Tourist guide to New York gay nightlife

NYC: The City That Never Sleeps

The Big Apple. The city that never sleeps. The financial, musical, shopping and art capital of the world.....New York City must be one of most dynamic cities in the world. It's on 24/7 and you will be unable to see, live and enjoy everything is just a couple of days. Just dive in for a few days and visit all the landmark icons, shop around, go to a theatre and enjoy the NYC nightlife.

Nightlife and gay neighbourhoods

Gay life is everywhere in New York City. Nightlife is vivid and overwhelming. You can choose from endless variations on gay bars and clubs: from muscle mary clubs to cabaret piano bars, local intimate bars to trendy gay lounges. Most bars are opened from 16h till 4h.

On Manhattan, the most interesting part of NYC for (gay) tourists, the gay scene is concentrated in a couple of neighbourhoods.

In Greenwhich Village lays the origin of gay pride, where the Stonewall riots in Christopher Street awakened gay emancipation. Hence the Christopher Street Days throughout the world. Many gay bars, restaurants and clubs are located here.

A bit more fancy is neighbouring Chelsea in Lower Manhattan west of Park Avenue. Chelsea offers a wide selection of trendy bars, clubs and restaurants which are concentrated around Eighth Avenue.

The East Village is a bit more of the bohemian version of the West Village.

Midtown NYC can be well spend for the bars between the Empire State Building and the MoMa on Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Avenue.

Manhattan what to do and see ?

New York is full of landmark icons we know from the movies and television. Of course you want to see the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island.

Or go up on the Empire State Building, since 9/11 again the highest building in town. Speaking of, Ground Zero is still an impressive visit.
Wall Street, the financial epicentre of the world, is on walking distance. Or take a stroll through Central Park, the green lung of NYC.

Of course you want to see a show on Broadway. It is so gay to see the biggest stars performing, either in a play or in a typical Broadway musical like Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia or one of the other 45 musicals or 30 plays!

On Broadway.com you can order online tickets for most of the shows. (Please do so, because you support Nighttours too). And after the show, you pop into one of the gay bars in Chelsea, a few blocks west of Broadway and Time Square.

Art

New York City has some of the biggest and best museums in the world. Most famous is the Museum of Modern Art, also know as MoMa. Here you will find one of the most impressive collections of contemporary art in the world.

Also famous, and not only for its design by Frank Lloyd Wright, is the Guggenheim Museum, near Central Park.

Gay map NYC / Manhattan

Check out our New York City interactive gay map with all the main gay bars, clubs, saunas and parties.

NYC gay map

Drink

Gay (friendly) bars, pubs and cafes · add new bars

Here are some bars and cafes, please let us know when you know more places.

 
9th Ave. Bistro - Pacha NYC
618 West 46th Street
Nice cozy bar in the middle of the trendy Hell's Kitch 9th Avenue strip. With live entertainment and a pool room in the back.
mon-sun –
 
9th. Ave. Saloon - Ashbury ParkOld fashioned local gay bar at 9th Av. / Hells Kitchen. Older clientele. There are weekly Leather events.
mon-sat 11:00–04:00, sun 13:00–04:00
 
Bamboo 52
344 West 52nd St.
New sushi restaurant and lounge bar. The big back yard and bamboo garden plus daily extended happy hour provide a nice atmosphere for theatre-goers and after workers.
mon-sun 12:00–04:00
 
Barracuda
275 West 22nd Street
Barracuda attracts a neighborhood mix in Chelsea. The lounge in the back is excellent for sipping your cocktail.
mon-sun 22:00–04:00
 
Barrage
401 West 47th street
Local bar and a great place to go if you actually want to meet people. A mixed crowd of neighborhood residents, actors and dancers from the nearby theaters, and often glamorous Chelsea boys.
mon-thu 17:00–02:00, fri-sat 17:00–04:00, sun 17:00–02:00
 
