THE 10 BEST New York Gay Clubs & Bars (Updated 2023)

Contents:

• THE 30 BT GAY BARS NYC
• THE 15 BT GAY BARS NYC TO CHECK OUT
• THE 10 BEST NEW YORK CY GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS NEW YORK CY
• A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF NEW YORK CY'S GAY & QUEER BARS
• THE BT GAY HOOK-UP SPOTS NYC
• A GUI TO NYC'S GAY BARS
• BT GAY BARS IN NEW YORK CY
• THE 10 BEST NEW YORK GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS NEW YORK
• NEW YORK CY GAY TRAVEL
• JO THE Q — FOUR NEW GAY VENU LE UP TO OPEN HELL’S KCHEN
• LGBTQ BROOKLYN – A GAY GUY’S WEEKEND GUI TO BROOKLYN
• HARLEM’S BLACK, GAY BARS ARE THRIVG THE MIDDLE OF A PANMIC
• CAN GAY BARS, AN ANCHOR OF N.Y.C. NIGHTLIFE, SURVIVE THE PANMIC?
• THE GAY MEN FREQUENTED MANHATTAN PIANO BARS. SO DID THEIR KILLER.
• JAGUARS ASSOCIATE STRENGTH ACH OUT AS GAY A FIRST FOR US-BASED PRO LEAGU
• WT HOLLYWOOD’S HISTORIC GAY NIGHTCLUB THE ABBEY IS UP FOR SALE
• WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT A SEEMGLY FAKE DOCUMENT A GAY RIGHTS CASE

THE 30 BT GAY BARS NYC

New York's Lost Gay BarsWe've known for many years that too many of our cherished gay bars and clubs are shutterg, fallg victim to risg rents and the ubiquy of apps like Grdr and Scff.

While bathho, drag balls, and good ol’ “Screech Beach” (also known as the beach at Jab Riis Park) were all important s for queer gathergs, the cy’s queer muny pecially thrived s gay bars. Bars allowed queer people to socialize whout a polil agenda and offered a space for them to celebrate their sexualy wh relative eedom—“relative” beg the key word, as homosexual solicatn was still illegal and police raids were mon. In New York’s gay bars, however, pri is a yearlong event—and for your nvenience, we’ve assembled a list of the bt LGBTQ bars the cy has to offer, om chic clubs to kky div to s-old queer strongholds.

Consistently ranked as one of NYC’s bt gay bars by New York Magaze and The Village Voice, Indtry is known for s sizeable high-ceilged dance floor and dtrial athetic.

THE 15 BT GAY BARS NYC TO CHECK OUT

Another historic favore, Greenwich Village’s Juli’ holds the distctn of beg the olst ntually operatg gay bar New York Cy. In 1966, a full three years before the Stonewall Rts, Juli’ was also the se of the Mattache Society’s “sip-, ” a prott agast the then-mon practice of bars refg to serve alhol to gay people, that ultimately succeed forcg the State Liquor Authory to relax s discrimatory polici.

THE 10 BEST NEW YORK CY GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS NEW YORK CY

As one of only 21 lbian bars left the untry and one of three New York Cy (the other two beg Cubbyhole jt a few blocks north and Gger’s Bar Park Slope) Henrietta Hudson is fiercely mted to creatg a space that embrac members of the LGBTQ muny who are often left alienated queer spac domated by cis gay men. In recent years, some gay bars have begun dilutg the kks and raw sexualy that prevly fed the spac an effort to make them a ltle more accsible to heterosexual bar hoppers.

When the permanent versn of his avant-gar queer nightclub opened 2017, quickly beme known for s dazzlg, celebry-studd baret, drag, and standup performanc ( whose dienc Cummg himself n ocsnally be spotted) as well as for hostg events that might not be tradnally found a gay bar, such as jazz jam ssns and “drk and draw” nights wh live figure mols. Ground zero for the 1969 rts that helped lnch the gay rights movement, Stonewall is still a rog, though very touristy, Village statn to pay tribute to the movement. Jt a few blocks om the cha rtrants dottg Tim Square, The Spot is one of Manhattan’s newt gay bars, recently opened by the owners of Hell’s Kchen mastay Rise Bar.

