The Merc is one of the last great dive bars in Sac. It has even become a verb amongst my circle of friends, IYKYK. I've been coming here for decades and every night here is sure to be fun and a different experience every time. The ambiance is definitely a vibe but we also come for the fun and friendly staff too. Pedro is our favorite bartender. He's always so warm and welcoming. They have pool tables and a jukebox. Their cash only policy can be a pain especially when it's a surprise pop in while out in a group. They do have an atm machine available but between that fee and your bank fee I find it's better to just borrow money from a friend and Venmo them lol. There is a really large mostly enclosed patio area in the back that turns into a dance floor most weekends. read more

Mercantile Saloon - Inside of the bar - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

we were here only for an hour but it was such a vibe to get drinks at the end of our night, the bartender was a good chat as well. security was welcoming and let us know upon arrival that they're cash only, luckily they have atms ready to go in there. we got amfs, it hit the spotttt, just enough alcohol to mess us up but still tasty enough to down it all. the bathrooms were clean and single person but there wasn't a line (we went on a sunday night though so there was a crowd but it wasn't packed) read more

Mercantile Saloon - AMFs from the bar - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I LOVE gay bars. The concept of gay bars is to ensure everyone feels welcome as in the past, society was not as accepting as it is now. This bar used to be very gay, but now, it's a hub for everyone else not LBGTQIA (which is fine - simply observing) who wants a consistently cheap, strong drink to start, and if not careful, bring the night to a swift, wobbly end. Come early if you'd like to avoid long lines outside and within, ESPECIALLY on Pride. Check in with Chris, the manager- he makes great drinks and has good energy, but BE RESPECTFUL to all staff members (preferably everyone), or be denied these cheap, strong drinks with a bit of colorful language to send you on your way out of the bar, disappointed and wanting. The music is always good, and if it appropriate, expect the song to be promptly skipped. This is a Sac-Town Lavender District staple. Midtown life simply wouldn't be the same without it! read more

Mercantile Saloon is exactly the kind of no-frills, good-times dive you wish more bars would be. Great drinks (you get bang for your buck), a friendly vibe, pool tables to kill time, and a patio that feels like the neighborhood's living room -- all set in cozy Midtown energy. Whether you're starting the night or winding it down, this place hits the spot: affordable cocktails, laid-back energy, and good conversation flowing easy. Don't overthink it -- just come, chill, and stay a while. read more

I wouldn't go back. They need friendly bartenders. The front bar is left unattended

Y'all tonight was the last straw. So I walked in being a regular customer I've been coming here for years. My experiences in the past have been so so , it's a good cheap cash only gay bar in the sac area . However my last two experiences have been terrible , with this last visit I had a lighter toned security guard with dreads yell at me as soon as I entered (he was not by the entrance or even around so I assumed there was no security for the night?). And walked towards the patio. He then proceeded to make a couple smart remarks (I.e. "there you go" because my ID was in the wrong place in my lock spring wallet) . He was very aggressive and his pupils were humongous so I'm assuming he was on drugs and has an ego problem because he's harassing regulars while high. Please fix this problem because he is driving away customers who have been frequenting for a long time. read more

I was here on St. Patrick's Day and our order only came out to $20. Before my friend even had a chance to tip, the bartender said, "We expect tips here," which felt pretty off putting. I usually tip wherever I go especially since I work in the service industry but being asked like that didn't sit right with me. I still left $3, but I don't think it's appropriate to pressure customers for tips. read more

This spot is well known and loved in Sacramento. Bring cash and get ready for strong drinks! Forgot cash, don't worry, they have an ATM. We always come here with friends and it's a great spot to start or end a night. On our last visit we stopped in for St. Patrick's day and for some reason it was the first time I noticed they have a few parking spots right outside. In this occasion the bartender welcomed us in and was happy to make some themed drinks for the holiday. We also met some awesome people who we spent a good amount of time talking with. Since it was daytime, it wasn't crowded at all and we had a great time listening to music and talking. Speaking of music, they have a "jukebox" system (there's an app and a booth there) where you can pick songs to play. Whenever we head into Merc we know we know it'll be a good night out. read more