Boiler Room
86 East 4th Street
Big gay bar with a mixed crowd. Many college boys in the weekends. Boiler Room has a jukebox, a pool table and a pinball machine, Daily happy hours.
mon-sun 04:00–16:00
 
Boots & Saddles - Boots & Saddle
76 Christopher Street
A kitschy bar for wannabe coybows, complete with swinging wooden saloon doors. Like most places on Christopher Street, the audience is a little older.
mon-sun 12:00–04:00
 
Boxers NYC
37 West 20th Street
NYC's Gay Sports Bar. With two levels, pool tables, brick oven pizza, beer on tap, full bar, and plasma screens, after work or after the game, it’s the place for sports leagues and fans to meet.
mon-fri 16:00–02:00, sat-sun 13:00–02:00
 
 
Candle Bar
309 Amsterdam Avenue
Candle Bar is one of the few gay bars in this area but a popular place. Casual and without attitude, it attracts an eclectic crowd which ranges from blue and white collar to artistic.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
Chi Chiz
135 Christopher Street
Small but popular gay bar, mainly with Afro Americans. With go-go's, pool table, happy hours and weekly theme nights.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
Cosmo
359 West 54th Street
Small local bar with intimate mood despite the club music. Has been refered to as a gay version of "Cheers'.
mon-sun 18:00–03:00
 
Cubbyhole
281 W 12th Street
Charming little hole, mostly a cozy hang-out for gay girls and their gay guy pals, is lined from floor to ceiling with colorful mobiles in the shape of birds, dolphins, helicopters, and just about anything else you can think of.
mon-fri 16:00–04:00, sat-sun 14:00–04:00
 
Don't Tell Mama
343 West 46th Street
Piano and show bar with 2 rooms. No reservations are possible and you have a 2 drink minimum.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
g Lounge
225 West 19th Street
Founded in 1997, this was Chelseas first cocktail bar. Spacy with a large bar in middle, and some comfortable relax areas behind the bar.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
Gym Sportsbar
167 8th Avenue
The first and only gay sports bar in New York City, right at the gay avenue on 8th in Chelsea.
mon-thu 16:00–02:00, fri 16:00–04:00, sat 13:00–04:00, sun 13:00–02:00
 
HK Lounge
405 W 39th ST
Bar / club belonging to Hell's Kitchen restaurant at 9th Av. With roof terrace, and big boys behind the bar, this is a popular hang out for Midtown boys.
mon-sun –
 
Marie's Crisis
59 Grove Street
Small and cheap neighborhood bar, with Broadway tunes and a gay / straight mixed crowd.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
No Parking
4168 Broadway
21 and over bar with hot go go boys and different theme nights.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
Nowhere Bar
322 East 14th Street
Huge bar in 19th century inspired interior. Mixed crowd of gays and lesbians. Daily happy hours.
mon-sun 15:00–04:00
 
O.W. Bar
221 East 58th Street
A contemporary bar, lounge and garden patio where gorgeous and sexy men run around.
mon-sat 16:00–04:00, sun 14:00–04:00
 
Phoenix
447 East 14th Street
Local, non prestigious neighborhood bar to hang around with a beer and play so pool.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
Pieces Bar
8 Christopher Street
Pieces Bar features special events, Karaoke sing-a-longs, costume contests, pool tournaments, body contests, fund raising events, the almost world famous annual event "the 12 Drags of Christmas" and many more.
mon 14:00–02:00, tue-sat 14:00–04:00, sun 14:00–02:00
 
Posh
405 West 51 Street
All types of gays mingle at Posh. So does the loud music, which ranges from Acid House to ABBA.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
Secret Lounge
525 West 29th Street
Lounge with mixed crowd which is chatting and dancing on the beats.
tue-sat 18:00–04:00
 
Shag
11 Abingdon Square
Small trendy bar and restaurant with shag carpeting on the walls and 70's style furniture.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
The Cock
29 Second Avenue
Located in a new venue, this well known gay pick-up joint still attracts a mostly male clientele for its raunchy atmosphere.
mon-sun 23:00–04:00
 
