I have to admit that I've only been here on karaoke nights, but I also have to say that since I found this place, I don't really want to go anywhere else. The KJ, Rick is the best, the bartenders are friendly & the crowd is a wonderfully eclectic mix of enjoyable people. The stage area/dance floor/karaoke area is big & takes up about 1/2 the building, while the actual bar area (complete w/ pool table & retro video game table) takes up the other half. There's a great outdoor patio if you want to sit & smoke or chat w/out having to shout over the singers. Apparently they also do barbecues out there from late Spring through Summer. As I write this, they currently do karaoke 2 nights a week: Sunday & Wednesday, starting at 9pm. The song book has a wide variety of genres & is ever expanding, as Rick can find just about any song for you if the karaoke version exists. Regulars often bring food to share & many people are willing to carpool if you get to know people & ask around. Check out their website for other nights: I see posters for DJ nights & theme nights all the time. read more

Visiting on a work trip.. I was welcomed from the moment I walked in by handsome bartender Isaiah and local patrons. The drinks was so strong for the price. Such a gem. Dive bar for the win!!! It's my new favorite whenever I get to visit Fresno! read more

The Red Lantern - Visiting Asian with the handsome bartender Isaiah - Gay Bars Near Me - Fresno, California

Look, it's a dive bar but it's Gay owned and frequented so it kinda feels like home. They have some theme nights and karaoke, and local organizations have fundraising events here often. They have a full bar and knowledgeable bartenders that have years of experience. Drinks are moderately priced and there's a pool table and plenty of seating. read more

Friendly trashy just what I expect in Fresno and nothing more. The Tower is a different type of gay than in the lantern where you'll find an abundance of gaze to delight your taste buds comfortable ambience and low-key energy. Makes the place seem like you're at Cheers sorry Norm! read more

Well when you get yelled at by the person behind the bar for going to go get items from your car the "you can't keep going in and out of the bar because the owner will get mad!" That kind of tells you all you need to know sadly once you start asking questions around you start learning what can happen. :/ read more

Great bar with nice people. Make sure you open a tab if you're using a card. The guy gets mad lol.

Pool table covered. ATM machine is broken. The DJ is literally YouTube and there's no variety. I paid a $10 cover for what exactly? First, this is Fresno. Nothing here is worth a cover. This bar has some potential but as is... read more

the blue eyed bartender has a rotten attitude, otherwise It can be fun. Avoid this bartender he needs to retire already

Great place to meet friends or find new ones. Every one I've met here has been pretty good people. I've enjoyed Sunday karaoke and a few other days during the week. Never have I left not feeling good about visiting. Bar tenders are excellent. Fast friendly service and they make excellent drinks. read more

This is a fun and exciting bar, but more than this. The staff looks out for you, so I always feel safe

I haven't been to this bar since 2013. I move out of state and moved back and thought I was go visit my old stomping ground. I was so disappointed at the bar service the drinks did not have all the ingredients. Ordered rum and coke, Long Island and AMF. Very awful. Back patio was empty and they played the same old music from back 20 years ago. What was I thinking back then. I will never return again. read more

Nice bartender (I think his name was Colton). I tried to play the video game, but the video screen is partially obscured so you can't see what you are doing. The back patio could be nice if someone would do a little more cleaning and maintenance. Maybe some cheap plastic chairs would be a nice replacement for the hodgepodge of ripped and beaten chairs? I think shoving the pool tables behind the bar to store them looks sloppy - perhaps there is a better solution? The exterior sign needs to be fixed, and it appears the awning is torn. Still, the inside has a nice rustic look, and the dance floor area was a good size. Maybe next time I am in Fresno, this place will be better. read more

Were to start...first to the owner. Have you been at your bar lately? My partner and I went last night and it's really sad. We used to come here years back when they had a real DJ, and not the is queen that puts on YouTube music and comes out to the floor and dances on every song. Doesn't know how to mix and music just constantly going out. It was like being in a sauna it was so hot with 4-5 fans blowing everywhere. I will say that we will probably not come back, I'm sure there is a lot of us out there that miss The Old Red Lantern. For being the only Latin bar in town, you should put money into your club and remodel. I don't like to leave negative reviews but your in desperate help Red Lantern. One is hopeful that things will turn around for you, the one place that we LGBTQ ‍ can come to and release and enjoy ourselves, and the place is just simply garbage. read more

