Carbon

This club used to be my go to spot. Recently, despite all effort and sympathy, it’s become a place to skip all together. The carbon I used to know had DJs that read the crowd and alway kept the dance floor flowin’. More recently they’ve had DJs there to play music for their own pleasure. I just paid cover to get in tonight (not usual) to listen to some guy’s attempt to channel hood. Would have been good music in a different setting, but nobody wanted to dance to it, and the dance floor showed. I thought part of the DJ’s job was to read the crowd and to get the dance floor poppin’, but I was wrong. This guy barely looked up from his DJ «buttons» and never even bothered to enliven the dead dance floor. (If his boy with the tank top was feel in’ it, then everyone else was feel in’ it right? No. Dearest DJ, take your attempt to play good music back to USC, and leave a spot for a better DJ on. Friday night.) If I were the club owner, I’d take a serious look into the DJs they invite in on a Friday night and charge cover for. I’m more disappointed than I have ever been, and I will definitely move my business elsewhere. Every disappointed person, who’s looking for the old carbon we used to know, should head to Main on Main St. See all you 90’s hip hop and R&b crowd there.
Sincerely,
The girl that used to love Carbon

Fridays are the best. I love Hip Hop, and the DJ there knows how to keep the party on fire.
I just wish the place was a little larger, but other than that it is one of my go to bar/​pub/​club in Culver City. I love the fact that it’s non pretentious and I always have a great time each I go there. Can’t complain about affordability either. A refreshing departure from the stuffy LA club scene which is overbearing.

Everyone hates on this place but it’s really not that bad. We don’t have many dance floors on the Westside, unfortunately. Carbon plays some pretty good jams though. The dance floor is pretty small, but if you get there early enough you can have it to yourself for a bit: p.
It’s extremely hot up in this bitch. So make sure you where almost nothing — less is more my friends. The drinks were more expensive than I would have thought, but average when compared to other spots’ drinks in the west.

SMALL BAR been here many times but this last time changed my p.o.v first off is a $ 5 cover charge after 10:30 NO THAT’S NOT ALOT BUT FOR THIS LOCATION YES IT’S A PROBLEM the place is small you can barley move when ppl come in there’s NO AIR CONDITIONER and ONE FAN smh the drinks are WEAK (im a bartender) they can’t make adiós mfs that shit taste like water..

I went on a saturday night during the Christmas Holiday. When I got there around 10 it as empty. I went to another bar in the area for an hour or so. When I came back it was packed. This place is kinda small and you have to cross the dance floor to get to the bar. It took me a while to get to the bar. There were more men than woman. For me this was cool, but it was hard to move away from the creeps — they were gunning lol.
The music was good. A mix of reggae and hip-​hop
I got drunk. Cheap drinks and a heavy pour.
I had a good time! I danced with a few guys.

======================
DODGY PLACE! BE CAUTIOUS OF USING CREDIT CARD HERE, OR GET OVERCHARGED!
Cons:
*Please be vigilant and keep track of your credit card charges. They tend to round up the amount to the higher number regardless of what you allowed them to charge to your c. card. this is for their convenience, profit, or both (more likely both). I usually don’t double check my c. card charges, but this place looked dodgy so I followed my instinct and I was right. The bartender had overcharged me! Therefore, keep the receipt and then later compare with your c. card activities or statement and if they overcharged you, call the c. card company and report them.
*There’s a minimum $ purchase required to use credit card.
*They asked me for cover charge when entering, even though I’d heard there wasn’t cover!
*Extremely small place
Pros:
*Although I’ve never used it, they say they have a small parking.
====================

I HAVE to review this place. Went on a last night (Friday) for my girl’s bday, they charge $ 5 at the door for a drink ticket. There was a good amount of people and the music was good. We go to bar to get our first round, no problem. 30 mins later we go back for a second round, we stood at the bar toward the back entrance for about 15 mins trying to get the bartenders attention. They get drinks for everyone else at the bar but us (4 girls), remind you these are people that came to bar after us. Within the 15 mins that we were waiting, the female bartender got herself a drink, and was calculating some numbers on a calculator while there’s plenty of people to be served, the male bartender clearly doesn’t have peripheral vision because he couldn’t see anyone else at the bar besides the people standing right in front of him. Nonetheless, we walked away with no drinks and left shortly afterwards by 12:30pm. This USED to be a great little hole in the wall with no $ 5 drink ticket and we got quick service at the bar. I’m not sure what happened. I would’ve given only 1 star but the DJ was decent.

