“On a recent trip to Manhattan, I encountered an irate young man. He spitefully declared that if given the opportunity he’d round up all the gays and stick them on an island, to which I responded: ‘Sir, you are standing on that island.’” —Unknown
Link to "Current Page".
Bushwick

3 Dollar Bill

260 Meserole St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Singularly advancing gay nightlife in New York. Giant club with indoor/outdoor space.
Dance-y
Drag
Has Food
Unique
Performances
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Harlem (West)

4West Lounge

303 W 127th St, New York, NY 10027
Food and cocktails in a unique space. Active events and programming calendar on a membership model.
Dance-y
Has Food
Performances
Unique
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

9th Avenue Saloon

656 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036
A rare no-frills bar in Hell's Kitchen, recently reborn with a little bit more pizzaz.
Dive
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Astoria

Albatross

3619 24th Ave, Queens, NY 11103
Local gem. Intimate; great energy. Drag is top-tier.
Cheap
Drag
Dive
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Atlas Social Club

753 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Spacious and unassuming; never a bad choice. Amazing in the summer. Unique decor.
Date Spot
Cheap
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Chelsea

Barracuda

275 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10011
Chill in front. Party in back. Drag roster is top notch.
Drag
Dance-y
Unique
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Chelsea

Boxers (Chelsea)

37 W 20th St, New York, NY 10011
Consistently busy and spacious. Nondescript.
Has Food
Cheap
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Boxers (Hell's Kitchen)

735 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
A younger more energetic sibling to its Chelsea cousin. Smaller, but more vertical space.
Circuit-y
Date Spot
Fancy
Has Food
Dance-y
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Prospect Heights

Branded Saloon

Info to come
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
East Village

Club Cumming

505 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009
Unique cabaret-style venue with an extremely active events calendar. Intimate. Weirdly sexy. Cool lighting design.
Drag
Dive
Unique
Performances
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Jackson Heights

Club Evolution

Info to come
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Cubbyhole

Lesbian!
Unique
Dive
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Prospect Heights

C’mon Everybody

Info to come
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

DBL

667 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Delightfully affordable. More outdoor seating than average.
Cheap
Dive
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Chelsea

Eagle NYC

554 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001
Gotham's finest institution for discerning gentlemen. Kink, fetish, circuit, and billiards across four floors. The roof in summertime is unbeatable.
Roof
Circuit-y
Gear
Dance-y
Unique
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Fairytail Lounge

500 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
New York's only dedicated go-go dancer bar.
Info to come
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Flaming Saddles Saloon

793 9th Avenue, between, 52nd W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
Western-themed; the bartenders' Levi's may as well be painted on them. Heritage ties to the famous Coyote Ugly.
Unique
Performances
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Jackson Heights

Friend's Tavern

Info to come
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
South Slope

Good Judy

Cheap
Dance-y
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Chelsea

Gym Sportsbar

167 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Community-oriented. Regularly broadcasts athletics. One of the bartenders is basically Sir Clegane.
Cheap
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Hangar Bar

115 Christopher St #1, New York, NY 10014
A longtime West Village icon. Popular and welcoming space, particularly for people of color and friends.
Cheap
Date Spot
Dive
Unique
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Bushwick

Happyfun Hideaway

Info to come
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Hardware

697 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036
One of the best spots for dancing in HK. Excellent drag roster.
Dance-y
Drag
Cheap
Cruise-y
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Henrietta Hudson

Info to come
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Jackson Heights

Hombres Lounge

Info to come
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Hush

348 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019
Sexy people. Loud music. Packed dancefloor. Philly vibes, but the good kind. (Trust.)
Circuit-y
Drag
Dance-y
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Astoria

Icon

31-84 33rd St, Astoria, NY 11106
Moody lighting and great music with an *impressive* stage; Albatross's clubbier sister.
Dance-y
Drag
Cheap
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Industry

355 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019
Only place to synthetize bar/club/lounge on a single floor. When in doubt, go to Industry.
Unique
Drag
Circuit-y
Dance-y
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Julius’

159 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014
The oldest, continuously run gay bar in New York. Vibrant community feel. Get the jalapeño poppers.
Cheap
Unique
Dive
Has Food
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Midtown East

Lips

227 E 56th St, New York, NY 10022
Lips is more a fulltime cabaret joint, but it's all drag, all the time. Drag shows are thoughtful and funny, and the queens usually include audience members.
Drag
Unique
Performances
Has Food
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Williamsburg

