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LGBTQ NYC guide
Top 50 Bars in United States
byEmy Moore
Live update: Updated June 24, 2021Copy link
Copy link1. Hell’s Kitchen Industry
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Julia SA good place to visit after Therapy, Industry is one of Hell’s Kitchen’s hottest gay venues. With nightly shows, this bar is cash only though there are 2 ATM’s onsite. Industry has a busy after-work scene as well as a nightly happy hour. Particularly busy at the weekends, this 4,000 ft² gay bar is usually full of handsome gay men. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
2. HARDWARE Bar
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SGay-owned & managed bar & lounge in Hell’s Kitchen. HARDWARE features some of the best DJ’s in NYC and entertaining drag queens, both local and guests. Located in midtown Manhattan. Open 7 days a week. Happy hour, noon-9pm (Monday-Friday). Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
3. Townhouse Bar
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SThis classy gay cocktail bar that has been at the heart of New York’s gay scene for 25+ years. The Townhouse has 3 bars and features nightly piano shows by New York’s best performers. There is regular live music and events, often centred around Broadway tunes. The bar attracts maturer mixed crowd and the ‘Men At Work’ type – so don’t show up in leather shorts and a vintage Madonna vest. Dress smart casual, though a jacket is not required. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
4. Barracuda Lounge
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SA much loved gay bar in New York since 1995. Back then, Barracuda was known as a den of Bohemia – the kind of place where you’d see Eartha Kitt or Nathan Lane and where Broadway celebs would jump onstage and sing a cappella.Today, Barracuda is still going strong, with very friendly and welcoming atmosphere, hosted by some New York’s drag luminaries like Sherry Vine and actress Candis Cayne. Note: The place is small, but that’s part of its charm. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
5. Lucky Cheng’s
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SLucky Cheng’s is the original home of the drag dinner. It’s been going since 1993 and it’s something of an establishment on New York’s gay scene. Enjoy a three-course meal as top drag queens lip-synch for their lives. You can also try their famous high heel shoe desert, the world’s campest sweet. There’s nothing quite like a pink chocolate shoe filled with strawberries and cream. Lucky Cheng’s is only open at weekends in the evenings. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
6. POSH Bar
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SPOSH Bar & Lounge is more intimate affair than some of its rowdier counterparts in New York. The bar hosts weekly themed events, including Frisky Fridays to Sexy Saturdays, with nightly DJ’s and regular drag shows. If you’re hungry, the pizza is pretty good, too. Happy hour 2pm-9pm. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
7. Rise Bar
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SRise is a laid back gay bar in Hell’s Kitchen a few blocks away from Flaming Saddles and Industry. The space is fairly small and the decor is understated. A swirling glitterball does, however, add rather a dash of camp. Rise Bar is proof that you can’t have enough gay bars in Hell’s Kitchen. It’s usually busy and the crowd is mixed though mostly gay men. There are regular events such as karaoke nights, Drag Race screenings and late night dancing at weekends. If you’re feeling thirsty head to Thirsty Thursdays for an evening of hot men and hot music. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
8. BOXERS – Hell’s Kitchen
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SNew York’s favourite gay sports bar. BOXERS is usually packed, always fun and noted for having hot barmen serving drinks in their boxers – in keeping with the name. The bar has pool tables, brick oven pizzas, 2-for-1 happy hours. During Drag Race season, you can pop in for a drink and watch the queens on plasma TV’s. In the summer, the rooftop bar opens up. BOXERS has two locations in NYC: one in Hell’s Kitchen and another in Chelsea. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
9. The Phoenix
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SA gay institution of New York’s East Village for two decades. The Phoenix bar & nightclub (formerly called “The Bar”) attracts a youthful, trendy crowd. The Phoenix hosts regular events, themed nights, live music, dance parties with DJ’s and go-go dancers. The bar’s jukebox is packed with banging pop hits. Check their Facebook for event details. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
10. Club Cumming
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SGay-popular bar & entertainment venue, Club Cumming, owned by actor Alan Cumming, features a range of disreputable performance artists every night of the week.This former gay dive bar has been refashioned as a Weimar cabaret joint for the 21st-century, and still still attracts a large ‘alternative’ queer crowd. As quirky venues in New York begin to disappear, it’s nice to see some remnants of Bohemia. The bar gets busiest around midnight. Check their website for event details. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