The Dugout
185 Christopher Street
NYC most well known bears bar.
mon-sun 15:00–04:00
 
The Duplex
61 Christopher Street
Show bar with Broadway tunes. It boasts a piano bar with open mic every night of the week, an upstairs bar and an intimate off-Broadway cabaret theatre.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
The Hangar
115 Christopher Street
A must do in the Village. Pool tabel, Go-go boys, happy hours. Very popular.
mon-thu 15:00–03:00, fri-sat 15:00–04:00, sun 15:00–03:00
 
The Hose
225 Avenue B
The East Village's newest bar caters to a younger crowd but guys in their 30s and 40s won't feel out of place.
mon-sun 
 
The Ritz Bar & Lounge
369 W 46th St.
Bar and small dance club in Hell's Kitchen, with sailor decored theme downstairs with a rather young and mixd crowd dancing on tunes from house to hip hop, and a more relaxed atmosphere at the bar on the second floor.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
The Stonewall Inn
53 Christopher Street
Legendary gay venue in the Village. It was the location of the Stonewall Rebellion of 1969, in which hundreds of gays, lesbians and transgender people and their supporters for the first time finally fought back against the unwarranted and often violent police raids.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
The Townhouse Bar
206 East 58TH Street
New York's premier gay gentleman's club and a landmark bar in the NYC scene. Beyond the main bar is a club room featuring a piano player banging out the show tunes, as well as a quieter downstairs lounge.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
The Urge Lounge - The Urge
33 2nd Avenue
Local hangout with nice decor, and of course muscled go-go boys, videos and drag queens.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
Therapy
348 West 52nd Street
Very stylish and trendy bar in Hell's Kitchen, with classy wooden interior on two floors.
mon-sat 17:00–04:00, sun 12:00–04:00
 
Ty's Bar
114 Christopher Street
Ty's Bar is a centrally located in the heart of the West Village. This gay bar attracts an eclectic crowd and offers a variety of drink specials.
mon-fri 14:00–04:00, sat-sun 13:00–04:00
 
Uncle Charlie's
139 East 45th Street
Piano and cocktail lounge near the famous Chrysler Building in Midtown East. With cabaret, piano and karaoke.
mon-sat 16:00–04:00, sun 16:00–03:00
 
View Bar
232 Eighth Avenue
Popular Chelsea bar at the gay avenue (8th Av.). Cheap drinks all weeknights from 16h till 21h.
mon-fri 16:00–04:00, sat-sun 13:00–04:00
 
Vlada Lounge
331 West 51st Street
New stylish gay lounge on two floors. The owners hope to evoke "the European artistic aura of Odeon in the 70s, where artists, actors, fashionistas, models and freaks alike could all gather and be comfortable just being themselves.
tue-sun 16:00–04:00
 
XES Lounge
157 West 24th Street
XES Lounge is a friendly, cruisy gay bar with great music, great entertainment and generous drinks.
mon-tue 16:00–02:00, wed-sun 16:00–04:00

Dance

Gay (friendly) clubs and parties · add new clubs and parties

Here are some clubs and parties, please let us know when you know more places.

 
Alegria - Various locationsOne of the most famous circuit parties in NYC. According to visitors the crowd is still amazing but Alegria has been losing his full glory.
,
 
Black Orchid - Element
225 East Houston Street
Junior Vasquez plays at Black Orchid at Element during the New York Black Weekend.
 
Blowoff - Highline Ballroom
431 West 16th Street
Monthly gay party on various locations (check their website). Blowoff draws a furrier slightly older muscle crowd.
 