Macri Park

462 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tiny bar with high energy on its best nights; packed. Ample, quiet courtyard space.
Date Spot
Big Patio
Cheap
Drag
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Marie's Crisis Café

59 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
Beloved piano bar where all the patrons sing along with gusto.
Piano
Unique
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Williamsburg

Metropolitan

559 Lorimer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Local institution. Divey with small dancefloor. Delightful Sunday BBQs. Brooklyn weird.
Dive
Dance-y
Cheap
Unique
Big Patio
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Monster

80 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
Lively tavern feel on top and a dance floor & stage in the basement.
Dance-y
Drag
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
East Village

Nowhere

322 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003
Consistently reliable, no frills bar with a super laidback clientele.
Cheap
Dive
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
East Village

Phoenix

447 E 13th St, New York, NY 10009
Divey experience with excellent music. Crowd is young and Manhattan-style weird.
Drag
Dive
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Pieces

8 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
Legendary drag performances. Consistently packed.
Dance-y
Drag
Unique
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Playhouse

100A 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014
Very well-produced cabaret-style entertainment with an active bar afterhours.
Unique
Drag
Performances
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Chelsea

Rebar

225 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011
Spacious, cool venue. Interesting events calendar. Saturday nights are very popular.
Dance-y
Cheap
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Rise

859 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
For the perosn that wants a little something of everything.
Dance-y
Drag
Fancy
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Rockbar

185 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
A Village bastion for everyone that doesn't fit in. Great bartenders. Programing always A+.
Cruise-y
Drag
Date Spot
Dive
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Morningside Heights

Suite

992 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
Popular neighborhood space.
Cheap
Date Spot
Drag
Has Food
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
East Village

The Boiler Room

86 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003
An iconic LGBTQ+ dive bar. Take a shot if the bathroom sink is still cleaved in two.
Cheap
Dive
Unique
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
East Village

The Cock

93 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10009
If you know, you know. (Curtsy to the bouncer—she's an icon.)
Unique
Dive
Cruise-y
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

The Dickens

783 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036
A rare (and true) food-club hybrid across three floors. Meticuously designed interior. Large.
Unique
Dance-y
Has Food
Fancy
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

The Duplex

61 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
Community-vibe below and small dancefloor atop—plus a private black box theater.
Big Patio
Dance-y
Date Spot
Unique
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Williamsburg

The Exley

1 Jackson St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Cute spot with a very robust cocktail list and a cute outdoor patio area.
Fancy
Date Spot
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

The Q

795 8th Ave, New York, NY 10019
A maximalist take on the gay club: three very different floors that always entertain. There's a shower in the restroom.
Circuit-y
Dance-y
Date Spot
Drag
Performances
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

The Ritz

369 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
Everyone's final stop of the evening.
Dance-y
Drag
Cruise-y
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Williamsburg

The Rosemont

63 Montrose Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Quintessentially Brooklyn. Queer through-and-through. Massive backyard.
Cruise-y
Dance-y
Date Spot
Big Patio
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

The Spot

599 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Solid gay bar with robust stage in back. "Spot" is "Tops" spelled backwards, btw.
Circuit-y
Dance-y
Drag
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

The Stonewall Inn

53 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
In the Book of Gay Genesis, this is where it begins. Pay your respects.
Unique
Dance-y
Drag
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Thirst

692 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Very popular HK bar with a little-more-space than average. Private spaces in back.
Date Spot
Drag
Circuit-y
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Upper East Side

Toolbox

1742 2nd Ave store, New York, NY 10128
Outrageously small, but easier to bump into UES sugar daddies this way.
Info to come
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Midtown East

Townhouse

236 E 58th St, New York, NY 10022
The champagne of gay bars. Only place with carpet. Welcoming place for older gay/bi men.
Unique
Fancy
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
West Village

Ty's

114 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
Among the oldest queer bars. Very laid back; fashions itself a safe space for the working crowd.
Cheap
Date Spot
Unique
Dive
Nearby Subway Lines
Link to "Current Page".
Hell's Kitchen

Vers

714 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
A quintessential HK bar with high energy. Beautiful motion design installation makes for excellent photos.
Fancy
Circuit-y
Dance-y
Nearby Subway Lines
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All information contained within is intended to be helpful to the LGBTQ+ community. Experiences can vary widely, and when in doubt: I recommend you explore something for yourself, and come to your own conclusion.