Night Life

Nightlife: Bars, Pubs, and Taverns at Lake Tahoe

If you’re looking for real nightlife at Lake Tahoe—drinks, music, and a wink from the hottie at the next table—there’s more to Lake Tahoe than the casinos. Leave Caesar’s behind, and you’ll find a more intimate local bar scene awaits you. If you’re single and looking (or enjoy live music & drinks with your special someone), head for the South Lake Tahoe area and Truckee. The Tudor Pub is everybody’s favorite—affordable, unexpected, and sexy (South Lake Tahoe, www.dorysoar.com).

Most of the North and West shore is fairly quiet, with a few wild cards worth a peak. If you’re on the west shore and want to explore local night life, go check out the new sports bar on Pierce Street (in Tahoe City).

Quest for the Unique Pub

You can find pubs at Tahoe with onion rings aplenty, but there are also gourmet dinner cruise bars, modern English pubs, sports bars, western saloons, and tangy taverns—nighttime hotspots where folks hang out & hook up after sunset.

Nightlife & Music in Lake Tahoe

If you’re looking for live Music & a DJ, check out these hot spots in the Lake Tahoe area.

Jake’s on the Lake

  • Location: North and West Shores
  • Californian cuisine, with Asian influences. Lots of seafood, healthier items, as well as traditional hamburgers.
  • Hours: kitchen closes @ 9pm. Bar open later.
  • Live music (call for schedule)
  • 780 N. lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA (inside Boatworks Mall)
  • www.jakestahoe.com

The Tudor Pub at Dory’s Oar

  • Location: South Shore
  • Full bar
  • Affordable, unexpected, and sexy
  • “Everybody’s favorite pub”
  • Great Eats: Gastro-English pub style food, the “Modern English Pub” with over 30 kinds of appetizers, tasty entrees, and (of course) the drinks…
  • Live Music 2 to 4 nights a week (depending on the season); jukebox, open mic, etc. on other nights. Call ahead.
  • We love groups
  • 1031 Fremont Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 541-6603

Gar Woods Bar & Grill

  • Location: North Shore
  • Full bar
  • Live music on busy nights
  • Food: bit of everything, from pasta to steaks
  • 500 North Lake Blvd., Carnelian Bay, CA
  • (530) 546-3366
  • Friday & Saturday, Live acoustic guitar, 8-11

Hyatt Regency

  • North Shore
  • Country Club Drive, Incline Village
  • (775) 832-1234
  • Variety of nightly bands Wednesday through Sunday
  • Website: www.hyatt.com

M.S. Dixie II

  • Zephyr Cove Resort & Marina, Zephyr Cove, NV
  • (888) 896-3830
  • Dinner/Dance Cruise
  • Live music, 19-th century old style
  • Website: http://zephyrcove.com

McP’s Irish Pub & Grill

  • 4090 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 542-4435
  • Open until past midnight on busy nights (sometimes until 2am)
  • Local musicians perform live nightly (Rock, Blues)
  • Food: sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas, etc.
  • Website: none

Mulligan’s Irish Pub

  • 3600 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 542-1095
  • Microbrews on tap, margarita, ice cold beer, and cowboy coffee
  • Full bar & local brews from Mount Tallac & Jack Russell Brewing
  • Live Music—Sun, DJ-Tues, Latino DJ—Thursdays
  • Website: www.brewersbrandingiron.com (go to bar)

Past Time Club

  • Location: North Shore
  • Commercial Row, Truckee, CA\
  • Bar open until 2am every night
  • (530) 582-9219
  • American food
  • Music, blues (7 days a week)
  • Website: none

Rojo’s Tavern

  • Location: South shore
  • Hwy 50 & San Francisco Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 541-4960
  • Great food: BBQ ribs, steaks, Teriyaki Chicken wings, seafood, tasty salads, grilled sandwiches, pasta. Fettuccini Mediterranean is the house specialty—shrimp and scallops in Alfredo sauce.
  • Weddings: private rooms available
  • Live Music—call to get schedule
  • www.rojostahoe.com

The Coyote

  • Palisades Drive, off Hwy. 267
  • (530) 587-7777

Turtles Sports Bar & Dance Emporium

  • Inside Embassy Suites Resort, South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 543-2135
  • DJ & Dancing on busy nights

Sports Bars in Lake Tahoe

Looking for a place where drinks, friends, and sports merge? Cruise over to a sports bar. Sports fans (and their admirers) meet for drinks, and stay for the game. If you’re at your best with a mug of beer, a few friends, and a TV to yell at—check out the original Tahoe sport bar experience: truly an oasis among the aspens.

