The best LGBTQ+ Bars in NYC

This four-story literature-themed cocktail bar and restaurant adds variety to the Hell’s Kitchen LGBTQ+ bar scene. Not only will you actually be able to move between bodies with all that extra space, but the decor is also more ornate and exquisite than the sticky-floored dive bars we know and love.

The Dickens has four event spaces available to hire. The Genie’s Lounge (max. 40) offers a private bar, plush velvet furniture in jewel tones, drapes, and chandeliers. The Studio Bar (max. 60) is a photography-themed bar, decorated with gold touches and antique cameras. The 3D Bar and Lounge (max. 60) is a modern space with funky mood lighting and a private bar. Finally, the Rooftop (max. 60) has a chilled-out vibe on the elevated fourth floor.

$25 bottomless cocktails are available with dinner Monday to Thursday, as well as with weekend brunch. The drinks are creative and include eight (yes, eight) different kinds of margaritas, and drinks with suggestive names (Rum Job, Nut to the Chase) that you can loudly yell to the bartender without shame. To top it all off, there are a ton of food options, from prosciutto flatbread to adobo chicken tacos to The Big Dickens Burger.

This lively bar has been an institution in the East Village for over 20 years, originally as The Bar and soon rebranding after a fire devastated the original spot. Despite its rebranding and renovation, Phoenix Bar still remains a favorite among LGBTQ+ dive bars in the city. Exposed brick on all sides, wood floors, red-painted walls, and a Ms. PacMan machine make it feel more like the sole gay bar in a small Midwestern town – in the best way possible.

The community is big at Phoenix Bar. Among the weekly regulars who have been coming for years, there are drag shows, comedy nights, dance parties, live music, and trivia. Get some friends together (or make new ones) and fight over the jukebox, which plays pop classics, vintage punk, and Britpop, among other genres.

You can rent the bar space for up to 65 people, and the private room in the back is available at a rate of $50/hr (and includes a complimentary bottle of champagne). Sip on classic cocktails done well, like mojitos, Moscow Mules, Long Island Ice Teas, and margaritas.

Located in Hell’s Kitchen, this queer cocktail bar is relatively new on the scene, having opened in 2022. The modern interior, colorful lighting, marble bar, and neon signs elevate the space, and weekly happenings include dance parties (90s Eurodance, anyone?), drag shows, and Broadway trivia.

Happy Hour is every day until 7 pm and includes $10 martinis and margs as well as a three-dish snack deal for $15. Otherwise, order unique craft cocktails like the pear gimlet with elderflower and génépy or the nostalgic Frozen Thin Mint. For bites, order a la carte from their Things to Finger or Pass-Around Party menus, and enjoy cheese boards, sliders, and pretzel bites.

You can host your own bash in the venue for up to 175 standing guests. Perks include a green room, stage, monitors, speakers, a DJ booth, gender-neutral bathrooms, and even a VIP booth for 4.

The new age of gay bars in NYC has brought inclusivity, trendiness, and… memes? Mood Ring’s social media proves its place as a New York institution of Gen Z LGBTQ+ culture, with stuffed animals and niche cartoon screenshots. Most of all, though, it’s astrology themed – their cocktail book is called Margarita in Retrograde and the bartender asking “What’s Your Sign?” is actually them just telling you the WiFi password.

Let us alter your expectations of the interior: the decor is inspired by Wong Kar Gai films, alluding to In the Mood for Love in particular, with red hues and neon signage that feels far more sultry than corny. Vintage movie posters and Chinese lanterns line the walls, and flyers advertising upcoming comedy shows, karaoke nights, Y2K indie dance nights, and open mics are designed with funky fonts and bright colors.

Order a seasonal cocktail that changes with the cosmos for $14, or one of their signatures like the First Date with elderflower, Earl Grey, and rosemary. Private events are accepted, and drink packages are available for groups over 20.

Nestled on Fifth Ave (no, not that Fifth Ave) in Brooklyn is Good Judy, the canonical little sister of Brooklyn LGBTQ+ party spot C’mon Everybody. This intimate space encourages diversity of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, and ages. If you need a place to hang out in Park Slope that doesn’t include babysitting for a brownstone family, Good Judy is your place.

Whether it’s at the bar, in the outdoor patio space, or upstairs in the Blue Room, there’s always something going on: singles’ nights, drag bingo, karaoke, dance parties, comedy shows, just to name a few. The aforementioned Blue Room is available to hire, and you can add on packages that include piano karaoke, specialty cocktails, or drag performers.

Rotating seasonal cocktails include Don’t Stop Now (strawberry-champagne shrub, peach liqueur) and Golden Girl (mezcal, pineapple, chartreuse, lime). Keep up with the community happenings through their free bi-monthly zine, which features interviews, essays, art, and horoscopes.