Cowboys Nightclub Winnipeg Review
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Club Information:
Cowboys Roadhouse has been around for a number of years and has been a very popular Canad Club since the day it opened. It is a western themed bar that is two stories with a rustic, roadhouse design. Recently, Stereo Nightclub opened up next door (previously Pharaohs Nightclub) and has taken over some of Cowboy’s Saturday night popularity, but that certainly wasn’t the case on April 25th 2009; Cowboys was packed and was definitely the place to be. Cowboys is located at 1034 Elizabeth Rd off of Lagimodiere (same building as Stereo Nightclub). Here is a Google Maps Link.
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The club is open to the public most nights, but Saturday is definitely the night to come check it out for the first time. It is opened until from 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM and is available for private events as well. Cowboys is also known for its live entertainment. Musicians such as Dierks Bentley, Matt Good, Amanda Wilkinson, Finger Eleven and 3 Days Grace have all made an appearance on the Cowboys stage.
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Review: April 25th, 2009
I have been to Cowboys numerous times and have always had a good time. There are two floors which is nice because you can go upstairs to relax and sit or stay downstairs and dance to the live music. I must warn you that Cowboys plays country 90% of the time unless it is a social or special occasion. So if you expect to hear Top 40 (Rap, Pop, House Music) you will be disappointed. Even though Cowboys only plays Country it does play a full range including everything from Kid Rock to Alan Jackson. Generally, a cover band and DJ take turns playing the music for the evening. If you enjoy country music, then Cowboys is a no brainer, but even if you despise the genre, I would still recommend you check it out. Cowboys is known for having one of the best crowds in the city and it is really the people that make the bar. Once you are there with some friends on the dance floor the environment is very fun and you may even catch yourself dancing to “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by the end of the night.
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I found the line to get in went pretty quickly. I recently went to Stereo Nightclub and found the line twice as slow so I was very impressed with that. There is also plenty of free parking which differs from going to a downtown bar. Once I was in I found out that there was not coat check (due to apparent “summer”) which turned me off a little bit. Sure it may be April, but we do live in Winnipeg and it is still cold enough that we need to wear jackets! Unfortunately I took a taxi there so I was stuck stuffing my jacket in my purse for the night. After that I went to buy a drink and found the service decent. The line was packed, but the bartenders attempted to go in order and get everyone their drinks as soon as possible. There was also a girl serving beer and featured shots (Tequila, Jagermeister etc.) in that front and she was very quick.
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The security check was thorough and fast, which is expected. The security guards asked to look into my purse to check for items not welcomed in the bar and after that I was on my way. The cover charge was $5.00 which was a standard cover charge for a Saturday night. Being part of the Canad Clubs network of bars, if you are banned at another Canad clubs establishment you will not be allowed in. this happened to a girl behind me in line.
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The bar gives off a very casual vibe. Most people are dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with an odd person in dressier clothing. A lot of people are wearing cowboy hats or boots, which fits with the atmosphere. I found that the more casual you dress, the more you are going to fit in with the crowd at Cowboys. Expect to see an extremely wide variety of people at Cowboys (even a lot of people you normally wouldn’t imagine going to a “Country Bar”). It really is a club where you can wear whatever you feel comfortable in and not stand out.
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There is a very minimal patio/smoking pad at Cowboys which is definitely a downside, but for people who want a break outside, they put out heaters outside so they can stay partially warm. Some outdoor seating, like Whiskey Dix, would definitely be a nice addition to this bar. Also, I found the bathrooms to be in very bad condition. There was toilet paper flying everywhere, broken bottles on the ground and it didn’t seem very clean. Mind you I didn’t check it out until later in the night so it may have looked better earlier.
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Overall I think Cowboys is a club that will continue to be one of the top nightclubs in Winnipeg. A lot of younger people love country music and this is definitely the place to dance to that genre. Even if you’re not a fan of that style of music, come check it out. It’s a friendly, casual environment that is very welcoming in my opinion. It is one of the only Winnipeg Country Bars in the city and its popularity not only attracts those who enjoy the genre, but anyone who likes to have a good time.
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Guest Writer : JS
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