Lake Tahoe Sports Bars (South Shore)

Bar of America

Bullwackers Pub

  • Location: North Shore
  • Lively mountain sports bar with “quality pub atmosphere.”
  • Located inside the Resort at Squaw Creek, Olympic Valley, CA
  • (530) 583-6617
  • Pool Tables, Shuffle Board, 4 TVs

Pete ‘N Peters

  • Location: North Shore
  • 395 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA
  • (530) 583-2400
  • 2 Pool Tables, 5 TVs, Shuffle Board

Rookies

  • Location: North Shore
  • 930 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, NV
  • (775) 831-9008
  • Pool Tables, TVs, Slots

Tahoe Taps

  • Location: North Shore
  • Palisades Drive off Hwy. 267, Truckee
  • (530) 587-7777
  • 2 Pool Tables, 7 TVs, burgers/pizza, 26 beers on tap

Lake Tahoe Sports Bars (South Shore)

Classic Cue

  • Location: South Shore
  • Food: traditional barroom fare: roast beef sandwiches, salad, onion rings, etc.
  • Hours: noon-midnight
  • 1965 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 541-8704
  • 3 TVs, Pool Tables, Game Room
  • Website: none

Goal Post Restaurant & Bar

  • Location: South Shore
  • Full bar
  • 4 items on menu (hamburgers and chicken wings)
  • 290 Kingsbury Grade, State Line, NV
  • 775.588.6563
  • 5 TVs, Shuffle Board, Pool Tables, Poker Machines
  • Website: none

Echo Lounge

  • Location: South Shore
  • Full bar. Outdoor patio in summer
  • American-continental style food
  • 8 TVs (+ a Big Screen TV during Football Season)
  • Live music on weekends during busy season
  • Embassy Suites Resort, South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • Reservations accepted at Echo Restaurant
  • 530-543-2140
  • Website: www.embassytahoe.com

Other places to get a drink in Lake Tahoe

Bridgetender Tavern & Bar

  • Location: North and West Shores
  • Full bar
  • Open past midnight, every night
  • Lunch and dinner (open until midnight weekends)
  • Draft beers, onion rings, wraps, tacos, fish and chips, 8 oz. hamburgers
  • Entrée price range: $5-$10
  • Address: 65 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA
  • Phone: 530.583.3342
  • Website: none

The Cantina Bar & Grill

  • Location: South Lake Tahoe
  • 765 Emerald Bay Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • (530) 544-1233
  • 3 TVs
  • Website: none

Chard House

  • Location: North and west shores area (Tahoe City area)
  • Full bar
  • Kitchen open 6-10pm
  • Meet locals at the bar, where they serve over fine wines and beer
  • Weddings and parties
  • Reservations: Accepted at restaurant
  • Address: 1650 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
  • Phone: 530.581.0454
  • Website: www.dinewine.com

Cutthroat Saloon and Wolf Creek Restaurant

  • Location: Carson Pass area
  • Historic 3-story saloon, originally located in the ghost town of Silver Mountain City.
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bar (no breakfast Mon-Tues).
  • American cuisine, steak, and seafood, and a full service bar
  • Hours: “We’re open as long as you’re here drinking, baby.”
  • Entrée price range: $7-$24
  • Wolf Creek Restaurant reservations: by phone
  • Address: 14830 Hwy 89, Markleeville, CA
  • Phone: 530.694.2150
  • Website: www.markleevilleusa.com

Freshies Restaurant & Bar

  • Location: South Shore Lake Tahoe (in a strip mall)
  • Hawaiian-inspired dishes, including roasted meat, and vegan dishes, pork chops, vegetarian foods, fresh fish, fresh salads, sushi roll
  • Hours: Small bar closes early (closes around 9pm).
  • Beer and wine only.
  • Lunch hours: 11:30am-3pm, dinner: 5-8:30pm.
  • Entrée price range: $7-$24
  • Restaurant reservations: no
  • Address: 3330 Lake Tahoe Blvd, suite 3, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
  • Phone: (530) 542-3630
  • Website: none

Graham’s Wine and Beer Bar

  • Location: North and west shores area (Tahoe City area)
  • Meet locals and visitors from all around the world. Picture windows overlook the 6 mountain peaks in Squaw Valley. Covered glassed-in patio for dancing and parties.
  • Extensive wine menu (over 800 domestic and international fine wines)
  • Reservations: Accepted at restaurant
  • Address: 1650 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
  • Phone: 530.581.0454
  • Website: www.dinewine.com