11. NO BAR
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SNO BAR is a new gay bar in the East Village with snazzy decor and artworks by Dachi Cole. The cocktails are pretty impressive. NYC has long been in need to of a gay bar that specialises in cocktails! It was opened by Angela Dimayuga, an influential figure in NYC’s restaurant scene. There are regular drag shows and club nights. You can eat, wine and dine, watch Drag Race… what more could you need? Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
12. Nowhere Bar
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SLaid-back basement gay bar in NYC’s East Village. Nowhere has an unpretentious vibe and serves reasonably priced drinks.The crowd is mixed though mostly gay. If you describe yourself as “non-scene” on Grindr, you’ll do well here. It’s a no attitude, no ageism bar. Nowhere hosts regular themed nights with DJ’s, go-go dancers and cruisey dark room. Not really a place for dancing, but great for socialising. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
13. The Stonewall Inn
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SIconic gay bar in the heart of Greenwich Village. The Stonewall Inn was raided by police in June 1969, but the patrons that night fought back, kickstarting the gay liberation movement. As the birthplace of gay Pride, The Stonewall remains the most famous LGBT bar in America. The venue hosts themed parties, karaoke nights, drag shows and various weekly/monthly events – check their Facebook page for details. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
14. Julius’
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SThe gay liberation movement may have begun at The Stonewall Inn but Julius’ is the oldest gay bar in New York. The bar has been open since the mid-19th century. It became gay-popular in the 1960s.The Mattachine Society hosted a “sip-in” in 1966. Inspired by the civil rights movement, it was a protest against the State Liquor Authority’s policy of removing licenses from bars that served LGBT people. It was one of the events that led to gay liberation.You can attend a Mattachine Night every Thursday at Julius’ and experience a taste of New York’s gay history. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
15. Marie’s Crisis
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Julia SOne of Greenwich Village’s legendary gay venues. Marie’s Crisis is known for its fun laid-back vibe where customers sing along to classic Broadway show tunes, accompanied by a live pianist. Frequented by musical theatre students and the occasional celebrities like Jimmy Fallon. Great place to enjoy music from Mary Poppins, The Lion King, West Side Story, Mamma Mia, Aladdin, etc. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
16. Pieces Bar
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Tiffany WoodsGay bar in Greenwich Village (since 1993). Pieces Bar features drag shows, competitions, games, sexy bartenders, party nights with DJ. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
17. BOXERS – Chelsea
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsChelsea branch of New York’s favourite gay sports bar. BOXERS features large TV screens, pool tables and a rooftop terrace (open in the summer). The hot bartenders (often shirtless) serve up drinks and pizzas in their boxers (as the name might suggest). The other BOXERS bar is located in Hell’s Kitchen. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
18. REBAR Chelsea
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsPopular gay bar & nightclub in Chelsea. REBAR (formerly called “G Lounge”) is a great place to drink, chat and dance the night away. There are two bars with plenty of seating areas. REBAR hosts various themed events, featuring drag shows, diva theatrics every weekend, Showtune Sundays, live DJ’s and dance parties including the popular “BOYS” night. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
19. Lips
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsIf you’re looking for a drag show in New York, you can’t do better than Lips. There are nightly shows and dining experiences. The show changes every night. You can tuck into lobster ravioli while being served and entertained by the fiercest queens in town. You’ll get a bit of everything, from Bitchy Bingo to Dinner with the Divas and celebrity impersonators. There’s also an everything you can drink Broadway boozy brunch. It’s located in Midtown East five blocks away from the Rockefeller Center. Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
20. Boxers NYC – Washington Heights
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsThe third outlet of America’s favourite gay sports bar, Boxers is the main gay bar in New York’s Washington Heights district. Expect hot shirtless bartenders and regular gay parties. You can watch a sports game, have a brick oven pizza and drink on the outside terrace. If you’re in uptown Manhattan, it’s worth a visit. Happy hour is very happy and usually kicks off at 8pm – it’s currently 2 for 1 all week! Source: https://www.travelgay.com/new-york-city-gay-bars/#hell8217s-kitchen
