Reno has a vibrant, fun bar scene with a lot of talented bartenders—but finding the right one for you and/or your mood can be daunting. Start with this list of local good, rad and weird bars so you can pick the right one for your vibe.
The Good
Bars with exceptional cocktails and exceptional vibes, great for date nights or showing off.
Death & Taxes
26 Cheney St., www.deathandtaxesreno.com
This is the first on the list for many reasons, first and foremost that in the eyes of many, they make the best drinks in Reno—and realistically some of the best drinks you can have anywhere. The attention to detail at Death & Taxes is on par with that of the best bars in the world. The drinks are pricey because of incredible, sometimes rare ingredients you won’t find anywhere else, such as the bar’s many single-barrel selections. If you want the best drink at a fancy place, Death & Taxes is for you.
Derby Barber & Supply
406 California Ave., Suite 100, www.derbybarber.com
Deluxe drinks in a handsome location will always be a winning combo. This barber shop/cocktail lounge looks like it’s right out of a Ralph Lauren showroom—and the drinks do, too. With a nice patio for watching the sunset and well-priced happy hour cocktails made with care, Derby is perfect for anyone looking to feel stylish.
Rum Sugar Lime
1039 S. Virginia St., rumsugarlime.com
It’s not a tiki bar, but it has tiki drinks. RSL’s vibe is more expensive tropical vacation destination than kitschy tiki escapism, with brilliant selection of rum cocktails and a luxury Tommy Bahama feel that will leave you buzzy and ready to watch White Lotus.
Chapel Tavern
1099 S. Virginia St., www.chapeltavern.com
Chapel is the best place to drink during the day (after 2 p.m. on weekdays) in Reno—not too fancy in vibe, but very ambitious in the glass. Features include a house solera barrel aging system that pours an aged boulevardier found only at Chapel. This place is the best way to tell a date, “I have taste, but I’m also very laid back.” Like Japanese denim, Chapel is for those who know what they like—and are willing to pay for it.
The Rad
Places to hang with friends in chill Reno style.
Whispering Vine Wine Co.
4201 W. Fourth St. and 85 Foothill Road, www.whisperingvinewine.com
Whispering Vine is Reno’s oldest independent wine store for a reason. Its multiple locations have wine at pretty much any price point, with no corkage fee to drink it there. If you want classic-Reno, open-a-bottle-and-yap vibes, this is the place, with a crew that has been doing it longer than anyone. You will see every drinking-age demographic at a Whispering Vine, because it features products that draw the masses. From crowd pleasing bottles for tailgating to obscure, hard-to-find bottles, Whispering Vine has it all (including food if you’re hungry, and cocktails if they’re your preference).
Reno Public House
33 St. Lawrence Ave., therenopublichouse.com
This is a bar lovers’ bar in the best possible way—with a great staff, a wide selection, and a big patio at an amazing Midtown location. It’s busy when you want it to be on Friday night and chill when you want it to be for a Saturday afternoon hang. Beer and a shot, or classic cocktail? They do both pretty damn well.
Craft Wine and Beer
22 Martin St., www.craftreno.net
Craft is a retail shop that other retail shops wish they could be, run by some of the most unpretentious and knowledgeable staff you can find in the U.S., not just in Reno. You can find a new favorite tipple every day of the week, and you’ll still want to come back for more. Drinking at Craft feels like hanging out in your smart best friend’s bar.
Great Basin Brewing Co.
846 Victorian Ave., Sparks (with other locations in Reno, Carson City and Minden), www.greatbasinbrewingco.com
Having beers at Great Basin in Sparks is like stepping into a time machine to when people still called good beers “microbrews.” The burgers and bar food are ideal for a brewery, and the beers have been great since 1993. This is a bar where your dad would have hung out when your dad was cool.
The Weird
Yeah, Reno is weird, and we like it that way. These are the oh-so-Reno bars you’ll want to share with the world.
Louis’ Basque Corner
301 E. Fourth St., louisbasquecorner.com
Nevada’s state drink is the picon punch, and you should have your first one at a Basque restaurant, because that’s where this legendary libation is most at home. The picon punch is Nevada’s drinking secret handshake—those who can handle the intense and somewhat bitter flavor are welcome in our dusty, weird club.
Ryan’s Irish Saloon
924 S. Wells Ave., www.ryanssaloon.com
Finding an Irish dive bar with good food is like finding a $100 bill in your pocket—it’s always a welcome surprise. Here, you’ll get classic dive vibes, good drinks, tons of regulars, and you can eat. Plus, Ryan’s has a pool table, darts and even a great seasonal frozen drink. What more could you ever want?
Coney Island Bar
2644 Prater Way, Sparks, coneyislandbar.net
There is a bar in Reno mostly open only for lunch and happy hour (plus dinner on most Wednesdays) where you will see politicians, lawyers, construction workers, retired folks and day drinkers all mingling. This magical place is named Coney Island Bar, after the amusement park that was once across the street. Built in 1935, it is one of the oldest restaurants in the region, and while you won’t find any rollercoasters, you will find a picon punch or five, and you can still order a plate of deli meat as a lunch entree. It is the ideal place to get a taste of old Reno/Sparks in all its glory.
Ferino Distillery
541 E. Fourth St., ferinodistillery.com
Did you know the picon punch’s principal ingredient, amer, is made right on Fourth Street at a local distillery? Ferino Distillery makes a classic style of Italian liquor called amaro, known for its bitter, bold taste, and it also operates as a bar and tasting room. Be sure to book a tour with the distiller and owner, Joe Cannella, to learn about the history and styles of amaro.