A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF NEW YORK CY'S GAY & QUEER BARS

Though Marie’s Crisis don’t explicly intify as a gay bar, the beloved Wt Village hnt has been a queer haven sce the late 1800s. 27 plac sorted by traveler favorBars & Clubs • Gay BarsDowntown Manhattan (Downtown)Gay BarsDowntown Manhattan (Downtown)Bars & Clubs • Gay BarsDowntown Manhattan (Downtown)Bars & Clubs • Gay BarsDowntown Manhattan (Downtown)What travelers are saygDgn1010Dungannon, UK392 ntributnsSo ol to be drkg such a historil bar.

Flamg Saddl is the perfect mix of great drks, Amerina, gay culture and cute bar high energy gay bar rais the roof wh their bar top dancg bartenrs. There are plenty of gay bars up and down 9th ave and there's no reason to spend money at a place that will treat you like total trash, threaten you, and be unnecsarily belligerent and make you feel unsafe jt bee they're on some kd of power trip. I went to a few gay bars, and by far this was the bt place to dance and the mic was the bt here, varied, and not too much dance mic like you got your head bangg a fish bowl!

Whether you're celebratg NYC Pri late June, planng a future trip to the Big Apple, or a lol lookg for a new bar to check out, here is a prehensive list of nearly every gay and queer bar NYC.

THE BT GAY HOOK-UP SPOTS NYC

Alibi Lounge, Harlem: One of the cy's only gay, Black-owned LGBTQIA+ bars, this morn bar serv up a variety of specialty cktails, we, beer, and bar snacks. The Eagle NYC, Chelsea: Perhaps the send-most cise-y of New York's gay bars, the multi-level Eagle ters almost exclively to gay men, and gets more bchero on each floor. Juli', Wt Village: Another Wt Village stutn, 1966, a "sip " was held by activists at the bar to challenge the New York State Liquor Authory's regulatn that barred the servg of homosexuals.

REBAR, Chelsea: This dtrial-feelg gay bar is a Chelsea standard, featurg energetic drag shows and DJs throughout the week. Rz Bar & Lounge, Hell's Kchen: Smack dab the thick of the Theater District, multi-level Rz Bar & Lounge plays host to many good old-fashned dance parti, attractg a mostly younger gay crowd.

A GUI TO NYC'S GAY BARS

The Toolbox Bar, Upper East Si: One of the few, if only, gay bars on the Upper East Si, this lorful, timate bar offers happy hour specials and regular live entertament. Townhoe Piano Bar, Midtown East: Three bars, a piano room wh nightly performanc (and a drs ), this cktail lounge attracts a mix of senr and younger gay men. Hombr Lounge, Jackson Heights: Self-proclaimed as havg the most Manhattan vibe of all Queens gay bars, Hombr Lounge attracts a diverse, predomantly Lat crowd and offers up tasty bar food wh s cktail menu.

It would figure that Williamsburg's premiere gay bar would have only a MySpace page as s webse—ah, the ironic retro ter—and this award-wng gay and lbian oriented bar is one of the most popular the borough, even moro durg the warm weather months due to s am... Midtown's "only full-time gay bar" equipped wh r om the Forti, wh a great selectn of ntemporary tun playg over the sound system.

BT GAY BARS IN NEW YORK CY

The Boiler Room is as far removed thematilly as is geographilly om the Hell's Kchen and Chelsea gay scen—what New York lovgly lls a "post-gay gay bar"—where orientatn isn't a good enough basis for nversatn and beg the most over-the-top bottom won't w yo... That would be the Lat pronunciatn of "boom boom, " by the way, which mak sense for this South Amerin-styled gay bar Woodsi. Probably Manhattan's most clive gay club, Indtry is a b of an anomaly Midtown nightlife, that rare place you aim directly for stead of happen to end up at.

