This Brooklyn bar and performance space opened in the South Slope section of Brooklyn on May Day of 2002, and has presented over 18,000 events since.The original goal was to provide a space and a community for artists and musicians – many of whom were based in Brooklyn and needed an alternative to Manhattan clubs which didn't always foster original or non-commercial projects.
Barbès has never focused on any particular type of music. As a result, it was named as one of the ten best jazz clubs in the country by Playboy magazine as well as the second best World Music venue nationwide by the readers of About.com. Barbès has also been an active presenter of Western classical music, improvised music, Americana, and just about any kind of quality music that will suit its small backroom.