List of LGBT bars

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An LGBT bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+) clientele. Bars and nightclubs have historically served as centers of gay culture due to their role as some of the few places people with same-sex orientations and gender-variant identities could openly socialize.

While many LGBT bars have historically catered specifically to men, lesbian bars cater exclusively or predominantly to lesbian women. Some bars of both types are now considered "queer" bars, welcoming LGBTQ+ people of all genders.

This is a list of notable LGBT bars worldwide. This is not a complete list.

Africa

More information Bar, City ...
Bar City Country Year opened Year closed Notes
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Asia

More information Bar, City ...
Bar City Country Year opened Year closed Notes
Aiiro Cafe Tokyo Japan
Dragon Men Tokyo Japan
Sunee Plaza Pattaya Thailand 1996 Area known for LGBT nightlife, including more than 50 institutions[1][2] Opened in 1996 as Crazy Pub.
Video Pub Jerusalem Israel 2012
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Australia

More information Bar, City ...
Bar City Country Year opened Year closed Notes
Capriccio's Sydney Australia 1969 2008
Connections Nightclub Perth, Northbridge Australia 1975 Known colloquially as Connies
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Europe

More information Bar, City ...
Bar City Country Year opened Year closed Notes
Admiral Duncan London England c. 1832 (possibly earlier) One of the oldest gay pubs in Soho[3][4]
The Backstreet London England 1985 2022
The Black Cap London England 1751 (as Mother Black Cap) 2015 Known for drag cabaret[5][6]
Café 't Mandje Amsterdam Netherlands 1927 1982 One of the first gay bars in the Netherlands. Closed in 1982 and reopened in 2007[7]
2007
The Coleherne London England 1866 2008 Known as a popular landmark leather bar during the 1970s and 1980s[8][9]
Comptons of Soho London England 1986 Known as "The Grand Dame of Queer Street"[10]
Cruz 101 Manchester England 1992 One of the most popular and longest-running gay clubs in Greater Manchester[11]
DTM Helsinki Finland 1992 2025 Formerly the largest gay club in Northern Europe[12]
Eldorado Berlin Germany c. 1848 1932 Name of multiple early queer and gay clubs in Berlin, closed by the Nazi's
The George Dublin Ireland 1985 One of Ireland's oldest and largest gay bars, and the most popular in Dublin[13]
The George and Dragon London England 1716 Historic venue[14]
Heaven London England 1979 Superclub with major influence in the development of London's LGBT scene[15]
Hercules Helsinki Finland 2000 Most popular gay club in Helsinki[12]
The Joiners Arms London England 1997 2015 Central to the East London gay scene[16]
Kiki Reykjavik Iceland 2014[17] Iceland's only gay bar[18]
London Astoria London England 1976 2009 Home to G-A-Y until 2008[19]
Le Queen Paris France 1991 c. 2019
The New Penny Leeds England 1953 First gay venue in the UK to open outside London[20]
The Queen Adelaide Hackney, London England 1834 Inherited furnishings from the closure of the George and Dragon in 2015[21][22]
The Queen's Head Amsterdam Netherlands 1998 [23][24]
Pan Club Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark 1970 2007 One of Europe's largest gay clubs and the biggest in Copenhagen[25][26]
Pantibar Dublin Ireland 2007 Run by drag queen and activist Rory O'Neill[27]
Royal Vauxhall Tavern London England 1862 South London's oldest surviving queer venue[28]
Tom's Bar Berlin, Schöneberg Germany 1982 2024
Trade London England 1990 2008
The WayOut Club London England 1993 One of London's best known transgender venues[29]
XXL London and Birmingham England 2000 2019 Nightclub catering to the bear sub-group[30][31][32]
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North America

