1864 Tavern

Most amazing lavender lemon drop ever. Homemade lavender syrup you won’t get any where else.

This is my favorite bar. The cocktails are great and the atmosphere is relaxed. The bartenders are friendly and skilled.
There are a lot of couches and places to sit with your friends. One time there was free popcorn. And the women’s bathroom usually smells pretty good and is brightly lit.

Stopped in after a visit to the Nevada Museum of Art, and I definitely think I should come back more often.
They have a great beer list (focused mostly on local brews) and super happy hour deals. It’s even better that happy hour happens every day (because, duh). Libations are their specialty, but I’m a beer girl so you’ll have to look for another review for advice in that department.
The inside of the bar could easily be tacky and irritating, but rather it feels unique, with that hipster vibe that makes me want to drag out my skinny jeans and handlebar mustache. The staff are all super friendly and it definitely has an industry vibe to it. They celebrate Nevada and what could be better than that?
One day I’m going to have to pop in here for trivia, but so far I haven’t been that organized.

Cool bartender. Good drinks. Strange music and the tweeters appear to be blown. Upright piano if you’d like to play. Cool bar and thus 5 stars. Move it to SF or Seattle, 4.

Horrible service. Bartender was a total a**hole. I’ve been to every bar in midtown never have been treated so poorly. We will gladly take our business to the Loving Cup.

Beer is mediocre, bar tenders purposely ignore you for at least 10 minutes prior to acknowledging you or taking your drink order. The décor is cheesy, especially for trying to pull off the vintage Nevada theme. Looks like they rummaged through a few old garage sales. As a native Nevadan, this theme has so much potential… Just not well done. Save yourself a poor experience and go… Literally anywhere else.

Interesting cocktail menu, but overall not impressive.
Bartenders are unfriendly to the point of making me wonder if they were visually impaired — after walking past us several times without acknowledging our presence. Maybe a handlebar mustache would have gotten me a drink within 10 minutes of being at the bar…
Décor is trying… But not quite there. Do like the group seating arrangement. Only good thing about this place is location.

1864 Tavern has really great cocktails. We went here for a bachelorette party and it was fantastic. The bartenders were really friendly, unlike some other bars in town. Drinks were really yummy and reasonably priced.

Not a fan of this bar of late. First time I went here, I had a wonderful Old Fashion, which was worth every penny.
This last time, no bartender could give a damn about serving me, probably because I’m not an attractive woman.
Finally, when I was able to get service, I had another Old Fashion that was kind of thrown together with little effort. If I pay $ 9 a drink, is it too much to ask for it to have a little effort and be good?
I so badly want to like this place more.

I have only been here a handful of times, but there are a lot of things that I really enjoy about this spot. Have you seen their menu? 1864 has pages of unique, handcrafted cocktails that are very reasonably priced. My favorite is the lavender lemon drop which is $ 9 and includes egg whites! There are heaps of other specialty drinks and even a fresh juice bar.
The bar is pretty interesting inside. Because it used to be a retail boutique, there are multiple large windows which are covered with sheer curtains that make for a fun atmosphere. Sometimes it’s fun to see outside rather than being trapped inside a brick box like other bars in town. The bar is adorned with chandeliers, antique furniture and tables, and wooden benches stretching around the window perimeter.
I have only positive things to say about the management and staff, who have been extremely friendly and helpful for the small events that we’ve held here for Nevada alumni. Thank you for agreeing to host our events and for the superb customer service you’ve offered us!

Very nice upscale cocktails, made by clever bartenders who know and love what they are doing.
I would love to completely explore theor menu, and it looks like it would take years.
Beautiful old-​time NV feel, and a friendly clientèle.
Not much in the way of food, unless you count the awesome alcohol-​free juice bar choices.
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They hold pro-​level alcohol seminars… Check facebook page for current info on guest bartenders and events

What a little gem of a bar! We stopped by unplanned while waiting for a table at Centro. I chose the Lavendar Lemondrop (on their favorites menu). It was a hard decision between that and the Desert Rose. It was delish.
Moreover the atmosphere was fun in an old Nevadan way. It was old Victorian décor with Chaise lounges. Too much fun. At the table were Nevada trivia cards that helped get out night started. Man, it was evident that I suck at Nevada trivia, which had us laughing and having a great time.
Next time, we’ll have to swing by purposefully and try the other fun cocktails.

I love the ambiance of this bar, always have. I like coming for the trivia night too, they are a blast with the group of people I go with. This is one of the first bars that started with the «crafted cocktails» in the Reno area which is attractive. I think though with the selection of fruits they have, they are a bit over priced. So, when I come here to meet friends I’ll ususally pick a cheaper punch.

