Wild West Side

Given how few queer/lesbian spaces there are left in the city, I was excited to spend some time here over Pride weekend. Unfortunately had the most bummer experience - I came in with my wife and a couple of friends, the bar was not very busy around 8 PM. I ordered a martini for my wife, and the bartender loudly scoffed and rolled their eyes and asked if I was serious, then proceeded to make three martinis and had me pay for them all. I was so confused by the experience that I just paid and went straight to the backyard instead of arguing it because it felt like intentional hazing instead of a misunderstanding. Truly don’t understand the point of treating polite, visibly queer people with such contempt in a queer space, especially when the drink order is simple and the bar is slow. I’d think it was a one-off but a regular in the backyard told me that’s typical behavior from that bartender.

My friend and I wanted to play pool and grab a couple of drinks but instead we were met with hostility immediately. A staff member asked us how we got in there and where we came from. We were asked “So you think you can just walk in here?” The door was wide open and there was no bouncer. We were followed out and harassed up until the door being shut behind us as we left. For some additional context, it was 11:40pm and we did not know they closed at 12am, we assumed it was 2am like most bars and the door was wide open. We are both visibly lesbians and were excited to be in a lesbian bar but will not be coming back. I hate to make a bad review as a lesbian about a lesbian bar but I did not feel welcome at all. It seems like the staff like their regulars and no one else.

I've lived in the neighborhood for years and this was my first time visiting. Now it's my favorite new bar! The outdoor garden seating is probably the best I've hung out in the whole city. They've created little seating areas for people to group themselves in so there's nice separation from one another. Great drink selections and you're supporting a local business owner. Super supportive of the LGBTQIA community which is great for any establishment.

Lovely lesbian and everyone bar! Had a delightful time catching a drink and watching a few old movies. They do play sports when a good game is on! Plus they have a pool table and a neat outside chill spot! If you're in the area, stop in!

I am loathe to make a poor review of a lesbian bar as there are so preciously few, but the no laptop at the bar policy is cis-hetty, ableist, and out of touch. I tipped the bartender who agreed it was unnecessary very well, but, being shuffled away to a corner, I spoke to fewer people, bought fewer drinks, and spent less time than I would have otherwise. It's like, if you're neurotypical, you're allowed at the bar to make friends and do what you want, but if you're autistic and need a social crutch, there's a lonely table way off in a dark corner they'd much rather you sit at. It's not even as if laptops at the bar inhibit socialization, as the other bartender had to interrupt me talking with another patron over what I was working on to inform me I had to move. For a place that's supposed to be defined by its inclusivity, this was a remarkably unwelcomed experience. I sincerely hope other lesbian bars aren't like this.