It's been a year since I made a review. It's better. However, some people (mainly patrons) can still be very arrogant. Nonetheless, there are a lot of good respectful people here. Visitors just have to know who to talk to because not everyone in San Jose is willing to make new friends and are too territorial but there are many others that are friendly too in this area. Karaoke is AMAZING. Staff is excellent from KJ to bartenders. I myself have no complaints about the staff. I hope everything will be a lot better in this establishment moving forward. Thank you. read more

Rude and over rated. Not worth the time. Unfortunate. Bartenders not hospitable or friendly. Very limited gay bars. But this is not the one!! read more

Went on a Sunday for decades night hoping it would be busy. The most people I saw was around 8 or 9. Very disappointed. Also it's a cash only bar. Closes early on Sunday night. read more

This is a nice chill bar. Not too fancy or bright, just a nice little bar to relax. It's a pretty small place so only 2 bathrooms. The parking lot is really small so most likely park on the street. read more

Renegades is always a blast. Small venue with amazing events, fantastic staff, cheap drinks, and all around fun. Always a wonderful time here. Been coming here for about 15 years. So many memories. read more

Great bar and great people. We go there from time to time and it seems like a great place to connect with people. You could go alone and find people to kick it with. Staff is very nice. read more

Nice neighborhood bar. My first gay bar out of HS. Fond memories of the old location!

I go every Tuesday for karaoke. David and Nelson are amazing! It's a fun night and it's poppin! Really breaks up the week. I feel like I've really found my family there and I feel so welcomed every week. read more

I will ALWAYS love Renegades. Less pretentious than Splash and much more personable. Karaoke and Saturdays are my fav.

Dirty. Run down. And rude staff. From the outside the place looks like its closed down.

My favorite gay bar in San Jose. It's not downtown so I don't have to deal with that mess. The bartenders are friendly, and the drinks are at a good price compared to elsewhere. They have different events every night, so the crowd varies. I love it here! read more

My home bar/Home Base. Super chill vibe even when it's crowded. Drag Nights, Trivia Nights, Karaoke, Movie & TV Show viewing, Jukebox, Back patio, strong drinks. A San Jose mainstay! Great Bar/Great People. Cash Only. read more

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I was just there to visit and see the drag show which was great. So as I was sitting inside I was told rudely to buy a drink or leave and was told that I was Loitering which I had to pay $5 to get in which I did and then get told that I just left will never go back to this Establishment. read more

I like this place! It's not just a bar, it's a good place to meet great people. They have nights dedicated to events for a wide range of people and their interests. You can't beat that! But you can spank it on Thursday nights read more

How many stars do they really deserve? Is it even worth 1 star? $5 "donation" for entry during pride weekend......ok, no problem $15.50 for 1 Budweiser bottle & 1 Modelo on tap.... what the heck? Ok, well I guess we will only have a drink. Then 5 min later my friend got 2 beers and it was $8. What the fuck!??!! $8.75 for a bottle of water..... hell. To. The. No. I walked across the street to Tacomania, we got 2 bottles of water and 2 tacos for $8 read more

I've been to Renegades once in a while for years. The drinks are reasonably priced and patrons are friendly. It's fairly small but it somehow never really feels cramped because, in my experience, everyone is respectful of personal space. There's not really a standout "type" crowd here so whatever you're about, you are welcome at Renegades. There's space by the bar and a patio outside. Never been a better place for drag shows and WooWoo Monroe is an amazing host! read more

Stopped by on a Sunday evening around 930 pm. Bartender was cordial but not helpful. We wanted to play music - we were told we couldn't . We asked about the jukebox - he said it only plays outside....but the speakers inside were playing a movie. I was with a group of 7. So we played pool and darts but were told it was last call at like 11:50. When the website specified until 1 am. Overall won't be returning read more

Very small place, not much room too park, but I felt very welcome the minute I walked in. They had a fun dress up event as well as a drag show the day that I went. Such great queens performing that day!! The bartender I had was very helpful for me and my friend who are inexperienced at drinking and managed to get some tasty new drinks. There is also games at the bar!! Like video games haha. Am definitely coming back here :D read more

Love this bar, bartenders are great. My only concern it that the community really needs to support this bar, everyone from WooWoo's Circus to Tuesday nights karaoke. Louis is a great guy and his bar is fantastic. read more

Girl the scene was dead and it honestly was not worth the money to get in. Underwear night was a 2/10

