What a nice lil stop to wet your whistle. We were in the downtown area; and my wife remembered shopping at the ole Shim's army surplus. Shim's has quite a story behind it. When the new owners first purchased the building, they got permission from the original owner to continue using the name; and they made a speakeasy out of it. If the red light was on off the alley, it means they're open. All that said, the barkeep was knowledgeable about the history and made a coconut old-fashioned my wife gave a 10 out of 10 too. We got there a little early, but there was someone setting up a guitar on the stage for some evening music. If you're in the neighborhood drop in, it's worth just checking out and they have some very fun drinks. And with their selection of bottles, I don't think there's a drink you could ask for they couldn't make. Like Mikey sez 'try it you'll like it' read more

Shim's - Coconut Old-Fashioned (10 out of 10) - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

A very comfy bar with moral and cocktail options located in the heart of downtown Reno. Service is great and even though they don't provide food, you are able to bring in your own. On Monday nights they have poetry night that starts at 6pm and they also have several other events that you can have a drink and lounge to. They have several great seats at the bar, tables and booths where you can hang out for a few hours. read more

Shim's - Monday night poetry - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

Amazing bar, clearly enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. We went twice while we were visiting and they have events every evening it seems. Tuesday was Karaoke. The vibe is chill and everyone is so friendly and welcoming. The absinthe green backlit bar looks awesome against the brick wall and the bartender mixes great drinks. N/A options are available too. Definitely going back when we visit again. read more

Shim's - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Shim's Tavern was a great spot to stop after the Art Town concert. Our bartender was super friendly and all around good energy. The DJ was playing great music and had the whole place vibing. read more

Shim's - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

Very unique bar with a 1920's feel. Love the location close enough to downtown but far enough away to not get stuck in traffic. Both bartenders were very attentive and knowledgeable of the drink menu, readily able to suggest alternative drinks for ones that they did not have on the menu. The DJ was a nice touch, and having an eclectic collection of books to read while enjoying the vibes was much appreciated. Not sure if food is served here but would visit again to try! read more

I had been to Shim's several years ago, and I returned last night, on a Wednesday, with a couple of friends. Previously you had to enter in the back from an alley, since they were going for the speak-easy vibe and had a facade of a surplus store in the front. Now you can enter in the front and it actually looks like a bar from the outside. I think it's quite nice inside, kind of a late 1920's feel and decor with low lighting and ornate fixtures. They have booths and tables, as well as plenty of bar seating; the bar is quite long. They do have a stage and we were told they have live entertainment. Among the tables they have a variety of games to play. We were very pleased to learn that they allow dogs! On Wednesdays they have all-night happy hour with 2 for 1 drafts (including some wine selections and a cider option) and well drinks. I'm not a cocktail gal, but this seems like the place to grab a cocktail and feel swanky. The bartender was super nice and friendly. I don't venture downtown often, but I'll be back! read more

Shim's - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

Great local Bar, they've recently dropped the speak easy design, as it seemed to be costing them visitors. The bartender was a super friendly British chap, I forget his name unfortunately but he alone was worth the visit! I used to come here a lot when it was 3rd Street, and it looks very similar, but with a nicer bar setup. Stage is still here, would be fun to see a live show here again, will be keeping my eye out for future shows. Great selection of beers on tap, all in all great stop downtown when looking for a cool place to chill and have a drink. read more

See all

Shims still isn't getting the glass right. I returned to Shims last Friday after some friends invited me and ordered a whiskey. The bartender suggested Ardbeg, a high-end single malt I've had and enjoyed before, so I went with it. I also asked for a glass of water on the side. What surprised me was that he served the water a Glencairn glass--the kind used for whisky--and the whiskey came in a wide-mouth tumbler. I was surprised to see that they finally had the Glencairn but didn't use it for its purpose. I mentioned that the Glencairn is the proper glass for whisky and asked if he would put the whiskey in it. Rather than simply honoring the request, the bartender insisted that I was wrong and that he personally prefers to drink whisky from a water tumbler. He eventually made the switch after I insisted but not without letting me know he'd "been bartending for 17 years," clearly irritated that I had asked and then proceeded to ignore me. Is it too much to just accomodate the customer, when I'm paying good money for a premium single malt? I expect to enjoy it in the proper glass--especially when the right glass is already in front of us. Whisky isn't just about taste; it's about aroma, and a tumbler just doesn't deliver that experience. I left feeling more uncomfortable than welcomed. A good bar should be about hospitality, not ego. I'd give Shims a 1 but they had a keyboard player and he was good. read more

