Since first moving to New York City in 2004, I have come to know most of New York’s 50+ gay bars, and while the scene changes and new bars come and go, most of my favorite spots have partied on, from Cher to Brittney to Gaga and back again.

The gay bars on this list should appeal to various types at various ages. Personally, my priorities have changed enormously from those of my early twenties, when going out to gay bars simply meant drinking cheap beer and making eyes at beautiful strangers. My experience has grown with a better understanding of the amazingly diverse gay communities existing throughout New York City, many of which embrace the gay bars as not just a place to flirt, but a place to build a chosen family. I now enjoy and respect the important role the historic bars of the West Village, especially, play. I now go to gay bars to support places that host queer performers and events benefiting community members.

Speaking of community events, on any given day, the Thotyssey blog will tell you what is happening around the huge gay scene in NYC, including events in Queens, Brooklyn, and beyond. It also has a wonderful archive of conversations with gay bar staff and community members.

I organized the below list by neighborhood. I hope it’s useful to visitors or other NYC newbies, as we all tend to enjoy bar-hopping to at least a couple venues in search of that perfect vibe.

West Village:

Cubbyhole: 281 W 12th St, New York, NY 10014

Cubbyhole is a historic lesbian bar known for tight quarters, eccentric decor dangling from the ceiling, a fantastic jukebox, cheap drinks, and friendly people. This bar really does have it all, and they are very welcoming of gay men, too, in case you were wondering.

Julius’: 159 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014 (alternative to Stonewall)

Julius’ is an example of a bar that never appealed to me as a younger guy. I was under the assumption this tavern was just a dive for older gay men. Luckily, in time, I began to understand how diverse and inclusive the clientele here can be, and since it’s the oldest gay bar in NYC and on the National Register of Historic Places, it should be both preserved and celebrated!

Marie’s Crisis: 59 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

This piano bar is a treasure. Cheap drinks, free entertainment, and a musical education! Come here to see a quirky mix of locals singing obscure Broadway songs. You don’t have to sing, but just know a majority here are singing their hearts out and nothing works quite like cheap booze and group singing to bring awkward strangers together.

Pieces: 8 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014

Pieces is a fun bar that has a stage perfect for hosting musical and drag performances, bingo nights, and other such events.

Chelsea:

Barracuda Bar: 275 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10011

Barracuda was a favorite of mine in my younger days. It’s a quasi-modern space, kept quite dark, with a back room ideal for intimate stage performances. Their Sunday evening drag show still stands out as one of the most exciting way to spend a late night in NYC. Oh, and I once sat next to Rufus Wainwright here and successfully ignored my impulse to tell him what a huge fan I am!

Boxers: 37 W 20th St, New York, NY 10011

Boxers is large. It has multiple pool tables that can be converted to accommodate beer pong, sports on TV, and a back garden. The bartenders wear bright red boxer shorts. It’s a fun place and gets pretty busy on Sunday afternoons.

Gym Sportsbar: 167 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Gym is the original gay sports bar before Boxers entered the scene. It also is located at a very central location on 8th Avenue in Chelsea with a bitty front terrace. It has a more friendly, intimate vibe than Boxers, so why not give it a try if you’re in the gayborhood?

Hells Kitchen:

Barrage: 401 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

This Hell’s Kitchen bar does what several uptown bars have attempted to do, step out of the Village dive bar vibe and become more of a stylish lounge. Go here early to start your night with a nice mixed drink before continuing on to a more lively spot after.

Boxers HK: 742 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

This Hell’s Kitchen branch of Boxers occupies an entire building! They have a beautiful roof terrace and with a sports-theme, remains a popular spot for gay sports leagues to grab that after-game beverage.

Flaming Saddles: 793 9th Avenue between 52nd, W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

My personal favorite in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, Flaming Saddles put in a lot of effort to create something unique! The bartenders are all trained dancers, who, wearing tight jeans and western boots, dance right on the bar. It’s a really fun time at any night of the week.

Hardware: 697 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Relatively new to the scene, Hardware took over an old hardware store and turned it into a nice venue that does a good job of balancing several gay scenes at once. This place has fun performances, dancing space, all within a decor that doesn’t try too hard.

Posh: 405 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

Posh is a classic. This is the diviest of the HK bars, and I admit I’ve had several late nights in this small bar. It’s fun to watch it turn into a messy, squished cluster of dancing in the later hours.

Therapy: 348 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019

Therapy has a beautifully renovated, open, two-level space, that include an epic staircase in the center of the bar. The upstairs hosts several events with use of a modern stage and technology. And it never really gets old saying “we met at Therapy”.

East Village:

Nowhere: 322 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003

This bar is an ultimate den dive. It’s underground and kept dark, with a low ceiling. I enjoy the unpretentious attitudes and use of the old-school record player.

Phoenix: 447 E 13th St, New York, NY 10009

Phoenix is one of the first gay bars I ever visited and continues to reinvent itself over the years. The space is an ideal size and the jukebox has an epic selection of tunes.

Boiler Room: 86 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003

This place is a bit of a filthy mess, but the crowd can be shockingly diverse and fun! If you’re in the East Village, you should be looking for a classic gay dive like the Boiler Room!

Upper East Side:

The Toolbox: 1742 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128

The Toolbox is such an interesting outlier in the gay bar scene, located way up in the northeastern corner of the Upper East Side. It’s in an area known to attract frat-boy-turned-Wall-Street-intern types and prep school families, making it a fascinating spot for a long-time gay bar dive to thrive. Over the years, Toolbox maintains a unique, local, relaxed vibe all night. Plus, last time I was here, I was thrilled to spot New York Times’ Frank Bruni enjoying a drink with friends!