More information Bar, City ...
Bar City State Country Year opened Year closed Notes
3 Dollar Bill New York City New York United States 2018
The 19 Bar Minneapolis Minnesota United States 1952 Oldest gay bar in Minneapolis
The Abbey West Hollywood California United States 1991 Called the "Los Angeles equivalent to the Stonewall Inn", central to LGBT culture in Los Angeles[33]
Los Amigos Puerto Vallarta, Zona Romántica Jalisco Mexico 1998 2025
Atlantic House Provincetown Massachusetts United States 1798 Contender for oldest gay bar in the United States[34][35]
Axis Nightclub Columbus Ohio United States c. 2001 Staple of Columbus nightlife[36]
Badlands Portland Oregon United States 2024 Operating in the former location of Embers Avenue
The Bar Complex Lexington Kentucky United States 1963 The oldest continuous LGBTQ gathering place in Kentucky[37]
Bar Frida Puerto Vallarta Jalisco Mexico 2001 Various locations within the city
Black Banana Philadelphia Pennsylvania United States 1971 1990s (early) European-style nightclub[38]
Black Cat Bar San Francisco California United States 1906 1921 At center of early legal fight establishing protections for gay people in the United States[39]
1933 1964
Black Cat Tavern Los Angeles, Silver Lake California United States 1939 Site of one of the first demonstrations in the United States protesting police brutality against LGBT people[40]
Black Eagle Montreal Quebec Canada
Cafe Lafitte in Exile New Orleans Louisiana United States 1933 Claims to be the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States[41][42][43][44]
CC Slaughters Portland Oregon United States 1981 Two locations in Portland, OR, USA[45] and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico[46]
CC Slaughters Puerto Vallarta Mexico Two locations in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Portland, OR, USA
Circus Disco Los Angeles, Hollywood California United States 1975 2016 Large Latinx clientele excluded form many other LGBTQ bars. Cesar Chavez addressed an LGBTQ community meeting here in 1983.[47]
Celebrities Nightclub Vancouver Alberta Canada 1978
Club 70 Edmonton Alberta Canada 1970 1978
Club Universe San Francisco, South of Market California United States 1994
Crews & Tangos Toronto Ontario Canada 1994
Diesel Seattle Washington United States 2011 Bear bar
The Double Header Seattle Washington United States 1934 2015 Upon closing, one of the oldest operating gay bars in the United States[48][49]
Down the Street Asbury Park New Jersey United States 1988 1999 At close, was the oldest and longest-operating gay disco in New Jersey[50][51]
Downtown Olly's Indianapolis Indiana United States 2002
The Eagle's Nest New York City New York United States 1970 First gay bar to operate under the name "The Eagle"[52]
El Rio San Francisco, Mission District California United States 1978 First gay bar to debut queer salsa in San Francisco[53]
Embers Avenue Portland Oregon United States 1969 2017 Former gay bar and nightclub[54][55]
Esta Noche San Francisco, Mission District California United States 1979 2014 First Latino gay bar in San Francisco[56][57]
Mr. Flamingo Puerto Vallarta Jalisco Mexico
Flashback Edmonton Alberta Canada 1974 1991 [58]
Fountainhead Pub Vancouver, West End British Columbia Canada 2000
Hobo's Portland Oregon United States c. 2002 2020 Restaurant, gay bar, and piano bar[59][60]
Hunters Palm Springs Palm Springs California United States 1998 [61]
Jewel's Catch One Los Angeles California United States 1973 2015 Longest running black gay dance bar in Los Angeles[62]
Julius New York City New York United States c. 1867 Oldest continuously operating gay bar in New York City and site of the 1966 Julius Sip-In[63]
The Junction Vancouver, Davie Village British Columbia Canada 2010
The Leather Stallion Saloon Cleveland Ohio United States 1970 Oldest continuously operating gay bar in Ohio[64]
Le Stud Montreal, Gay Village Quebec Canada 1996
Madison Pub Seattle Washington United States 1986 Gay sports bar
Mantamar Beach Club Bar & Sushi Puerto Vallarta, Zona Romántica Jalisco Mexico c. 2013
Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon Houston Texas United States 1955 1995 Largest LGBT country and western bar in Texas[65][66] Opened in 1955 as Esquire Ballroom
2013
Nicho Bears and Bar Mexico City, Zona Rosa Mexico
La Noche Puerto Vallarta, Zona Romántica Jalisco Mexico
Numbers Vancouver, Davie Village British Columbia Canada c. 1980
Paco's Ranch Puerto Vallarta, Zona Romántica Jalisco Mexico
The Paddock Club Greenville North Carolina United States 1973 2003 At time of closing, oldest continuously operating LGBT club in North Carolina[67]
Pumpjack Pub Vancouver, Davie Village Alberta Canada 2000
Pony Seattle Washington United States
Pulse Orlando Florida United States 2004 2016 Site of the Pulse nightclub shooting[68]
Purr Cocktail Lounge Seattle Washington United States 2005 2018
The Q New York City New York United States 2021 2023
Queer Bar Seattle Washington United States 2017
Reinas Bar Puerto Vallarta, Zona Romántica Jalisco Mexico 2010
Red Cap Garage Portland Oregon United States 1987 2012 One of three interconnected bars[69][70][71]
San Francisco Eagle San Francisco, South of Market California United States 1981 Formerly Eagle Tavern, a leather bar[72]
Santé Bar Portland Oregon United States
The Saloon Minneapolis Minnesota United States 1977
Scandals Portland Oregon United States 1979 Among Portland's longest-running LGBTQ+ bars[73][74]
Silverado Portland Oregon United States 2000s Portland's only gay bar and strip club until the opening of Stag PDX[75]
The Silver Platter Los Angeles, Westlake California United States 1963 [76][77]
South Beach Houston Texas United States 2001 Voted Houston's Best Gay Bar[78][79]
Stag PDX Portland Oregon United States 2015 Second all-nude gay strip club on the West Coast, after Silverado[80]
Stereo nightclub Montreal Quebec Canada 1998
Stonewall Inn New York City New York United States 1930 Site of the 1969 Stonewall riots[81]
This Is It! Milwaukee Wisconsin United States 1968 2025 Prior to closing, oldest continually operating gay bar in Wisconsin[82][83][84]
Three Sisters Tavern Portland Oregon United States 1964 2004 Hub of Portland's gay nightlife[85][86]
Toad Hall Bar San Francisco, Castro District California United States 1971 1979 featured in the movie Milk (2008), the bar reopened at a nearby location in 2009[87]
2009
The Tool Box San Francisco, South of Market California United States 1962 1971 Leather bar[88]
Twin Peaks Tavern San Francisco, Castro District California United States 1935
Union Seattle Washington United States 2018
White Horse Inn Oakland California United States 1933 Said to be the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States[89]
Woody's Toronto Ontario Canada 1989 Featured in Queer as Folk[90][91][92]
Ziegfeld's Washington, D.C. United States 1980 2006 Dual-themed nightclub with drag queens and male strippers. Closed in 2006 and reopened in a new location in 2009.[93][94]
2009 2020
Nob Hill Washington, D.C. United States 1953 2004 Began as a private club for Black gay and bisexual men but opened to the public in 1957.[95][96]
Phase 1 Washington, D.C. United States 1971 2016 One of the oldest continuously-operating women's bars at the time of its closure.[97]
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South America

More information Bar, City ...
Bar City Country Year opened Year closed Notes
Amerika Buenos Aires Argentina 2000 Largest LGBT nightclub in Buenos Aires[98][99]
Nueva Cero San Miguel Chile 1998 Formerly known as Paradise, and Cero
Theatron Bogotá Colombia 2002 Complex of LGBT nightlife, the largest gay nightclub in Latin America[100][101][102]
The Week International São Paulo Brazil 2004
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See also

References

Further reading

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