New York's gay bar scene is split between two worlds that barely overlap. Manhattan has Hell's Kitchen and a smaller residual scene in Chelsea and the Village. Brooklyn has its own network of queer bars and nights in Bushwick, Williamsburg, and Park Slope. Depending on what you want from a night out, they are both worth knowing.

Hell's Kitchen

Hell's Kitchen is where most gay men in Manhattan go now. The concentration is around 9th Avenue from the mid-40s to the mid-50s. The venues cover a wide range: sports bars, dive bars, cruise bars, and a few places with regular drag and cabaret. Most of these bars start filling properly after midnight on weekends. Coming at 10pm gets you a seat but not much of an atmosphere.

Unlike Gaixample in Barcelona or the Marais in Paris, the bars here are not clustered on one or two streets. They are spread across several blocks. That means bar-hopping requires a bit more walking, but the distances are still reasonable on foot.

Drinks run $12 to $18 for a cocktail. Some bars have happy hours that run until 9 or 10pm with cheaper prices. Cash is still preferred in a few of the older venues, though most now accept cards.

Chelsea and the Village

Chelsea used to be the centre. A lot of those bars are gone now. A handful of the survivors are genuinely good and worth knowing about, particularly if you want something different from the Hell's Kitchen crowd. The Eagle in Chelsea is one of the better-known leather bars in the country.

The Village is quieter. Stonewall Inn is still there and still operates as a bar, not just a monument. A few bars on and around Christopher Street have stayed open. The neighbourhood is worth an evening even if you are going more for the history than the nightlife.

Brooklyn

The Brooklyn queer bar scene skews younger and less circuit-party. Think local rather than tourist, cheaper drinks, and nights that move between venues rather than being fixed to one address. Bushwick in particular has a rotating set of queer events. Park Slope has bars that have been running for decades with a loyal neighbourhood crowd. Williamsburg is somewhere between the two.

Getting there from Midtown: the L train from 14th Street (8th Avenue) to Lorimer Street (Williamsburg) or Morgan Avenue (Bushwick) takes 20-30 minutes. The F or R train to 4th Avenue / 9th Street serves Park Slope.

The bars

    • 11th Street Bar — 11TH STREET HOSTS A VARIETY OF EVENTS, INCLUDING SCREENINGS, LIVE MUSIC, SPORTING EVENTS, AND A WEEKLY IRISH SESSION. THE SPACE IS GREAT FOR GROUPS AND LARGE PARTIES. FOR RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL AFTER 4PM 212.982.3929 OR EMAIL AT RESERVATIONS@11THSTBAR.COM
    • 777 Theater
    • Adam Daniel Weiss — It's sorta/somewhat/kinda getting nice out, so let's go gay it up at the North River Lobster Company! If you've never been, it's a fun (and free!) party boat that sails up the Hudson, has a great bar and tasty food...Here are the deets:The boat leaves from Pier 81 at West 41st Street and the Hudson River. The boat leaves the dock at 7:30 sharp, so please arrive by 7:00PM to get on the boat before it departs -Admission is FREE.
    • — LAID BACK PERSON, DOWN TO EARTH, LOVE TO HAVE FUN, TRAVEL, SHOP
    • Barracuda Lounge — More "Best Bar" Awards than any place in town -The Village Voice, New York Magazine and NY Press, Odyssey, etc.
    • Big Apple Kickball Gay Boat Outing Thing — It's sorta/somewhat/kinda getting nice out, so let's go gay it up at the North River Lobster Company! If you've never been, it's a fun (and free!) party boat that sails up the Hudson, has a great bar and tasty food...Here are the deets:The boat leaves from Pier 81 at West 41st Street and the Hudson River. The boat leaves the dock at 7:30 sharp, so please arrive by 7:00PM to get on the boat before it departs -Admission is FREE.
    • Big Gay Hudson Valley — Each month, thousands of visitors come to BGHV to learn more about the big gay happenings in the Hudson Valley. We aim to connect those visitors with businesses and organizations that serve the interests of – and give back to – our community.
    • Bobby LaSalle
    • Boiler Room — Our company is built on the principles of making people happy and providing reliable service. Our diversified product range continues to grow by following trends, improving our standard products, and listening to the customer. Our unique service has established our place in this industry. This allows us to make a distinctive and substantial impact for our customers.
    • BOXERS NYC — New York’s Gay Sports Bars Two amazing locations; Hells Kitchen 37W 20th St & Chelsea 742 9th Ave.
    • Boy Chic — music and rain baby, listen to music you like, not what others tell you to listen to
    • Broadway Comedy Club — The Broadway Comedy Club is the best comedy in New York City and has 3 beautiful showrooms & a quaint cafe located in our bi-level entertainment complex located in the heart of NYC Theare District at 318 West 53rd Street, 212-757-2323
    • Bryce Huey Turgeon
    • Chris Harder — I’m a Midwest raised, New York based PORN STAR, RENT BOY, and nightlife entertainer. From porn sets, to stage shows, to go-go boxes in every corner of Manhattan and Brooklyn, this blog is a taste of what it’s like to live life just a little bit, well… HARDER!
    • Cliff New York
    • Create Opera — An opera startup in NYC with an eye to the creation and celebration of great music and great voices.
    • Cubbyhole — One of the best bars I have been to in NYC ?️‍? We were there on a Monday afternoon and it was still buzzing and atmospheric as if it was a Friday or Saturday night. Deb on the bar was friendly, welcoming and hilarious, playing great tunes, drinking games and handing out free pizza! Super quirky and colourful decor inside. The happy hour is also great - $5 fizz! This bar is a must visit!!
    • Denise Madison
    • Diamond Horseshoe at the Paramount Hotel — The Diamond Horseshoe is located at 235 W. 46th Street at the Paramount Hotel in New York City. First opened in 1938 by theatrical showman and impresario Billy Rose, the Diamond Horseshoe was known for dinner theaters, vaudeville-style reviews, and a chorus of showgirls called “Billy Rose’s long-stemmed beauties.” In 2013, the landmark space was restored under the ownership of real-estate investor and patron of the arts, Aby Rosen in partnership with John Meadow’s LDV Hospitality. The 6,000 sq f
    • Dj Chiki — Here at Rockbar NYC, there is something new and awesome every day each month!

Practical notes

NYC nightlife starts late. Showing up to a bar at 10pm on a Friday is not wrong but you will find the staff and not much else. The real crowd arrives after midnight. Clubs run from 1am to 6am or later.

Cover charges are common at the door for club nights and themed events. Some bars are free to enter all night. Check the venue's Instagram before going out on a weekend — most post about cover charges and any special events.

For the broader city picture, see the Gay New York Guide.