Dance at the Pier - Pier 54
13th Street Hudson River Park
Annual outdoor NYC Pride party at the Pier 54 on the Sunday of the big Pride March.
16:00–22:30
 
Escuelita
301 West 39th St.
18+ dance club with a latin spirit. Frequently (drag) shows.
tue 22:00–05:00, thu-sun 22:00–05:00
 
Fight Club - Boxers NYC
37 West 20th Street
Chris Ryan presents Fight Club: every Thursday sexy gay studs battle it out!
thu 22:00– late
 
Hiro Ballroom
371 West 16th Street
Packed and energetic Sunday evening gayparty in an Asian-style area located in the base of the Maritime Hotel at the border between Chelsea and the Meatpacking District.
sun 22:00–04:00
 
HK Lounge
405 W 39th ST
Bar / club belonging to Hell's Kitchen restaurant at 9th Av. With roof terrace, and big boys behind the bar, this is a popular hang out for Midtown boys.
mon-sun –
 
Image - Fashion 26 Hotel
152 W 26th Street
Weekly gay party at the roof top terrace of Fashion 26 hotel. open bar from 9 till 10 pm.
tue 21:00–
 
Krash - Rebel
251 W 30th St.
Weekly Friday night dance party at 4 leveled Chelsea club Rebel. The party - originally hosted in Queens - offers something for everyone: from urban to house, rom NY drags to gogo-dancers.
fri 22:00– late
 
Loveball - Nokia Theatre Times Square
1515 Broadway Times Square
Gay Pride Weekend opening party at the Nokia Theatre Times Square. Music by: Alyson Calagna and Chris Cox.
 
May Day - Amnesia
609 W 29 St
The Saint at Large presents May Day, at the first day of May (...), with The Freemasons and Bimbo Jones.
 
Pacha NYE - Pacha NYC
618 West 46th Street
Pacha's New Years Eve event
 
PRIDE NYC: WORK! TRIBAL HOUSE BOAT CRUISE on the H - Circle Line Cruise
Pier 83, 42nd Street
Friday, June 24 PRIDE FRIDAY!!! TRIBAL DEEJAYS: ALEX ACOSTA (MEXICO) EDDIE MARTINEZ (NYC) WORK! presents a unique different New York Pride experience! A cruise around NYC on the Hudson River from 9pm-midnite with the pumping tribal sounds of Mexican DJ sensation Alex Acosta and New York's own Eddie Martinez.
 
Rewind - The Ritz Bar & Lounge
369 W 46th St.
Weekly Wednesdays return to the 80ies. At The Ritz.
wed –
 
Rock It - XL Nightclub
521 West 42nd Street
Weekly gay party at new venue XL. Get started early with a full open bar until 11PM.
fri 22:00–04:00
 
Rush
579 Sixth Avenue
Formerly home to Heaven, Rush is a new nightclub for a younger crowd of gay college kids, their friends, their admirers.
thu-sat 23:00– late
 
Sand Blast Weekend - Various locationsCircuit beach festival at Ashbury Park, New Jersey (south of New York). Getting to Asbury Park is easy by train, car or bus and takes from 1 to 2 hours from NYC and Philly.
 
Sea Tea - Pier 40
West Side Highway / Houston Street
New Yorks only sailing Sunday tea dance. The Queen Of Hearts sails from New York's historic Pier #40 in the West Village every Sunday during the Summer.
 
Splash Bar
50 West 17th Street
One of NYC most famous clubs. Very popular with tourists. The biggest names in DJ land play here frequently.
mon-sun 16:00–05:00
 
SuperMartXe - Good Units at Hudson
356 West 58th Street
SuperSIZED event by SuperMartXé, one of the hottest gay party brands at this moment.
 
