We went to Rainbow bar after a concert on a Monday night in July and there were not a lot of people there, mostly locals. But after 20 minutes and  3 times of attempting to get the bartenders attention had failed we walked out of this bar. . We had money and willing to spend it but apparently our money wasn't good enough for this bar. We went across the street to a bar called Railyard Ale House it was really nice and the drinks were great. Rainbow was awful I would say Railyard was a better choice and more beer selection.
Review Source:This is probably the best people watching bar in Billings. There is guaranteed to be at least 2 hobos in there at all times. I've seen a hobo who looks like a muppet in there get carried out by EMTs. I've seen a girl in a rainbow bright costume. The Rainbow is a loud and drunken good time, but don't go in there wearing your finest outfit asking for a martini. Also, it's cash only.
Review Source:My gay entourage was very disappointed...
With seven state-of-the-art high frequency Gaydars working together, in tandem, we quickly deteremined this wasn't actually a gay and lesbian bar, despite the name "Rainbow".
Rainbow is just a typical dive where the patrons looked depressed and little creepy...
We left after 10 minutes.
Why did they name this bar rainbow bar? There was definitely nothing rainbow about this bar. The drinks are definitely strong. Stronger than I like my gin and tonics, but hey I'll take it. The bartender mentioned there not being any fruit, I didn't get it the first time. So I asked if they had any lime, and he said I meant it when I said there wasn't any fruit in this bar.
Like a previous yelper mentioned, I probably wouldn't step in there alone. Cheap and strong. What's more to like? Our first round: 1 G&T, 2 beers=$8! Love the rainbow bar! Will definitely be back!
The Rainbow is one cool place.. it was the 1st bar that I went to in Billings. Â The drinks are stiff and the crowd is always great for people watching. Â I've left The Rainbow many a time stumbling and even ended up on some girls couch in the morning. Â It's definitely a drinkers bar. Â It seems to have sort of a hard edge to it but really everyone is friendly and respectful. Â It's sort of a neighborhood bar or at least it has that feeling. Â A lot of locals and people of all walks of life go.
Review Source:The Rainbow was a place I was scared to go in, but as other reviewers noted, it got a facelift a few years ago and has been attracting a younger crowd. Â I've only been in it over the Holidays when I come back to the Magic, Tragic City to visit the folks and friends. Â There does seem to be some of the rough n tumble regulars, but temepered with folks in town for the season. Â
Recently we ended up there after starting at the un-remodeled Western Bar... right after arriving there seemed to be a ruckus between bartenders, with one of them storming out. Â And then some drunken, cussing woman barging her way in.. we asked the bouncer why he let her in.. "I know her.. I like to know who I'm gonna have problems with.."
Stiff drinks, not that many beers on tap. Â The one I ordered had been broken that night. Â One of those newer wall mounted digital jukeboxes was playing loud, metal-esque rock. Â Its a good thing last call came around before the Miles Davis songs came on that my pal Keith had plugged in.
I've heard about this bar since I got into town, half the people I talked to told me to go to this bar and half told me not to. All of them assured me it wasn't a gay bar(who cares). I was told this was the place get geared up for a night out, the cheapest and stiffest drinks in town. People warned me that it was a rough, blue collar bar and that there was a possibility that I may get into a fight. Well seeing as I'm working in a refinery locally, I figured I could slip in here unnoticed. Well, this place was awesome. I had 3 vodka tonics and I was just about hammered. And the prices were great. The crowd was young with a few old workers sprinkled in. Long bar with some tables scattered about and a few video poker machines in the back. All drinks served in plastic cups(fine by me). I go to a lot of dive bars and this was not frightening in the least. Great party environment, this may become my favorite bar in Billings!
Review Source:The ole 'Bow lives in infamy for any Billings resident, or anyone that has stumbled into it on their way through town.
I loved it for the stiff, cheap drinks.
I would NEVER go in there alone.
Anyhow, I always got tanked off about two or three drinks. I could barely stand after the second one night. That was the first time my cat watched me puke into the toilet with that oh so curious look after my friend dropped me off at home. I wish I could say that was the last time.
I was never there before all the upgrades, but this place is definitely still a dive. Always a good standby if you need a story, are really bored, or need to get really really f***ed up and fast.
Used to be a dive bar, but they've upgraded everything. Â They've even got those new-fangled toilets that you don't need to flush. Â In the Rainbow! Â I swear. Â
I was ambivalent about the upgrades until I went in on a Saturday morning and saw the same cast of old regulars. Â
First visit to the Rainbow, six years ago: Â I walked in with a cowboy from Eastern Montana at 11:00 P.M. on a Tuesday. Â Why the heck were we going to a gay bar? Â (It's not a gay bar). Â We'd been drinking since 5:00 and I was still wearing a suit - we were both quite drunk. Â Several of the patrons got nervous, two or three made a rush for the back door, leaving their drinks behind. Â I asked the bartender what was going on, he told me that they thought I was the new parole officer in town. Â Nice.
I kind of liked the Rainbow better before they cleaned it up, but they've still got nice bartenders and good, stiff drinks, a regular clientele that's a bit rough around the edges, and $1 Kokanee beer on tap. Â Not bad, not bad at all.