Love to come here for a drink with friends and family. Nick is always great with making drinks, conversation, magic and the occasional dad joke . They continue to have seasonal drink specials and music to enjoy. Will continue to make this a place to visit. read more

Shim's - Busy crowd for trivia finals on a Sunday afternoon. - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

I really enjoy this place! Over the years it's been so many names, but the past few years while it's been shim's I've really enjoyed it. The bartenders are always so incredibly friendly and low-key. They have good beers and wines in addition to a full bar. I like the way they still honor the blues and jazz roots of this establishment, the art is pretty cool. Every now and then there's live music on a modest stage. I wish they opened just an hour earlier in the weekdays so I could make this a happy hour spot post-office. read more

Shim's - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Decided to bar hop today and came upon this spot because of the yelp reviews... The ambience was very cool, speakeasy style for sure, but I was expecting to walk through a hardware store and then be guided to the speakeasy... just the front/outside of the bar looked like a hardware store and then as soon as you enter, the speakeasy! Today there was a Sunday sips day and the old fashioned and Manhattan were $2 off so we gave them both a try... the drinks were okay. For $10 each after the discount, Wasn't too bad for the price. When I asked the bartender which type of Manhattan he would recommend, he said " it's up to you" , I guess the one from the menu and the traditional drink were different so I had him differentiate them and tried the Mahogany Manhattan( one from the menu). The drink was underwhelming, for my flavor profile. But like I mentioned not bad for $10. They do have some private booths, which are cool for smaller parties and some games and tvs in the booths themselves. read more

Shim's - Mahogany Manhattan and menu - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

Went for happy hour and enjoyed the ambiance and cheaper drinks. Stayed too late in a Monday and got bullied by the poets.

I came here to see a show Saturday night. I love the vibe in here. Very dark and cozy. Lots of seats and a good size bar. They have a lot of beers and wine. As well as specialty cocktails. Pop by and catch a show! I had a great time read more

I've been to speakeasy lounges in other cities and I think the concept is really cool. The wife found this one in Reno so we planned a visit. This lounge nails the concept. It's in an old brick building with a fake storefront. The "secret" entrance is in the alley behind the building and is marked as deliveries only. The interior has exposed brick walls, tin tile ceilings, leather couches, privacy booths, a stage, and a long bar. It definitely feels like stepping into a prohibition era building. Another hallmark of a good speakeasy is the drink menu and bartenders. Our host was definitely a character-cracking jokes while skillfully pouring drinks. The bar serves beer, wine, and signature cocktails. I ordered a whiskey sour, the wife tried the Pom-pine mule. Both were fantastic. You can taste quality mixers, it's not just spirits and sugar water. During our visit, singer-guitarist Jason King performed. His soulful performance definitely added to the ambiance and made it feel more like an event. We will definitely check the schedule and plan to return for more live music. read more

See all

After a visit to San Diego and finding a great Speakeasy we came home and wanted to find a local one. I was surprised to see that Reno had a few. We decided to try this one out last night and it did not disappoint! To the "alleyway back door service" entrance to the dimly lit establishment it gave off an exclusive vibe. Specialty drinks were not only delicious they were pretty fancy looking too!! They also offer mocktails (you still have to be 21+ so these are kid flavored mocktails, fancy drinks minus the alcohol) and also offer a few hot drinks as well as beer and wine. They do have events so I suggest checking out their website (or Facebook page) to see what they have going on. They had live music last night. A single musician Jason King. He was great! He took me back to the 90's! The bartenders were great as well. Very friendly and loved one liner jokes!! I highly recommend checking this place out for yourself. Whether it's a date night or large group you are sure to have a great time! read more

See all

A fantastic Reno pub! This place is so much fun and the bartenders are so wonderfully friendly. If Sir Nicholas is behind the bar, you are in for a real treat. We really enjoyed chatting with him when the bar was slow, debating what is a "real" snakebite. They have a great selection of craft beer on tap, a full bar and lots of non-alcoholic options. I had a wonderful old fashioned and nice cold beers & ciders from the taps. They had some fantastically creative brunch cocktails as well, including a glass of champagne with a popsicle in it! Try the poor man's Black Velvet (Guiness & Strongbow), it's my favorite. They have DJ Trivia on Sunday evenings, lots of board games and giant Jenga. read more