Went Sat ¹¹⁄₂₂. 2 points for being close to my house. Another 3 points for having a great DJ. –1 for letting in too many people, and their not being enough space to dance.
Definitely need to attract more women it was a sausage fest in there, they also need to do something about the air conditioning. –1 point because I couldn’t dance for 30 seconds without someone having to come in between me and my friends all night long. No club will ever say no to money at the door, but at some point it becomes detrimental to the whole nights experience. The DJ should’ve started with the music at 11 o’clock from 10 o’clock and I would’ve felt like I got my dance on. It was just too slow from 1030 to 11.

Dj Poke and Will you both make this club so nice to drop in and enjoy the atmosphere. Sending you this Unilocal to say Thank you for the magnificent service. I really love you guys. Shout out to you both!

Nice place! Great DJ. There was an underground rap battle going on which was interesting to watch. I felt like I was on the set of 8 mile. Try the Arnold Palmer Sour! DELICIOUS!!!
Please note that the bathroom has zero soap! And Zero light! I had to use my phone. So make sure your battery isn’t dead.
I will be coming back!

Went on a Thursday night. DJ was playing some good music, hip hop, some old school r&b at the end of the night– overall good music. The place is small and I bet it gets extremely crowded on a Friday and Saturday night. My living room is bigger than this place.
Ladies room is totally creepy. Why is there no lights in there? Thank goodness for a flashlight feature on my cell phone!
Crowd is a lot of locals and ranged in age.
Bartender was efficient, drinks were okay.
I don’t know if I’d go back though.

If you can’t make it to Carnivale this year… theres always Carbon.
Its about 95 degrees in this crowded dancehall, the sweat pours down your body, the DJ is spinning all the reggae GOLD, the low lighting makes it mysterious, and you have to stop every hour for more water.
Carbon is perfect for those who want to WINE YA BODY! Especially on a Tuesday, west-​side style.
The best part about this place? No cover. And you know exactly what to expect each week.
Try it and see!

Tuesday ‘s are the best night in my opinion (reggae night) always a good time. Be prepared to sweat! This place is small & they try to fill it to capacity each & every time. But I still give it five stars cause I’ve been coming here for years. Nice up yuh self Carbon.

This place is extremely small for the level of popularity it has. Love the music, the vibe, and the people! I don’t like the fact that I come out drenched in sweat every time I come here, but that’s how I know that I had a damn good time!
Since it is right on Venice Street in downtown Culver City, I recommend people to take an Über. It makes your lives easier

I went here for my birthday with some friends that were in town. A small little venue with entrances on both sides (good to know if one side has a serious line). It may be tiny but I guess that’s how you meet people. It’s pretty dark inside though so you don’t get to see much. There are a few red lights that brighten up the spot. The bouncers are really nice too!
The DJ is on point, the drinks are strong, and who cares if it’s hot, JUST DANCE!!!
I was there on a Saturday and it was a great mix of Hip Hop and Reggae. I definitely plan on going with my girlfriends again.
…and the guy to girl ratio is definitely in favor of the females.
OH…the ladies bathroom is DISGUSTING!!! I started to go in with my friends to wait for them and quickly turned around and decided to wait outside of the doors. I hate public bathrooms but this place was gross. It’s also unfortunate that the bathroom door is right by the dance floor too so the dance floor gets hot AND stinky. Not a good combo.

