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    Tool Shed

    4.0 (140 reviews)
    InexpensiveGay Bars
    Open 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

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    TOOL SHED ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Tool Shed

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    Reviews With Photos

    Quintin E.

    Tool Shed, you get better every time! The top, IT, gay bar in PS, it's elevated dive bar with good vibes, great drinks and the best patio you'll find anywhere in the low desert. "Where Men Who Like Men Gather," as they say at the T Shed. Located off Sunny Dunes Rd (not Arenas Rd if you can believe it) across from a local art gallery, the latest John Cerney Murals the "Neighbors," and neighbor to place like Q Trading, Gear Leather and more this 32 year old+ bar born in 1993 as the original levi and leather bar in Palm Springs. It's evolved a lot hosting a variety of events each week as well as every month and become the host destination for a lot of major event weekends such as Palm Springs Leather Pride, Black Fire: Cigar Social Weekend, and numerous others. Everyone is plenty friendly or at the very least personable like the amazing staff here and their brand ambassadors/titleholders like the current Mr. ToolShed 2025 Erick who welcomed all over the weekend and wished us safe travels home. I've been to some many events over the years when I'm up in the Coachella Valley at TS including Tunes on Tuesday Bingo with a cameo via Barry Manilow, Thursday Underwear night #BeatTheHeat, Sunday Beer Bust, Singlet Saturday, Cigar events typically brought to you by Maximus, and Bluf, leather formal and uniform gear nights. GAY-M-SHOW Night Wednesday, and several of their events I hope to catch at some point for sure, but even when there's nothing kicking off right away, coming to sit inside or out, enjoy the crowd, the great music, history and ToolShed energy is pretty great. It is a cash only bar, but they do have an atm. Restrooms in the far left hall just before the patio, one with a lockable door that is for all genders. The main restroom is strictly trough style with a huge industrial style sink and powerful hand dryer. Smoking is permitted on the patio, cigars as well as cigarettes usually gravitate towards the back and on the outskirts. Plenty of tables, chairs, patio furniture and ledges to relax on, great lighting at night with cool fans and misters that get a lot of use in the summertime. Parking in front, in back or in the side lot as well as throughout the neighborhood. Rideshare is always easy here (coming or going). No food is served here with the exception of chips for purchase. There's a food truck that's open just about daily to my knowledge in the back that serves a variety of comfort food (think tacos, tots, etc). Can't say enough good things about this place. Always manage to see a handful of locals, but also another handful of people from back home. All are welcome here, but it's a bar so you need to be at least 21+.

    Good food truck in back
    Joe F.

    Since they put in the outside space - it's become the bear spot to go! Very popular on underwear Wednesdays and Sundays beer blast

    PS Pride Weekend
    Marilyn A.

    I stop at this bar once a year for PS Pride weekend. Always a good time with our guy friends. Sadly my wife and I don't dare to come here alone, as this bar is primarily for men only. Cash only and drinks are very cheap!

    Hot shirt off night when I stopped by right after I landed from an event in San Francisco!
    James X.

    One of the last great Old School leather bars left in So Cal with reasonable drink prices and some great food trucks next to the new extremely well lighted (let's get those lights down a few degrees) patio! Always have a great crowd and time. I am looking forward to getting back there during Pride in November 2025! I do miss the original dimly lit more discreet patio tho

    Rose Kennedy
    Tim F.

    I just moved to the neighborhood and this a great gay bar for a late afternoon/early evening drink. This is my second time here and the drinks are good and the staff and patrons are friendly.

    Enjoying the atmosphere and ambiance of an evening.
    Michael M.

    Food at Somwthing Different is excellent and Gino and Kat do an amazing job with it and keep prices reasonable. The bartenders are always nice and efficient (not bad on the eyes either!). The new patio offers great seating. In all weather. Comfortable and airy, and big enough to find a quiet place to visit. There really is no other bar for me.

    Tool Shed

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    11 days ago

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    2 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Very rude clientele and staff. They told my Indian friend "we don't want no Iranians in here"

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    23 days ago

    Was kind of slow the day I visited but nice people clean bar. Can't say anything bad

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    2 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Lovely dive bar. Strong drinks. Loved the vibe. Always stop in here when I'm in Palm Springs.

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    3 months ago

    Service is spot on, The Tool Shed is known as the best gay dive bar in Palm Springs. The new outdoo

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Awesome music, nice people, inexpensive good drinks and a big outside patio. It'w also a leather bar where everyone is welcome.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    When there are only a handful of people in your bar you don't need 3 security persons walking around making people feel uncomfortable!

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    5 years ago

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Tool Shed

    Is there a dress code? (ie type of leather gear)?

