New York is home to one of the biggest and best queer scenes in the world. Although it certainly has competition from cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, one cannot deny that it’s one of the most welcoming and flourishing gay capitals of the United States (and the world). It’s been the center of some of the most important moments and movements in LGBTQ history in the country, including the Stonewall Riots and the formation of the ACT UP political group. Both its history and its thriving modern-day LGBTQ scene make it an easy choice for gay travelers to visit New York.
Gay in New York: is New York gay friendly?
New York is one of the friendliest cities for LGBTQ travelers. It’s home to the largest LGBTQ population in the United States, and it’s unlikely that you’d encounter any issues if you’re openly gay while visiting. If you do find yourself in any situations that need assistance from LGBTQ legal, health, or advocacy groups, The Gay Centre and the New York Anti-Violence Project can offer substantial help.
Where are the gay areas in New York?
New York’s gay scene nowadays is mostly concentrated in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York. However, its historical roots in Chelsea and Greenwich Village are still going strong, and you’ll find some of New York’s most iconic gay bars in these areas. You’ll also find gay bars all over the city, particularly in East Village, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Gay bars in New York
New York has many amazing gay bars and clubs. We’ve curated a list of some of the best ones, but be open to a change of plans when you arrive and discover what’s on while you’re there.
The Stonewall Inn
In the 1960s, police raids on gay bars happened frequently. In the early hours of the morning on the 28th of June 1969, police raided The Stonewall Inn, and the bar’s patrons, along with the residents of Greenwich Village fought back. That night and the following protests came to be known as the Stonewall Riots, which marked the beginning of the LGBTQ liberation movement in the United States. Today, this iconic and historic bar remains a fixture of New York’s queer community. It hosts themed nights, drag shows, karaoke, and much more. Whenever you visit, you’ll always find a fun, welcoming atmosphere. New York is one of the best party destinations in the world, and Stonewall hosts some of the best parties in the city.
Julius’
Although historically the bar’s owners were not always receptive to the idea, Greenwich Village’s Julius’ is generally considered the oldest gay bar in New York City. Like Stonewall, it played an important role in the LGBTQ rights movement in New York. In 1966, the city was ordering bartenders not to serve LGBTQ people and revoking the liquor licenses of gay bars. The Mattachine Society, one of the earliest gay rights organizations in the United States, held a “sip-in” in protest, which ultimately helped overturn the bans. Today, the bar runs a Mattachine Society night on the third Thursday of each month. Overall, Julius’ has a very relaxed atmosphere and patrons come when they’re looking for something laid-back, inexpensive, and comfortable.
Industry
Located in Hell’s Kitchen, Industry is one of the most popular gay bars in New York, operating since 1991. It’s one of the best spots in the city for drag performances, with multiple drag shows throughout the week hosted by some of the scene’s finest drag queens. In addition to the live performances, you can expect plenty of current and classic pop music played by world-class DJs. Named “New York’s Best Gay Bar” by magazines such as GetOut and The Village Voice, Industry is best experienced on Saturday nights when it attracts the biggest crowds and on Thursdays when it features Queen, one of the bar’s longest-running and most popular weekly drag shows. Note: this bar accepts cash only, but there are two cash machines available on site.
Townhouse Bar
On 58th Street, in Hell’s Kitchen, you’ll find one of the coolest cocktail bars in New York City. The Townhouse Bar has been a fixture of New York’s gay scene for over 25 years. It offers a quieter, more relaxed space where you can sit back with a cocktail or a glass of whisky amidst soft music and hushed conversation. The back room is a little more lively, with live piano performances often leading to a show tune sing-a-long. In contrast with this easygoing atmosphere, the dress code is a bit more formal and the bar requests a “dress to impress” attire. But you don’t need to overthink it – any suitably smart-casual look is enough to gain your entrance.
Lucky Cheng’s
Industry is one of the best drag bars in Hell’s Kitchen, but Lucky Cheng’s is the place to go for drag dinner. Enjoy a delicious three-course meal while being served signature cocktails by drag queen waitresses. The restaurant’s drag cabarets have been running since 1993, and they’ve been a community favorite ever since. It runs on the weekends and usually opens at 1 pm. But if you’re visiting New York in winter, it opens an hour later.
Club Cumming
Alan Cumming’s performance as the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret captivated Broadway audiences in the late 90s. Now, his East Village bar Club Cumming is bringing Weimar cabaret to modern audiences. The venue used to be a gay dive bar and, although it’s not quite as gay-focused anymore, you’ll still find a sizable queer crowd here. Along with cabarets, drag shows, and stand-up comedy, the club also hosts a knitting night, book club, and “raunchy readings.” Every night has at least one event running, so you won’t need to check its calendar to ensure an excellent evening of entertainment when you visit.
BOXERS
BOXERS is a gay sports bar, featuring plasma screen TVs, pool tables, and plenty of drinks. It’s a popular hangout spot for gay sports leagues/teams and hosts frequent events and themed parties, including “80s Night” and “Jock Night.” There are two BOXERS in New York City: one in Hell’s Kitchen and the other in Chelsea. The Chelsea bar opened first and remains its flagship location, spread across two levels and an outdoor patio. It also has a brick oven that serves fresh, delicious pizzas.
Gay eateries in New York
These are some of the best spots to go for a meal or a sweet treat when you’re visiting New York. Whether they’re owned by gay people, located in gay areas, or just popular with gay clientele, these eateries are the perfect places to refuel as you move from sightseeing to clubs.
