The Rainbow Lounge (Closed Permanently)

only real bar

Okay, I feel sorry for Fort Worth, because everyone here goes to Dallas to have fun, and we are basically down to one bar in the old gayborhood, The Rainbow Lounge. The others have burned down or just closed down over the years. The Rainbow isn't a bad bar, really, even though the crowd is a bit young and snotty or cowboy and used-up. I feel used-up sometimes, too. I understand. We can't do anything about that. It's just a weird bar with no real energy. Even the dancers just sort of stand and shift from one foot to the other, and several times when I've been there the dancers have outnumbered the patrons, like whoever owns it must just like to spend money on dancers, both male and female, even if no drinks are being sold. I don't really get it. They've just expanded the outdoor patio - which is good - but this is Texas so it's stiflingly hot out there during the day and unusable. I believe the turnover in dancers and bartenders is really high - I could be wrong. I like to dance and have fun but no one will ever join in and have fun with me at the Rainbow - the dance floor is always empty - they'd rather stand and look at me sideways and say catty things to each other, which is fine, I guess, if you'd rather not make friends or have fun, guys. I saw a drag show here fairly recently that was a really, really good drag show, so kudos to the queens, but when the drag performers aren't there, there is no life in this bar. The Rainbow is like the pretty zombie bar that ate all of the other bars in town and only APPEARS to be a real, live bar. There are a few other bars in Fort Worth, still, but I believe that one is mostly Hispanic (not that that's a bad thing) and the other is a boring neighborhood bar that's nearly out in Arlington, so for dancing and fun and glitz, the Rainbow is still the place to go in Fort Worth, but it's kind of a poor excuse for fun, and I usually just drive to Dallas now, sadly, like everybody else in this town does. :(

not for gays

This bar is not for gay men. It employs dancers who are largely straight and unlike those in other cities who understand that they are working in a gay bar the dancers ignore gay men and focus on the straight women who come to "slum" .. in fact they don't dance at all but many sit at booths talking to the straight women. The drag shows are particularly badly conceived. Some leading gay people in Fort Worth told me not to bother coming here and go to Dallas instead.. they are correct. And the drinks are really expensive.

For the most part the people are nice, the staff is ok as long as they know you. It has the feel that its trying to be a Dallas bar. Drugs are clearly used in abundance by the bar goers and staff. Needs better a better manager i think.

Amazing patio

Visited on Wednesday and Sunday. Wednesday Karaoke is suppose to start at 9, but don't expect it to start until 10pm. Crowd was a lot of fun, and bartenders were very polite. The patio is huge, with outdoor bars. Music outside is controlled by the bartenders so TIP them and ask to change the channel if you would like to hear something else.

Nice, Extremely Clean, Friendly Staff

Very clean and nice bar. Nice variety of music and people. Patrons and staff were very friendly and made conversation easily. My partner and I are new to the area, but we look forward to returning in the near future. Drinks were reasonably priced and had a healthy dose of alcohol. Coming from New Orleans, this is a nice bar.