A West Village gay bar at the corner of Grove Street with two very different floors: a convivial piano bar upstairs and a basement dance floor that gets busy on weekends. The Monster has been a Village staple for decades, attracting a multigenerational mixed crowd.

Actor Alan Cumming's East Village bar is known for wild, welcoming variety shows, drag performances, and late-night dance parties. Club Cumming has a decidedly anti-pretentious, anything-goes atmosphere that has made it a favourite since opening in 2017.

A legendary West Village lesbian bar open since 1991, one of the oldest and most celebrated in New York. Henrietta Hudson draws a loyal, multigenerational crowd of women and queer people with DJs, themed nights, and a warm community atmosphere.

A Crown Heights bar and all-ages event venue with a strong queer identity, hosting DJ nights, live performances, comedy, and record listening sessions. C'mon Everybody is also part record shop, part community hub for Brooklyn's queer creative scene.

A gay cocktail bar in Hell's Kitchen with plush seating, a stylish interior, and a relaxed vibe. Hush draws a mixed crowd looking for a more intimate alternative to the louder clubs nearby on the 52nd Street strip.

A well-loved West Village gay bar with a lively atmosphere, drag shows, and a friendly crowd. Playhouse draws a mixed queer clientele across multiple nights of programming, from themed drink specials to DJ nights.

Brooklyn restaurant and bar in Bed-Stuy serving soul food and cocktails, a welcoming neighborhood spot.

A queer-forward Bushwick bar with a thoughtfully curated cocktail list, DJ nights, and a warm, art-influenced aesthetic. Mood Ring is known for its welcoming atmosphere and draws a young, diverse crowd from the neighbourhood's queer community.

Brooklyn Gowanus queer-popular venue with hi-fi sound system.

New York LGBTQ+ recurring queer dance party.

Brooklyn recurring lesbian and queer party.

Sunday gay dance party at Marquee with circuit DJs and a strong queer crowd.

Recurring NYC iteration of the legendary London queer disco party.

An annual outdoor drag festival revived in New York, originally staged in Tompkins Square Park from 1984 and now held on Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport. Wigstock celebrates drag culture in all its extravagance and has been a landmark event in NYC queer nightlife history since its founding by Lady Bunny.

A touring lesbian bar pop-up that brings a dedicated lesbian bar experience to cities across the US, including regular NYC stops. Dave's Lesbian Bar was created in response to the declining number of permanent lesbian bars and has built a loyal following through its welcoming, community-driven events.

A queer women's beer brand and community event series, organizing brewery meetups and social gatherings for lesbians, queer women, and non-binary people in NYC and beyond. Dyke Beer has helped fill the gap left by the shrinking number of dedicated lesbian spaces.

A gay bar and lounge in Hell's Kitchen on Restaurant Row, with a long happy hour, a welcoming atmosphere, and a mixed crowd of locals and theatre-goers. The Ritz is a solid neighbourhood option for pre- or post-show drinks in Midtown.

A Bushwick performance venue and nightclub known for elaborate themed events, aerial performances, and a radically inclusive, body-positive ethos. House of Yes is a creative collective as much as a bar, producing original shows and parties that blur art and nightlife.

Greenpoint queer-popular club with house and techno parties.

A recurring queer communal dinner and fundraiser series in New York, bringing together LGBTQ+ people over shared meals and raising money for queer community organisations. Queer Soup Night blends food, community-building, and activism in an intimate setting.

A queer bar in Bushwick with a dark, intimate interior and a neighbourhood following built on inclusive DJ nights and community events. The Bush draws a young, predominantly LGBTQ+ crowd from across Brooklyn looking for a no-pretension night out.

Brooklyn Bushwick queer-friendly multi-room music venue and rooftop with regular LGBTQ+ programming.

A Hell's Kitchen gay bar on 10th Avenue with a dark, industrial aesthetic and a mostly male crowd. Hardware Bar draws a mixed leather and regular clientele with DJ sets and drink specials most nights.

A lesbian and queer bar in Prospect Heights with a warm, inclusive atmosphere and a strong emphasis on community. Good Judy hosts regular events including drag nights, comedy shows, and themed parties in a cozy, well-designed space.

A gay bar and lounge on Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard serving Harlem's LGBTQ+ community with a welcoming neighbourhood atmosphere, weekly events, and drag shows. Lambda Lounge is one of the few dedicated queer spaces in upper Manhattan.

A gay bar and event space in Astoria serving Queens' LGBTQ+ community with drag shows, karaoke, trivia nights, and dance parties. Icon is a vital neighbourhood anchor for queer residents who don't want to cross into Manhattan for a night out.

A gay bar and Williamsburg institution since 2002, known for its unpretentious vibe, good jukebox, and large backyard patio. Metropolitan draws a mixed queer crowd of locals and attracts everyone from after-work regulars to a full house on weekend nights.

A Hell's Kitchen gay bar on 9th Avenue with daily happy hours, a friendly atmosphere, and a crowd that spans the neighbourhood's gay community. Rise is a solid neighbourhood option for no-fuss drinks before or after the busier spots nearby.

Black-owned lesbian and queer dyke bar in Bushwick, Brooklyn, opened in 2023 with cocktails, pop-up strip shows, and a community-first approach centering queer and trans people of color.

A Christopher Street institution since 1951, The Duplex is one of New York's oldest and most beloved cabarets, showcasing comedy, solo performers, and piano bar sing-alongs. The intimate venue has launched countless careers and remains a warm, welcoming cornerstone of the Village's queer nightlife.

A gay bar and restaurant near Times Square serving cocktails and American comfort food in a welcoming, low-key space. Red Eye is a reliable queer option in Midtown West, drawing a mixed after-work and pre-theatre crowd.

A queer Brooklyn venue in Bushwick hosting DJ nights, live music, comedy, and community events across a large bar and dance floor. 3 Dollar Bill is one of Brooklyn's most reliably queer spaces with a strong emphasis on intersectional, trans-inclusive programming.

A Christopher Street staple known for its campy, high-energy atmosphere, drag performances, and legendary singalong nights. Pieces has been a West Village favourite since the 1980s and welcomes a mixed crowd with a spirit of inclusivity and fun.