The Monster
80 Grove Street
Dance club and piano bar. Upstairs offers the intimacy of a piano bar, downstairs, you'll find Drag Shows starring such notables as Laritza DuMont and Jesse Volt plus the beats of House DJ Warren Gluck, Tony Cruz and special guest DJ's.
mon-fri 16:00–04:00, sat-sun 14:00–04:00
 
The Pyramid Club
101 Avenue A
The Pyramid Club has a theme night for every individual's taste. Fridays are gay with 1984, an 80ies dance party.
fri 22:00–04:00
 
The Ritz Bar & Lounge
369 W 46th St.
Bar and small dance club in Hell's Kitchen, with sailor decored theme downstairs with a rather young and mixd crowd dancing on tunes from house to hip hop, and a more relaxed atmosphere at the bar on the second floor.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
The Web Club - The Web
40 East 58th St
NYC only Asian (2 Floor) dance club with wild drag shows. Popular with Asian guys and their admirers.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
Tight - Amnesia
609 W 29 St
New Sunday event called TIGHT featuring Sammy Jo (Scissor Sisters), Ricardo (Ultra Records) and Alex Lauterstein.
sun 22:00– late
 
Verve - Roomservice
35 East 21st Street
PRESIDENT'S DAY WEEKEND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH @ 11AM-11PM EDDIE ELIAS PRESENTS "VERVE" MUSIC BY: EDDIE ELIAS FEATURING GUEST: CHRIS STAROPOLI AKA (THAT KID CHRIS)
 
Work - Roseland Ballroom
239 West 52nd Street
Monthly gay Saturday night: Grammy Award Winner and famed resident Peter Rauhofer (former Roxy resident) and his boiz found a new home at Discotheque.

Cruise

Gay cruise bars, cruise clubs, cruising areas and gay saunas · add more cruising places

Here are some saunas, cruise bars etc, please let us know when you know more places.

 
 
Central ParkThe area around the Boathouse is called The Ramble. Enter the park from the east side at the entrance at 72nd Street.
mon-sun 24h
 
East Side Club
227 East 56th Street
Sauna at East 56th Street. With a labyrinth on 2 floors and different saunas.
mon-wed 24h, wed-sun 24h
 
Grab Ass - Paddles
250 West 26th Street
Grab Ass- private sex parties. Ages 25 to 55 and all body types, extremely friendly group with a bit of something for everyone every week.
wed 20:00–03:00
 
Hustlaball - Rebel
251 W 30th St.
New York edition of the world (in)famous Hustlaball.
 
Rawhide
212 8th Avenue
Legendary cruise bar at the gay avenue at 8th in Chelsea which is there for more than 30 years.
mon-sat 10:00–04:00, sun 12:00–04:00
 
The Eagle
554 West 28th Street
Two floors full of leather and jeans guys, cruising (some action in the bathrooms on the 2nd floor), drinking or playing pool.
tue-sun 22:00–04:00
 
The Tool Box - Tool Box
1742 Second Avenue
Cruise and video bar with sexy videos, sports and music video screens. Discover the space for cruising (named the Tea Room), or just drink at the bar and chill out at the lounge within which to chill out.
mon-sun 16:00–04:00
 
West Side Club
27 West 20th Street
Gay sauna located in Chelsea, open 24/7, all days of the year.
mon-sun 24h

Other

Other places like beaches, events etc. add more
 
Eastern Bloc
505 East 6th Street
Recently opened bar in Communist Style. Surprised? Frequent go go dancers and on screen videos.
mon-fri 18:00–04:00, sat 21:00–04:00, sun 19:00–04:00
 
Fire IslandFire Island is a thin 32 mile long sand bar south of Long Island (separating the Great South Bay from the Atlantic Ocean) and only one hour or 50 miles east of New York City with pristine ocean shores.
mon-sun 00:00–00:00
 
Folsom Street East
West 28th Street between 10th & 11th Avenue
Folsom Street East is New York’s premiere s/m-leather-fetish themed street festival and the largest outdoor event of its kind east of the Mississippi.
14:00–20:00
 
NY AIDS Walk - Central ParkSince 1986, AIDS Walk New York has raised more than $105 million for HIV programs and services in the tri-state area, and has grown into the largest AIDS fundraising event in the world.
 
NYC Black Pride: Explosion - Various locationsNYC Black Pride celebrates the black gay and lesbian community.
NYC Gay Pride
-
The New York City Gay Pride is the originall Christopher Street Day, home of the Stonewall gay bar.

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