The Z Bar

Everyone (almost) in Midtown has a bowl of mixed citrus fruit on the bar, large cylinder ice and strappy bow-​tied, tattooed, bearded bartenders with $ 10 fancy cocktails…
But not everyone has a beautiful chilled prep bar of raspberries, watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, pear tomatoes, lychee, basil, thyme, juniper berries (I think that’s what they were) and more!
And FRIENDLY bartenders.
And a good mix of music (that you can actually hear).
And a fire pit!
And chairs that aren’t backless stools /​benches…
Clean, multi stall bathroom (hey, Friday nights get crazy and that’s a consideration)
I like my drinking outtings to be an experience so all of these elements are important to me. This was our third watering hole for the evening (my first time here) and what a stark difference between the other 2.
I had the RC (raspberry pureè, fresh cucumber, mint, lemon, vodka). (It comes with housemade simple syrup but I opted out of that part).
It was a nice, fresh taste of summer! Beautifully presented and each flavor worked together nicely.
We enjoyed chatting on the patio at the fire pit, remarking at the nice mix of music played and engaging in the late night people watching.
I can’t wait to go back, try more drinks and make summer memories with my friends on that patio!
PS: The only thing that would make it better would be some greenery and flowers…

Love this place! Great custom and seasonal drinks.
The bar tender is great and his specialty drink is the «Grapes of Wrath» is amazing if you like spicy stuff.
This is a great place to have a few drinks and be able to have a conversation and a good time. The Devore can be casual or formal depending on your needs. They have a fire pit outside, two levels inside and lots of bar space.

I love this bar, the bartenders and owner are on top of their game. Amazingly well prepared drinks and fantastic service, I love this place.

I watched some of my friends DJ last Saturday. I walked in was never greeted or acknowledged. I waited a bit of time (6 – 8 minutes), bartender was walking around hugging people and chit chatting, never acknowledging me again nor saying a word. It wasn’t busy at all, maybe 8 people at the bar w/​drinks.
I saw another person who I assumed was a bartender, but wasn’t 100% sure, since she was just unloading the dishwasher, drying off glasses, while I am waiting w/​no one next to me, ready to order a drink w/​money on the bar.
To make a long story short, I DETEST bad and HORRIBLE service, eventually Mr. Cool came over after about 10 minutes, and I did order 1 drink and foolishly tipped, just because it’s in my nature.
Funny thing is this place DESPERATELY NEEDS customers, and I wonder how many people have experienced what I did, either ordered and never came back and or left as I was about too. I did leave after my drink and seeing what I hoped wasn’t true. The only job of bartenders is to give service and they cannot get this right, then it’s like why even be in business if you don’t give a shit? Just close up and go home broke!
I found out little lady was a bartender after serving my friends on my side of the bar about ½ hour after I got my drink, that’s when I decided F*#@ Z-​Bar and promptly left! After this $hit $how I won’t be back!

St. Patty’s Day 2016: my boyfriend and I decided to drop into Z Bar for a couple of drinks because the bartender’s at Chapel ignored us for a good 15 minutes, so we left.
First off, wow, this place was DEAD. There were 4 other people being served at the bar before my boyfriend and I sat down. I was kind of skeptical because there wasn’t a huge crown, but I quickly got over it as our bubbly bartender approached us and asked what we would like to drink. The first round I ordered a Veracruzana and the bf ordered a Siesta.
All of their cocktails are hand-​crafted, which means they are SUPER FRESH! I love bars like these because the staff is usually very passionate about each individual cocktail and the craft that goes into developing all of the flavors, the bartenders at Z Bar hit the mark! Both cocktails were amazing, I absolutely LOVED the Veracruzana (tequila, pineapple, lime, house-​made honey and basil syrup garnished w/​a fresh basil leaf and pineapple chunk). Everyone should partake in a Veracruzana, it will literally blow your tastebuds away! The Siesta (tequila, campari, grapefruit, lime, house-​made honey syrup garnished w/​a grapefruit peel) was A-​OK, I’m not a huge grapefruit fan so that’s probably why I didn’t care for it but my boyfriend really enjoyed it. We ordered one last drink to share which was the Blue Bourbon (bourbon, blueberries, lemon, and house-​made simple syrup garnished w/​fresh blueberries). This cocktail made me feel warm down to my core, probably the bourbon doing it’s magic, very tasty.
This was our first and certainly not our last visit at Z Bar! They have a great outdoor patio that I can see myself drinking on this summer!

