The Best Gay Bars in NYC - Explore our favorite Queer, Trans, Lesbian & LGBTQ Clubs in Manhattan & Brooklyn

Need a cute gay bar?  There's more to the queer NYC scene than the Stonewall Inn, cabaret and drag shows. Explore the alternate side of queer nightlife in NYC with this city guide! We’re compiling lists of queer bars, lesbian dance parties, DJs, and your new favorite neighborhood dive bar so you don’t have to 💅

New York is a historical hub for LGBTQ+ culture, so it’s no surprise that there is an abundance of lesbian and queer venues to enjoy. Use this list to plan your LGBTQ nightlife tour of New York City, and download Lex to discover local LGBTQ events wherever you are

Let’s get into our best gay bars, lesbian dance parties and LGBTQ+ friendly scenes across East Village, West Village, Greenwich Village, Williamsburg, Bushwick and more.

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1. Cubby Hole

Address: 281 w 12th St. Greenwich Village, New York, NY 10014

The tiny dive bar in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan, Cubby Hole is one of the longest-standing lesbian bars in the city, and it’s a must-visit for any lesbian, non-binary, queer or trans person visiting NYC for the first time. Come to Cubby Hole for the quirky decor, stay for the hot bartenders, shoulder-bumping with local lesbians, and all around fun gay bar vibes. The music on the digital jukebox is always a hit too!

2. Henrietta Hudson

Address: 438 Hudson St. West Village, New York, NY 10014

Open since 1991 and literally built by lesbians, Henrietta Hudson is a cafe-slash-living room-slash-dance club that has been a community hub for the queer community in NYC for the last 30 years. If you're looking for a fun night out at a staple lesbian bar in the city, look no further than HH. It's one of the few LGBTQ bars in NYC run by an all lesbian team.

Hot queer event: Check out their Butch/Femme/They/Them night on Thursdays, 9pm - Late. Catch the best queer  DJs in the West Village.

3. Ginger’s Bar

Address: 363 5th Ave. Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Ginger’s is another iconic lesbian bar in Brooklyn’s Park Slope. It has an airy, neighborhood-bar feel with a pool table, regular LGBTQ+ events and queer parties like Dyke Drag and Queeraoke or karaoke, and a spacious outdoor patio you can enjoy all summer long. Come for the cute and sexy crowd in this gay bar.

4. Mary’s Bar (update: now closed)

Address: 134 Kingsland Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11222

A new queer Irish bar in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Mary’s Bar seeks to mix the progressive spirit of Ireland with the family feel of a classic Irish pub to create a queer pub that feels like home. They host tons of events like Queeraoke, Drag Race watch parties, and more. If you want to mix up your rotation of queer bars in New York, put Mary's on the  of you gay bar list!

5. Purgatory

Address: 675 Central Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11207

Located deep in Bushwick, Purgatory is a quirky, vibrant queer-owned venue and gay bar with more of a DIY spirit. Along with being a venue for live music, they host queer art markets featuring trans creators among other events in support of Brooklyn’s queer & trans community. Enjoy a fun night with LGBTQ+ friends at this cool queer bar in Brooklyn - you won't regret it! Check our their listing for drag shows,  cabaret, comedy and even karaoke.

6. Metropolitan Bar

Address: 559 Lorimer St. Brooklyn, NY 11211

A cozy queer+ neighborhood gay bar in Bushwick, Metropolitan Bar has a schedule packed with regular queer a events, featuring drag performances, comedy, Drag Race watch parties, and open mic nights like Gender Experts (which takes place every Tuesday except the 3rd of the month). Come for an event, or enjoy their huge patio in the warmer days. You’ll find friendly queer people from all walks of life!

7. MISSTER Wednesdays @ The Woods

Address: 48 S 4th St. Brooklyn, NY 11211

While The Woods in Brooklyn isn’t a queer bar most days, their Wednesday night lesbian party MISSTER is renowned among the local lesbian scene in New York. This is a staple in the lesbian nightlife scene of New York! Music, dancing, and lots of cuties to flirt with. Enjoy cocktails, a taco truck parked nearby, and a spacious outdoor patio. One of our teams favorite lesbian and LGBTQ+ dance parties in Williamsburg

8. The Bush

Address: 333 Troutman St. Store 4, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Opened just in 2023, The Bush is a hot new dyke bar for all queers. Quickly becoming an absolute fave in the queer community (Lex has hosted several events there already!), they keep their calendar stacked with fun events like DJ nights, queer figure drawing, and even an event for pet owners to meet and mingle. Keep an eye on their Instagram to find the right event for you.

9. PAT @ Union Pool

Address: 484 Union Ave. Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Running for over 10 years now, PAT is a staple queer night at Brooklyn's Union Pool. This free and very gay event is every third Thursday of the month from 9pm - 2am and features DJs, dancing, and a big dose of queer togetherness. One of the longest running LGBTQ+ dance parties  in Williamsburg.

10. Drag Show Sunday Brunch @ Dromedary BK

Looking for a fun day with your friends? Obsessed with rupaul drag race? Need to make your Sunday just a bit more fabulous? Consider Brooklyns longest running drag race brunch!  Join hosts Nancy Nogood and Emi Grate for an afternoon of delicious food, crafted cocktails, and DRAG! Bring yourself, your friends, and your best tipping dollars to Dromedary: Coming Out for an unforgettable Sunday Brunch specials available. Drag Race Show runs from 2pm to 5pm, every Sunday.

Find your perfect plans on Lex

There’s always something queer happening on Lex. Download Lex and filter your feed by Events to see everything happening in your area. Nothing speaking to you? Take charge and make your own! Create an Event and get friends (read some tips on finding new queer friends here) together to check out a queer bar in your city. Queer cuties in your neighborhood are right at your fingertips - go meet them!

Looking for something a little less nightlife-related? We’ve got tips for sober activities, too. And check out our other city guides here.

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