Pat O’s puts the “G” in the Melrose District’s LGBTQ scene — its clientele is largely gay men, many of whom are unabashedly members or fans of the bear or leathermen subcultures. Former owner and namesake Pat Olivo (a fixture in the local gay scene for decades) died in March 2022, but his bar continues his legacy. Here, you might stumble into discussions of Phoenix’s LGBTQ history or trans rights, games of bingo or poker, or parties out on the ample, fenced-in outdoor patio to go along with Sunday darts tournaments and daily drinks specials. Within its roomy interior (it’s a former home converted decades ago), a large bar, various tables and countertops, relics from now-defunct local gay bars, and plenty of playful banter and flickering laughter are waiting. Pat O’s is a local institution.