Nightlife

Editors' Picks

Best walk

Do-it-yourself pub crawls

Nice thing about being a drinker in a Reno nowadays is that you don't even need a car. Most of the best bars are all in walking distance of each other. That's probably why there's one of those themed bar crawls, like the Superhero Crawl or the Zombie Crawl, nearly every other weekend. You can start in downtown, at Imperial or Monolith, say, and then head south across the river on Arlington or Sierra, stop at Pignic or Royce on Flint Street, then over to the Cal Ave destinations, like St. James Infirmary and The Loving Cup, then down to Reno Public House. Or you could start at 40 Mile Saloon, at the south end of midtown, and walk north to spots like Chapel Tavern and Death & Taxes. Doesn't really matter where you start, you'll probably end up at Shea's Tavern, closing in on dawn after one of those beautiful summer-in-Reno nights, wondering what happened to your 20s.

Best place to drink with your mom

1864 Tavern

1864 is a hep joint for young people, but older members of families can still feel welcome and cozy here, and will have much to discuss. (“Grandmother had a couch just like this, but hers was ugly.” “Who's that supposed to be an old picture of?” “What a clean bathroom.” And so on.) The craft cocktails are boozy and fair-priced for the work that goes into them. The non-alcoholic juice blends are bountiful. The bartenders are bubbly, and the antique décor is a form of time travel. Plus you get to leaf through Nevada-themed books and trivia cards. Most of all, you don't have to worry about mom having to scream over the music.