Multi-level gay bar wh three differently themed rooms, om a banquette-stuffed lounge for dg and mglg, a simple but elegant bar, and a third for dancg and cisg. While you’ll disver a lightful melange of gay thgs to do NYC at all hours of the day, there’s no nyg that gay New York alive after dark. The Stonewall InnAny list of the bt LGBTQ bars New York Cy would be remiss not to clu the landmark waterg hole largely rponsible for lnchg the morn gay rights movement: The Stonewall Inn.

THE 10 BEST NEW YORK GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS NEW YORK

If late-night hunger hs, the Tex-Mex menu is surprisgly good; opt for Flamg Saddl’ signature Fro Pie—’s Fro rn chips smothered homema Texas red chilli, and ’s absolutely Maria BadasianAn East Village stutn for two s, the Phoenix Bar is one of the bt gay bars NYC for a reason4. JuliWhile the Stonewall Inn is rightfully famed wh startg the gay liberatn movement, the acla for the olst operatg gay bar NYC go to Juli. ” Inspired by civil rights s-s and anized by the Mattache Society, the “Sip-In” was a public challenge to the state’s discrimatory policy of revokg licens of bars servg gay clientele—a precursor to Stonewall and an sential step towards legimizg the velopment of gay bars.

NEW YORK CY GAY TRAVEL

Today, Juli is a buzzg gay bar and rtrant servg up juicy, expensive burgers a snug space overflowg wh fascatg historil piec.

JO THE Q — FOUR NEW GAY VENU LE UP TO OPEN HELL’S KCHEN

CubbyholeAs acceptance and tolerance ntue to bee the way of the world, once exclive gay clubs NYC are now welg everyone and anyone—so long as you’re equally open-md. Such is the se at Cubbyhole, a longtime lbian and gay lole that’s ls ncerned about labels and more foced on fosterg a welg, eclectic ambience. LipsFor a sctillatg drag queen show paired wh an exquise culary experience, head straight to Lips—NYC’s go-to drag spot for over two s and a mt-clu on any gay travel gui to New York Cy.

LGBTQ BROOKLYN – A GAY GUY’S WEEKEND GUI TO BROOKLYN

Marie's CrisisIn this laid-back, gay-popular venue Greenwich Village, mil theatre stunts, fun-lovg ctomers, and even the ocsnal celebry stop by to belt their favoure Broadway show tun to the acpaniment of a live pianist. Bottom le: I've been workg hard at this rearch for most of my (almost) adult, my reviews of some notable NYC gay bars. I vised as many plac as I uld by neighborhood and clud optns om all of the boroughs except the Bronx, which appears not to have a sgle gay bar.

The bartenrs will spend their time tellg you how "straight" they are— don't matter to me if you're gay or straight as long as you're terted gettg me a drk. : NoGym Sportsbar is loted at 167 8th Avenue, (212) 337-2439; Lounge: G Lounge was one of my first regular hot spots when I started feelg out the gay scene about 10 years ago.

Juli': Deemed New York's olst gay bar, as well as Greenwich Village's olst bar, Juli' is another hnt that has figured out. : NoJuli' is loted at 159 Wt 10th Street, (212) 243-1928; Hangar: For the most ethnilly mixed crowd that I've seen at a gay bar, The Hangar tak the ke. Though they don't operate full-time as a gay bar, lots of NJ gays drive over the bridge to h up this Staten Island hotspot; as far as I know 's the only gay or gay-iendly bar on the Island.

HARLEM’S BLACK, GAY BARS ARE THRIVG THE MIDDLE OF A PANMIC

(212) 713-0481For somethg pletely different Flamg Saddl is a Wild Wt-themed gay bar that has untry wtern mic and even dancg barkeeps. 29 plac sorted by traveler favorBars & Clubs • Gay BarsDowntown Manhattan (Downtown)Bars & Clubs • Gay BarsDowntown Manhattan (Downtown)Gay BarsDowntown Manhattan (Downtown)Bars & Clubs • Gay BarsDowntown Manhattan (Downtown)What travelers are saygDgn1010Dungannon, UK392 ntributnsSo ol to be drkg such a historil bar. The spac, whether always gay iendly or only durg certa tim of the day or week, gave LGBT people the eedom to be themselv a way they ually uld not be their personal or profsnal liv.