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It's okay but everything is extremely overpriced given other neighborhood options that are more welcoming. This would not be my first choice for those on a budget. read more

Cheap drinks & chill vibes! Make sure you're dressed warm during the fall/winter! The outdoor space is "outdoor" but kind of enclosed. Lol there's a roof but the "walls" are fences so the cold air is coming in. Bartenders are all nice and quick. They only take cash too, so make sure you have your bills! Probably the cheapest drinks you can get in Sac, my husband and I ordered a single Jack & Coke and a Paloma at $14 for both! I do wish their music was a bit louder outside but it's great place to meet friends you're catching up with. read more

We played a couple rounds of pool here and I got an apple martini which was super strong. It's unfortunate that this place is cash only with a high ATM fee and it costs $3 to play 1 game of pool. Drinks are not too expensive so that's a plus. It's also cool that this bar is in a Victorian house. read more

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Merc is one of my fav bars. The bartenders are so chill. And the drinks here are a good price and good quality. I always have my friends try the Mexican candy (not spicy) and they love it. It tastes just like the candy's fr! It's my go to for sure. read more

Mercantile Saloon - Mango mexican candy - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

There's a bartender who's always an asshole to everyone. He's short, bald with glasses. My friends n I went there a few times and he's very rude and disrespectful and thinks he deserves a tip. I hadn't even grabbed my drink yet and he said "you're not going to tip?" And rolled his eyes when I said no. One thing about me is I always tip but don't ask me for it and don't be rude. Another time there was only a couple people there bec we went on a Sunday evening. He completely ignored us talking to other guys. When he finally came up to ask what we wanted he cut me off & proceeded to talk to the previous customers. New people started coming in and he completely ignored our order. We ended up leaving. He gives a bad reputation to this place. He should be replaced. He also waters down the drinks and expects for people to give him tips all the time. read more

Ahhh the Merc, it's definitely a place you have to visit at least once. It's located perfectly within walking distance of Faces and Badlands so we always pre game here before hitting the club for dancing. It is pretty small and always packed to the brim. They have a large outdoor area with minimal seating. And while they play music, it's normally drowned out by the mass of people having conversations so not really place for dancing. This is a cash only establishment which sucks but the drinks are strong and fairly cheap. Bartenders can be hit or miss with attitude but that's just about any bar you go to. The bathrooms are horrendous and recommend avoiding at all costs. Even based on the cons of this place it still earns 4 stars for the heavy pours and no cover charge. read more

While enjoying a night out in Sacramento we found Mercantile Saloon in a quick search for gay bars. At first we weren't sure if we were in the right place with armed security at the door. After a quick pat down we entered the bar. It was a cash only bar. The drinks were decent but more expensive then I would have expected for any bar let alone a local bar like the Mercantile. read more

Mercantile Saloon - Date night. - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

The security guard named June was so sweet!! And the drinks were amazing and very good prices. Definitely recommend!!

Beautiful establishment with wonderful drinks and great ambiance and staff god bless America

Bring cash! All the times I've gone I haven't been charged a cover charge, but I'm sure they have that stuff. The ambiance is good. Never seen any trouble. They have a pool table, so you can have a bit of fun. They also have to full bars. The outdoor area is good too. Some "fresh air" is good when you're needing it but not trying to let go of your drink(s) LOL. read more

Mercantile Saloon - Bring cash. They don't accept debit or credit - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

Walked in on a beautiful early spring day here by chance. Birds were chirping, grass green and a skip to my step and decided why not enjoy an early evening beverage. As soon as I walked in, I was instantly greeted by Monica, who is an absolute gem! She had some fun customers I assume as much as regulars to keep me company enjoying ice cold draf read more

