Best Gay Bars & Bathhouses In Reno
Reno has more going on for its LGBTQ+ community than many people expect, and in 2026 the scene is actually growing. Most of what you need is right in Reno itself — gay bars, a legendary bathhouse, and a nascent drag and nightclub scene — with Sacramento sitting about two hours west for anyone craving a bigger-city night out. Whether you live here or you're passing through, this is where people actually go.
The Reno LGBTQ+ Scene
The city has a small but welcoming LGBTQ+ community with several gay-friendly venues, and Nevada's relaxed attitudes create an easygoing atmosphere for all travelers. Venues are spread across a few corridors — downtown near the Riverwalk, South Virginia Street, and the Kietzke Lane corridor — rather than concentrated in a single gayborhood. After Tronix closed in 2015, the conventional wisdom was that dedicated gay bars were heading toward extinction, replaced by a general acceptance that meant the community could "go anywhere." But 2025 and 2026 have seen a reversal of that trend, with new bars opening to meet demand for spaces that are explicitly and safely queer.
Top Gay Bars & Bathhouses for Reno Locals
5 Star Saloon
Type: Gay bar / Nightclub / Drag venue
Location: 132 West St, Reno, NV 89501
Features: This sprawling cocktail lounge offers multiple bars, a spacious dance floor, and a platform stage for live music and drag performances — and is known as the longest-running gay bar in Nevada, attracting diverse crowds from across the region.
Website: http://5starsaloon.com
Carl's – The Saloon
Type: Gay bar
Location: 3310 S. Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502
Features: Carl's has been open since the 1960s and is known for attracting the city's leather-loving crowd, offering affordable drinks and a welcoming atmosphere. There is an outdoor backyard patio and pool tables.
Website: https://www.carls-thesaloon.com
OTC Bar & Nightclub (Out of the Closet)
Type: Gay bar / Nightclub
Location: 340 Kietzke Ln, Reno, NV 89502
Features: OTC's modern, 3,000-square-foot interior has plenty of room for dancing, black walls, colorful LED lights, pool tables, platforms for go-go dancers, and a pole. It currently serves craft NA cocktails alongside a full bar, making it one of the more inclusive spaces for non-drinkers in the scene.
The Selden
Type: Gay bar / Drag and cabaret venue
Location: Midtown Reno (former Junkee Clothing Exchange space)
Features: Tyler Colton, owner of The Emerson, is opening The Selden in the former Junkee Clothing Exchange location, designed to house dance parties, burlesque shows, and drag brunches, with safety as a central priority. Confirm current status before visiting, as the venue was announced in 2025 and may have opened or shifted timeline.
Steve's Bathhouse
Type: Bathhouse / Adult social club
Location: 1030 W. 2nd St, Reno, NV 89503
Features: Steve's is a safe meeting place for gay, straight, and bisexual men and women, operating at the same location since 1962, and claims to be the oldest bathhouse in the country — maintaining a clean, private environment at all times. Amenities include a steam room, dry sauna, an adult movie room, and an outdoor patio area. The venue is co-ed from noon on Sunday to 6 a.m. on Monday.
Website: https://www.stevesreno.com
Faces Nightclub — Sacramento
Type: Gay nightclub / Multi-room dance venue
Location: 2000 K St, Sacramento, CA 95811 — approx. 2 hours from Reno
Features: Faces is Northern California's largest gay nightclub, featuring 15 bars, three dance floors, and an outdoor pool — a genuine mega-venue worth the drive for a special weekend night out.
Website: https://www.faces.net
Sac Buddies — Sacramento
Type: Gay bathhouse / Cruise club
Location: Franklin Blvd, Sacramento, CA — approx. 2 hours from Reno
Features: Sac Buddies is a gay bathhouse and cruise club for men, discreetly located on Franklin Boulevard, with locker areas, private Zen rooms, and a large outdoor section; events run throughout the week and the team keeps things low-pressure.