The bars in Nevada City sit close to each other. Most are downtown on Broad, Commercial, Pine and Spring streets. The best way to pick one is by mood. Do you want a cocktail lounge, an old saloon, a wine room, a taproom with small plates, or a tavern with a long wood bar? Hours change, so check hours before you go.
We run one of these bars. So read this as a list from a neighbor, not a ranking. Each note below comes from that bar's own site.
Which bars in Nevada City fit your mood?
Start with how you want the night to feel. Loud or low? Long or short? Then pick the room.
| Mood | Bar | Street |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktails or a hotel bar | See the next section | Broad |
| Old saloon | See the saloon section | Commercial |
| Taps and small plates | The River Downtown | Commercial |
| Wine with a dinner seat | Restaurant DaKan | Commercial |
| Wine tasting | Nevada City Winery | Spring |
| Tavern with the game on | Sherwood | Pine |
Where do you go for a cocktail?
Two rooms on Broad Street lead with the cocktail list.
Golden Era Cocktail Bar and Lounge is at 309 Broad Street. It pours cocktails, local wines and craft beer. Our Golden Era spotlight tells its story.
The National Bar is in the National Exchange Hotel at 211 Broad Street. Its page lists beer on tap, cask ales and cocktails. Our hotel spotlight has more.
A lounge is the pick for a slow drink and a real talk. Get there early if you want a seat.
Is there an old saloon in town?
Yes. Crazy Horse Saloon and Grill is at 230 Commercial Street. It calls itself a landmark with bar food. Our Crazy Horse spotlight has the rest.
A saloon is the pick when you want a lively room and a crowd.
Where can you get a drink and a small plate?
The River Downtown is at 232 Commercial Street. It calls itself a watering hole for the town. It is run by a family and sits in an old building downtown. The taps come out of a wall of river rock, with crystal tap handles on top.
- Pours: beer from close by and from the region, hard and soft kombucha, wine that rotates, and zero proof drinks.
- Food: small plates made to share, from a full kitchen.
- Hours listed: Sunday 11:30 AM to 8 PM. Monday and Thursday to Saturday, 4 to 9 PM. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Seats: walk ins are welcome. It also holds a few tables each night if you call.
- Good fit if: you just came off the trail or out of the river and want a snack and a cold one.
Where does the wine crowd go?
Nevada City Winery pours in its own tasting room on Spring Street. Its site calls it the oldest winery still at work in Nevada County. The wine is made right below the tasting room. Kids and dogs are welcome.
- Hours listed: Monday to Wednesday 2 to 6 PM. Thursday 2 to 7 PM. Friday and Saturday noon to 7 PM. Sunday noon to 6 PM.
- Good fit if: you want a glass and a chat before dinner.
Restaurant DaKan at 300 Commercial Street is a dinner house first. It cooks farm to table food with world flavors, and it keeps a wine list. Its site says the bar seats are always open to walk ins. It is closed Monday and Tuesday and starts dinner at 5 PM on the other days.
What about a tavern with the game on?
That one is us. Sherwood sits at 111 North Pine Street, on the corner of Pine and Commercial. Our bar opens at 4 PM, and we are closed on Wednesdays. Check current hours on the visit page.
- The room: old brick walls and a custom mahogany bar.
- Drinks: classic and seasonal cocktails, plus mocktails and whiskey flights.
- Wine and beer: a deep wine list and 12 craft beers on tap.
- Games: five HD screens across the bar and dining room, with sound at the bar.
- Bar food: a game day menu with wings, sliders, nachos and the French Dip, served next to the full dinner menu.
We have kept a table in this town since 1973, and our site shows Wine Spectator, 19 Years. Still, a good night out often means two or three stops. That is how a small town works.
How do you plan a night at the bars?
- Check each bar's hours for that day. A few close early in the week.
- Eat first, or eat as you go. Small plates and bar food help a lot.
- Swap each second round for water or a mocktail.
- Set your ride home before the first drink. Use a cab, a rideshare or a friend who is not drinking.
- Walk out with your group, and keep track of each other.
Questions people ask
What are the best bars in Nevada City?
It depends on the night you want. We run one of these bars, so we will not rank our neighbors. Use the mood table above and pick the room that fits.
Are the bars in downtown Nevada City close together?
Yes. Each bar in this guide has a downtown address on Broad, Commercial, Pine or Spring Street. Two or three stops in one night on foot is easy.
Where can I get a drink without alcohol?
The River Downtown lists zero proof drinks and soft kombucha. At Sherwood we make mocktails at the bar. Ask the staff wherever you land.
What time do bars in Nevada City open?
It varies by bar and by day. Our bar opens at 4 PM and is closed on Wednesdays. The River Downtown lists 4 PM on most days it is open and 11:30 AM on Sunday. Check hours before you go.
Downtown is small. The walk from bar to bar is half the fun. Start where the mood fits, eat something, and get home safe. Want a stool at a mahogany bar? Our hours and parking notes are on the visit page.