I’ve been a New York lol for more than ne years, so I’ll give you some of the bt New York Cy gay travel advice you n fd. From explorg storybook-like neighborhoods to dancg until sunrise at tense circu parti, there are limls ways for gay travelers to explore New York.

CAN GAY BARS, AN ANCHOR OF N.Y.C. NIGHTLIFE, SURVIVE THE PANMIC?

Below, I’ll tell you where to stay for the bt gay New York experience, remend crowd-favore hotels, rtrants, gay nightlife venu and share eful travel tips. Overall, New York has such an enormo gay populatn that ’s not necsary to lim yourself to gay-specific hotels, although I will say that some of New York Cy’s gay hotels all offer stylishly unique experienc that travelers love. Below I’ll remend some hotels and other plac to stay by borough, addn to verg the var gay neighborhoods of New York Cy.

Midtown East is isolated om gay nightlife, the Fancial District n feel lifels the eveng, and Chatown is both isolated and dirty.

THE GAY MEN FREQUENTED MANHATTAN PIANO BARS. SO DID THEIR KILLER.

Williamsburg is the ial neighborhood for New York Cy gay travelers who want to experience that classic “Brooklyn” feel.

However, you’ll fd gay lols om here all the way eastward through the middle of Bhwick, followg the route of the L subway rridor. GITANO Garn of Love – Showg off some betiful Tulum vib, GITANO is one of the bt summertime rtrants New York popular wh gay lols. The Big Gay Ice Cream Shop – Perfect place to ol down summer wh lotns both the Seaport District and Upper Wt Si Manhattan.

JAGUARS ASSOCIATE STRENGTH ACH OUT AS GAY A FIRST FOR US-BASED PRO LEAGU

A historic New York Cy gay neighborhood wh all sorts of boutique shops, spend an afternoon wanrg Manhattan’s quat Wt Village. Stroll by the Stonewall Natnal Monument the Wt Village, the famo place of the 1969 rts that ntributed to the Gay Liberatn Movement.

Sheep Meadow is a lol gay hangout spot Central Park where the LGBT muny nven on the send Sunday of each month the summer. Make sure to pack snacks and a day bag full of all your gay beach sentials bee there’s not too many plac for rehments near Riis Beach.

WT HOLLYWOOD’S HISTORIC GAY NIGHTCLUB THE ABBEY IS UP FOR SALE

In terms of strictly gay bars, my personal favor are REBAR Chelsea, Rise Bar Hell’s Kchen, and Eagle NYC gay leather bar. I ver all the bt lol gay bars here wolfyy’s NYC Gay Bar Ultimate Gui, where you n fd out which typ of guys are at each gay bar, which days each bar is bit, and their overall vibe. Check out wolfyy’s ctom Google Maps layer of all 40+ New York Cy gay bars, which is ntually updated and ntas sential not for each bar.

Larger gay parti New York are hosted monthly or a few tim per year, but there’s almost always at least one major gay party happeng every weekend. Wearg mostly jockstraps and sexy unrwear, gay men go back and forth om the dance floor to the cisg area, which is a sectned-off area of the club.

3 Dollar Bill is a hugely popular gay event space East Williamsburg, brand as New York’s premier queer bar and performance venue.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT A SEEMGLY FAKE DOCUMENT A GAY RIGHTS CASE

They’re well-known for hostg large circu parti (like MEAT NYC mentned above), and a bunch of other popular gay parti like Ty Tea, Love Prism, and DILF XL. FLY Sundays is a summertime rooftop gay party at the Monarch Rooftop wh sweet gummy-bear u punch cktails, upbeat mic and a betiful view of the Empire State Buildg.

You n also fd more about sex parti New York as well as some history about why there are only a few tradnal gay bathho NYC. The history of NYC nightlife is studd wh the memori of fascatg boît that attracted gays sperate need of nnectn, then ultimately fell away as newer spots and trends emerged.