    Dress code? Anything goes here from street clothes to Leather! Tip: less is best!

    What's the best time to go to Toolshed on Thursday nights?

    8 or later

    What time is the underwear contest?

    It is every Thursday night around 7 PM. The place is packed and they have five or six sexy contestants, they answer questions that are typical of a bar contest: top or a bottom, cut or uncut, married or single, etc. Everytime you get a drink you get… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Tool Shed

    Its our go to leather bar when visiting Palm Springs where we can meet like minded guys and wear our gear.

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Chill Bar - Interior decor

    Chill Bar

    3.9(440 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Good music, quick service drinks and great bartenders. The Gogo's are fun too!…read more It does get a rowdy "straight" crowd at times and lots of bachelorette groups. Doesn't really feel like a "gay bar" much anymore. Used to come here a lot when we would visit PS. Had a lot of fun dancing. Lately, it feels like it has changed a bit with the folks coming in and the unfriendly patrons. So probably not coming back for awhile.

    First visit to this "dance bar" which is in the heart of the gay area (Arenas Rd.) in downtown Palm…read moreSprings. We stopped in during Christmas week, and it was packed. Seemed to be more of a mixed age crowd than some other places on the street. Upon arrival, we walked the premises checking out the large front bar, and then into the back area which had the dance floor and a smaller bar. The three of us opted for a table out on the patio which provided the inside music as a background, so having a conversation was possible. The drinks were good and a little more reasonably priced than at our first stop. They had male go-go dancers around the main bar area, providing a little extra visual stimulation over all of the regular customers dancing in the back. All-male bar and wait staff the night of our visit. Overall, I enjoyed myself more than at our first stop, Hunters, which was across the street. I would definitely come back here again.

    Photos
    Chill Bar
    Chill Bar - Photo 2: Behind the bar

    Photo 2: Behind the bar

    Chill Bar - Half off Mondays . Modelo draft for $3.50.

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    Half off Mondays . Modelo draft for $3.50.

    Quadz

    Quadz

    3.6(155 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I stopped by Sunday which karaoke was happening. It's one of the fun spot that I love along the…read morestrip of bars. Not your typical club but more of a lounge with fun show tunes and music videos. Depending on what night you visit, it does get busy. Drinks are cheap and reasonable. The vibe tends to be more of the mellow crowds, older but fun. Everyone there is for the same things, the show tunes. Also depending on the nights, there's different things going on. I know one night they show musicals which I've never been. I've been normally during the weekend as a start before hitting the other bars. It's always a fun spot to start the night. Everyone is there for fun and singing. A nice patio that looks out to the strip so it's good for people watching. The bar isn't that big so trying to get a drink can be a little of a hassle as they tend to only have two bartenders working. Seemed like that each time I've been. The line situation is also a cluster issue as people are just standing wherever and then trying to work their way in. You'll get a drink but it maybe a while if the place is packed. Regardless it's a fun spot to start the night or end the night. There's no dance floor as it's mainly hi top tables.

    I've lived in Palm Springs for 15 years, and at some point you're going to end up in a gay bar…read more It's part of the culture here. They're everywhere, and they're a big reason the city feels as fun and open as it does. Quadz, right off Arenas Road, is one of those places that clearly has its crowd. One of my closest friends is gay and proudly so, and he brings me here often. I can see why. It's easy, relaxed, and doesn't try too hard. This is not a dance club. It's more of a starting point for the night. You come here first, have a few drinks, settle into the vibe, and then decide where to go next. The drinks are affordable, which never hurts, and people are actually social instead of just staring at their phones. They do karaoke, and it's a mix of everything. Some nights it's locals getting up there, other nights there are hired performers singing throwback 80s songs. In the background, old MTV-style music videos are always playing, which gives the whole place a nostalgic, slightly chaotic charm. I had to laugh when I saw my Yelp bestie, Alex K. from Los Angeles, has written six reviews for Quadz. That alone tells you something. For a lot of people, this is the spot. After spending time here, I get it. It's not about being flashy. It's about being consistent, welcoming, and just plain fun.

    Photos
    Quadz
    Quadz - Bench seating

    Bench seating

    Quadz

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    Blackbook - Blackbook Burger with Garlic Adobo Fries

    Blackbook

    3.8(516 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    We ate here during the Big GAY BBQ. They were sold out of…read morewhat I wanted at the BBQ so we came here. My hubby & I ate the full tray for 2 of the steak Nachos. The nachos were very tasty! They were extremely busy due to the event out on Arenas. We had a nice table on the front above the sidewalk. We saw Chris Mills and his wife Cathy stopped to say "Howdy!" I recommend Blackbook!