KJ has some serious skills when it comes to crafting cocktails! He has an enchanting smile, quick wit, charm, and wears a vest with class and style. He trains his team well so that you consistently receive fantastic service and delicious concoctions.
The atmosphere is simple, yet full of pizzazz… whether you sit at the bar, dance on the open floor, plop at the high top, or grab a couch in the lofty lounge. And when it’s not cold outside, be sure to relax by the firepit on the patio.
Not only are the ingredients fresh, but so are the tunes, most of the time (that’s just my personal preference speaking)! For kicks, KJ will take requests. The menu changes throughout the year, so be sure to come in often to enjoy your fave drink (s) before they’re gone. Prices are reasonable so you can tip generously without totally emptying your wallet or credit line.
Terrific Happy Hour specials make it a great time to pop in after work, or pregame before a dinner or event. Come by any time and you won’t be disappointed… unless it’s when they’re closed.
I know I’m going back soon! See you there?

We are in town for only a weekend and wanted to grab a couple drinks. This place had awesome service (Wiley and another bar tender) and good vibes. The drinks were also good; we didn’t order anything crazy so the drinks are straight forward to make but they were still delicious. We will be back for good drinks, service, and vibes if we are ever in Reno again.

Was immediately welcomed and given a menu. Lots of seating options and great drinks. Friendly bartender. Good vibes. Will be returning.

The Z bar is one of my favorite places to go when I want a great bartender (KJ) AND an amazing drink. I have been going here since they opened the new Z-​Bar and it never fails me. They have great art of craft cocktails that are freshly made and look nothing less than amazing. When you walk in you get a great feel from the music selection to the décor on the wall and the long bar that gives you plenty of places to sit.
There is a really great outdoor seating area with a fire pit, plants and a brick wall to keep it somewhat private from the street. They also have horse shoes available which is always fun in the summer.
I have tired MANY drinks on the menu but my most favorite by far is the grapes of wrath. I am not exactly sure what goes into this spicy hotness of a drink but its a light colored drink with vodka, egg whites and spicyness! Of course, topped with grapes! I don’t think it is always on their menu so ask for it when you get there! Other ones I like involve strawberries, cucumbers and mint! They have so many different choices its hard to go in and have just one!
They don’t provide any food so have a snack before or come in after you have already had a meal! They have a good happy hour ($ 5 cocktails until 6pm on the weekdays).
They ONLY downside about this place is the cost of their cocktails (average $ 9-​$ 10) a cocktail. The fact that they are so good almost makes up for the price and if you hit up the happy hour you are in a good spot!

A big group of stopped in here on a bar crawl for a friend’s birthday. Within minutes, our bartenders had a line of shots for us. I’m not sure what they concocted for us, but whatever it was, it was delicious!
They have a cute little patio out back with fire pits. If I was in the area more often, I’d be hanging out there quite frequently!
There’s a parking lot in the back of the building that you can get to from Holcomb Ave. so you don’t have to worry about/​deal with Virginia St. parking.
Can’t wait to stop in again and try more of their delicious cocktails!

The Z Bar turned into a great place for my friends and I to end our Saturday romp through Midtown. We showed up around 9:00 and took up residence outside by the fire pit.
A lot of work has gone into this bar recently, and it’s really beginning to come together. Landscaping work outside by the fire pit and horseshoe area was almost complete at the time of our visit, and the outdoor space appears to have a promising future.
There are many cocktails offered at The Z Bar. They are all accompanied by fresh fruits and garnishes, and were all made plenty strong enough for those in my group. What really set The Z Bar apart for us was the service that we received, both inside the bar and out. The fun, 80s-​style music that was playing fostered a fun atmosphere that was made better by the outgoing and friendly staff at the bar. We appreciated the recommendations and interaction from the bartenders during our visit, and would definitely encourage others to give The Z Bar a try.

Great cocktails. The atmosphere was good. The bartenders were not so attentive. Good menu. Fresh ingredients. A bit slow on the refill.

KJ and his team at the Z Bar have won me over with their charm, charisma, and creativity, but most of all with their sensational service. That’s why I’m bumping my review up to a full 5 stars for this fantastic local cocktail lounge.
It’s one thing when you sit at the bar and are greeted and served, it’s another when you’re outside on the patio, far from the bar, and the staff makes it a point to come say hi and make sure you’re well taken care of. From removing empty glasses, to offering water, and making wonderful cocktail suggestions, the Z has their service game on lockdown.
Don’t even get me started on the cocktails though. With a salad bar of fresh fruit, herbs, and house made garnishes and syrups they at their disposal, there truly isn’t anything this spot can’t serve up. And best of all, they’re happy to tune up their recipes to suit your personal tastes. I find a lot of their drinks to be a bit sweet, so I always ask them to bring the heat, in the form of fantastic whiskey and bourbons of course, and they are more than happy to oblige.
But as a fan of the classic cocktails, and to set expectations straight for my friends out there like me, my one criticism is that they don’t seem to have the same philosophy on rocks that a lot of the other cocktail bars have. I like my old fashioned on a rock, not over chip ice, so I tend to go for drinks served up.
Z Bar is a cocktail bar for those that crave innovation and freshness. Find your new favorite on their menu, or let them create it for you!