I really liked this little bar! It was a nice change of scenery and the bartenders were all super nice. One of the bartenders made me a Lavender Lemon Drop with strawberries and it was one of the best drinks I’ve ever had. I went with a big group of girls so I tried their drinks as well and there wasn’t a single one I didn’t like! I’ll definitely go back for friendly service and the lavender lemon drop with strawberries!
I will however, be avoiding the bathroom. Sorry 1864 but the bathroom was pretty rank, and you can smell it as soon as you turned the corner to go back there… the girls I was with said it generally smells horrible so it couldn’t have been from an incident that night. Maybe it just needs a good deep clean and an automatic air freshener! :)

I have been here many times and every time I go the quality of the cocktails is perfect no matter who is behind the bar! I love the VC Mule.
It’s very cool with a Nevada theme including NV trivia cards. The seating arrangement encourages good old fashioned conversations. A fun time for all

1864, the year Nevada was made a state. This old timey bar is a great place to stop off and have a cocktail with your friends. The inside décor is reminiscent of the ol’timey west, lots of rustic wood and fancy upholstered furniture like a spaghetti western saloon movie set. The large bar serves beers and wine, hard liquor and of course, they have their own signature cocktails.
There’s ample seating for a group and they play a wide range of music. It was fine, but I noticed a weird smell like a mix of old beer, cleaning products and wet wood/​mildew (it smelled like Mexico City?!? I know, weird analogy, but when I walked in the smell hit me in the face. Not terrible, but so slight it made me retch just a tad. Obviously, living in DF has caused some deep seeded trauma that needs to be addressed at some point…)
The bartender was quite friendly and easy going.
I’d be open to returning to 1864, the ol’ timey feel was cute.

This is one of the better bars I’ve been to in Reno. The quality of the drinks seems first-​rate. They’re going for the steampunk vibe. It doesn’t do much for me but it does add character to the place. And it leads to a scene like my most recent visit, when a woman in an 1870ish dress, gloves and bonnet sat talking on her cell phone. I thought about snapping a photo but it seemed too intrusive.
They have a nice beer collection and I’ve liked all the drinks I tried. They’re only the second place in town that I know of that offers something other than Christian Brothers brandy for Picon punches. They use Churchill Vineyards brandy, which means it doesn’t burn like paint thinner. They also make their own grenadine.
The staff always seems friendly.

There is something really cool about walking into an establishment and being taken care of by someone who is REALLY good at their craft and is friendly as well. This has become one of my favorites spots to come to.
Gabe the bartender was so cool and really knew his stuff. He made some excellent drinks for us and chatted us up about the history of the building and also about the drinks he was making. Really cool guy!
The place is decorated nicely. Lots of cozy seating and dark accents make the place warm and inviting. They have a really great drink list and I actually tried a drink with egg white in it. I wasn’t sure what it would taste like but I was assured that it would add creaminess to the drink and that was correct. It was such a great cocktail. I can’t wait to get back there again.

1864 Tavern is such a cool place. Nevada is such a cool place! This bar is a great tribute to the best state in the union, and I love a good historical context while getting drunk.
1864 boasts beers from local/​regional breweries and Nevada-​themed cocktails. Some of the drink specials include the Proclamation 119 (Angel’s Envy Bourbon, Pavan Liqueur, simple syrup, lemon juice and grapefruit bitters) and the Abolitionist (moonshine, lemon, agave, blueberries, soda water and bitters).
The bar is surprisingly spacious, and the old fashioned rustic décor is on point. Clearly, a lot of love for Nevada went into the creation of this bar, and it’s resulted in a really atmospheric experience.
You can pretend you’re drinking with Andrew Johnson right before his inauguration! I mean, I do that most of the time I go out, but this place really makes it easy.

Last night, while seated on one of the period sofas in this dimly lit bar, and I caught my eyes closing a bit as I listened to the murmurs and musings around me. Subconsciously I began to imagine I was back in 1864, right around the time our great state was born. I could see a place just like this, with characters of the old west filling the seats. I could hear the spurs jingle jangling as folks filled the room, and I could see everyone sipping on something strong, winding down the day with tall tales of cattle and the country. Deep in thought the windows faded from my view, and I got the feeling I wasn’t in Reno anymore. I was taken back to the early days of Nevada, and I didn’t really want to leave.
On Nevada Day it feels only appropriate to review the 1864 Tavern! This spot on Cal Ave has been quietly creeping on a come up with craft cocktails, great draft beers, and one of the most unique atmospheres in the local bar scene. Owner Shawn Plunkett and his team have done a great job of reviving the period vibe and making it hip, cool, and comfortable. From the benches, chairs, and sofas, to the unique banquettes along the walls, the furniture is what you may notice first. It’s a real throwback. As you look around the room you’ll notice the accent pieces like taxidermy, period photos and frames, and the amazing bar and back bar that has to be handmade. No detail has been spared in this space, and it’s no wonder I felt like I’d gone back in time.
Just like in the days of the old west, you’ll find the same hospitality, friendly barkeeps, reasonable prices, and great drinks that will have you forgetting the troubles of your day in no time. So take time to take a step back into 1864.