Bent Inn is the only gay-owned LGBTQ+ boutique hotel in Las Vegas.
Why not right now?
(We already had ours.)
Credit:Courtesy of Bent Inn
When we returned to the Bent bar later that Saturday evening, it was packed.
The lights were low and the energy level was sky-high.
And at a bar thats open 24 hours, its become a popular gay hangout.
Courtesy of Bent Inn
Bent Inn
Bent Inn is the brainchild of Palm Springs hoteliers Greg Kafka and Mark Hunter.
The couple owned two hotels in Palm Springs before they brought their vision to Las Vegas.
Their timing, however, was unfortunate.
Courtesy of Bent Inn
They purchased the complex, then an apartment building, in January 2020.
Six weeks later Covid hit and froze the world and all of their plans.
Everything came to a screeching halt, Hunter recalled toTravel + Leisure.
Courtesy of Bent Inn
It was definitely a challenge to get it wrapped up and done, Hunter said.
When I popped in, it was exactly that.
The postage stamp property isnt meant to be a luxe resort.
Courtesy of Bent Inn
Instead, its a safe haven.
An inclusive straight friendly escape where locals and visitors interact over stiff margaritas while on inflatable pool floats.
After all, the Bent Inn is about the people and the atmosphere.
Thats what makes this hotel special.
Youre here to make friends and go out and explore downtown Las Vegas and the Arts District.
After all, the Bent Inn is all about its social scene and not hibernating in the room.
The hotel has four room types.
The amenities are basic.
In a nod to kitsch, custom pulp fiction artwork of imaginary book covers decorated the walls.
Hunter described the artwork as being a fun diversion and conversation starter.
The Location
The Bent Inn sits on a pocket of land surrounded by vacant, undeveloped lots.
Its not a sexy neighborhood by any means.
Its also a short walk to the Container Park.
From there, youre in the middle of a string of bars in East Fremont.
Im a big fan of downtown Las Vegas.
Over the past several years, a culture and vibe has developed.
Guests staying at the hotel are just a quick Uber ride away from it all.
Only the primetime hours from 7 pm to 2 am seem to have regular pricing.
And Sunday mornings feature bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys for a tidy $20.
On the dining side, its pub food.
I found the brunch to be fun and inviting and the dishes echoed that.
Activities and Experiences
The heated pool, oversized hot tub and bar is where everyone goes.
The Bent has become downtowns gathering spot for the gay community and weekly events keep the locals coming back.
