Gay Bars & Clubs in Chicago, Illinois
From the neon-lit bars of Boystown to Andersonville's cozy queer cafés and cocktail lounges, Chicago offers one of the deepest LGBTQ+ venue scenes in the U.S. Explore gay bars, clubs, restaurants, and community spaces across the city.
Scroll the map and follow your favorite venues on the app
Free on iOS and Android
116 venues
Sidetrack
Northalsted's sprawling video bar and frozen-cocktail institution.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
Jackhammer
Rogers Park's leather and cruise bar, with a basement called The Hole.
Rogers Park · $$
Roscoe's Tavern
A lively Northalsted mainstay with drag, dancing, and a big patio.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
The SoFo Tap
Andersonville's laid-back bear bar with a dog-friendly patio.
Andersonville · $$
Chicago Eagle
Uptown leather bar with the Baton drag showroom inside
Uptown · $$
Hydrate Nightclub
A high-energy Halsted nightclub with a late-opening dance floor.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
Kit Kat Lounge
Northalsted's drag supper club pairing dinner with nightly shows.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$$
Cell Block
A gritty Boystown leather bar with themed kink and fetish nights.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
Charlie's
Boystown's country-western bar with line dancing and late-night DJs.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
Love's
A no-frills Northalsted neighborhood bar known for nightly karaoke.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
Meeting House Tavern
Andersonville's game-filled tavern with pool, darts, and trivia.
Andersonville · $$
Progress Bar
A Northalsted dance bar famed for its responsive 'Cloud Ceiling.'
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
Scarlet Bar
A Northalsted dance bar driven by resident DJs and themed pop nights.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
Splash
A club-forward Boystown dance bar with go-go dancers and drag.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
2Bears Tavern Uptown
A bear-friendly Uptown neighborhood bar with games and free karaoke.
Uptown · $$
Atmosphere
An Andersonville dance bar with drag, go-go dancers, and DJ nights.
Andersonville · $$
Dorothy
A subterranean lesbian cocktail speakeasy behind an unmarked red door.
West Town (Ukrainian Village) · $$$
Max's Place
Low-key queer dive bar in Uptown — unpretentious pours and a welcoming local crowd.
Uptown · $
Second Story Bar
A hidden upstairs gay bar tucked above a Streeterville restaurant.
Streeterville · $$
The Closet
Boystown's tiny dive bar since 1978, with late-night karaoke.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
The North End
Boystown's gay sports bar since 1983 — pool tables and game-day TVs.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $
Big Gay Sal's Pizza
An LGBTQ+ owned New York-style pizzeria in the heart of Northalsted.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $
Cowboys and Astronauts
An LGBTQ+ lifestyle shop and men's apparel boutique in Andersonville.
Andersonville · $$$
Big Chicks
An Uptown bar since 1986, its walls covered in the owner's art.
Uptown · $$
Events x City Guides Delivered Weekly
Catch your city's vibe or the global LGBTQ+ scene.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Things to Do in Chicago
Trickery Chicago Magic Show
$42
Private Sailing on Beautiful Lake Michigan - Navy Pier, Chicago
$508
Chicago Walking Tour: Connecting Past and Present
$35
Chicago Haunts and Hooligans Tour
$35
Chicago Shoreline Adventure Boat Tour
$90
Chicago Photo Walk to Bean and Landmarks
$169
History and Architecture of Chicago Loop Walking Tour
$33
Intro to Chicago Architecture
$35
Experiences powered by Viator
From the Blog
View all →
LGBTQ+ Guide to Chicago: Gay Bars, Events, Neighborhoods & More
Your complete guide to LGBTQ+ Chicago — the best gay bars, annual events, neighborhoods, hotels, and things to do in the Windy City.
Robbie S.
Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade 2026: Chicago's Gay Halloween Guide
Everything you need for Chicago's Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade — the route, the costume contest, the Northalsted bars that go all out, and where to stay that's gay.
Robbie S.
Gay Events in Chicago This Weekend: Jul 23–26, 2026
Parvati Shallow's Survivor brunch, Queen! celebrates Lucy's birthday, and G.E.M. turns five at Jackhammer — plus 92 ways to fill your weekend.
Robbie S.Frequently Asked Questions
Gay friendly service providers in Chicago
235 therapists, doctors, realtors and more — researched from public sources.
