Where to Find the Best Lesbian Bars NYC

Did you know New York City is the largest city in the United States? It consists of 5 very distinct boroughs each with its own community exhibiting its own lifestyle: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

It’s the most populous city in the United States, which in turn makes it full of culture and diversity. It really is such a special city, if you ever have the opportunity to live here and be a New Yorker, go for it!

Though a visit is fantastic too, especially if you know which LGBT spots to visit and where to find the best lesbian bars NYC. 

We often take a lot of pride saying we live in NYC because of the diversity and being able to handle all these different cultures that are thrown at you, but I think the best part of it is being in a city that is recognized for its LGBT pride and community.

Being lesbians in New York is such a freeing place to be because there is such a huge variation of people, you don’t feel like an outcast, and a lot of times you will run into other lesbians like you.

We feel super comfortable being ourselves and really affectionate with one another. There is also just a feeling of rebellion that comes with being in New York.

You want to go out and meet people and do the risqué things and have the IDC attitude. Generally, most places, if not all, are super accepting of LGBT, but there are definitely neighborhoods that are queerer than others.

Lesbian NYC

New York City is often referred to as the genesis of the LGBT civil rights movement. In June 1969, a police riot erupted at a bar that was known to have the most marginalized people in the gay community: Stonewall Inn.

The patrons resisted a police raid that then led to activist groups protesting for more establishments for people to be open about their sexual orientation without being arrested.

The Stonewall Riots influenced so many other areas thereafter to create their own identities and escalated organizations to come up with Gay Pride.

The first Gay Pride in US history started on Christopher St. at the Stonewall Inn simultaneously with marches in Chicago and L.A. Stonewall Inn is now a historic landmark and is still one of the most popular LGBTQ+ bars in NYC.

Gay Area New York

There are quite a few areas that are super queer in NYC. Some of our favorite areas include Greenwich Village, Bushwick and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, and Hell’s Kitchen.

Greenwich Village is a must. The whole area is very inclusive with colorful vibes and covered with rainbow flags at restaurants and bars around.

The famous Stonewall Inn is also located here but there are also a few other popular gay and lesbian bars like Cubbyhole, Henrietta Hudson, and Pieces. The neighborhood is welcoming and is also where the Pride parade ends.

Bushwick, Brooklyn, has its own personality but still very queer. There is more of that hipster attitude in Brooklyn, but there are a ton of great places to eat, drink and hangout.

Often times, we find that there are fewer tourists here, but still a great area to explore and be as open about your sexuality as you want.

Hell’s Kitchen is in midtown Manhattan has a ton of gay clubs that are open and friendly to all the LGBTQ+ community.

You’ll also see quite a few rainbow flags waving at the bars and restaurants in this area that’ll make you feel more at home. If you love a good drag brunch, you have to come to Therapy or Hardware.

Visiting Los Angeles too? Make sure to read everything about lesbian Los Angeles.

The Best Lesbian Bars NYC

There are fun lesbian bars in both lower Manhattan and Brooklyn but as mentioned earlier, a lot of these queer neighborhoods will have a mixed LGBTQ+ community at these bars. See below which New York City lesbian bars you should go to!

Lesbian Bars Manhattan

Cubbyhole NYC

You can come into Cubbyhole any night of the week, and you’ll always have a great time! It’s one of the few lesbian-identified bars in NYC.

There are fun and random things hanging all over the ceiling and a great place to meet other lesbians in the city too.

Stonewall Inn

Where it all began! The birthplace for LGBT rights and a home for everyone. There are events here every night and one particularly sexy and fun dance party (on the 2nd floor) on Fridays.

Henrietta Hudson

The oldest and most celebrated lesbian bar in NYC! Henrietta’s is fun and vibrant and has a popular happy hour every day from 4-7 PM.

Look up their event calendar for specific DJs. Henrietta Hudson can’t be missed on this list with New York City lesbian bars.

Nobar

The owner of Mission Chinese opened her own weird-chic and queer bar with lots of neon lights. This space has great dance parties, drag nights, and lesbian-specific events.

Pieces

Located at the heart of where it all began is this super fun, high energy bar open to all the LGBTQ+ community! There are also really fun drag nights here.

Therapy

This is personally our favorite drag bar in all of NYC. With a two-floor lounge in Hells Kitchen, you can find some of the best of the best drag here including contestants from RPDR! Wednesday nights are a hit.

Hardware

Drag brunch becomes a huge dance party on Sundays! It’s hard to not come here. This is a gay club but open to the community to have a great time.

Lesbian Bars Brooklyn

Ginger’s Bar

This lesbian bar in NYC is low-key but a warm and great dive spot! It’s great to grab a mixed drink and sit by the bar and have a conversation. There’s also a little backyard to sit out back when the weather is nice.

Misster at The Woods

Located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is this venue with a backyard patio and taco truck to fill all your necessities.

This bar is extremely supportive of the queer community, but every Wednesday night specifically turns into a lesbian dance party. This is our favorite scene.