The z bar is the best place in town! Best fresh made cocktails in town. KJ is the all time best bartender! He always welcomes you by name and is always excited to meet new people! It’s worth a try! You’ll love it!

Kj is awesome, and makes the best drinks! Run and tell that home boy! Large variety of drinks, and cocktails. Don’t see any thing you like? Tell Kj what you like, and he will make you something. I’ve seen it a dozen times, and it seems to work out nicely! Bar is very clean and the company is awesome! Check it out ASAP!

KJ has been amazing the numerous times we’ve been in. The drink combinations are very tasty and their happy hour from 4 – 6 feature specialty drinks for $ 5. Easy parking behind the building in the private lot or on the street. The outside patio gets a bit hot and needs more shade as the sun sets. For a small bar it has plenty of outside seating, a pool table, a good size bar, and some of the best mixed drinks in town.

Since my first review-​that was rather short– I feel the need to update
Don’t judge a book by its cover I did and I was so wrong. The Z isn’t a little dive bar any longer. KJ has worked hard and takes a lot of pride in having cleaning this place up. Making the patio a great outdoor space to hang out on all summer. He’s there with a smile and always ready to mix you a fabulous fresh drink. You would be hard pressed to not find a drink you would enjoy. Fresh fruits and herbs, Housemade simple syrup and incredible garnishes
Happy hour is everyday from 4 – 6. Great specials and prices
I challenge you to try this bar. Become a regular and made the Z your second home like many of us have

Z represents endings. Z represents that last place in the order of things. Z is a rarely used letter. To many Z’s and you are sleeping. Well my experience here is sort of all of the above.
This time Z represents a possible ending to my current favorite cocktail bar in Reno.
This time Z held the last place in the order of our evening because we were pleasantly done for the evening.
This time Z is a rarity because not many bars in Reno are just this awesome. Walking in you see the quality ingredients right in front of you. No need to question if they are doing things the «right» way.
This time Z helped me sleep like a baby that night.
We had a number of cocktails off the menu and non disappointed. My favorite was one with jalapeño or maybe it was the 1944 Mai Tai or maybe it was the different mules they had or that awesome bloody mary?
Anyway the drinks were outstanding and the service was fast and friendly. We even had a little personal hiccup and they were right there to help out! The bar really is nicely decorated and appointed. Stone tile floors and it’s clean everywhere! Even the outside on the patio was nice and clean.
A few pointers… the patio can get hot. They have no food on site but there are a number of places around that do, but of course that’s dependent on the time you are at The Z Bar.

Their drinks are fabulous here. Their cocktails are all made with fresh fruit. KJ, the bartender was super friendly and made some great recommendations.
Since, I love the Chocolate Bar’s Strawberry Balsamic I decided to try theirs at The Z Bar. It was fabulous! KJ made my boyfriend a specialty drink with whiskey in it. He enjoyed his too.
It was such a nice night out. They had a fire pit lit outside. KJ gave use complementary items to make smokes. We roasted our marshmallows on the fire pit and enjoyed our drinks under the stars. I would definitely recommend this place!

Regular cocktail prices seem pricy but when you actually think about chains (ie: say Claim Jumper). these are on par if not cheaper. $ 9.50 a cocktail but fresh ingredients… I remember someplace like claim jumper is anywhere from $ 8-​$ 11… for watered down sugar water!
I had a friend rave about the house made Bloody Mary and boy, it was good. I hit the happy hour where everything is $ 5 and that’s an incredible deal for cocktails, let alone freshly made, wholesome ingredients without a ton of preservatives and/​or chemicals (besides the good ones like alcohol… am I right, or am I right).
I plan on being back. The door was open so it was pretty chilly for a while but that was out of the «bar chef’s» hand, she did direct me to the «warmest spot» in the place. So since it is coming up on winter, it would be nice if a) shut the door and/​or b) crank that heat
Thanks Allie, she introduced herself immediately and was super sweet explaining the mission statement of the place. I wanted to venture but I just love bloody Mary’s. She also let me do my own thing while she squeezed limes for a big jug of lime juice. I kinda loved it.