21. Cubbyhole
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsLongtime lesbian & gay Village local has jukebox, free popcorn, drink specials & colorful decor. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
22. Club Cumming
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsBuzzy, celeb-owned bar with drag & cabaret shows, knitting nights & other diverse entertainment. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
23. Stonewall Inn
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsGay bar & National Historic Landmark, site of the 1969 riots that launched the gay rights movement. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
24. The Eagle
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsDark-lit, multilevel gay leather-&-Levis bar with a roof deck. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
25. Happyfun Hideaway
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsChill, tiki-themed gay bar with picnic tables serves frozen drinks & cocktails plus happy hour. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
26. Henrietta Hudson
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsA long-running lesbian hangout for drinks, shooting pool & dancing, especially on weekends Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
27. Three Dollar Bill
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsEnergetic, late-night gay bar with high-tech appointments, basic furnishings & varied performances. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
28. Rockbar
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Emy MooreThere's an anything-goes vibe at this well-worn haunt, where weekends attract a lively crowd. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
29. The Rosemont
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreLaid-back cocktail bar with live jazz, small plates, craft beers & a garden patio. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
30. Macri Park
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreA laid-back, dimly lit watering hole with cozy interior decor & a big backyard. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
31. Metropolitan
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreGay & straight locals congregate at this bar with 2 fireplaces, a pool table & a lush outdoor space. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
32. Branded Saloon
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreA sprawling Western-themed honky-tonk saloon serving Southern-style bar food & featuring live bands. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
33. Ginger's Bar
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreCasual lesbian bar with a neighborly feel thanks to happy hours, a pool table & an outdoor patio. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
34. Icon
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreFestive gay bar featuring DJs, go-go dancers & drag shows, plus movie & game nights. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
35. Rusty Knot
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreCampy nautical decor & rum-laden tiki drinks enliven this popular saloon on the Hudson shore. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
36. The Woods
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreSpacious bar & music venue known for its inexpensive drinks & taco truck parked on the back patio. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
37. Elsewhere
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreMassive venue featuring several spaces (including a roof terrace) for live music & DJ nights. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
38. House of Yes
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreFunky venue showcasing dance, circus, theater & cabaret performances in a former ice warehouse. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
39. Avant Gardner
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreIndoor-outdoor, audio-visually equipped events complex in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
40. Le Bain
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreThere's a disco, bar, (seasonal) plunge pool & crêperie, all on the roof of the Standard Hotel. Source: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/guides/gay-bars-nyc#guide
41. The Rosemont
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreIn a neighborhood once dominated by Metropolitan, The Rosemont sprouted as a trendier alternative for Brooklynites to get their freak on. The bar doesn’t fully come to life till late in the night, and its spacious back patio serves as the perfect cool-down area after dancing to your heart’s content. The Rosemont creates a welcome environment for all queer people -- enough so that their occasional Peggy parties have become a favorite in the lesbian community. Source: https://www.thrillist.com/drink/new-york/the-11-best-gay-bars-and-clubs-in-nyc
42. The Vault
