The Red Lantern

Virgil, the owner, is gracious and has put together a great watering hole! John-​John, one of the bartenders, makes you feel welcome immediately. I’m almost sorry I don’t live in Fresno, but you can be assured I will come here every time I return.

Drop by the Red Lantern whenever you can — and I’ll be darned if it doesn’t become your favorite place. Relaxing and friendly, great place to pick up a casual fling or hang out with friends and married people. Bring your friends to liven up the joint. They’ll love it! The barkeeps and regulars make wonderful instant friends. You’ll drop that well-​kept dance club across town like a hot potato — the real gay community of Fresno lives here at the Red. Put it this way: when I came out 25 years ago, I tried several Fresno bars. All of them were harsh and unfriendly, except for the Red. Now, go there today. Right now. As I’m writing this, go. It’s almost 5pm on a Wednesday. Find yourself a seat at the bar and watch the barkeep close one of the little doors on the fridge behind the bar. The others will pop open and the barkeep will then shut those. The doors have not been repaired since the day I set foot in there!

The drinks are cheap and strong so that’s a plus. Saturdays is when all the Mexican cowboy queens come out in search for the D. I stay away on that night because it’s just a sad scene. Their karaōke is fun I guess but that’s about all there is to say about this place now. I miss meatball magic.

I love this bar and im a straight man, used to work here as a barback and ran light for shows. Every time i come back to fresno i make it a point to stop by. Everyone is friendly and just there to unwind and have a good time. All the regulars are good people, and i highly recommend newcomers to stop in and see it for themselfs. The drinks are fair priced, and the bartenders make all customers have a great personal experience. Love this bar!!!

John and Colton great bartenders, had a great night tonight! ;-)

Gotta dig the free pool… laid back and very cool crowd…

Great neighborhood dive bar. This place is like the Cheers bar of gay bars in Fresno. It has been around since the 70s. Nice bartenders, that remember your drinks if you come on in often enough. Great place to meet and have a couple and shoot the breeze. Free pool! Karaōke nights are fun and mellow as well. No fuss just fun.

this is my local watering hole… i pop in for the refreshments and hangout before i go home and hit the hay… love the bar b ques on sundays and the draft beer prices are so cheap u gotta have a few just because…

The Red Lantern is my «home away from home.» It is my true hangout where I am so comfortable. Drinks are cheap and good. Bartenders are great and very friendly. I am looking forward to the new «ElectroFix» nights on the 2^nd and 4^th Fridays of each month. They will be playing Electro House remixes and DubStep. The ElectroFix nights start on March 9, 2012. Damn, Friday night at the Red is growing — Meatball Magic on the 3^rd Friday and now, to attract the younger crowd, ElectroFix on the 2^nd & 4^th Fridays. The DJs are really great: Gustavo on Latino night every Saturday, DJ Top-​Heavy on the 2^nd & 4^th Fridays and Meatball Magic DJs rotate on 3^rd Fridays

Huge Mexican population that were here. And most were unattractive and weird looking. The area looks unsafe and You feel like your going to get mugged or shot. Small patio. This place is not the business

I have to admit that I’ve only been here on karaōke nights, but I also have to say that since I found this place, I don’t really want to go anywhere else. The KJ, Rick is the best, the bartenders are friendly & the crowd is a wonderfully eclectic mix of enjoyable people.
The stage area/​dance floor/​karaōke area is big & takes up about ½ the building, while the actual bar area (complete w/​pool table & retro video game table) takes up the other half. There’s a great outdoor patio if you want to sit & smoke or chat w/​out having to shout over the singers. Apparently they also do barbecues out there from late Spring through Summer. As I write this, they currently do karaōke 2 nights a week: Sunday & Wednesday, starting at 9pm. The song book has a wide variety of genres & is ever expanding, as Rick can find just about any song for you if the karaōke version exists.
Regulars often bring food to share & many people are willing to carpool if you get to know people & ask around.
Check out their website for other nights: I see posters for DJ nights & theme nights all the time.

Great bar, friendly bartenders, great dance floor and cute (but small) patio. Stop by on the first and third Fridays for Meatball Magic (80’s, nu wave, indie, pop). There are usually more people then or on Latino night (which I have never attended). Drinks are good and free condoms!