While Sin City isn’t a top “LGBTQ Destination”, there is still plenty to see and do…
If you missed our previous edition of 2022’s “Best of, Worst of, and WTF?”, it was dedicated to the men and women who go above and beyond to make Sin City a unique and safe experience.
Now, in what may be a VEGAS 411 first, we’re dedicating an entire year-end recap to the LGBTQ community and its entertainment options. Truth be told, there isn’t a lot to choose from, but there is at least something for most gay tastes. Shall we begin?
BEST NEW VENUE – Cheapshot Showroom & Discoteque
This might be a misleading category, because to my knowledge, this is the ONLY gay-friendly establishment to open in the calendar year 2022. And it’s not even officially a gay bar. But CHEAPSHOT SHOWROOM $ DISCOTEQUE is very much a kindred spirit to Vegas gay legend KRAVE with a little STUDIO 54 mixed in.
The tiny venue on East Fremont Street evokes the spirit of a turn-of-the-century European cabaret. Your host Amy Saunders, better known as comedienne “Miss Behave”, is the personification of outrageousness. Her love for wild entertainment goes hand in hand with her commitment to a superior night out.
CHEAPSHOT boasts bargain-priced cocktails, an exemplary bar staff, cutting-edge themes, and a welcoming atmosphere. Almost anything can happen within its ornate walls, and probably will. Bonus points for resident production MISS BEHAVE’S MAVERICKS which is currently on hiatus but has promised to return (read the VEGAS 411 review here),
CHEAPSHOT is located at 517 East Fremont Street. Hours of operation are Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 pm until 2 am, and Friday and Saturday from 7 pm until 3 am. Visit their website for more information.
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR – The Garage
This 24-hour establishment is a consistent winner in the “Best Neighborhood Bar” category. Relaxed, unpretentious, and with absurdly-cheap food and drinks, it’s become a favorite of straights as well as gays. Boasting a rugged auto-shop theme, The Garage is staffed by handsome “mechanics” who pour tall stiff drinks with a smile.
The Garage never charges a cover and offers bar-top gaming, two pool tables, and amazing prices. Man-Cave Mondays are especially popular with specials like these:
- Cinnamon Apples: $5 shots or $7 cocktails
- $8 Patron Silver shots
- $5.50 Absolut is Monday’s Deal 8p to 4a
- $9/$13 Beer Bust 9p – 12a
V8 Grill inside
The Garage is open daily until the wee hours and serves delicious pub food like pizzas, chicken strips, sandwiches, no-carb protein plates, and much more, all at low prices. There’s even a Happy Hour menu daily from opening through 7 pm. Click
here for
V8 Grill‘s operating hours and menu.
The Garage is open 24/7 and is located at 1437 E. Flamingo Road next to Sketchers Outlet Store.
WORST GAY BAR – Fun Hog Ranch
Some people like seedy bars, and on occasion, so do I. But the enjoyable thing about dive bars is the ability to have fun. That’s not the case with
FUN HOG RANCH. Despite the name, this dump is NOT fun…it’s beyond revolting.
Located in an iffy area on East Twain Avenue between Paradise Road and Eastern Avenue, FUN HOG RANCH is the type of back-alley establishment that your closeted gay uncle might have snuck into during the early 70s. It’s dark, dirty, and rundown, the bathrooms are disgusting, and the whole place stinks to high Heaven.
My first visit in early 2021 was such a turnoff that I vowed never to return. Nevertheless, I gave it a second shot last month, and my impressions remain unchanged. Despite a large crowd that seemed to be having one heck of a good time, there was only one bartender on duty. Unable to get service, I positioned myself in a variety of locations to no avail. Fifteen wasted minutes later, I walked out and headed to The Garage. I recommend that you do the same.