Beautiful bar, delicious hand crafted cocktails. Impeccable service. Went to a comedy night. The comics were just awful. Most could barely string a sentence together let alone illicit a chuckle. It was awkward and painful to watch. Then when they could actually scab a joke together it was easy pop shots that were so racist the people sitting next to us left. Nothing funny, just crude and revolting. This was billed as a professional comedy night when in reality it was an open mic for several extreme amateus to work on raw material (from crib notes) in front of a crowd. We should have boo"d them off the stage. So, heads up - enjoy a cocktail here, but skip the "entertainment". read more

I usually come for the manhattans and burlesque shows but had to try the mimosicle and flight. Does not disappoint The staff always welcoming and the vibe never boring. Can't wait to come back and actually play trivia read more

See all

Thank GOD for this place. Honestly, it might be the only thing downtown Reno has going for it (besides the occasional accidental art installation involving a broken slot machine and crushed dreams). Shims is a vibe. A groovy, fun, chill, and well-kept little haven that feels like someone finally said, "Hey, what if we made a bar in Reno that doesn't feel like sadness and stale beer?" And then they actually DID IT. You walk in and immediately feel like you've been let in on a cool little secret--probably because it's a speakeasy and that's the whole point. But also because it's just that good. The bartenders? Absolute legends. The kind of people who can whip you up a killer cocktail and make you laugh so hard you snort a little (which, at Shims, is completely acceptable behavior). The bathrooms? SPOTLESS. Like, I'm-not-afraid-to-set-my-purse-down spotless. And the events? Oh honey, the events. Live music, community hangs--you name it. It's like they actually care about creating a space for people to connect, instead of just feeding the slot machine beast of despair. Bottom line: If you're in Reno and not at Shims, what are you even doing with your life? 5 stars. Would hide out from reality here again. read more

Shhh...deliveries are through the back ma'am or is that the entrance to Shim's Speakeasy??! Well the cats well out of the bag with Shim's already arriving on their one-year anniversary with many a patrons entering the backdoor for exquisite, top notch libations and tunes aplenty. Located along West Third Street, once you find the secret entrance are greeted by staff...you pull back the velvet curtain to find a longgg inviting bar with talented mixologist, a vibe that's welcoming from seating that faces the stage that has musical talent or trivia to test your knowledge with secret private booth seating for those more intimate nights. Libations galore - pick your base and the magical mixologist - yep a magic trick while your enjoy the evening and have an elixir mixed for you too - will be concocted in anything from a Traditional old fashioned, martini, or something quite literally made into absolute PERFECTION. With a large wine and selection of beer on tap you choices are almost limitless. So be sure to give a follow for what is happening inside tonight at Shim's, a special guest could be arriving any minute andd you don't want to miss out! read more

Shim's - Buffalo Moses and Rachael McElhiney tonight 05.15.21 - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

I think this was my third time in...previously the other two were during wine walks so I know a bit different. This time was for a special event! They had a cupcake and cocktail pairing- with local Batch cupcakery. I arrived a few people seated but wanted to wait for my friend so we could start together. I know there was just one bartender handling the soon to be surmounting amount of people coming in and ordering the pairing. So we stayed patient and he was nice enough to come over with the tray of drink- beautifully set up as a double pairing. I thought each pair was well thought out, some drinks were spicy for me but I still enjoyed them. I appreciate that although the place was super busy we still were described each item's flavor as well as pairing. The atmosphere itself is very sleek and mysterious with various booths for small groups, with curtain closing, and just an overall neat bar. I would definitely come in for another event or just to hang out and try the large table jenga! read more

Shim's - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Enter through the back. Speakeasy drinks. Curtained and private booth seating. Live music on some nights. Bar and table seating. Fun! read more

Shim's - Live music coming back! - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

Fun speakeasy-style watering hole in the heart of downtown Reno. Hint...enter from the back. The front is decorated as a supply store, but inside is a warm, welcoming establishment. Beautiful bar, tables, and booth seating are available. With many local brews on tap, a nice wine selection, and specialty cocktails as well as a full bar, this a great place to meet up with friends. The close proximity to downtown makes this a nice first stop....or final place to end the evening. I have not been for the Sunday cocktail specials, but they sound wonderful. My favorite is DJ Trivia on Sunday evenings, but this place is always a good stop. read more