Readers' Picks

Best place to watch Monday Night Football

1. Coach's Grill & Sports Bar

1573 S. Virginia St., 329-2202

2. Home

3. Bully's Sports Bar & Grill

1640 Robb Drive, 747-8600

Best neighborhood bar

1. Coach's Grill & Sports Bar

1573 S. Virginia St., 329-2202

2. St. James Infirmary

445 California Ave., 657-8484

3. Pignic Pub & Patio

235 Flint St., Reno, 376-1948

Most romantic bar

1. Fireside Lounge

Peppermill, 2707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121

1. Death & Taxes

26 Cheney St., 324-3287

2. Roxy

Eldorado Resort Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700

Best sports bar

1. Coach's Grill & Sports Bar

1573 S. Virginia St., 329-2202

2. Bully's Sports Bar & Grill

1640 Robb Drive, 747-8600

3. Bully's Sports Bar & Grill

9725 Pyramid Way, Sparks, 424-4800

Best place to watch movies

1. Galaxy Luxury + IMAX

1170 Scheels Drive, Sparks, 313-0118

2. Century Theatres Riverside

11 N. Sierra St., Reno, 786-1743

3. Century Theatres Summit

13965 S. Virginia St., Reno, 851-4635

3. West Wind El Rancho Drive In

555 El Rancho Drive, Sparks, 358-6920

Best place to hear loud music

1. Knitting Factory

211 N. Virginia St., 323-5648

2. Cargo

Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N. Virginia St., 398-5400

3. LEX Nightclub

Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St., 789-2000

Best mobile DJ

1. Amplified Entertainment

2. DJ Hustler

3. DJ Xmfreddie

Best club DJ

1. DJ Kentot

2. DJ Rick Gee

3. DJ Xmfreddie

Best place to have sex in public

1. Burning Man

2. Lake Tahoe

3. Shea's Tavern

715 S. Virginia St., Reno, 786-4774

Best place to see a concert

1. Knitting Factory

211 N. Virginia St., 323-5648

2. Cargo

Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N. Virginia St., 398-5400

3. Grand Sierra Resort

2500 E. Second St. 789-2000

Best strip club

1. Men's Club of Reno

270 N. Lake St., 786-7800

2. Fantasy Girls

1095 E. Fourth St., 322-2582

3. Wild Orchid

Ponderosa Hotel, 515 S. Virginia St., 324-1010

Best concert venue

1. Knitting Factory

211 N. Virginia St., 323-5648

2. Cargo

Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N. Virginia St., 398-5400

3. Grand Sierra Resort

2500 E. Second St., 789-2000

Best gay hangout

1. 5 Star Saloon

132 West St., 329-2878

2. The Patio

600 W. Fifth St., 323-6565

3. The Loving Cup

188 California Ave., 322-2480

Best happy hour

1. LEX Nightclub

Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St., 789-2000

2. Brasserie St. James

901 S. Center St., Reno, 348-8888

3. St. James Infirmary

445 California Ave., 657-8484

Best bowling alley

1. Grand Sierra Resort

2500 E. Second St., 789-2000

2. Coconut Bowl

Wild Island Family Adventure Park, 250 Wild Island Court, Sparks, 359-2927

3. AMF Starlite Lanes

1201 Stardust St., 747-3522

Best place for live music

1. Knitting Factory

211 N. Virginia St., 323-5648

2. Cargo

Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N. Virginia St., 398-5400

3. Brew Brothers

Eldorado Resort Casino, 345 N. Virginia St., 786-5700

Best bar

1. Coach's Grill & Sports Bar

1573 S. Virginia St., 329-2202

2. Chapel Tavern

1099 South Virginia St., 324-2244

Best comedy club

1. Catch a Rising Star

Silver Legacy, 407 N. Virginia St., 329-4777

2. Reno-Tahoe Comedy/Pioneer Underground

100 S. Virginia St., 322-5233

3. 3rd St.

125 W. Third St., 323-5005

Best microbrewery

1. Great Basin Brewing Company

846 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 355-7711

2. Brasserie Saint James

901 S. Center St., 348-8888

3. Silver Peak Restaurant & Brewery

135 N. Sierra St., 284-3300

Best karaoke

1. The Point

1601 S. Virginia St., 322-3001

2. El Cortez Lounge

235 W. Second St., 324-4255

3. West 2nd Street Bar

118 W. Second St., 348-7976

Best dive bar

1. Shea's Tavern

715 S. Virginia St., Reno, 786-4774

2. Foxy Olive

220 Mill St., Reno, 997-3733

3. 5 Star Saloon

132 West St., 329-2878

3. Tonic Lounge

231 W. Second St., 337-6868

Best place for a first date

1. Pignic Pub & Patio

235 Flint St., 376-1948

2. Downtown Riverwalk

3. Brasserie St. James

901 S. Center St., 348-8888

Best trivia night

1. St. James Infirmary

445 California Ave., 657-8484

2. Ceol Irish Pub

538 S. Virginia St., 329-5558

3. 1864 Tavern

240 California Ave., 329-1864

Best beer selection

1. Craft Wine-N-Beer

22 Martin St., 622-4333

2. Great Basin Brewing Company

846 Victorian Ave., 355-7711

5525 S. Virginia St. 284-7711

3. Reno Public House

33 Saint Lawrence Ave., 555-5663

Best all-ages spot

1. Holland Project

140 Vesta St., 742-1858

2. Knitting Factory

211 N. Virginia St., 323-5648

3. Wild Island Family Adventure Park

250 Wild Island Court, Sparks, 359-2927

Best place to buy sexy underwear

1. Chocolate Walrus

1278 S. Virginia St., 825-2267

2. Victoria's Secret

5000 Meadowood Mall Circle, 828-2785

13945 S. Virginia St., 853-9516

3. Adam & Eve

7520 Longley Lane, 852-1162

Best place to cure your hangover

1. Coach's Grill & Sports Bar

1573 S. Virginia St., 329-2202

2. Jox

3652 S. Virginia St., 827-6688

3. Peg's Glorified Ham and Eggs

420 S. Sierra St., 329-2600

Best dance club

1. LEX Nightclub

Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St., 789-2000

2. EDGE Nightclub

Peppermill, 2707 S. Virginia St., 689-7444

3. Club Sexy Movimiento

Knitting Factory, 211 N. Virginia St., 323-5648