FAVORITE OLD-SCHOOL SHOWBAR – Jimmy’s
Despite its proximity to FUN HOG RANCH, the atmosphere at JIMMY’S couldn’t be more different. Located in an old art-deco-style plaza at 855 East Twain Avenue, JIMMY’S is the brainchild of longtime Vegas entertainer Jimmy Emerson. Like the best old-school show bars, it’s unpretentious, inviting, reasonably priced, and packed with off-the-wall enjoyment.
You never know what you’ll encounter at
JIMMY’S, from Bingo Night to male strippers, stand-up comedy and lounge singers to drag brunch and karaoke. Service is friendly, food is generously-portioned and delicious, and ample parking is always free. It’s open 24/7, and you can check out upcoming events by visiting
here.
MOST OVERRATED – Piranha Nightclub
Probably the most popular gay club in Las Vegas is also the most overrated. Piranha Nightclub, located on South Paradise Road near the Harry Reid International Airport, is the only true gay dance club in the city. And since gays love to dance, that’s where they seem to end up every Friday and Saturday night.
Despite the big bucks that Piranha undoubtedly rakes in, the building itself is a pieced-together mess. In broad daylight, you could easily mistake it for an abandoned coffee shop. Inside, it’s a labyrinth of mismatched rooms, most with low ceilings and tight spaces, that lead to a two-level but very cramped dance floor.
The bar staff is quite an efficient bunch and gogo dancers are both friendly and jaw-dropping. But most of the drag queens, with the exception of always-classy
Larry Edwards (aka “Hot Chocolate”), are arrogant, obnoxious buzz-kills. Their frequent performances essentially shut down the dance floor and disrupt patron flow, causing “traffic jams” that would terrify the claustrophobic. Parking is chaotic, and a number of security guards are gruff.
The endless caravan of drag queens, which must certainly be bussed in from across the nation, is just another excuse to raise the regular cover charge ($10 for Nevada residents, $20 for visitors). Combine that with pricey cocktails served in tiny glasses, and you’ll feel ripped off before the first hour has passed. You’re much more likely to have fun at a place like our next winner.
BEST ONE-STOP VENUE – The Phoenix Bar & Lounge
A glorious combination of things that you love about The Garage, Piranha Nightclub, Jimmy’s, and CHEAPSHOT can be found at
The Phoenix. The atmosphere, service, prices, location, and parking are all terrific. So are the attractive and outgoing staff, an array of entertainment, and excellent food (see menu
here).
Of course, there are drag queens, but they don’t take over the joint. Their shows are funny yet brief. Featured nights include karaoke, Ladies’ Night, burlesque, and W.A.P. Wednesdays. The Phoenix is fully staffed with skilled guys and gals, some of the “shirtless beefcake” variety. The performance area doubles as a small dance floor, there are booths and tables for dining, and a few pool tables in the back as well.
The Phoenix Bar and Lounge is open 24 hours a day. It’s located at 4213 West Sahara Avenue, a mile west of Palace Station Casino.
BEST DRAG PRODUCTION – FAAABULOUS! The Show
If you’ve gotten this far, then you probably think that I dislike drag shows. You may be right…and you also might be wrong. When done with dignity and style, female impersonation can be very entertaining. Too bad that the apostles of RuPaul have reduced the once-respected art form to an uncomfortable circus.
FAAABULOUS! The Show is a true rarity. It features a cast of five female impersonators, all of whom sing live. They’re sassy, saucy, and bawdy, yet huggable. Flanked by two sexy male dancers, these “gals” give a gender-bending twist on classic songs. The show also features local favorite “Sunshine” (Joe Harter) on the piano.
The production is hosted by “Edie“, longtime host of Cirque du Soleil’s ZUMANITY. With one high heel in the headlines and the other in a sixties beach movie, Edie casts a spell that will have you laughing your girdle off. FAAABULOUS! just celebrated its second anniversary at NOTORIETY LIVE in downtown Las Vegas. It’s also their second year as VEGAS 411‘s “Best Drag Production”.
FAAABULOUS! The Show performs Thursdays and Fridays at 9 pm. It is intended for adult audiences. Tickets available here.