Ok so yes it does get sauna hot inside and the way I love to dance that includes hair dripping wet as well, but I’ve been coming here for a long time and it’s had remained consistently a fun night out
1) the Dj
2) the people — they came to dance
3) they come to dance
4) the drinks
Like «in and out «which is across the street btw
They’ve kept the same bouncers, owners, Djs for as long as I can remember because it works
Now if we can all pitch in for some air conditioning
So I’m not stuck under the fan the whole night
Tuesday reggae night and Friday reggae and hip hop

Cool Lil spot if u just wanna get drunk and dance
Pros
Hip hop music
Good vibes
Cheap drinks
No cover
Con’s
Hot as hell
One bathroom stall
A girl tried to start a fight with me
Hella dudes lol not enough girl’s
Kinda small
Its cool I’d go back

Loved it– Went this last Sunday night-​Danced what little az I have offffffffff– was down in LA visiting a friend and what not, after hearing all the bad news about local clubs and how they were a waste of time and money we got turned us on to this place…
Music/​DJ was bumping (and very Loud) — With ear plugs in place (napkins) I danced for a good 3 hours solid as far away from speaker as possible. But shaking all tail feathers on beat ! lol
Drink– Eh I was cool on $ 13.00 Martini– flavor was not quite right.
Crowd was bomb.
When I’m in town again… Heck I may come down just to party here.

I am leaving another review because this place never fails. Tuesday is my night, Reggae night.
Some things are still the same:
— gets pack around 11pm
— gets hot when crowded and people start grooving on the dance floor
— great reggae/​dancehall tunes — old and new
— ladies you will score big here because dudes most Tuesday outnumber you
— gotta love the tube TVs with red tint covering giving off that porn lounge vibe — love it!
Some advice:
— wear comfy clothes if you plan on tearing up the dance floor
— relax and enjoy yourself
— Jamaicans, Latin Americans, etc are sexual dancers do not be alarm. Google Carnival or Festival and see what I’m talking about
— Will the bartender is arguably one of the coolest bartenders in LA. Dead serious! Say what up, drink up and tip up!!!
— do not drink in your car and let the security see you; you will not be allowed in (pretty much the same for any bar)
— dance! Not the place to go to look cute! It is dark and gets hot and sweaty awesome. cute will fail every time
— did I mention Will the bartender is solid!
Enjoy Boning! See yah on the dance flirt/​I mean floor

I haven’t been here for at least 8 years. I don’t even live in LA. And it’s all because of this bar. 10 years ago I met the love of my life at this bar.
I was tired of going out to clubs and bars as a single woman going through the pretentious mating dance of who are you, and what do you do, and I make this much money… etc. I was through with dating. So I decided to join a group of hometown male friends who were in town performing with their hip hop group. I was with 8 guys! I decided to put on flip-​flops, wear no make-​up, and tank top with cutoff shorts. I wasn’t planning on impressing anyone. Just looking to take some shots and get stupid with the boys. We decided to go somewhere local.
I loved this tiny little bar newly named «carbon» prior to having the name «sloppy joes». It had a DJ that night, and I knew that with just our group alone, it would fill up half the space and create some fun packed feeling. We took shots, drank beers. I didn’t pay for one drink that night. I remember doing the fish out of water, and dropping to the floor for the worm. Then I spotted him. He was cute. I would say love at first sight. He was standing by the DJ table with his friend, with the coolest energy about him. He smiled at me.
What do I do? Do I talk to this cutie? What would he think? I’m with 8 guys around me! I saw him leave towards the front door… this is LA, I will never see him again if I don’t make a move! I ran after him and saw that he was outside next to his friend that was smoking a cigarette. I quickly asked «Are you leaving?» He replied «Nope, just here while my friend smokes» I then asked the deal breaker question if he smoked cigs, and he replied no. It was on! I told him I thought he was cute, and we ended up talking all night, then making out against the wall in the back of the bar… near the dumpster!
11 years later, we have been through everything. We have been through ups and downs, lows, but mostly highs, and most beautifully, watched each other grow as parents (of three kids) and as partners. I love this man with all my heart. We still need a ceremony to seal the deal, but we met here, at this bar. A place I never would’ve thought would shape the course of my life forever!
We love you Carbon!