“While Pride still might look a little different this year, bars and clubs across the United States are finding ways to safely welcome patrons back for stiff cocktails, cold beers, and some of the best local drag shows…,” wrote Ryan Cox, a senior regional manager for Yelp in the review site’s recent blog post ranking the top LGBTQ+ bars across America.
Gathering places for members of LGBTQ+ communities — often referred to generically if not necessarily accurately as “gay bars” — have been around in one form or another since the 17th century. Historians, though, generally credit the Zanzibar in Cannes, on the French Riviera, as being the first such establishment in the present-day sense. It opened in 1885, closing only in 2010.
The first modern American gay bar is considered to have been Julius Bar, opened in Manhattan in 1966. A second such establishment nearby, opened the following year, was the Stonewall Inn — site of the 1969 “Stonewall riots,” credited with kickstarting the struggle for LGBTQ rights in America. Today, bars catering to various segments of the LGBTQ community are common around America — though more so in some places than others. These are the best and worst states for LGBTQ people.
Click here to see America’s favorite LGBTQ+ bars
Yelp’s list of the top 100 LGBTQ+ bars across the U.S. was curated by the review site by identifying bars in that category, then ranking them using several factors, including total volume of reviews and rating scores from users between January 1, 2016 and April 28, 2021.
24/7 Tempo’s list of the top country’s top LGBTQ+ bars is based on reader reviews and ratings from Yelp. The entries cover the country from New York to California (with the latter state winning most positions on the list) and range from upscale to divey. See also our list of the best dive bar in every state.
Source: Photo by Kristy G. via Yelp
25. Tin Lizzie Saloon
> Location: Costa Mesa, California
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Source: Photo by Ryan C. via Yelp
24. Good Friends Bar
> Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
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Source: Photo by Sean B. via Yelp
23. Redwing Bar & Grill
> Location: San Diego, California
Source: Photo by Allyson M. via Yelp
22. Mercantile Saloon
> Location: Sacramento, California
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Source: Photo by Brian D. via Yelp
21. Akbar
> Location: Los Angeles, California
Source: Photo by Alp O. via Yelp
20. The Boiler Room
> Location: New York, New York
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Source: Photo by Flux Bar via Yelp
19. Flux Bar
> Location: Bellflower, California
Source: Photo by Kaitlin M. via Yelp
18. Flaming Saddles Saloon
> Location: New York, New York
Source: Photo by Amanda T. via Yelp
17. The Stable
> Location: Providence, Rhode Island
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Source: Photo by Gossip Grill via Yelp
16. Gossip Grill
> Location: San Diego, California
Source: Photo by Grace L. via Yelp
15. Round-Up Saloon
> Location: Dallas, Texas
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Source: Photo by Paola D. via Yelp
14. Stir
> Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Source: Photo by Just D. via Yelp
13. Lone Star Saloon
> Location: San Francisco, California
Source: Photo by Kyle B. via Yelp
12. Triangle Denver
> Location: Denver, Colorado
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Source: Photo by Urban MO’s Bar & Grill via Yelp
11. Urban MO’s Bar & Grill
> Location: San Diego, California
Source: Photo by Mayra F. via Yelp
10. Tavern On Camac
> Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Source: Photo by Freddy L. via Yelp
9. Pint
> Location: Jersey City, New Jersey
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Source: Photo by Mikala W. via Yelp
8. Crush
> Location: Portland, Oregon
Source: Photo by Oasis via Yelp
7. Oasis
> Location: San Francisco, California
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Source: Photo by Yvonne C. via Yelp
6. Bacchus Waikiki
> Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Source: Photo by Tonya P. via Yelp
5. Big Chicks
> Location: Chicago, Illinois
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Source: Photo by Paul d. via Yelp
4. El Rio
> Location: San Francisco, California
Source: Photo by Aaron C. via Yelp
3. The Phoenix Bar & Lounge
> Location: Las Vegas, Nevaa
Source: Photo by The Garage via Yelp
2. The Garage
> Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
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Source: Photo by Dylan M. via Yelp
1. Sidetrack
> Location: Chicago, Ilinois
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