Bars, Restaurants and Coffee Shops Worth Your Time

Clary’s

Nestled between a Dollar Loan Center and a Ruby River Steak House, Clary’s Bar & Grill is a hidden staple you may otherwise unknowingly drive past. The family-owned and operated atmosphere is immediately felt as soon as you walk through the front door. With a well-rounded breakfast and lunch menu consisting of omelets, benedicts, burgers, salads and more, there really isn’t a wrong choice you can make. The food is some of the most consistent around, no matter what day of the week or time you show up. Plus, they may very well have the largest hot sauce selection showcased on the bar top.

Have a group? Snag a spot in the back dog-friendly patio. Solo or with a couple of friends? Belly up at the bar and let Kyle take care of you.

Personal recommendation: Get there in time for breakfast! The classic eggs Benedict (add some mushrooms) with potatoes and an Irish Coffee (or scotch OJ?) will have you leaving perfectly satiated.

Beloved's Bakery and Cafe

Beloved’s Bakery and Cafe started with a booth at the Riverside Farmers Market and very quickly became THE spot for bread and pastries. A few years later, they opened their brick-and-mortar location next to Reno Public Market. Before you get through the doors, you’ll notice the vaulted ceilings and open kitchen buzzing with passionate bakers crafting pastries, breads, and sandwiches. As you make your way to the front of the line, you’ll pass windows of delicious treats that are nearly impossible to ignore and not add to your order. If you somehow did, you’ve done yourself a disservice! Treat yo’self, you’ll be thanking me after the first bite.

The full breakfast and lunch menu has something for everyone: shakshuka, shrimp and grits, Caesar salad, and burgers. Between the pride put into their craft and the utmost quality ingredients, your palate is overwhelmed by the incredible flavors. 

This is a place that I enjoy going with company - essentially so I can get a few bites of different things.

Personal Recommendation: ANY of their pastries as a little appetizer. The shakshuka, a coffee, and a table outside. (Pro tip: Unless you have incredible self-control, maybe don’t buy a loaf of bread if you're walking. Chances are, half of it will be eaten before you get home.)

Chapel Tavern

A staple in the Reno bar scene for 18 years, Chapel Tavern was the first cocktail bar I visited by myself 12 years ago and is partially responsible for me being where I am today. Your eyes will immediately be drawn to the 15-foot-tall wall of liquor–and the bartenders know the entire inventory well. With a front and back patio covered with greenery, you can easily find a spot to enjoy one-on-one with someone or your whole group.

Whether you’re just wanting a High Life and shot, a glass of natural wine, or a well-thought-out craft cocktail, Chapel satisfies it all. It’s a place I could (and have) taken my grandmother, a date night, or enjoyed on a night out with the whole gang.

Personal Recommendation: Talk to the staff about a particular liquor and style you like. Let them show you something new you might not otherwise think to try. After all, part of our responsibility as bartenders is to expose you to new and exciting things. If that’s not your jam, just get a Guinness with an Underberg (if you haven’t had Underberg before, I’m sorry in advance.)

1864 Tavern

1864 - the year Nevada was established - and the theme of this cozy neighborhood bar you’ll find on California Avenue.

Before the front door is done closing behind you, you’re going to hear a genuine and warm “Welcome in, guys! How we doin’ tonight?” from the owner Dylan Evans or his charismatic staff. 

Beer, cocktail, and spirit knowledge is something you can teach, but hospitality is something a person genuinely has, and here you feel that. The bartenders can be absolutely jamming out cocktails, but all the while still cracking jokes and giving you that “Cheers” sitcom feeling of being part of the hang. Grab a drink and a seat on one of their sofas (all of which have been found across Nevada) or at the bar and watch the show. Wherever you decide, the unique decor and experience will transport you back in time to the 19th century. Unsure what you might want? Let them get to know your preferences, and they’ll whip something up just for you.

Chrome Coffee Works

Located at 131 Pine Street, just outside of downtown Reno, is the well-curated vibe that is Chrome Coffee Works. With their intentionally curated color scheme and aesthetics, it’s almost as though you walked into Palm Springs, but all the while paying homage to old school Reno. And once you notice the hand-painted signage throughout, you’ll be amazed by just how much you really see.

Grabbing a quick coffee on the go or taking a short pause in the naturally lit dining room for a sec - the all-around experience that Chrome and the folks working there give will have you leaving with a pleasant smirk.

Personal Recommendation: Oat Milk cappuccino and breakfast burrito.

Magpie Coffee Roasters

One of Reno’s longest roasters is Magpie Coffee Roasters. A pit stop here when starting my morning can sometimes turn out to be the pause I didn’t know I needed.

Inside, you’ve got bar top seating, low tables for two, or the front window that’s also a garage rollup.

They’ve also got seven different options from Spirit Tea, pastries from Beloved’s Bakery and Cafe, and a handful of other snacks and canned drinks to relieve that morning thirst.

Personal Recommendation: Oat milk cortado, a ham or chocolate croissant, and a seat out front on one of their picnic tables.