One of her first projects was to create No Bar, a queer-inclusive lounge that sits streetside at The Standard, East Village, one of the first and only gay bars within a major hotel. She famously revolutionized the restaurant Mission Chinese before joining Standard International (which owns and operates the chain of hip, boutique Standard hotels) as its creative director of food and culture in 2018. "Which is most places,” she adds.ĭimayuga doesn't have a background in nightlife, but her experiences as a queer woman of color (she's Filipino-American), chef, and cultural tastemaker have helped. "Honestly, if it upsets you and you feel oppressed by our pricing system because it doesn't include you, think about all the people that it does include, and how they feel oppressed when there's oppressive pricing systems that don't include them," Dimayuga says. GUSH has thrived despite these realities, or perhaps because of them, which have spawned measures like their door policy, which at the very least sparks necessary conversations about safe spaces and economic disparities. cities (including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland) have zero bars dedicated to queer women, despite sizable communities who live there.īut the blame often falls on queer women themselves, too, for in-fighting, gender policing, or simply not showing up. Women are therefore less likely to own and operate their own brick-and-mortar businesses, which is why many major U.S.
White women reportedly earn 77 cents to every man's dollar more marginalized women and QTPOC receive even less. While the city starts to reopen, be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing to protect yourself and everyone else.Queer women frequently lament the loss of dedicated spaces like lesbian bars, music festivals, and bookstores, and the blame often correctly falls on America's patriarchal landscape. Regardless of your sexuality - straight or gay, you will, for sure, have plenty of fun here. We haven’t been to The Eagle yet, which I heard is a leather-Levis bar that also worth a visit. Happy hour is from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and there are drag shows from Sunday through Thursday and live DJs spinning pop mash-ups of Erasure, Kesha, and more on Friday and Saturday.Ĭheck their calendar here to stay updated on the upcoming events!Īlright, these are some of the best gay bars slash dance clubs in the Big Apple that deserve a stop for anyone looking for a hot night. Indeed, not just folks in the LGBT+ community, anyone is welcomed here. New York magazine described it as a welcome blend of the three types of gay bars you’ve come to expect in Manhattan: the tight-shirt lounge, the tank-top megaclub, and the casual-plaid cruising spot. Located in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, this spacious, industrial-chic gay bar features a bustling after-work scene, sexy bartenders pouring stiff vodka sodas, and plenty of rainbow decors. Locations: 86 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003 Google Ratings: 4.0/5 So, what’s the point of their happy hour?Ī fun story: This bar is at one corner of my first Manhattan apartment building, and it is so casual and quiet that for the first few years, I always thought it is someone’s garage. You won’t find that price anywhere else in New York City. Also, the cocktails are delicious and strong, priced at only $8, and beers are $4. There’s also a karaoke party every Sunday - Thursday night and drag show on weekends, keeping the energy high seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. The popcorn shrimp and fries are delicious! They also have a small menu where you can order Indian food from the restaurant next door.
Upon walking in, you will see an extensive bar on the right, and on the left are a few circular booths where you can get cozy in. It’s often more on the low-key side, except when they are airing new episodes of Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
Suite is a quaint, dimly-lit gay bar on the Upper West Side.