Chicago Gay Bars
Chicago has a large, lively gay nightlife. Many of Chicago's gay bars can be found in an area known as "Boystown" ("Chicago’s Proudest Neighborhood"), a half-mile stretch of North Halsted and Broadway in East Lakeview.
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Boystown
Boystown is Chicago's famous gay and appropriately named gay area. It's packed with gay bars, cultural attractions and interesting people.
Sidetrack
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3349 N Halsted St, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 4 votes
The biggest and perhaps the most popular gay bar in Chicago. Sidetrack has multiple bars and a rooftop deck - great for people watching.
Mixed/gay crowd, mostly 30's-40's. Regular themed events range from a Beyonce Dance & Lip-sync Party to a Tony Awards Viewing Night. The bar upstairs serves celebrated slushy cocktails.
Located in Boystown gay village. This is the place where locals and visitors usually end up on a night out.
Mixed/gay crowd, mostly 30's-40's. Regular themed events range from a Beyonce Dance & Lip-sync Party to a Tony Awards Viewing Night. The bar upstairs serves celebrated slushy cocktails.
Located in Boystown gay village. This is the place where locals and visitors usually end up on a night out.
Features:
Bar
Dancing
Music
Facebook
Website
PhoneWeekday: MON-FRI 3PM-2AM
Weekend: SAT 1PM-3AM SUN 1PM-2AM
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
Scarlet Bar
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3320 N Halsted St, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 2 votes
A proud LGBTQ bar in Chicago's Laketown. Allow your inhibitions to escape you in this buzzy neon-lit space, with exposed brick walls, disco ball and funky décor.
Music is the main highlight at Scarlet with 5 resident DJ’s on rotation. Check their website or Facebook for details of their weekly themed events.
Voted 'Best Gay Bar' by Chicago Magazine, Mint Male Magazine and Top 100 Bars in Chicago.
Music is the main highlight at Scarlet with 5 resident DJ’s on rotation. Check their website or Facebook for details of their weekly themed events.
Voted 'Best Gay Bar' by Chicago Magazine, Mint Male Magazine and Top 100 Bars in Chicago.
Features:
Bar
Dancing
Music
Weekday: Wednesday: 9pm - 2am Thursday: 8pm - 2am Friday: 8pm - 2am Saturday: 8pm - 3am Sunday: 3pm - 2am
Weekend: Saturday: 8pm - 3am Sunday: 3pm - 2am
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
The Elixir Lounge
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3452 N Halsted St, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
This classy gay bar in the heart of Chicago's Boystown creatively mixes up premium cocktails that showcase eclectic, fresh ingredients in an accessible and delicious way.
In addition to cocktails, Elixir Lounge serves a variety of craft beer and premium wine that will satisfy even the pickiest of imbibers. Small plates and sophisticated bar snacks are available.
Features:
Bar
Dancing
Music
Weekday: SUNDAY-THURSDAY - 6:00 P.M. – 2 A.M.
Weekend: FRIDAY - 6:00 P.M. – 4:00 A.M. SATURDAY - 6:00 P.M. – 5:00 A.M.
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
Progress Bar
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Today: Progress Power Hour! - Every Friday
Tomorrow: Live DJ - Every Saturday
3359 N Halsted St, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 3 votes
One of the premier gay bars in Boystown. Progress Bar features a massive, voice-reactive cloud sculpture made of 19,000 light bulbs, and serves craft beer and seasonal cocktails.
Mixed/LGBT crowd gather in the low-lit, rustic-industrial setting with a two bars and a dance floor. The bar hosts weekly themed events, details of which can be found on their website.
Mixed/LGBT crowd gather in the low-lit, rustic-industrial setting with a two bars and a dance floor. The bar hosts weekly themed events, details of which can be found on their website.
Features:
Bar
Dancing
Music
Weekday: Mon-Fri: 5:00pm - 2:00am
Weekend: Sat: 3:00pm - 3:00am Sunday: 1:00pm - 2:00am
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
Smartbar
3730 N Clark St, Chicago, USA
Show on mapSmartbar is a late night queer bar, hosting their regular Queen! event on Sundays. With opening time being 10pm, Smartbar is a great early morning club experience. Smartbar hosts events every day they open with varying themes and activities; it's a fun and unique Chicago spot.
Features:
Bar
Beer
Cocktails
Dance
DJ
Music
Techno
Weekday: 10pm - 4am (Thursday, Friday)
Weekend: 10pm - 5am (Saturday) 10pm - 4am (Sunday)
Last updated on: 7 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 7-Aug-2023
The North End
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3733 N Halsted St, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
Long-running gay sports bar in Boystown, Chicago. Gays love their sports too - as well as Drag Race and Gaga, obvs! This is a laidback, unpretentious bar. If you like sport and you have "masc, non-scene" on your dating profile, you'll do well here.
Features:
games
Karaoke
sports bar
Weekday: Mon-Fri: 11:00-02:00
Weekend: Sat: 11:00-03:00 Sun: 11:00-02:00
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
WANGS
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3317 N. Broadway, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
LGBT-popular lounge bar & restaurant in Boystown. WANGS' intimate space is highly stylised, with lush, floral wallpaper and woodwork, the likes of which you’ve seen only in an opium den.
Famous pear Martini's top the list of refreshing cocktails. This dimly-lit venue also hosts private events and live music.