    Out of all the times I've been to Palm Springs, this was the second time here. First was just…read morewalking by and stopping in as it looked like a good crowd. Fast forward to this weekend, it was the Palm Springs Big Gay BBQ event that was happening along Arena Road. Whenever there's some kind of event, they tend to close the road down for cars. It's nice as the strip isn't that big. Mainly bars and shops that line the small block. We stopped in for a drink or two as it was pretty lively with everything going on. People enjoying themself with a nice glass and people watching. They have the main bar area with hi top seats that look out to the walkway and street. Also a patio area that is situated along the street. All hi top tables but it's out in the open. They did have some umbrellas set up but mister were all around so that helped a lot. If you wanted drinks, you could go to the main bar but they were also offering waiter service. Not only drinks, there was food available. We didn't have anything but what came out for people did look quite nice. Mainly sandwiches and salads. The crowd was pretty lively and nice. The other times I've walked by, it was nice but slightly more mellow. Depending on the days I assume. It's not that big inside but quite nice and the music was great. Service was excellent with our waiter. Took very good care of us. Drinks, had some rose and margaritas. Let's just say you get your moneys worth with the margarita. It had a nice kick to it. Overall, the place was fun. Nice big size patio which is perfect for a nice afternoon out. Also a nice touch with food.

    Photos
    Blackbook - Behind the bar

    Behind the bar

    Blackbook - Nachos

    Nachos

    Blackbook - Bar at Christmas time

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    Bar at Christmas time

    The Evening Citizen - There are 2 rules for this bar. Rule #1 involves the bar lamps. Rule #2 refers to the picture on the bar.

    The Evening Citizen

    3.9(85 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    This was the best Speakeasy during our Palm Springs visit…read more Secret door and everything. Our Lyft driver drops us off on a Friday evening in front of Dicks, which was packed full of.. well dicks. lol Our Lyft driver said, "good luck, it's around here some where," and left. The area was GREAT!!! We love the LGBTQ community. The secret door was around the corner, without a sign. We just kept trying to open doors until we found one that was unlocked. We entered a super dark, velvet wall papered room with a huge bar and tables. We didn't have a reservation and we were thankful that they let us in to enjoy the drinks, ambiance, and general atmosphere. The service was great! We tried to sell our waiter to rename water to glacier bombs and he just loved it! The menus were set in a newspaper that was interesting to read. I loved everything about this place. I would come back for sure!!

    We chose this speakeasy specifically to share it with visiting guests because we'd heard such great…read morethings. Our first interaction with the owner, Neil, confirmed the reputation. Neil was welcoming, accommodating, and personally secured a table for our party of six when we returned after 9pm. His hospitality and the venue concept itself are excellent. Unfortunately, the service we received afterward from another staff member, Billy, did not match that standard. The venue is extremely dark, so we used the small table lamp to read the menu. Billy instructed us not to use it because it "wasn't the vibe of the establishment," and told us to use our phone lights instead. The tone was abrupt and dismissive. Around 9:50pm he announced last call. When one guest ordered, his response was, "I guess if you must." Others asked for a moment to decide and were repeatedly rushed. We explained we weren't aware they closed as 10, as Neil had told us it would be open seating after 10. He replied, "Yeah, well I'm closing tonight and I'm closing at 10." When drinks were delivered, they were set down forcefully. As we were leaving, a member of our group overheard Billy speaking negatively about us to another employee, including mocking someone in our group for needing glasses to read the menu and implying she was intoxicated (she wasn't). When this was addressed directly, he did not apologize and instead insisted we had overstayed, which is inaccurate. We ordered promptly after being told last call and left after finishing our drinks. We are locals who intentionally brought out-of-town guests here because we wanted them to have a great experience. It's disappointing that one staff member's conduct overshadowed what should have been a highlight of their visit. I won't assign motives, but I will note that Billy's demeanor noticeably shifted after the final member of our group, who happens to be Black, arrived. I cannot determine why, only that the change in tone was clear. Neil has created something special here. However, a venue's reputation ultimately depends on how guests are treated when ownership is not present. Based on this visit, there is a significant gap between the hospitality the owner provides and the service delivered in his absence. I hope Neil takes a close look at what happens when he's not present, because with the right staff, this could easily be a place we'd want to return to.

    Photos
    The Evening Citizen - Velvet wallpaper

    Velvet wallpaper

    The Evening Citizen
    The Evening Citizen - Two drinks and the iconic portrait of local vampire Üdo Kier (who has been known to make an appearance if you're lucky)

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    Two drinks and the iconic portrait of local vampire Üdo Kier (who has been known to make an appearance if you're lucky)

    Tool Shed - gaybars - Updated May 2026

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