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreThe Vault is still a relative newcomer to Brooklyn’s club scene, occupying the bi-level space once home to Tilt BK. There’s a small bar on the ground floor -- cool -- but it’s the seductive basement floor that quickly threw The Vault on the map. The underground parties are known to get rowdy, often featuring alt drag performers, reputable DJs, and a dance floor full of welcoming LGBTQ+ people all looking for a new safe space to drop it low. Source: https://www.thrillist.com/drink/new-york/the-11-best-gay-bars-and-clubs-in-nyc
43. Playhouse
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreThe people behind Pieces and Hardware struck gold again with their newest nightlife concept, Playhouse. Just steps from other Village hotspots, the bar brings crowds below street level, where a technicolor dance floor and stage area already play host to some of the hottest events in the city. Whether they’re in it for the lights, music, drinks, or queens, one thing’s for certain: There aren’t any dull boys here. Source: https://www.thrillist.com/drink/new-york/the-11-best-gay-bars-and-clubs-in-nyc
44. Friend’s Tavern
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreWhen Eddie Valentin opened Friend’s in 1989, one objective was “...giving people in a very gay Latino community, which is Jackson Heights, a safe haven where they could go without being ridiculed or attacked...” he told Get Out! magazine last spring. That goal is still as critical as ever, as many of the city’s POC-focused bars have been forced to close their doors. Jackson Heights is home to a concentration of LGBTQ+ establishments, and a naughty night on Roosevelt Avenue should make every queer’s bucket list. Friend’s is the venue that started it all, and today the place frequently runs specials, brings in DJs, and hosts exotic male dancers. Source: https://www.thrillist.com/drink/new-york/the-11-best-gay-bars-and-clubs-in-nyc
45. Suite
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreSuite’s the kind of low-frills pub where one beer turns to two, which turns to three, which turns to you sidling up to the bar until closing time, at which point you’ll be dr**k and feeling the inexplicable need to slap down a $10 bill in exchange for one of their brown, branded v-neck tees before calling it a night. There’s a karaoke party every Sunday-Thursday night and drag shows on weekends, keeping the energy high seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. Source: https://www.thrillist.com/drink/new-york/the-11-best-gay-bars-and-clubs-in-nyc
46. 3 Dollar Bill
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreElbow room is precious in NYC, which explains how one of the city’s newer LGBTQ+ bars established itself as a nightlife destination so damn fast. Touted as the largest queer venue in Brooklyn, 3 Dollar Bill has a bar room, a performance area and dance floor, an outdoor space, and a full Mexican kitchen. It’s home to more than a few types of events, including circuit parties, flea markets, comedy shows, and TV watch parties. Source: https://www.thrillist.com/drink/new-york/the-11-best-gay-bars-and-clubs-in-nyc
47. Albatross
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreAlbatross doesn’t need renovations or craft beers to hold its place as Queens’ most delightful queer bar; their free board games and $8, 16-ounce “cock-tails” prove that sometimes cheaper is better. Albatross once catered specifically to lesbians, but later shifted its focus to the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. Throughout the week, you’re likely to stumble upon karaoke, bingo, drag performances, and screenings of can’t-miss TV events, like major awards shows and Drag Race. Source: https://www.thrillist.com/drink/new-york/the-11-best-gay-bars-and-clubs-in-nyc
48. Barrage
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Emy MooreA lounge with ample seating and colorful decor, Barrage is a prime meeting spot for a cross-section of gays both older and younger. Drink specials are offered throughout the week, including $9 frozen margaritas and frozen cosmos on some nights. The bar also hosts regular Latinx-focused nights. Source: https://ny.eater.com/maps/best-lgbtq-gay-bars-nights-nyc
49. Hangar Bar
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsQueer people of color can rightfully feel excluded by many of the gay hotspots dotting the city. Hangar is an under-the-radar neighborhood bar filled with black and brown patrons that’s equally inviting to everyone else. Grab a beer and play pool surrounded by the whitewashed walls covered with a giant rainbow flag. There are regular drink specials. Cash only. Source: https://ny.eater.com/maps/best-lgbtq-gay-bars-nights-nyc
50. The Boiler Room
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Tiffany WoodsA long-running and homey dive, Boiler Room is where laid-back East Village residents go to simply hang out and guzzle bogglingly cheap well drinks. The ambiance is nonexistent, but the pool table, photo booth, and digital jukebox provide all-night entertainment. Cash only. Source: https://ny.eater.com/maps/best-lgbtq-gay-bars-nights-nyc
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