Nightlife

Most romantic bar

St. James Infirmary

445 California Ave., 657-8484

When it comes to choosing a romantic bar, people often consider aesthetics first and foremost. And there’s something to be said for nice looking, nice smelling environment, for sure—but a host of other factors play a role in creating an effective lovey dovey lounge space. It needs to be intimate, a space that lends itself to one-on-one conversations. But it also needs to be friendly, because feeling wanted wherever you’re hanging out is essential, too. It helps if the lighting is soft enough to be flattering. And, of course, the drinks need to be good. St. James Infirmary has been hitting all of those marks in Reno for a decade now. It’s pretty. It’s friendly. It serves drinks to satisfy craft cocktail enthusiasts and steadfast beer drinkers alike.

Best Bar

The Loving Cup

188 California Ave., 322-2480

Why do we go to bars? It’s not just to drink. If we really wanted to drink—like, really drink with an eye toward obliteration—it’d be easier to just go to the grocery store and buy a two-liter of some off-brand vodka and get to guzzling. So why go to bars? To meet people? Maybe ones we’d like to bone? Well, there’s an app for that. To dance, maybe? We can do that at home. So, here’s the thing: We go to bars for pleasant surprises. For chance encounters. To bump into old friends. To make new friends that we might never reach via algorithm. To hear music we’ve never imagined. To be entertained by a colorful cast of characters behind the bar. To do the unexpected. When you want something, but you have no idea what, drink from the Loving Cup.

Best first date

Califuria

725 S. Center St., 360-5175

Califuria is an elegant yet cozy midtown spot—in the old Rose’s Deli location—with contemporary Italian fare such as scallop tartare and beef-cheek ravioli. If the offerings sound unfamiliar, the incredibly knowledgeable servers are skilled at talking you through the choices. Chef Tim Magee honed his craft in restaurants in the U.S. and Italy for almost two decades, and it shows in his recipes. They’re meticulously crafted but never overwrought. The pasta, sausage and bread are all house-made.

European-sized portions mean you get to try the entire Chef’s Menu—a sampling of several courses—without feeling too full to take your date on the town for a few more hours. Califuria is popular, so call in advance for a reservation.

Readers’ choices

Best all-ages spot

1. Coconut Bowl at Wild Island

250 Wild Island Court, Sparks, 359-2927

2. Holland Project

140 Vesta St., 742-1858

3. Grand Sierra Resort

2500 E. Second St., 789-2000

Best bar

1. Pignic Pub & Patio

235 Flint St., 376-1948

2. Reno Public House

33 Saint Lawrence Ave., 555-5663

3. Shea’s Tavern

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

Best beer selection

1. Beer NV

15 Foothill Road, 448-6199

2. Piñon Bottle Co.

777 S. Center St., 367-1211

3. Craft Wine and Beer

22 Martin St., 622-4333

Best bowling alley

1. Grand Sierra Resort

2500 E. Second St., 789-2000

2. Wild Island

250 Wild Island Court, Sparks, 359-2927

3. High Sierra Lanes

3390 S. Virginia St., 825-1048

Best comedy club

1. Laugh Factory

Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia St., 325-7401

2. Reno-Tahoe Comedy

100 S. Virginia St., 322-5233

3. The Library Tap House & Hookah Lounge

134 W. Second St., 683-3308

Best concert venue

1. Grand Theatre

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

2. Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s

Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, 18 U.S. 50, Stateline, 588-6611

3. Cargo Concert Hall

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

Best dance club

1. 5 Star Saloon

132 West St., 499-5655

2. LEX Nightclub

Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St., 789-5399

3. Edge Nightclub

Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, 2707 S. Virginia St., 689-7444

Best distillery

1. The Depot

325 E. Fourth St., 737-4330

2. 10 Torr Distillery & Brewery

490 Mill St., 499-5276

3. Verdi Local Distillery

1155 Old Highway 40, Verdi, 971-4331

Best dive bar

1. Shea’s Tavern

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

2. 5 Star Saloon

132 West St., 499-5655

3. 40 Mile Saloon

1495 S. Virginia St., 323-1877

Best gay hangout

1. 5 Star Saloon

132 West St., 499-5655

2. Faces NV

239 W. Second St., 470-8590

3. The Loving Cup

188 California Ave., 322-2480

Best happy hour

1. Flowing Tide

10580 N. McCarran Blvd., 747-7707

2. The Twisted Fork

1191 Steamboat Pkwy., 853-6033

3. The Gas Lamp Restaurant and Bar

101 E. Pueblo St., 329-5267

Best karaoke

1. West Second Street Bar

118 W. Second St., 348-7976

2. The Point

1601 S. Virginia St., 322-3001

3. 5 Star Saloon

132 West St., 499-5655

Best microbrewery

1. Great Basin Brewing Co.

846 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 355-7711

2. Revision Brewing Company

380 S. Rock Blvd., Sparks, 331-2739

3. Imbib Custom Brews

785 E. Second St., 470-5996

Best neighborhood bar

1. Pignic Pub & Patio

235 Flint St., 376-1948

2. Reno Public House

33 Saint Lawrence Ave., 555-5663

3. Shea’s Tavern

715 S. Virginia St., 786-4774

Best nerd hangout

1. The Glass Die

675 Holcomb Ave., 384-1456

2. Press Start Arcade & Bar

1413 S. Virginia St., 786-2550

3. Comic Kingdom

595 E. Moana Lane, 823-9074

Best place for a first date

1. Centro Bar & Kitchen

236 California Ave., 737-9062

2. Pignic Pub & Patio

235 Flint St., 376-1948

3. The Glass Die

675 Holcomb Ave., 384-1456

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

3. Adam & Eve

7520 Longley Lane, 852-1162

Best place to cure your hangover

1. Peg’s Glorified Ham n Eggs

420 S. Sierra St., 329-2600

2. Gold ‘N Silver Inn

790 W. Fourth St., 323-2696

3. PJ & Company

1590 S. Wells Ave., 323-6366

Best place to watch Monday Night Football

1. Bully’s Sports Bar & Grill

2898 Vista Blvd., Sparks, 358-1800

2. The Stick

95 N. Sierra St., 360-5799

3. Coach’s Grill & Sports Bar

1573 S. Virginia St., 329-2202

Best place to watch movies

1. Galaxy Luxury + IMAX

1170 Scheels Drive, Sparks, 313-0118

2. Century Riverside Theatres

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

3. Cinemark Reno Summit Sierra

13965 S. Virginia St., 851-4635

Best sports bar

1. Bully’s Sports Bar & Grill

2005 Sierra Highlands Drive, 746-8006

2. The Stick

95 N. Sierra St., 360-5799

3. Coach’s Grill & Sports Bar

1573 S. Virginia St., 329-2202

Best strip club

1. Reno Men’s Club

270 N. Lake St., 786-7800

2. Wild Orchid

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

3. Fantasy Girls

1095 E. Fourth St., 322-2582

Best trivia night

1. Ceol Irish Pub

538 S. Virginia St., 329-5558

2. 1864 Tavern

290 California Ave., 329-1864

3. Shea’s Tavern

715 S. Virginia St., 786-4774

Most romantic bar

1. Death & Taxes

26 Cheney St., 324-2630

2. Fireside Lounge

Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, 707 S. Virginia St., 826-2121

3. Roxy

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