So... why would I, being a breeder, want to go to a place like this?? My answer: why not? I think too many straight guys are scared of places like this because of how Hollywood and society perceives gay bars... gay guys trying to hook up with each other.. maybe scared of being hit on themselves... who knows.. But that aside.. the environment is friendly and welcoming. Always catering to people of different orientations, cultures, and backgrounds. Whenever I come here, it's usually for a wet munch with my kinky friends.. and yea.. it's a great local place to have a gathering. Certain evenings we have a cigar and boots social outside in their little patio/smoking area and other nights we just hang out and talk about stuff. Parking is small, but as other people have noted, you can park across the street at AJ's carwash and walk over. read more

If you are in the mood for a chill bar that plays music, has a nice patio, has a pool table and darts - and finally - has great bartenders... then Renegades if your perfect night out. I enjoy the atmosphere here because there is no attitude. Whether you are Judge Judy or just Judy, you get the same stellar service. There are lots of events as well, so sign up on their website. MAJOR TIP: Have the munchies? Across the street is a late-night taco truck called "Tacomania". Also - there is a Carl's Jr. across the street open late on weekends. read more

Very cozy and friendly local bar. Great shows and service. Cocktails are very strong.

The only good thing about this bar the drag show and that's not even a part of the venue. They have a once a month underwear party where the owner sets up a tent out back for guys to have sex in. Horrible mixed drinks. No matter what drink you order (besides the beer) all taste the same and nasty. The bartenders have no formal bartender training and just pour alcohol into a glass and call it a mixed beverage. So if you want to go spend your night in a filthy double wide trailer this is your place. read more

The bartender was unprofessional rude and disrespectful he couldn't handle criticism me and my friend were having a private conversation on his service that he took our drinks away and gave a refund it was totally uncalled for and to argue with is because I called him out in his rude behavior was not what I expected from your bar I will never return here again after what I had to deal with read more

Renegades - Gay Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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More of an interpersonal and intimate vibe than splash. I've had unforgettable & resounding experiences here I'll probably never be able to recreate. Be sure to attend their special event nights. Really evokes the rebellious stonewall roots of the gay community better than most places could. I've had a lot of fun times here especially considering the relatively few times I was able to find time to make it out, unfortunately. Don't let gay bars (especially local, communal, historied ones like this) vanish in favor of a impersonal technocratic nightmare that Grindr has always been. Let the gay community reclaim the former bastion that was the Bay Area from Silicon Valley. Fight back against the corporate takeover. Restore the valley of heart's delight to it's former glory. Be a renegade. read more

Last weekend my boyfriend and I had a couple of female friends visiting us from out of town. We decided to introduce them to Renegades. Within a minute or so after entering into the bar we were told that we (or at least the females in my group of 4) would not be served any drinks and would need to leave. This was due to a 'male underwear party' that was apparently taking place in the bar. Despite no signs posted at the entry or a security guard/bouncer at the door to enforce the 'rules' of the night, we left, dumbfounded. After we got back home I decided to call the bar. I spoke to someone different and they advised that women were indeed allowed into the bar during the underwear event. I asked to speak to the bar owner for clarification as I didn't want to drive all the way back to the bar just to be asked to leave again. I was told the bar owner was busy so I had the gentleman on the phone take my name and number and he told me he'd have the owner call me back. Not only was the individual on the phone rude and sounded irritated at my request....but now a week later and I've still never heard from the bar owner. I hate to leave a bad review, especially on a gay friendly business. But as a gay man who operates his own business, this situation really upset me. It's very unprofessional for the business owner not to call me back at the very least. In my 6 years of experiences at various bars all over the world I've never ever experienced a situation such as this. read more

Renegades is now one of 3 gay bars in San Jose. I can't say I've actually been to the other two remaining gay bars here, but I have been and do go to Renegades frequently. More so recently. Renegades is technically a Levi's and Leather bar, although that crowd doesn't exist in numbers in San Jose. Instead, i call this an "every gay" bar. Meaning that whoever you are or whatever you look like or dress like etc., there is a place for you at Renegades. For a gay bar in San Jose, Renegades has a LOT going on. Renegades Bar as what they are calling "Banner Events" consisting of three, big monthly events. They are: CIRQ-US: this is a drag show led by local drag queen WooWoo Monroe. Most drag shows tend to be guys in dresses singing diva songs. This is called fishy drag, where the men are painted up to be very convincing females. CIRQ-US is NOT fishy drag. instead, they focus on weird, shocking numbers where there is a splash zone around the stage where you might get covered in something, or hit in the face with a glazed donut. You just never know. Cover is $5, tipping is expected and the fun begins at 10pm on the first and third Saturday of every month. Trousers Down: is a men only underwear party. Clothes check is free with your $5 cover. Getting undressed to your underwear is not required, but highly encourage and you'll find the vast majority of attendees in their skivvies. There are special GLOW parties where the lights are out and the backlights are on. Body paint is encouraged. Music is pumping at Trousers Down on the 3rd Saturday of Every month, starting at 9pm. This party is usually packed. Aside from Banner Events, every Thursday night is Pansexual night where the local BDSM and leather communities gather and enjoy the company of like-minded people. Overall, a fun place with enough events to entice people to come out. Check them out. read more

