Bucket of Blood Saloon
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Coat Check:
- No
14 reviews for Bucket of Blood Saloon
Review Highlights
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"The old photos are great to look at." In 3 reviews -
"This place has a player piano and pretty tasty Bloody Marys." In 1 review -
"always seems to be playing music every time I'm there." In 3 reviews
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14 reviews in English
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Review from Bob G.
San Mateo, CA
7/8/2010
Yes this place is sorta touristy, but it's by far the coolest place in Virginia City to have a drink or two or three. First they actually have Miller High Life, that's very important. Secondly it's a clamper bar. Last but not least the folks who work there are pretty cool and the ambiance is exactly what you expect from a old west historic bar.
Expect to hear a live band, people dressed in historic garb and a few slot machines. Not so many slot machines to make it seem like a casino....but a bar. -
Review from Mitra K.
Los Angeles, CA
3/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Interesting fun fact to learn about the Silver mines and Virignia City History.
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Review from Jen J.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
How awesome is this place?!! We rolled through town at 4 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. This appeared to be THE place to get a drink. There was a band playing and alot of locals, including these adorable little girls and their daddy, dressed up like they came straight out of a western movie. We sat in the back by the window overlooking the valley and just stared in awe. People were dancing under the high ceiling adored with beautiful little chandelier lights from the old times.
I don't remember the last time I went to such a nostalgic place. Even though we only stayed for 15 minutes, we loved every minute of it. -
Review from Jim S.
7/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
BOB is a must see not if you are in VC, but if you are within 100 miles of it. Make it a destination. Sure the Bloody Mary's are incredible, hence the name; but beyond that being inside BOB is the closest thing to a time machine that can transport you to the days of the 49'ers.
There are a few places in VC that take it a little too far and ruin the nostalgia with carnie like Hawking and overpriced do-dads, BOB is not that place. It's relaxed, friendly and best of all cool inside. If you are lucky enough to catch squeak playing the Piano you are in for a rare treat. She is in the record books for the most memorized songs, so requests fly at her fast and furious and I doubt if you can stump her.
FYI, this town is empty at 6am, full by 9am and bustling in full swing at Noon. Tumbleweeds and coyotes by 7pm. So get there early and you will never forget the awesome experience. Oh, and kids are allowed inside.
P.S. The antique chandeliers are amazing! -
Review from Joann H.
Burlington, MA
10/22/2011
Loved all of the old photos! The bathrooms, however, were pretty gross and the service was awful! My mom and I were the only two people who pulled up a stool at the bar and the two guys behind the counter clearly ignored us. We took our business elsewhere so that was fine with us.
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Review from Steve s.
11/19/2009
Awesome. I love macabre stories, and gruesome tales of the west. so naturally I was praising the very air I was breathing when I saw the sign for this place. The story of this place is not to be missed, and you need to hear it first-hand, so head up to Virginia City for a fun day. I bought a t-shirt, a commuter mug, and took some pics. great bar, and a bar keep who pulls up his straps and will give you a laugh or brief story.
You gota get to Virginia City early - most the shops close by 5PM. -
Review from Randy M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/4/2007
One of the most infamous bars in all of the west, and a colorful history to boot. To start off with, you have the whole lawless/mining boomtown history that's sort of to be expected (we'll get to the rest of that here in a second).
This is the bar that Nick Cave sets the blues traditional 'Stagger Lee' in (no one is quite sure how Cave discovered this watering hole, in that he's never been to Virginia City that anyone knows of).
Historically, setting aside the mining history, is the that it was originally called 'The Boston Saloon'. When built, this was a popular saloon opened and operated by William A. G. Brown, a prominent, successful and highly respected African -American in Virginia City (a place-marker now gives a history, for anyone interested).
History aside, it's a great place to stop off at. And while most of the drinking establishments in Virginia City have preserved the boomtown atmosphere, B.O.B. seems to have taken it one step further, in preserving all periods of it's history.
The drink prices are average (not much more expensive than some, less than others), but definitely worth stopping in for a commemorative T-shirt, mug, shot glass, or any other memorabilia.Listed in: Watering Holes, Virginia City Nevada
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Review from justin p.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/29/2007
Cool. Definitely a tourist place, but it really doesn't feel like it. You can actually see dudes walking around with bandoleers draped across their chest and the barkeep wears a derby hat and one of those arm band thingies, just like the old times. Definitely feels creepy. And David John (and the Comstock Cowboys, I think?) always seems to be playing music every time I'm there.
update 11.16.07: They got rid of the old fashioned slots that actually dispense real coins! Bummer! Minus one star. -
Review from Ashley G.
Vallejo, CA
2/10/2010
So this town reminded me of the creepy movie dusk til dawn. I was waiting for bloodsucking creatures to come out of the shadows LOL. Definitely a haunted town, which was awesome to see and feel a place filled with so much history. By far one of the strangest places I've ever been but also one of the most nostalgic and a place that I can always tell stories about.
Okay I forgot to mention that everyone was dressed straight out of the wild west days. Wow. I felt like I walked right into the 1800's. Time Warp! -
Review from Kristin E.
San Francisco, CA
6/10/2008
I love this place, makes the trip to Virginia City worth it in every way...well this place and their cemetery.
The old photos are great to look at...it gives you a good feel of what it was like way back when during the Silver Baron days...Their drinks are good, and it has some gambling to waste the time away...
On top of it, I have a kick ass shirt now...skeletons and buckets of blood...pretty gnarly. -
Review from Melinda B.
San Mateo, CA
6/15/2007
Simply Awesome!
It was built in like 1873 and it's got a great view from the back. The drinks are nice, but really what do you go to Virginia City for? To be in the historical creepiness of the desert! :).
You look out over the old silver mines of the 1880's and revel at the astonishing wooden sidewalks everywhere... it's just a great town and this saloon is the highlight of it. Tiffany lamps hang from the ceiling, and old-school roller slot machines are off to the left.
A completely interesting experience and you just hafta go if you are out in Reno for the weekend. BUT REMEMBER: There is ONE way in and ONE way out and Nevada police will pull you over for anything.... if you plan on getting wasted, bring a designated driver or just pass out in one of the bed & breakfasts they have there. You don't want problems from Nevada police. -
Review from Charlie O.
Modesto, CA
3/24/2009
Weekends in this place are great. Live music, great crowds, terriffic drinks. Very simply put, loads of fun and you can even win some money from the slots to make your weekend really great.
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Review from Larisa S.
Concord, CA
4/16/2007
This place has a player piano and pretty tasty Bloody Marys. A+
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Review from Deane and Natasha S.
Aromas, CA
3/13/2007 5 photos
A beer drinking historians dream!!! The historic Bucket of Blood Saloon is one of a kind for sure! They have really kept this place authentic! Over 130 years old! There are old photos (tin types) of this place hanging all around not to mention loads of the original artwork still in place . The drinks are relatively cheap and the atmosphere is priceless. This is a must if you find yourself in the area. They even have video poker in the back...not authentic but well appreciated nevertheless.
