New York City Gay Bars

This gay show bar in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen has fast become one of New York’s hotspots, attracts a large crowd of beautiful gay men.

Therapy hosts karaoke, special events and themed nights, though it is best-known for the weekly drag shows by some New York’s top drag divas including residencies from RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Yes, a few drinks, a good show and lots of eye candy can be very therapeutic!

nearest station : 50th Street

A 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.

nearest station : 50th Street

Gay-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).

This 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 mostly 30-something 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.

nearest station : Lexington Ave / 59th Street

A 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.

nearest station : 23rd Street

Lucky 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.

nearest station : 50 Street Subway

A fun gay bar in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. This cowboy-themed bar was designed to look like a Wild West saloon – think “Coyote Ugly” but with male bartenders.

Aside from the hot barmen dancing on the bar top, Flaming Saddles also serves great cocktails with regular drink deals – Happy Hour 3pm-9pm. Only cash is accepted.

If you’re in Los Angeles, check out its sister branch – Flaming Saddles WeHo.

nearest station : 50th Street

Hell’s Kitchen’s longest-running gay bar. POSH 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.

Rise 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.

nearest station : 50 Street Subway

New 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.

A 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.

nearest station : 1st Avenue

Gay-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.

nearest station : Broadway-Lafayette

Laid-back basement gay bar in NYC’s East Village. Nowhere has a 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.

nearest station : 1st Avenue

Iconic 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.

nearest station : Christopher Street Station

The 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.

nearest station : 9th Street

One 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.

The space is limited inside, so expect a queue.

nearest station : Christopher Street

Gay bar in Greenwich Village (since 1993). Pieces Bar features drag shows, competitions, games, sexy bartenders, party nights with DJ.

Open daily 2pm-4am. Happy hour Monday-Friday (2pm-8pm). 21+ only.

nearest station : Christopher Street / Sheridan Square

Chelsea branch of New York’s favourite gay sports bar. BOXERS features large TV screens, pool tables and a rooftop terrace (open in the sumer).

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.

nearest station : 14th Street

Popular 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.

If you’re looking for a drag show in New York you can’t do better than Lips. There are nightly performances 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 Centre.

nearest station : Lexington Av

The 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 come here to watch a sports game, have a brick oven pizza and have a drink on the outside terrace.

If you’re in uptown Manhatten it’s worth a visit. Happy hour is very happy and it usually kicks off at 20:00 – it’s currently 2 for 1 all week!