Best gay bar chicago

Sidetrack Chicago

MONDAYOpen 3pm-2am
Start your week with song
MUSICAL MONDAY
Display Tunes
8pm-2am

TUESDAY   Open 3pm-2am
TEAM TRIVIA (new topic each week)  8pm
Pop Favorite Videos after Trivia ’til 2am
OUTspoken: LGBTQ+ Storytelling 1st Tues of month 7pm

WEDNESDAY   Open 3pm-2am
Wed 7/30 ALL THINGS DUA & ARIANA & SABRINA
Wed 8/6 ALL THINGS TAYLOR
Wed 8/13 ALL THINGS BEYONCÉ
Wed 8/20 ALL THINGS GAGA
9pm-2am for “ALL THINGS” PARTIES

THURSDAY   Open 3pm-2am
-Glass/Side/Rooftop Bars
LET’S GO! THURSDAY

Pop Music Videos from open till 2am
-Main/Cherry/North Bars – 9pm-2am
LET’S GO! LATIN 7/24 & 8/21
ALL THINGS LOLLA 7/31
MEN’S ROOM GLOW PARTY 8/7
PINK PONY CLUB CHAPPELL/CHARLI/SABRINA
8/14
ALL THINGS K-POP 8/28

FRIDAY   Open 3pm-2am
T.G.I.F. Exhibit TUNES 4-9pm
FRIDAY Bedtime DANCE PARTY 9pm-2am
Rooftop opens prior evening

SATURDAY   Open 1pm-3am
Post-Brunch Fun at Sidetrack 1-6pm
Saturday Night Gyrate Party 9pm-3am
Monthly DOG DAY
first Sat. of the month 1-5pm
SAPPHIC SATURDAY last Sat. of the month 5-9pm

SUNDAY   Open Noon-2am
Party Harmony all day/night
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Chicago impressed us on so many levels. It is a beautiful Midwestern municipality, with super friendly people, lots to keep you busy and an incredibly diverse and thriving homosexual scene.

Gay Chicago has a lot to offer and from our experience, the whole city appears to embrace and support its LGBTQ+ community.

We felt very safe, at ease, and welcome in Chicago as a gay couple. We never felt like we needed to look over our shoulder, fear holding hands or showing affection: just as its should be!

Our first visit was over the Chicago Event Fest weekend and was hosted by Choose Chicago so we really got to see just how gay Chicago can be!

In our Gay Chicago Manual, we will cover the gay neighbourhoods of Chicago, gay bars, Gay Self-acceptance Fest as well as what activities we did, where we stayed and ate so you will have all the communication you need to schedule your own visit!

Let’s earn started!

Gay Neighbourhoods in Chicago

Chicago has two very different gay neighbourhoods, Northalsted (previous known as Boystown) and Andersonville (affectionately known as MANdersonville).

Northalsted (aka Boystown)

When you are looking into male lover Chicago, Northalsted will and should be, right at the top of

Out and About: Finest Gay Bars in Uptown Chicago

Find Uptown Chicago's LGBTQ+ Nightlife Scene

Uptown Chicago has quietly become one of the city's most vibrant Homosexual nightlife destinations, offering authentic experiences without the tourist crowds. The neighborhood's gay bars in Uptown Chicago create a perfect blend of historic charm and modern inclusivity that locals treasure.

The area boasts six standout venues, each with its own unusual character. The Baton Show Lounge has been dazzling audiences with legendary queenly performances since 1969, while Big Chicks offers a cash-only neighborhood vibe with happy hours that locals swear by. Dog owners flock to 2Bears Tavern Uptown for its pet-friendly policy and late-night craft cocktails, while those pursuing leather and fetish-friendly spaces make Jackhammer their home away from home. Bedtime owls appreciate Touche Chicago staying unlock until the wee hours (4-5AM), and karaoke enthusiasts can choose from over 100 beers while belting out tunes at Uptown Lounge.

"LGBTQ+ bars are much more than places to get a drink," explains Rick Karlin, local historian. "They served as the only places where comm

best gay bar chicago

Wide Selection of Drinks and The Best Customer Services at The Closet

The Closet often hosts big parties. One of the establishment’s most popular annual events is the Pre-New Year’s Eve bash. It is also one of the bar’s busiest nights of the year as each year features a unlike theme. Such events, merged with a lesbian unclosed season following softball games, video bowling, darts, bingo, karaoke, and other assorted games, is why The Closet Bar, as tiny as it might be has been a widespread destination for more than three decades.

In addition to being a popular business and lesbian pick-up mutual, The Closet Bar in Chicago is also a popular destination for drinking enthusiasts. If you would like to indulge in a delicious drink, you will be happy to learn that the establishment offers a wide selection of tasteful drinks to enjoy. The drink selection is quite extensive and there is a brief bit of everything for everyone. You will be hard-pressed not to detect something you like as you scroll down the menu. It is also worth noting that the drinks are quite reasonably priced. It’s hard to find a nearby lock with better prices than The Closet Bar. This combined with the q

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 playfulness. Our gay and sapphic bars have a minuscule bit of something for everyone, with late-night lounges, dance clubs,burlesque and performative 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 finest gay bars and clubs to experience Chicago’s lgbtq+ nightlife scene.

Jeffery Pub

One of the city’s oldest same-sex attracted 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 fun, 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 believe for a second that makes the plac