Gay bar downtown chicago
Downtown
Loop (Downtown)
Greektown & West Loop
Printers Row (Near South)
South Loop (Near South)
River North (Near North)
Magnificent Mile (Near North)
Streeterville (Near North)
Navy Pier (Near North)
Gold Coast (Near North)
Old Town (South of North Ave.)
SoNo (South of North Avenue, West of Clybourn)
River West (Near West)
North Side – Lincoln Park and Old Town
Old Town Triangle (North of North Ave.)
Lincoln Park & Park West
Sheffield Neighbors
Wrightwood Neighbors
North Side – Lakeview
East Lakeview
Boystown
West Lakeview
Wrigleyville
Southport Corridor
Roscoe Village
North Side – Far North & Northwest
North Center
Lincoln Square
Ravenswood
Ravenswood Gardens
Bowmanville
Uptown
Buena Park Neighbors
Andersonville
Edgewater
East Rogers Park
West Rogers Park
Irving Park
Albany Park
Portage Park
Jefferson Park
Edison Park
O'Hare Airport
West Side
West Town
Noble Square
Ukrainian Village
Humboldt Park
Wicker Park
Bucktown
Logan Square
Avondale
South Side
Suburbs
Beyond
Gone But Not Forgotten
Downtown: Everything’s waiting for you
For the first hour of a recent Saturday night at Downtown—a new bar in the space once occupied by Gentry and, ever so briefly, The Lucky Lady—I was the only lady in the room. Among the lounges that dot River North, Downtown stands as the sole gay bar save for the stalwart dive Second Story in nearby Streeterville. As a veteran of many a Boystown bar hop, I had decided to visit both spots and evaluate the possibility of a new gay district on Chicago’s nightlife horizon.
With three male companions in tow, I headed to Downtown first, since I’d heard happy hour is bus-tling (my next visit will be for Talentless Tuesdays karaoke in the basement). Relieved to find the drink list unencumbered by craft cocktails or hundreds of beers to sift through, I ordered my old faithful, Maker’s and Diet ($8), and huddled with my group under the dramatic barrel ceiling. “Oh, yeah. There’s a lot of Grindr activity going on here,” my comrade Tim muttered, peeking at the so-named smartphone app that lets like-minded seekers of, ahem, certain favors zero in on one another, wherever they may be. Y
LGBTQ+ nightlife in Chicago: lgbtq+ and lesbian bars, clubs, and more
Chicago’s nightlife is a lot like the city itself — inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to all. It’s also a whole lot of entertaining. Our gay and queer woman bars have a small bit of something for everyone, with late-night lounges, dance clubs,burlesque and kingly shows, and long-standing neighborhood watering holes in almost every corner of the city. And each comes with their own one-of-a-kind history and vibe.
Check out some of the optimal gay bars and clubs to experience Chicago’s lgbtq+ nightlife scene.
Jeffery Pub
One of the city’s oldest male lover bars, Jeffery Pub is a neighborhood institution. The South Shore staple is also one of Chicago’s first black-owned gay bars, making it all the more meaningful for the spot’s many regulars. Don’t miss the live amusement, like karaoke nights, Silky Soul Sundays, and a lively dance floor featuring everything from pop to house music.
Big Chicks
This lively and colorful spot is part LGBTQ hangout, part art gallery. The walls are plastered with the owner’s personal collection of paintings and photos, including big names like Diane Arbus. But don’t reflect for a second that makes the pla
The 34 best Queer bars in Chicago
Photograph: Courtesy Sidetrack
Northalsted, aka "Boystown," is the historical center of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ scene, but great same-sex attracted bars are all over the city.
Chicago has always been a trailblazing metropolis when it comes to spaces for the LGBTQ society. One of the first American LGBT rights organizations, the Society for Human Rights, was founded in Chicago in 1924, more than 40 years before Stonewall. And Northalsted, the gay nightlife hub also acknowledged as "Boystown," became the first officially-designated gay village in a major metropolis in 1997.
These days, while a darkness out on Northalsted is still a joyful blur of boozy slushies and death drops, queer nightlife in Chicago is expansive, creative and thriving all over the city. From Rogers Park to South Shore, from James Beard-nominated cocktail bars to beloved, homey dives, there's a queer block to fit your vibe. Oh, and don't forget about drag brunch. You'll need it after a night out on the town.
RECOMMENDED: Drink at the best bars in Chicago
Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
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