Our Top Cocktail Bars
Listen, I get it, if you’re gambling in one of our many casinos you can drink for free. And chances are, if you’re visiting Reno, you will be staying at a casino. But leave the glitz of the slot machines and table games and come to one of our local Cocktail Bars to have an elevated drinking experience for the night. An Old Fashioned, a Mai Tai or whatever else you desire can be found shaken or stirred by some incredible mixologists all across town. Here are our favorites.
Death and Taxes Provisions and Spirits
26 Cheney Street
Reno, NV 89501
Let's cut straight to the chase: Death and Taxes isn't just the best bar in Reno – it's the kind of place that makes you question every other cocktail you've ever called 'great.' And trust me, after a decade of sampling craft cocktails across the country, that's not hyperbole. This is where mixology meets magic, where bartenders don't just make drinks – they create experiences that would have James Beard judges doing double-takes. Whether you're craving the cleanest gin martini of your life, a creative twist on your go-to classic, or want to play cocktail roulette with a 'bartender's choice,' you're in masterful hands. And because apparently being the best wasn't enough, they've spawned two equally impressive siblings on the same block: Amari and Curse of Cane, each with their own specialty vibes. Consider this your sign to cancel whatever other plans you had tonight.
2. Rum Sugar Lime
1039 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502
If you think Rum Sugar Lime (RSL to those in the know) is just another tiki bar, you probably also think a daiquiri comes from a slushie machine. Named after the holy trinity of cocktail perfection, this spot delivers tropical sophistication that would make Don the Beachcomber proud. Think less plastic leis, more premium rums; less cotton-candy sweetness, more perfectly balanced tropical elegance. Their classic menu reads like a greatest hits of island cocktails, while their seasonal offerings keep the regulars coming back for more surprises. And for those skipping the spirits? Their zero-proof creations prove you don't need alcohol to get that vacation vibe. This is where sophistication meets paradise – no plane ticket required.
3. The Bar at The Jesse
306 Evans Avenue
Reno, NV 89501
Calling The Jesse's bar 'just another hotel bar' would be like calling the Mona Lisa 'just another portrait.' Tucked inside Reno's most charming boutique hotel, this gem pulls double duty – by day, it's a coffee lover's paradise with a lobby that might just become your new favorite 'office.' But as afternoon rolls around, the space transforms into one of downtown's most sophisticated watering holes. The cocktails are masterful, and plot twist: they're serving some of the best Mexican food in town. Yes, the location might raise an eyebrow (it's downtown Reno, after all), but step inside and you'll find yourself in a beautifully designed oasis where the drinks are cold, the vibe is warm, and the patio feels like your coolest friend's secret garden. This is where Reno's past and future collide in the most delicious way possible.
4. Chapel Tavern
1099 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502
Some bars chase trends – Chapel Bar chases perfection, and they've been doing it long enough to know exactly where to find it. Think of it as Midtown's living room, if your living room happened to serve expertly crafted cocktails. Sure, they've played musical chairs with their location over the years, but like any good classic, it's what's in the glass that counts. Speaking of which: meet the Consigliere, their legendary aged boulevardier that's converted more whiskey skeptics than we can count. It's the kind of drink that makes you understand why people get poetic about cocktails. While other spots might flex their mixology muscles with smoke and mirrors, Chapel Bar keeps it real – great drinks, zero pretense, and a vibe that makes everyone feel like a regular. Think dive bar charm meets craft cocktail expertise.