OK! I have always heard good things about this bar! But the manager Chris was so disrespectful and rude and asked my friend if she was going to tip less than one minute of getting her drinks ! Their vibe was horrendous! I always heard how amazing the Merc was, but I don't know why somebody feels so entitled to a tip a couple seconds after! I hope Chris learns a lesson, we did still tip, but he was a horrible person! They either need to change management or Chris needs to better themselves and not feel so entitled! read more

The Merc is one of my favorite places in Sacramento--a social staple. Drinks are strong and priced reasonably. Although it's a cash only establishment, they have 2 atms at the entrance for withdrawal and I have used them every single time I visit. So convenient and easy! They always play the best music playing and you can expect everyone to join in and sing together. The people that visit are always friendly and social. You can tell people are there to have a good time and live their best lives. This house turned hole in the wall is the place to be! My friend group likes to start here because we can get a few drinks in us while waiting in line for other bars. If I had to give a "con" it would have to be the line for the bathroom, but that's to be expected. Their restrooms are open to all sexes and it's first come first serve. read more

Nice local dive bar. Great patio. Friendly people. Very good strong drinks. Deff recommended checking it out. Plan on taking a taxi, Uber, or Lyft. The drinks are strong and priced well. read more

The Mercantile is one of my favorite bars in Midtown. I live in the Bay Area and anytime I come up. I love to go there. The drinks are strong and reasonably priced. I have one major complaint about The Merc and that is the condition of the bathrooms. The bathrooms are disgusting, not well maintained, and in need of a complete remodel. To the owners of The Merc, show you respect your customers by putting some money into those bathrooms. read more

The woman with a mullet on October 25th 2024 behind the bar was rude and provided no customer service. She pushed me out of the way when I was getting water and told me "you're in my way" exactly word for word. I don't want to be treated like that coming to one of my favorite places and it really put a bitter taste in my mouth. Please reevaluate this workers customer service skills. It's easy to say excuse me! Kindness goes a long way. Why would I want to come back with treatment like that? read more

I love this place everyone is so cool, friendly. The bartender was great. They brought in a skinny one that's rude and doesn't know how to pour a drink . very weak. I will NOT be there while she's working. She was on her phone texting away while me and my sister waited for her to help us. Tina said (my sister) send her back to school. read more

Safe environment to be queer, the drinks have a heavy (and delicious) pour- a great bang for your buck! Everyone was very friendly and provided quick service. read more

I came here for my 21st birthday a few days ago... such a safe place and full of happiness!! I had an amazing time. Great bartender, good drinks, cheap and lgbt friendly! read more

Mercantile Saloon - Me and cuz - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

You really get a bang for your buck. If you want a cup of liquor, you got it. I spent $10 on a drink and straight profited with the amount of booze I was given. I love this place. Please visit. read more

Mercantile Saloon - Friends and great vibes - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

This was a fun find! I saw it while going to Farmer's Market on Saturday and went on a Monday to grab a drink with a friend who was visiting. It looked closed but I could see people on the patio so it took us a minute to find the entrance. The front of the house is not the entrance! It's on the side near the parking lot. The place has a vibe that I like, if you want to talk to people you can find people to talk to but if you don't they will leave you alone. We sat outside under the misters and had some very, very strong vodka tonics. I felt very safe and the bartender was super friendly and so were the few people sitting at the bar. I like it and will be back and try it at night because it was not a packed house and I am curious to see what it is like at different times. Great place to start the evening if you plan on going out to dinner later or possibly after? I'll go back and find out! read more

Went here for my nieces and nephews birthday. It was pretty fun. The bartenders here are very HEAVY so please do be careful when ordering a mixed drink. The bartender Chris was great! Couldn't hear him with the loud music tho but he deserved his tips for sure ! Vibes were great. Got to meet some new people. Everyone was vibing and music was a mixture. Everyone was singing to panic at the disco. Will def return! read more

I've been here few times. I prefer this place for a mid or late afternoon drinks before it gets really packed. Very generous on alcohol and very reasonable prices. Big covered outdoor space. read more

