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The Tool Box

3.4 (18 reviews)
InexpensiveGay Bars
Wed • 2:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
Thu • 2:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

THE TOOL BOX · YELP ASSISTANT

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THE TOOL BOX ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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a martini on a napkin
Leslie W.

This...THIS...would be our home base bar if we lived in El Paso. Little bit of a dancefloor, great (but not too loud) jukebox, a bartender than knows how to mix a cocktail and not just add some coke to bourbon, pet friendly patio (smoking allowed there) a disco ball over the bar and since we are happy hour/leave before the night gets busy kinda bar gals, it was the perfect place for a couple afternoon drinks.

a man in a dark room
Angela F. W.

I really can't remember much of this place b/c I was pretty tipsy already when I went there with a group. The music wasn't bad and we were the only group there. So we took over the floor and danced like crazy. There wasn't a DJ. I am not sure if I was dreaming but I swear the music stopped then I saw my friends walking to this red box like thing to change the music. Seriously? Maybe that's the magic "tool box" it is referring to! Or maybe that was all just my imagination. Well, I had a good time. Guess that's all that matters!

the tool box logo
Sixto M.

The tool box is a great place to spend your evening. It's next door from the Briar Patch (see my review), and this little gay bar duo can make anyone's night special and fun. While the Briar Patch is more upbeat and busy, the tool box is more low-key and relaxed. My friends usually just go back and forth between briar patch and tool box. I love coming here with friends that I haven't seen in some time, and just spending the night drinking and catching up. No need to jockey for position for a chair, no need to talk over loud music and crowds, because at the tool box, you can sit by the bar, listen to the music playing, and still be able to hear what your friend is talking about. Granted, I've only ever been here on stereotypically "slow" nights (tue/sun), but even then, briar patch was more crowded than the tool box, so I assume this trend holds for fri and saturday. However, I will definitely be back to find out. P.S. the lesbian bartender is super nice, and even expanded my drinking horizons. She made me a "muff diver" and while the name grossed me out, the drink was super delicious! Try it. I know you'll feel the same.

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7 years ago

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2 months ago

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4 months ago

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2 years ago

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5 years ago

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13 years ago

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3 years ago

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18 years ago

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9 years ago

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17 years ago

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8 years ago

Awesome music! I wish more people would see awesomeness I see. Very respectable business. I didn't have a drink, but I will next time.

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8 years ago

Great bar, but understaffed. It's "pride weekend" in El Paso and you have to wait 30 min for a drink at the bar...I ended up leaving.

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7 years ago

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8 years ago

Great staff great drinks just all together great nothing to complain about it's a place you can be yourself with no judgment

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16 years ago

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13 years ago

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14 years ago

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15 years ago

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Review Highlights - The Tool Box

“We liked our drinks simple sometimes so we got cranberry and vodka as well as bourbon and coke.”

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Chiquita's Bar

Chiquita's Bar

4.0(10 reviews)
0.0 mi
•$

Chiquita's was recommended to us because it opened the earliest of the gay bars in El Paso, and it…read morewas described as a dive bar which my partner and I prefer. It is unpretentious, but we've experienced WAY more divey places than this one. Chiquita's is pretty nice as dive bars go. Our bartender, Jonathan, was friendly and attentive. The drinks were reasonably priced, but don't look for a 200 vodka selection, 50 craft beers or 15 taps. It's got the basic goods, and that was fine for us. It's not a big place and the decor is minimal with a couple of interesting features. Friendly service in the afternoon for a couple of hours (2-4 pm), a jukebox, a pool table, an interesting clientele (probably gay) and located in their El Paso Pride Square where you can walk to the 4-5 (?) other bars (we didn't). I deduct a star for their parking and the bathroom plumbing. We parked on the street with a meter ($2 for two hours). I presume there's other parking at the other bars nearby. The men's room was very clean, but the urinal didn't flush. We probably would have stayed much longer, but we had business to attend to. Next time we're in EP, we'll allow for more time.

It's listed as a dive bar. But frankly, it's clean and bright. So as I define "dive" - this was not…read moreit. It is small and the liquor selection is beyond limited. So that may be the reason it's listed a a dive bar. If you want a bourbon and Coke or a vodka seven then by all means this is your place. If you want something that requires more than 2 ingredients...keep walking. The drinks were cheap. But really poorly made. My wife asked for a Colorado bulldog. She had been talking about getting one forever. Not only did the bartender have to Google the recipe but he had no coffee liquor and subbed Baileys...uh, ok. My Top shelf vodka martini was half Tito's and half well. I watched him poor it...and I watched him water it down with something from the Coke shooter. You know they aren't keeping Tito's vodka or vermouth in there. There's a jukebox and tiny dance floor but I see more folks just bellying up to the bar here than grooving out on the dance floor. It seemed more a cruise bar and an all day hang out for regulars.

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Chiquita's Bar
Chiquita's Bar
Chiquita's Bar - Nothing beats a good bartender!

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Nothing beats a good bartender!

Later, Later

Later, Later

3.5(44 reviews)
0.5 mi
•$$

I will always be a loyal fan of Later, Later. There is something nostalgic about this bar for me…read moreand my hometown, that I can't get enough of this spot. This is the OG spot for me for my Topo Chico cocktails (way before I saw the trend throughout the states) and dance vibes ambiance. Later, Later embodies the spirit of El Paso in the sense that it's family and you'll always run into someone from your childhood past. Everyone is just living life and looking to have a good time. It's a bit of a smaller bar hence the lines, but so is any bar that has a popular stamp on them. Everytime I come to Later, Later it never fails on me. Super nostalgic for me and I'll continue coming back every time I'm back in town. Never had any issues here and the staff has always been super friendly.

There are definitely better places to go in El Paso. The atmosphere felt more like a frat house…read moreparty than a club, which wasn't really my vibe. Unfortunately, my purse was stolen while I was there. I noticed it almost immediately and was able to cancel all of my cards before they could be used, thankfully. I also filed a police report. What really disappointed me was finding out that the club was not willing to work with the police department when it came to providing the surveillance footage. I understand that theft can happen anywhere, but I expected the club to be more helpful when something like this happens on their property. Overall, my experience was disappointing, and I personally wouldn't choose to go back.

Photos
Later, Later - Ceiling

Ceiling

Later, Later - Great selection

Great selection

Later, Later - The bar is nice and the lighting looks great.

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The bar is nice and the lighting looks great.

The Tool Box - gaybars - Updated November 2026

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