A local guide to gay dive bars in Chicago, Illinois — 16 spots for the LGBTQ+ community and friends, curated by Out x Out.
A gritty Boystown leather bar with themed kink and fetish nights.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
A no-frills Northalsted neighborhood bar known for nightly karaoke.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
An Andersonville dance bar with drag, go-go dancers, and DJ nights.
Andersonville · $$
A hidden upstairs gay bar tucked above a Streeterville restaurant.
Streeterville · $$
Boystown's tiny dive bar since 1978, with late-night karaoke.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $$
Boystown's gay sports bar since 1983 — pool tables and game-day TVs.
Northalsted (Boystown) · $
An Uptown bar since 1986, its walls covered in the owner's art.
Uptown · $$
A cash-only Edgewater dive with cheap drinks and a country jukebox.
Edgewater · $
A Black-owned South Shore gay bar dating to the early 1960s.
South Shore · $$
Chicago's leather and Levi bar in Rogers Park since 1977.
Rogers Park · $$
A nautical-themed Lakeview cocktail bar from the team behind Dorothy.
Lakeview · $$
Low-key queer dive bar in Uptown — unpretentious pours and a welcoming local crowd.
Uptown · $
Cozy Rogers Park neighborhood bar with craft beer, board games, and live music.
Rogers Park · $
No-frills Lakeview dive with cheap drinks and karaoke nights.
Lakeview · $
Independent cottage music bar with a monthly queer variety show.
West Town · $$
Edgewater dive bar with strong pours and a well-stocked whiskey list.
Edgewater · $
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