Top gay bars
Our insider’s guide to the best of LGBTQ+ São Paulo
To get your top around São Paulo, you’ve got to get yourself up a few storeys, to look out at the sea of towers in which so many of the Brazilian megacity’s 22 million inhabitants live. Acquire yourself up upper enough and you’ll see the grave sea–blue rooftop pools and the golf course–green helipads that rich paulistanos hinge on upon to insulate themselves from the chaos below.
But as a visitor, you’ll want to get a big gnaw out of that chaos. It’s what you came for. São Paulo is a work-hard-play-harder melting pot of cultures, the world’s most populous city outside of Asia. Unlike its chill Brazilian rival city, Rio de Janeiro, you won’t find beaches or untouched innateness (though there are some nice parks). But if you love art, shopping, restaurants, nightlife and festivals, hosted by some of the most beautiful, outgoing people on the planet, you might have found your paradise.
And so much of it is queer. Since 2006, São Paulo’s Celebration celebration has been known as the biggest in the world, but you don’t have to time your trip to coincide with the parade to be overwhelmed with LGBTQ+ choices. In many neighbourhoods, same-gender
Dancing is the ultimate way to heal, celebrate, and uplift yourself and others—and a gay club is more than just a place to dance. With the exhilaration of a pulsing defeat and a dark dancefloor, you can meet others over a delicious cocktail or mocktail, and enjoy the support of collective. Whether it’s a drag lock or a bear hangout, a lesbian-oriented venue or a kink club, this roundup of gender non-conforming bars shows great places to fly the pride flag and rejoice in your own body. Of course, cities like San Francisco and Providence are well-known for having multiple LGBTQ+ clubs to pick from, but miniature towns with maybe even just one club that you acquire to drive a few hours to reach make it worth the trip. Plus, where else are you going to group to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race?
RECOMMENDED: The best LGBTQ+ friendly tiny towns in the US
Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
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The 10 coolest gay bars in the world
Cool is in the eye of the beholder. A place that has a instinct of style in its décor, its music and its entertainment programming. Not necessarily trendy, but with some attention paid to shaping the space.
A venue where the crowd has a real vibe—you earn who these people are and you suspect everyone there has a story to tell. A small bit of an edge … but inclusive.
Cool is, of course, what many monthly queer club nights are providing these days in many cities across the globe. But these 10 venues are hip and happening four or more days a week. And they have addresses, making them easier for travellers who need proper directions and can’t schedule their visit to an every-third-Friday-venue-TBA party.
West Hollywood, California
The Abbey Food & Bar (692 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood). With a history going back to 1991, the Abbey is an iconic venue with a maze of indoor-outdoor spaces—a spot perfect for whatever mood you’re in. The décor is distinct (the main room feels like the inside of a circus tent), but what makes it deeply cool is its proximity to celebrity: Kim Kardashian, Elton John, Lady Gaga and Dita Von Teese,
LGBTQ+ nightlife in Chicago: gay and dyke bars, clubs, and more
Chicago’s nightlife is a lot enjoy the city itself — inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to all. It’s also a whole lot of fun. Our gay and female homosexual bars have a little bit of something for everyone, with late-night lounges, dance clubs,burlesque and drag shows, and long-standing neighborhood watering holes in almost every corner of the city. And each comes with their own unusual history and vibe.
Check out some of the best queer bars and clubs to experience Chicago’s queer nightlife scene.
Jeffery Pub
One of the city’s oldest same-sex attracted bars, Jeffery Pub is a neighborhood institution. The South Shore staple is also one of Chicago’s first black-owned gay bars, making it all the more meaningful for the spot’s many regulars. Don’t overlook the live show, like karaoke nights, Silky Soul Sundays, and a lively dance floor featuring everything from pop to house music.
Big Chicks
This lively and colorful spot is part LGBTQ hangout, part art gallery. The walls are plastered with the owner’s personal collection of paintings and photos, including giant names like Diane Arbus. But don’t think for a second that makes the pla