This Homosexual-owned Adults-only Boutique Lodge in Downtown Las Vegas Is a Secure Haven for Queer Vacationers — This is What It is Wish to Keep

A number of months after its launch, the Bent Inn, the one gay-owned LGBTQ+ boutique lodge in Las Vegas, is hitting its stride on the peak of pool season. It’s been a protracted street for its homeowners — 4 years, to be precise — simply to get the place up and operating.

On the day I arrived, a full of life crowd gathered and settled across the round bar, which additionally serves because the reception desk at this small 33-room lodge. When my associate and I checked in, we have been every supplied a welcome cocktail to take at our leisure throughout our keep. Why not proper now? So we settled in on the bar, ordered tequila sodas, and chatted with the proprietor and bartender to get acquainted with the property and discover out their favourite downtown spots. (We already had ours.)

For us, our night plans have been to make the quick stroll to see the fire-breathing mantis at Downtown Container Park, then head over to Atomic Liquors, which was the primary free-standing bar in Las Vegas, for some people-watching, a neighborhood brew and the exceptional pan pizza.

Once we returned to the Bent bar later that Saturday night, it was packed. The lights have been low and the vitality stage was sky-high. As an alternative of sports activities, the televisions have been enjoying music movies that bounced between Britney Spears, Girl Gaga, Madonna, and Troye Sivan. It created a extra clubby vibe that led to some dancing, mingling, and maybe a little bit of flirting among the many company, who have been a smattering of out-of-towners and locals searching for an informal, accepting place to seize a drink and meet like-minded individuals. And at a bar that’s open 24 hours, it’s change into a preferred homosexual hangout.

Bent Inn is the brainchild of Palm Springs hoteliers Greg Kafka and Mark Hunter. The couple owned two motels in Palm Springs earlier than they introduced their imaginative and prescient to Las Vegas. Their timing,  nevertheless, was unlucky. They bought the advanced, then an condo constructing, in January 2020. Six weeks later Covid hit and froze the world and all of their plans. “Every part got here to a screeching halt,” Hunter recalled to Journey + Leisure.

It could be 18 months earlier than they might even be allowed to the touch the property, however begin the intensive renovations, and simply in need of 4 years earlier than the Bent Inn opened its doorways. “It was positively a problem to get it wrapped up and carried out,” Hunter mentioned.

The couple offered their two Palm Springs properties, Escape Resort and Desert Paradise, to maneuver to Sin Metropolis, with a imaginative and prescient to create a tradition and homosexual gathering spot in downtown Las Vegas. Once I popped in, it was precisely that. The company and employees have been pleasant, giving the lodge a transparent welcoming vibe that’s led a crowd of regulars there to frequent it typically.

The postage stamp property isn’t meant to be a luxe resort. As an alternative, it’s a secure haven. An inclusive “straight pleasant” escape the place locals and guests work together over stiff margaritas whereas on inflatable pool floats. In any case, the Bent Inn is concerning the individuals and the environment. That’s what makes this lodge particular. You’re right here to make pals and exit and discover downtown Las Vegas and the Arts District.

The Rooms

With simply 33 rooms, the property footprint shouldn’t be all that giant and the rooms replicate this. I discovered our room with its Juliet balcony overlooking the pool to be cozy and cozy with simply sufficient house to chill out earlier than mingling on the bar or lounging poolside. In any case, the Bent Inn is all about its social scene and never hibernating within the room.

The lodge has 4 room sorts. The highest class is the poolside patio rooms, every with a sliding glass door that results in a small, personal patio and sitting space adjoining to the pool. Different room classes embody the balcony rooms, an atrium king (with no view), and the bunkhouse–particular person hostel-style rooms with twin-size beds and shared facilities for solo vacationers.

The facilities are fundamental. There was no fridge in my room, nevertheless it did have a 65-inch tv and Bluetooth-enabled radio, charger, and speaker. In a nod to kitsch, customized pulp fiction paintings of imaginary e book covers embellished the partitions. These risque, tongue-in-cheek romance novel wannabees present shirtless males in compromising positions with titles akin to “Locker-Room Lovers,” “Homosexual Safari” and “Moonlight Motel.”

Hunter described the paintings as being a enjoyable diversion and dialog starter. “We discovered numerous humor in previous Nineteen Fifties pulp fiction e book covers so we paid homage to them, recreating them in the identical model however we tweaked them simply sufficient to suit our surroundings,” he instructed T+L.

The Location

The Bent Inn sits on a pocket of land surrounded by vacant, undeveloped heaps. It’s not an attractive neighborhood by any means. However whereas the situation could also be gritty, most guests make it their major cease, using the free parking. It’s additionally a brief stroll to the Container Park. From there, you’re in the midst of a string of bars in East Fremont.

I’m a giant fan of downtown Las Vegas. Over the previous a number of years, a tradition and vibe has developed. Walkable neighborhoods, just like the Arts District, a few mile and a half away from the lodge, have plenty of boutiques, galleries, eating places, bars, and brewpubs. Company staying on the lodge are only a fast Uber trip away from all of it.

Meals and Drink

The bar is full of life and there are almost all the time two-for-one effectively drinks or sure draft beers on particular. Solely the primetime hours from 7 pm to 2 am appear to have common pricing. And Sunday mornings function bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys for a tidy $20.

On the eating aspect, it’s pub meals. Fats, juicy burgers, buffalo-style grilled rooster sandwiches, tacos, and flatbreads like a Texas BBQ-style naan with grilled rooster, bacon, and crimson peppers.

I discovered the brunch to be enjoyable and welcoming and the dishes echoed that. A ham and cheese quiche croissant and carne asada toast are distinctive takes on regular brunch classics as are the three crispy rooster and waffle sliders that come served with a home made bitter blackberry bourbon jam.

Actions and Experiences

The heated pool, outsized scorching tub and bar is the place everybody goes. The Bent has change into downtown’s gathering spot for the homosexual neighborhood and weekly occasions maintain the locals coming again. From the pool events and beer busts to karaoke, comedy and trivia nights, there’s all the time one thing to do.