Awesome place. It's like a gay "Cheers". Great friendly people. Great atmosphere. Love the bartenders. Especially the new young one, Brady. Then I was privileged to meet the owner Virgil, who opened the bar many years ago! Out shines the other major gay bar in Fresno. Went away feelin' great!! When I am in town, this is the place I'm landin' at. read more

I have been coming hear since 2014, known as the Army Guy! Love this place! Great people cold beer and love the overall atmosphere! Love the bartenders and my Mom!!(if your a regular you know who I'm talking about) read more

I'm giving this place 4 stars because I love the bartender. He is wearing camouflage tonight. But I'm going to give the dj/ karaoke master -10 stars. Nothing wrong with singing but lord. Give someone else a chance. Plus. He turns up the volume and screams into the microphone. Sorry but this place would be more poppin if he wasn't here. read more

When I used to live in Fresno back in the 80s and 90s this was the place I would go to. Weekends were fun on Sundays there were hot dogs and chili in the patio. The beer bust on Sundays was a great way to end the weekend Then Mondays after work for our 505. It was a great place to meet friends after work to have a drink and unwind before going home. Lots of great memories there. Virgil I had fun there. Miss the place. read more

Great bar, friendly bartenders, great dance floor and cute (but small) patio. Stop by on the first and third Fridays for Meatball Magic (80's, nu wave, indie, pop). There are usually more people then or on Latino night (which I have never attended). Drinks are good and free condoms! read more

The Red Lantern - Meatball Magic @ the Red Lantern - Gay Bars Near Me - Fresno, California

The Red Lantern is my "home away from home." It is my true hangout where I am so comfortable. Drinks are cheap and good. Bartenders are great and very friendly. I am looking forward to the new "ElectroFix" nights on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month. They will be playing Electro House remixes and DubStep. The ElectroFix nights start on March 9, 2012. Damn, Friday night at the Red is growing - Meatball Magic on the 3rd Friday and now, to attract the younger crowd, ElectroFix on the 2nd & 4th Fridays. The DJs are really great: Gustavo on Latino night every Saturday, DJ Top-Heavy on the 2nd & 4th Fridays and Meatball Magic DJs rotate on 3rd Fridays read more

I love this bar and im a straight man, used to work here as a barback and ran light for shows. Every time i come back to fresno i make it a point to stop by. Everyone is friendly and just there to unwind and have a good time. All the regulars are good people, and i highly recommend newcomers to stop in and see it for themselfs. The drinks are fair priced, and the bartenders make all customers have a great personal experience. Love this bar!!! read more

The drinks are cheap and strong so that's a plus. Saturdays is when all the Mexican cowboy queens come out in search for the D. I stay away on that night because it's just a sad scene. Their karaoke is fun I guess but that's about all there is to say about this place now. I miss meatball magic. read more

Gotta dig the free pool.... laid back and very cool crowd...

place is the shit... I love going there. As far as going there and feeling like you are gonna be robbed, grow some balls boi.. We are all (most) men. I love it here. This is my spot. read more

This place is awesome!!! Love Colton the bartender, Mike the DJ and Virgil the owner. Very cordial and FUN!

Drop by the Red Lantern whenever you can - and I'll be darned if it doesn't become your favorite place. Relaxing and friendly, great place to pick up a casual fling or hang out with friends and married people. Bring your friends to liven up the joint. They'll love it! The barkeeps and regulars make wonderful instant friends. You'll drop that well-kept dance club across town like a hot potato - the real gay community of Fresno lives here at the Red. Put it this way: when I came out 25 years ago, I tried several Fresno bars. All of them were harsh and unfriendly, except for the Red. Now, go there today. Right now. As I'm writing this, go. It's almost 5pm on a Wednesday. Find yourself a seat at the bar and watch the barkeep close one of the little doors on the fridge behind the bar. The others will pop open and the barkeep will then shut those. The doors have not been repaired since the day I set foot in there! read more

this is my local watering hole...i pop in for the refreshments and hangout before i go home and hit the hay...love the bar b ques on sundays and the draft beer prices are so cheap u gotta have a few just because... read more