Features:
Bar
Music
Weekday: 4–11pm
Weekend: 4pm–12am
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
The Closet
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- ★★
- ★★
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3325 N Broadway, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 2 votes
Small gay bar in Boystown that attracts a prominently lesbian crowd, although everyone is welcome. The Closet has been in business since 1978, and it's a great place if you're looking for a more intimate atmosphere.
Open 7 days a week until the early hours.
Open 7 days a week until the early hours.
Features:
Bar
Music
Weekday: 4pm - 4am
Weekend: Sat 1pm - 5am, Sun 12pm - 4am
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club
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3700 N Halsted St, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
The Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club provides interactive entertainment and food six days a week. The style is ‘Old Hollywood meets South Beach’.
You can dine on a range of cuisine, from hearty American to European fare, and choose from over 200 cocktails. Drag queens perform as eat. Cocktails include the Berry Manilow and the Lady Gaga.
You can dine on a range of cuisine, from hearty American to European fare, and choose from over 200 cocktails. Drag queens perform as eat. Cocktails include the Berry Manilow and the Lady Gaga.
Features:
Bar
drag
Music
Restaurant
Andersonville
Andersonville is one of the most happening neighbourhoods in Chicago. It has some of the best restaurants in town and several gay bars.
The SoFo Tap
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4923 N Clark Street, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
The SoFo Tap is your neighborhood, dog-friendly, LGBTQIA+ Bear Bar South of Foster. Located at the southeast corner of Clark and Argyle in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago.
Features:
Bar
Musi
Marty's Martini Bar
- ★★
- ★★
- ★★
- ★★
- ★★
1511 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
Marty's is a gay-popular bar in Andersonville that draws a mixed crowd. It's a small, intimate setting with friendly - dare we say, handsome, bartenders. Not to mention strong drinks. The martinis will get you ready for a proper kiki.
A good place to start your gay night out in Chicago.
A good place to start your gay night out in Chicago.
Features:
cocktail bar
Weekday: 5pm-2am
Weekend: 4pm-2am
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
Meeting House Tavern
5025 N. Clark St., Chicago, USA
Meeting House Tavern offers a one-of-a-kind gathering space in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. Offering multiple types of interactive and passive entertainment; a rotating selection of reasonably-priced, locally-crafted and domestic beers; mixed drinks and daily drink specials.
REPLAY Anderson
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- ★★
5358 N Clark St, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
Gay bar in the Anderson outpost of Chicago's Boystown. REPLAY is a great spot to meet friends, mingle with the locals, enjoy a great drink and arcade games.
REPLAY has an extensive craft beer list, with 26 beers on tap and a huge selection of bourbon and whiskey.
Features:
Arcade
Bar
Cafe
Music
Restaurant
Weekday: Monday to Friday: 12pm – close
Weekend: Saturday-Sunday: 10am – close
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
Atmosphere Andersonville
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- ★★
5355 N Clark St, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
Old school gay strip bar in Andersonville. It's a small and unpretentious place to have a drink, but it can get livelier at the weekends.
Cash only.
Cash only.
Features:
Bar
Go-Go Dancers
Music
Weekday: Tues-Thurs: 6pm-1am
Weekend: Fri: 6pm-2am Sat: 3pm-3am Sun: 3pm-1am
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
Uptown
Uptown Chicago is a diverse residential area with a sizeable gay community. The main gay bar in the area is called Big Chicks.
Big Chicks
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- ★★
- ★★
5024 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
Lively, colourful, cash-only LGBT bar in Chicago with basic eats & weekend DJs amid art-lined walls.
There's a small dance floor that is almost always in use, a convenient coat check, a small pool table, and benches along the wall for all the non-dancers and cheap drinks.
There's a small dance floor that is almost always in use, a convenient coat check, a small pool table, and benches along the wall for all the non-dancers and cheap drinks.
Features:
Bar
Dancing
Music
Weekday: 4pm-2am
Weekend: 9am-2am
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
Elsewhere In Chicago
Chicago is a big city and it has gay-popular bars all over the place - not just in Boystown.
2Bears Tavern Uptown
1140 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, USA
2Bears Tavern Uptown is your neighborhood, dog-friendly, late-night LGBTQIA+ bar. Located in the former Nick’s on Wilson space at 1140 West Wilson Avenue in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.
Second Story Bar
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157 E Ohio St #2, Chicago, USA
Show on map3.5
Audience Rating
Based on 2 votes
Second Story is a small, dingy gay dive bar. It's unpretentious, not remotely fancy but lots of fun. All kinds of Windy City gays end up in here, so you'll often find a real mix of people.
It's close to the Mag Mile so you can pop in here for a drink after a shopping binge. You'll find it above Sayat Nova restaurant. Cash only.
It's close to the Mag Mile so you can pop in here for a drink after a shopping binge. You'll find it above Sayat Nova restaurant. Cash only.
Features:
Bar
Weekday: 2pm-11pm
Weekend: 2pm-11pm
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
The Glenwood
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6962 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, USA
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Audience Rating
Based on 1 votes
The Glenwood is a gay sports bar in Chicago. Although it's a gay bar it does a mixed crowd. It's popular with locals. The drinks are also fairly cheap.
Worth checking out if you're in the Glenwood area.
Worth checking out if you're in the Glenwood area.
Features:
games
jukebox
sports bar
Weekday: 3pm-2am
Weekend: 3pm-2am
Last updated on: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated on: 22-Aug-2023
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