Part of the Gay New York City Guide — bars, events & things to do.
New York City, New York
Midtown piano bar with dress code and live music since 1989
The Townhouse has been a fixture of New York's gay scene since 1989, when Paul Galluccio — turned away by a doorman at another East Side gay piano bar the year before — opened his own with partner Michael Grummons. The Midtown East spot runs three bars under one roof: a main cocktail lounge with architectural prints on the walls, a piano room with nightly live performances and open-mic sing-alongs, and a quieter club room in the back. The dress code is enforced — no baseball caps, gym wear, or ripped clothing — and the room is dressed to match, with red damask wallpaper, Tiffany-style lighting, and a gentleman's-club atmosphere that has earned it a reputation as the most genuinely elegant gay bar in the city. The crowd skews toward professionals and mature gay men who'd rather have a conversation and a showtune than a bass drop. Happy hour runs 4–8 PM daily. It's the rare gay bar built for a martini and a piano, and it's held that lane for more than three decades.
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