Grab a scoop at Big Gay Ice Cream
Owned by gay entrepreneurs, Big Gay Ice Cream is an ice cream truck that has won numerous awards, including Best Gay Ice Cream Parlour and Best Food Truck in the Country. It began as a roving food truck but has since expanded to several permanent locations in New York, the first in East Village and the second in West Village. They still have trucks that they hire out for parties and events. Big Gay Ice Cream serves old-school soft serve made using traditional methods. They base their business on the classic flavors of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, but they also have a few special flavors that change up weekly.
Indulge at Elmo Restaurant & Lounge
Elmo Restaurant in Chelsea is one of New York’s most popular restaurants among the LGBTQ community. Its beautiful, stylish decor alone is worth a visit, but it’s the delicious American comfort food that will have you coming back again and again. Downstairs, you’ll find Elmo Lounge, which hosts a range of events and performances throughout the week. A lot of its programming is hosted or performed by LGBTQ artists.
Brunch at Buvette
If you’re staying in Greenwich Village, you should definitely pay a visit to Buvette. This French-inspired brasserie is a charming, relaxed restaurant and a popular brunch spot with gay clientele in the area. After a long night partying, you can revive yourself with one of its delicious croque monsieurs or steak tartare. You can also get the next party started with its unique cocktails and extensive wine list.
Other gay attractions in New York
We’ve covered the best of New York’s nightlife, but these are some of the best spots to visit during the day (though some are open in the evenings too). You probably already have been to the MET and other popular New York museums on your list, so make sure to check out these queer-focused establishments too. You can also find hubs of community activity where you can socialize without loud music and alcohol.
Art and history at Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art
The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art celebrates the art and lives of LGBTQ artists. Its permanent collection features artwork and memorabilia of celebrities such as Andy Warhol and Tom of Finland. You’ll also find a spotlight shone on lesser-known or underappreciated LGBTQ artists. It gives visitors a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the city’s LGBTQ inhabitants, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century. The museum runs educational workshops and often loans parts of its collection to other institutions, such as the New York Public Library and the Smithsonian Institution.
The extensive collection at Lesbian Herstory Archives
The Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn is home to the largest collection of historic materials by lesbians and about lesbians. It was founded in 1974 and its first pieces were donated by the founders themselves. Since then, it has grown into a robust collection with both physical and digital artifacts. You’ll find here an extensive compilation of diaries, photographs, zines, novels, and much more.
Socialise at the BGSQD
The Bureau of General Services – Queer Division, or BGSQD, is an independent community center, bookstore, and venue run by volunteers. It’s housed in room 210 in the LGBT Community Center in West Village. Whenever you visit, you can peruse a range of queer literature and get to know LGBTQ locals and visitors. Throughout the week, it hosts a range of events, including live performances, readings, screenings, and book clubs. Both the BGSQD and the LGBT Community Center are rewarding places to visit if you’re looking to socialize outside of bars and clubs.
Gay events in New York
New York hosts a range of LGBTQ-focused events throughout the year. From Pride marches to film festivals, these events celebrate queer culture, art, and history. If any of these events interest you, you might want to consider them when deciding the best time to visit New York.
NYC Pride
NYC Pride takes place in June every year and is made up of multiple events that happen throughout the city. RALLY is usually the starting event and the spiritual successor to the “Gay Power” demonstration that occurred in Washington Square Park a few weeks after the initial Stonewall Riots. PrideFest is a street fair based in Greenwich Village, with food vendors, craft stalls, and plenty of live performances. Pride Island is a multi-day music festival hosted on Governors Island, which promises live performances from internationally renowned music acts. The main event is the NYC Pride March, which winds its way down Fifth Avenue and ranks among the largest Pride events in the world.
Bushwig
If you’re planning a visit for September, see if you can arrive in time for this award-winning drag festival. Held over two days at the Knockdown Center in Queens, each year promises creative, camp performances by some of the city’s best drag performers. In previous years, audience members have had the chance to watch some alumni of Ru Paul’s Drag Race alongside up-and-coming stars. Drag is the focus, but Bushwig is also a broader celebration of queer creativity.
Fresh Fruit Festival
The Fresh Fruit Festival is all about queer artists bringing something new, fresh, and exciting to their respective fields. It’s presented by All Out Arts and aims to be an extension of their slogan “fighting prejudice and homophobia through the arts.” You’ll find performance art, visual art, poetry, comedy, dance, drag, and much more. It usually runs for two weeks in late spring or summer.
Gay hotels in New York
There are no exclusively gay hotels in New York, but generally, you won’t experience any problem staying at most hotels, hostels, or rentals throughout the city. Many gay travelers choose to stay in Chelsea, Greenwich Village, and Hell’s Kitchen, as they are close to the LGBTQ-specific places and events.
Hell’s Kitchen accommodation
Ink 48 is a great option in Hell’s Kitchen. It has a rooftop bar that offers stunning views of the city and excellent spa facilities. If visiting the best parks in New York is a top priority, consider staying at Hudson Hotel. It’s situated close to both Central Park and Hell’s Kitchen.
Chelsea accommodation
Kimpton Hotel Eventi is a beautiful hotel that offers spacious rooms and has accessible cafes and restaurants on the ground floor. Kimpton was also one of the earliest hotel chains in the United States to implement LGBTQ-inclusive policies. The High Line Hotel is close to the popular Chelsea Market and has bicycles available for hire.
Greenwich Village accommodation
Washington Square Hotel is a stunning Art-Deco building in Greenwich Village, just walking distance from the area’s nightlife. It’s also close to a subway station, so getting around the city and back to your hotel is easy. The Standard, High Line New York is perfect for anyone visiting during Pride. The hotel hosts excellent Pride parties, and it’s also close to Stonewall. Modernhaus SoHo is a great in-between option that puts you close to both Greenwich Village and Chelsea. Hot tip: Head over to the top of the hotel for the rooftop bar or swim a few laps in the pool.
