Part of the Gay Oakland Guide — bars, events & things to do.
Oakland, California
Femme-forward queer lounge in Old Oakland with live music and open mic
Summer Bar & Lounge is a femme-forward queer lounge in Old Oakland, opened in 2021 as the lower-key counterpart to the higher-energy clubs around downtown. The space is small and intimate — a modest stage, casual decor — and the programming rotates through live music, open mic, karaoke, drag, and go-go nights rather than a straight dance-floor format. It draws from across the East Bay's LGBTQ+ community as a lounge-paced alternative to the circuit, with an early-week karaoke habit and a Sunday afternoon day party. Best when you want a night out with room to actually talk and a stage worth watching, not a packed dance floor.
Have feedback on this description? Let us knowDrag brunches, circuit nights & every party worth knowing in Oakland — in your inbox every week.
No upcoming events
Try checking a later date or browse events in the app
$1300
$675
$449
$175
$850
$89
$126
$1180
Experiences powered by Viator
Get the full experience — check in, follow this venue, and connect with the community.
August is summer's grand finale: WorldPride in Amsterdam, Chicago's Market Days, Provincetown Carnival, and the last big beach weekends. Here are the best gay events in August.
Robbie S.
Oakland Pride 2026 lands Sunday, August 16 in downtown Oakland — a free morning parade, a four-stage festival at Frank Ogawa Plaza, and a night out in the town's tight-knit queer scene. Here's how to do it right.
Robbie S.
The men-only and gay-only hotels still open outside the US, from Gran Canaria's clothing-optional bungalows to Cambodia, Bali, Cape Town and New Zealand, and the famous names that have closed.
Robbie S.
The Grindr scams that actually happen, from sextortion and verification-code tricks to robbery set-ups abroad, plus the settings to change before you travel and what to do if you're targeted.
Robbie S.
The Village People were created by a gay producer as a set of gay fantasy characters and launched to gay disco audiences, but the members themselves differ. Here is what each has said on the record, and the two readings of YMCA.
Robbie S.
Atlantis Events charters whole ships for gay men. Here's who sails, what the parties are, what's included, what a 2027 Atlantis cruise really costs with fees, and how booking works, from Atlantis's own pages.
Robbie S.