Read about the best lesbian movies you HAVE TO watch! 

Lesbian Clubs NYC

There aren’t any specific lesbian clubs in New York City but there are clubs that are more mixed than others. There are also events hosted at some of these venues for lesbians. Below we will tell you about clubs that welcome the whole community.

Gay Clubs in Manhattan

The Monster

LGBT dance spot for a night out on the weekend! Fun dancing and mingling with two-floors.

Ritz Bar & Lounge

This underground gay dance club is located in Hell’s Kitchen. There are weekly drag performances. Smokey and great dance scene!

Electric Room

Below the Dream Hotel is another nightclub that has a very eclectic group of people! There’s a speakeasy feel to this dance floor, with velvet couches and old paintings on the wall.

Not necessarily a gay bar, but there’s an open atmosphere and more upscale than the other clubs. Dress to impress here!

The Back Room

Speakeasy in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, hidden above an old toy factory. It’s not a gay bar but has a mixed crowd.

This bar was around during the prohibition era. We love this bar, especially on Monday nights for their 1920s swinging performances. Also, they serve their beverages in teacups!

Gay Clubs in Brooklyn

House of Yes

HOY is a funky venue that is weird, wild and wonderful all at the same time. There are cabaret, circus and theater performances programmed to have the best time. This a very queer psychedelic crowd and so much fun!

Elsewhere

Fun dance party and after-hours spot with great DJs and eclectic crowd. Great for deep house and a queer vibe!

Want to Netflix & Chill after a night out?! Check out which LGBT Netflix shows you should see. 

Lesbian Events in NYC

Lesbian events in NYC are a great way to meet other people and get more involved in the community. The lesbian organizations we follow are Spice NYC, EllisPresents and Hot Rabbit.

SpiceNYC

SpiceNYC hosts many events during Pride and summer. There are quite a few parties, Femme Fatale for example and even an Atlantic City trip in the summer, but what we love about Spice NYC are the mingling brunch events they organize.

We love talking and getting a conversation going. For more events and to stay up to date check out their website.

EllisPresents

EllisPresents is another one of our favorite organizations. ELLIS throws invite-only events to celebrate the curious, fluid, interesting and interested women/trans and non-binary folks of NYC.

Hot Rabbit

Hot Rabbit collaborates with Honey Burlesque for LGBTQ+ women parties (locations vary but include Baby’s Alright, DROM, and Lot 45 Buschwick).

All of their events include a dance party and are fun to let loose and interact with other lesbians. For more Hot Rabbit events, head to their website.

NYC Pride Events

NYC Pride is our favorite location for Pride. We’ve been to a few Prides in other cities and even countries, but nothing speaks to us the way Pride in NYC does.

We might be biased here, but there is such a magical and open atmosphere. Pride in NYC becomes home to everyone, and that’s what makes it so special to us.

We become so inspired and emotional seeing all the floats come by of all religions and different cultures.

Pride week NYC is always in June. The big events are happening on the last weekend of June, typically. The pride march always starts on Sunday at 11:30 AM at the intersections of 26th Street and 5th Avenue and proceeds all the way down Lower Manhattan until it reaches Greenwich Village.

The city will be pouring with LGBTQ+ community alike, but the best location to be is around Christopher Street. While it is crowded, you’ll realize the whole area is supportive. So, just stop by a bar, a restaurant, and take a break when you need to.

Events for Pride happen all week long at all of the bars mentioned above but here are our favorites:

Marquee

This huge multi-tiered dance venue becomes a huge lesbian club in NYC during Pride. There are class DJs rotating sets and performers dancing throughout the club.

House of Yes

The perfect setting for a bunch of queer people to get together and groove out to the night!

We also follow Spice’s calendar of events for Pride month (locations vary every year).

Looking for a lesbian-friendly holiday destination? Make sure to think of Thailand! 

Other Lesbian NYC Spots

Besides some amazing New York City lesbian bars, clubs, pride and lesbian events in NYC there are other cool spots to go to. 

Big Gay Ice Cream

• 

• 

Located in Greenwich Village. Grab yourself a giant cone at this colorful gay shop. They also have other locations in the city!

Fonda

Mexican eatery that’s located in all the gayborhoods.

Pig & Khao

Chic and artsy restaurant in the Lower East Side with graffitied walls. Great for group brunches!

Mission Chinese

From the Queer owner of Nobar. A trendy and hip spot in NYC for sharing plates and Asian food.

Terminal 5

A cool, tiered music venue with a range of artists. While in town, look up some great artists playing and you’ll be sure to find a mixed crowd. We saw Jess Glynne here and it was AMAZING!

Lesbian NYC map

There really are so many LGBT spots in NYC to go and see. Enjoy this amazing city! NYC has an amazingly supportive and inclusive community.

Like NYC, Amsterdam is an amazing welcoming and open city. Perfect for a city trip! 

PIN THIS ARTICLE

•