Grew up in Reno and somehow never heard of this place even though it's reviewed so highly on here! Some old friends were visiting from out of town and wanted to check out this bar. It actually wasn't too great for catching up as they had live music that was quite loud so we were screaming across the table pretty much. BUT the singer was amazing and everyone else in the bar very mesmerized by her voice! Just wasn't the setting for our specific group. There was a good mix of people - us trying to catch up, some people there for the music, some people playing giant Jenga, others chilling at the bar. The bar is right behind El Dorado parking garage and actually pretty easy to miss but it adds to the speakeasy atmosphere! Decorated very nicely. Small but cute! Drinks were great too and staff friendly! read more

Great drinks, but not much past that. It used to have the niche market of a speakeasy where you would enter through the back, and it felt like a secret spot that only locals knew about but not anymore. Ambiance is fun, but service could be better. read more

Loved everything! Great people, great drinks. The Speakeasy vibe made a nice backdrop to the Poetry Open Mic. Highly recommend if you're in town looking for a fun new place read more

Great bar to stop and have a couple of cocktails, bartender made great shooters upon request and cocktails were delicious!! read more

Shim's - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

From the fake front supply store, to the secret entrance in the alley, Shim's Surplus Supplies whispers "speakeasy" to those in the know. Upon entering through the utilitarian service entrance, the vestiges of a by-gone era become apparent - a long corridor with vintage prints and guided mirrors against a stone grey wall and a velvet curtain at the end. What could be behind the curtain? Pushing aside the curtain, a huge wooden bar well stocked with bottles of liquor openly displayed against the brick wall. No passwords required. All are welcome to imbibe and sit and visit. Lots of seating and lots of seating options are available. Stools line the long wooden bar where one can sit and watch the talented bartenders work their magic. There are tables and chairs in front of the small stage where jazz is performed live. (yessssss) In the back are private booths. No questions asked, no secrets shared. All is cool at Shim's The drinks, while pricy, are top notch. Traditional old fashioned, martini, or something special. Their Sunset Sour was a great option and a nice twist on a traditional whisky sour. Wine and a huge selection of beer on tap are also available. Great addition to the downtown bar scene - so cool it's hot! read more

Shim's - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

Best hardware store in Reno .. mostly because it's a bar. We stopped in after dinner at Kwok's across the street. Super cocktails, great atmosphere and lots of special events . We have added it to our list of cool places to enjoy and bring friends and family. read more

Slow night but didn't stop us from getting drinks at shims after our show. Me and my fiancé we're designated drivers for our group. So we ordered a diet pop. Needless to say, music was on point, my friends did in fact enjoy their drinks, especially the grapefruit crush. We ordered 2 diet cokes. We got our soda cans and cups of ice and sat with our friends. The tops of the soda cans were dirty/filthy. For 3$ a can I would appreciate at least a courtesy wipe or clean of the top of the can. My fiancé also noticed her cup was still dirty. Needless to say, not the best experience for my first time here. Music was nice though read more

We met a friend from out of town here at about 6:30pm on a Friday. My wife had been wanting to check this place out. Our friend arrived a bit before us and was not sure how to get in. He went to the front door and called us. We told him that it is like a speakeasy and to go around to the back which is where he found the deliveries entrance. The door opened and he said he was good. We arrived a short time later and joined him through the back entrance. When you walk in, it is like a short hallway with a dark curtain at the end. It appears you are walking into the working area of a business. After walking through the black curtains it is full blown bar themed from the times of prohibition. You need to check this out, even the bartenders appear to be in period. We each had a drink and some good conversation but decided to get something to eat. So, we left for another stop. We think this is a really cool themed bar but really wish they were able to do some sort of food. read more

See all

This place is really really special. It totally looks like a general store, and somewhere I would never go or figure out if not taken by someone who's been. Which makes it really "underground" and unique. Inside, I was greeted by live music, really beautiful setup, and a ton of happy people. I was really impressed with the fast service, considering it was a Saturday with a lot of customers. I ordered a speciality drink off their menu. I wish I could remember the name, it was delicious! It was a gin drink. There are booths with curtains which is a nice way to keep your party intimate. They also provide games like jenga which is always a good time, especially while you're drinking. I will definitely be back, and am excited to show friends this new cool spot! read more

Shim's - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

What a neat little spot to stop in and grab a drink! They feature a handful of local draft beers and some fancy cocktails. I think they could use a more plentiful cocktail menu but what they had still got the job done. They have a huge variety of alcohol so they could likely make whatever you want, we stuck to what was on the menu and it didn't disappoint. Staff were friendly and they had live music when we went. The booths with the curtains were a nice touch and the decor in general fit what they were trying to accomplish. If you haven't been, you need to stop in! read more

Drinks are amazing!!! Love the love music and speakeasy motif. Nick is a fantastic bartender and is a riot!

