It’s a fun place and gets pretty busy on Sunday afternoons. The bartenders wear bright red boxer shorts. It has multiple pool tables that can be converted to accommodate beer pong, sports on TV, and a back garden. Oh, and I once sat next to Rufus Wainwright here and successfully ignored my impulse to tell him what a huge fan I am!īoxers is large. Their Sunday evening drag show still stands out as one of the most exciting way to spend a late night in NYC.
It’s a quasi-modern space, kept quite dark, with a back room ideal for intimate stage performances. Pieces is a fun bar that has a stage perfect for hosting musical and drag performances, bingo nights, and other such events.īarracuda Bar: 275 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10011īarracuda was a favorite of mine in my younger days. Pieces: 8 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014 You don’t have to sing, but just know a majority here are singing their hearts out and nothing works quite like cheap booze and group singing to bring awkward strangers together.
BEST PRICED GAY BARS NYC FREE
Cheap drinks, free entertainment, and a musical education! Come here to see a quirky mix of locals singing obscure Broadway songs. Marie’s Crisis: 59 Grove St, New York, NY 10014 Luckily, in time, I began to understand how diverse and inclusive the clientele here can be, and since it’s the oldest gay bar in NYC and on the National Register of Historic Places, it should be both preserved and celebrated! I was under the assumption this tavern was just a dive for older gay men. Julius’ is an example of a bar that never appealed to me as a younger guy. Julius’: 159 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014 (alternative to Stonewall) This bar really does have it all, and they are very welcoming of gay men, too, in case you were wondering. I hope it’s useful to visitors or other NYC newbies, as we all tend to enjoy bar-hopping to at least a couple venues in search of that perfect vibe.Ĭubbyhole: 281 W 12th St, New York, NY 10014Ĭubbyhole is a historic lesbian bar known for tight quarters, eccentric decor dangling from the ceiling, a fantastic jukebox, cheap drinks, and friendly people. Okay, okay, this bar isn’t historic per se, but listen, Good Judy opened during the pandemic and has survived to tell the tale! Plus, throw in the fact that Good Judy inhabits the longtime Park Slope gay bar Excelsior’s last commercial space, has dared to open a new piano bar and cabaret space, and is sister bars with Bed-Stuy queer bar mainstay C’mon Everybody qualifies it for our roundup!Īny gay history nerd will love the vibe, programming, crowd, and that great bar name “Good Judy.” Go support your gay bars while we have ’em.I organized the below list by neighborhood. The bar has been an important space for neighbors, lovers, and activists. Open for 30 years, this West Village bar welcomes everybody but is notable for being founded and operated by lesbians. There are 21 remaining lesbian bars in the United States, and Henrietta Hudson is one of the oldest ones left. Want to learn more about Fire Island? Listen to the Bowery Boys podcast “A Very Gay History of Fire Island.” Henrietta Hudson Check out their socials to see if drag legend Lady Bunny is spinning her “Disco Teas” -usually on Sunday afternoons and free. The Monster opened in the West Village in 1981 and is still thriving today with outdoor bar seating, a piano bar, and a downstairs disco. Notice the bar logo (based on a Coney Island sea creature) and historic art around the interior. “Host to the Homos since the 1970s” The Monster has roots in Fire Island and Key West - two other historic gay meccas. History aside, don’t miss the burgers here. You can listen to The Bowery Boys episode on this important moment in New York’s LGBTQ story. On Apbefore Stonewall - activists staged a “sip in” here to protest the New York State Liquor Authority’s regulation that prohibited bars from serving homosexuals.
One of the oldest bars in town, Julius opened in 1826 before attracting a gay clientele in the 1950s. Julius’ is maybe the granddaddy of gay bars in the city. The walls alone will tell you about a century worth of New York stories. Grab a cocktail and feel the history here. Photo: waffleboy 5 spots to celebrate Gay History in New York CityĪnd if you’re looking for storied places to celebrate Pride in New York City this year, we’ve got some faaaaabulous suggestions. Grab a seat to toast Pride at Julius’ Bar.