Reno: A once seedy city begins to blossom

Reno, Nev., has never been “as cosmopolitan as its ‘Biggest Little City’ motto suggests,” said Freda Moon in The New York Times. But if your memories of Reno include only strip clubs and “second-rate casinos,” you haven’t been to the Midtown District lately. Previously known as the Bungalow District, the neighborhood took a turn a few years ago when a handful of gastropubs and craft breweries launched a culture change that could remake the image of Reno nightlife.

Old Granite Street EateryLocated a block from Midtown’s main artery, this 3-year-old restaurant makes “an advantageous starting point for an evening out.” Weekday happy hour specials include the restaurant’s entire selection of craft beers, and local farms source the ingredients of the satisfying three-for-$10 small plates. 243 S. Sierra St., (775) 622-3222

Brasserie Saint JamesHoused in a high-ceilinged historic building, this year-old operation uses locally sourced meats for its gastropub menu and makes a wide selection of craft brews on-site. The roof deck here is “hard to resist on a clear desert night.” 901 S. Center St., (775) 348-8888

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Chapel Tavern “For something stronger,” seek out this party spot, complete with late-night DJs. “More than anything, it’s an enthusiast’s cocktail bar,” though. “Ask the bartender to make you a drink, and he’ll likely pull out a ladder to hit shelves stocked floor to ceiling with obscure bottles.” 1099 S. Virginia St., (775) 324-2244