Hidden gem speakeasy bar with fun games all around. I had the mahogany Manhattan. Great combination of flavors. read more

See all

I've heard about Shim's several times, and was happy we finally got to try it out on a lazy Sunday. The theme is a speak easy style location, which fronts as an army supply store, but in reality is a throwback prohibition style bar. The owner wanted to keep things classic speakeasy so to speak, and I found the decor to be very in line with that. Exposed brick lines most of the walls, along with some accents of elegant wall paper. The bar is very big with plenty of seating (and comfy chairs) and there are also a lot of tables to hang out at. At the back of the bar there are private booths which are more private if you want some extra space. Not a ton of standing room with all the seating, but I don't think that's the vibe this place was going for. We happened to be here when the owner (Zach) was on site and we really enjoyed talking to him and hearing about the different types of beers. They have a full bar and some cool specialty cocktails. Prices are a little expensive for drinks, beers are $8, even ones that are brewed by Brewer's Cabinet, which is co-owned by the owner of Shim's. The cocktails we got were are $11, most wines are over $10. They also have a small stage and bring in musicians on a weekly basis. Overall this was a very intimate chill place to get a drink, but might be a little expensive for a "go to" bar on a regular basis. read more

Shim's - Bar - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Fun and stylish speakeasy with a proper backdoor entry. The staff were dapperly dressed and ready with a humorous comment and a nicely crafted cocktail. When we first entered, the bartender was showing a magic trick to the guests already seated at the bar. We took our seats in one of the booths which was roomy and comfortable and had a privacy curtain (we referred to it as a snug). The gentleman behind the counter made a nice drink and was quite entertaining and witty throughout our time there. The decor and ambience had a nice prohibition feel with bookcases with classic books, a gramophone, and other nice little touches. We stayed a bit longer and a jazz band took the stage. They sounded great and the whole visit and ambience was really enjoyable. I would go back for the music, ambience, and cocktails, no doubt! read more

See all

My boyfriend had been wanting to try Shim's Surplus Supplies for quite a long time. We finally went in to check it out! We went in the evening and it was pretty nice inside. I didn't notice any windows so it felt just slightly closed in. I didn't feel like the drink menu had much that appealed to me but I did still find something to drink. The beer menu even felt a little limited. They have some chairs to sit at near the bar and they do have some larger booths for big groups. The booths do have curtains so if you're looking for a more private experience, those are there. I would go back again to check it out. The staff was nice and really tried to help us find something. :) read more

Checked this place out after reading about it from the Reno Foodies page on Facebook/ The Reno Gazette article. My boyfriend and I went Sunday afternoon before dinner after we went over the riddle on where to find it (I'll put it below my review). When we found it it made sense to the area as it was nice and close to downtown. The interior inside felt like old time "classy" with the updated bar and wood interior. My favorite part of it was the private booths in the back (one being the giant Jenga area) and the many other leather seatings. they also have a bookcase of other games to play. Perfect place for a date night has a couple or with friends! My boyfriend had the Mahogany Manhattan drink and I had the The Brumble. Both were nice drinks for any time of tastes. We will definitely be back as we have made this "our spot" lol The riddle goes: " Shim's speakeasy lies across from a king reborn, in the shadow of the city of gold. Near a painting without a frame, behind a door that's not a door. Iron horses gallop by." read more

See all

Awesome speakeasy find while we wait for Kwoks. The store front won't give you access, need to walk to the back of the "shop". Even in yelp, you couldn't find it as a bar. The one bartender came from Boubon and Branch in SF. The other has an awesome accent. They are talented bartenders. Try anything from an old fashioned, their wine, or any speciality cocktail on their menu. Plenty of comfy seating here. Never got too crowded with live music at night. Awesome spot right next to the casino strip. read more

Shim's - Bars Near Me - Reno, Nevada