Hi! The bartender last night was awesome! Thank you :) especially in the Speedos, bonus points. I enjoyed my time and I appreciate it. Sincerely, black Superman and IPA. read more

This is the closest bar to my apartment. I can walk here in less than 15-minutes or so. But why would I want to go to a gay bar? Well, because this place rocks. It's actually pretty nice inside. The bartenders are super welcoming, regardless of your orientation. They serve your drink with a shot measuring gun, which sucks. But keep in mind, they also charge you cheaper than dive bar prices for your poison. And once your drink is served, they then ask if you want something to munch on. Even if you say no, they will come out with some trail mix, pretzels, or even fresh fruit. How rad is that? They have a jukebox and sometimes, they play awesome music with accompanying music videos. They offer free pool on most nights, which is always plus. Yes, the men there are gay. But they have excellent gay-dar and usually do not bother you if you are straight. Walk there with a group of friends and you'll be sure to have a great time. Well, as long as you are open minded to having fun around a bunch of (gay) men. And hey, it's Santa Clara County. The male/female ratio is always like this, right? read more

Not much to offer besides a shirtless bartender and a few Bears. Small bar, faux patio, and not very crowded. Since it's one of the few gay bars in San Jose, it still deserves 3 stars. Coming here left me pondering the question, "Where does the San Jose gay community go for fun"? read more

I love how involved this bar is with our local community. I've never seen a bar so active outside of themselves. They have been supportive of local softball teams, DeFrank LGBT Center, the Annual AIDS Walk, Holiday toy drives for kids and more!! If their lot is full, you can park across the street at the carwash after 7pm which is far safer than the street parking around the area. You can grab dinner or coffee across the street which I do usually when I'm there. read more

***400th Review*** Mini road trip with my friend occurred on a Sunday evening and we headed down to San Jose for a little raucous fun. We ended up at Renegades, a small unassuming bar in a light industrial part of San Jose outside of the downtown area. Being the uber popular person my friend is, he knew pretty much everyone there. It was really nice to meet his friend and chop it up with a few other peeps I don't think he knew. The bar itself is kinda on the smaller side but it does the job and they extend their happiness out to a makeshift patio as well. That night was Butch night which means another Bear Party which also means I got some attention and who doesn't love that?! I will be back. read more

It's totally dead here tonight, and that's honestly how I prefer it. I generally don't like bars because I don't like drunk people. Thankfully, there aren't many here tonight. My favorite thing about this bar is that they stock one of my favorite beers, Anchor Steam, and the price is close enough to okay. It would be even better if they had it on tap, and if they had ginger ale. It was kinda weird and off-putting to be called "love" 3 times in rapid succession. The first time was a little charming and homey, but the second time it was strange. Like a robot trying to activate its emotion chip to console a depressed person. "There. There," (Pat, pat, pat) "There. There." Or an automated phone voice saying "your call is very important to us." But whatever, they have beer. read more

This place was packed on Saturday night to see the circuit. it was standing room only and $5 cover charges. with out door smoking area. read more

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I've had a great time here everytime I've been. The two downsides:1) I'm 18 and they card really heavily so I've only gotten in twice. 2) Parking is a b^@%!!! read more

We went on a Friday night, by chance, and we were looking for something new and interesting to do. To our surprise, we walked into an empty bar, with $1 drinks! PERFECT! The bartender was very friendly, very sociable, and in this case, we weren't looking to get crazy, so the empty bar was totally acceptable! Wasnt a huge fan of the stuff they were playing on the TV..... clips and scenes from this previous year's Folsom Street Fair and various pride events. But that might be the vibe of the bar, so by all means, do you boo. I just wasnt ready to sit at the bar and see leather bound, hairy guys, beating it on benches n stuff in public! XD Might go back, if the regulars dont try to flog me or something. read more

Nice bar, but wish they had an "0lder Men's Night" for us older hot Daddies. Heh heh.

Emily is the best she makes it where you would want to come back just to say hi to her but also she is real and knows her job I give her a RENEGADES a 5 star. Thanks Emily. A read more

Atmosphere : Classic. Small but that's how I prefer my gar bars . Went in on a Friday night and the bartender was more interested in watching "the nutty professor" on the TV then chatting up the crowd . Also had the same 5 song play list going which was the absolutely the worst . Small things make a big difference . Come on renegades!!! read more