go if you could only afford to buy yourself a drink. There is no cover charge, which is rare for a strip club in NY and the bouncers are really chill. We even got the birthday boy on stage with the dancers to embarrass the $hit out of him. I will mot likely celebrate my birthday here. Kudos to the dancers and staff.