Mercantile Saloon - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

The Merc is a Sacramento institution in the queer community. Get your drink on here before heading to another hotspot in the gayborhood, or park yourself at the bar and slowly get tanked. Your choice. It tends to get very busy on the weekends at night, so be prepared to sashay your way through a tightly packed crowd. I, however, have grown crowd averse and love it during the day! The patio is large and there aren't a lot of people there. It's big enough to try a death drop, if your knees happen to bend that way. read more

Still hands down the strongest and cheapest pour in Sacramento! Apparantely COVID didn't stop the drinks from flowing. They are strict don't he mask rules when you first get in but can be removed once you get your drink. Still good service for a dive bar. read more

Worth the walk to liquor up here for strong drinks at a great price. Enjoy the town, walk around. Make this the hub to come back to for drinks. read more

Mercantile Saloon - Strong drinks, great price. Worth the walk from Faces/Low Brau/Badlands. - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

We came to the bar earlier and got entered no problem we left 10 minutes ago to get a hotdog and came back and they denied us access trying to lie and say because we were too intoxicated when we just left out the building just fine. if there was a problem the first time we came in they could've said some thing the first time. If we didn't even do anything wrong but they didn't and they chose to discriminate us the second time we came in.we always spend a significant amount of money in this place and always recommend but now I will never recommend anyone because of the way they treated us tonight. Do better Especially for your regulars. read more

I am been coming to this bar for as long as I can remember. It is a very comfortable, but welcoming establishment. You come here with your friends to enjoy the environment and feel safe. The bartenders are all extremely nice and it's honestly a great place to go on a chill Sunday. Do not expect anything fancy but always expect a good time. read more

Man, I come here WAY too much. I don't think I have a problem though...everyone around me is the cause of this! Haha, this is an awesome dive bar with ridiculously strong drinks served by energetic staff. Or should I say one staff, a bald guy who will dance for you if you chuck dollar bills at him. For those of you who don't know, it is a gay bar, BUT, you do not need to be gay to come here. I personally like the atmosphere and drinks here. It's the only place on that strip that serves a reasonably priced strong drink, the only drink you'll need for the night. The music choice is alright, it can get weird at times which is why I'm only giving this place 4 stars. It's usually pretty packed around 10-12 when people start bar hopping. I recommend this place for a quick start to your night, if you have a cab lined up...or to end your night. Come out and have fun! read more

Mercantile Saloon - Halloween costume of the year right here! - Gay Bars Near Me - Sacramento, California

Chill little dive bar. CASH ONLY. First round we got three double drinks & a beer, $35, so it was pretty reasonable. Drinks are definitely strong there, which is a plus! The music was decent, they had a variety for sure. We went from Bohemian Rapsody, to some Nicki Minaj lolol. Overall, if you want to grab cheap & strong drinks without having to get dressed up, (I was wearing all Nike attire, hubs was dresssd casual jeans & converse) this is the place for you. read more

Mercantile Saloon, or "The Merc" as its widely known, is an icon and special spot for those of us in Sacramento's LGBTQ community. It is equal parts welcoming, centrally-located, grungy, divey, and fun. Taste: 5 Service: 5 Value: 5 Ambience: 4 Stop in during off-hours (not Thurs, Fri, or Sat night) and enjoy a pretty laid back dive bar with strong, cheap drinks and cute, nice bartenders. Come Thurs-Sat and join the throngs of diverse, punk, queer, artistic, and even sometimes touristy clientele. People tend to either love or hate the back patio, which is enclosed with thick iron bars and BLASTS MUSIC on top of the 100 tipsy people all shout-talking to the point where part-deaf boys like myself can't really hear anything. But that's alright! Inside also have quite a bit of space, including a pool table, some lounge-y seating, and a giant TV. read more

I love this place. It's my go-to for Friday happy hour. Meet my friends, have a couple of drinks. The bartenders are great, I've been going long enough that they have my drink made without even having to order. The crowd is very mixed so it's also good for taking work friends that might not be comfortable at one of the other gay bars. I like to go early when there is still parking available and the music hasn't reached club decibels. If you want a good, strong, affordable drink with no shade and no judgement, try the Merc. read more