Hush opened during the pandemic in Hell’s Kitchen in the former home of Therapy. The bi-level space is home to a busy dance club, especially on weekends, and ticks off all the boxes of a night out: dancers, shots, and DJs blasting a playlist until late. Check the website for recurring special events, including RuPaul viewing parties, musical shows, and drag competitions.

Venture to this cavernous 10th Avenue bar in a former electrical-supply store where no one takes themselves too seriously. The design is industrial-inspired and serves as a backdrop for regular drag and DJ shows, and there is both a happy hour and brunch where drinks are discounted.

A number of gay bars in Jackson Heights have a big following in Queens, but Friend’s Tavern, founded in 1989 — making it the oldest gay bar in Queens — is one of the most popular. It’s a gathering point for groups of friends looking for a night out. Another bonus to its easy access to the 74th Street trains, and it’s just steps from the crowd-favorite Birria-Landia truck.

This mini-chain of LGBTQ bars — there’s another branch in Hell’s Kitchen — describes itself as a gay sports bar and draws a diverse group of folks through its doors — sports fans or not. It also has a rooftop, and hosts an annual Queer Erotic Art Fair.

Lesbian bars are all too rare in New York and the rest of the country, cementing their importance in the queer bar scene. Dating back to 1994, Cubbyhole is one of the most famous of such venues and promotes itself as accessible to the entire LGBTQ+ community and allies. It’s a very tight space, and the ceiling is adorned in bright decor that gives it a funhouse feel.

The birthplace for the 1969 riots that helped launch the Gay Rights movement, Stonewall is still a rousing, though very touristy, Village destination to pay tribute to the movement. Downstairs, there’s a pool table and a large bar area with bar seating and tables. Upstairs, there’s another bar plus a dance floor and stage that hosts various events, including drag shows, ’90s karaoke, and more.

Disco meets neighborhood bar, Nowhere is an East Village subterranean queer dive. It features a draft beer selection that’s a step above the standard bar, and there are seemingly endless dark nooks for hanging out.

Owners are married chefs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, and the Italian food can’t be beat at this restaurant in the heart of the Village, a stone’s thrown from Stonewall. It can be hard to get in at peak hours, so try mid-afternoon and sit in the breezy outdoor space, or go across to the sister establishment, Bar Pisellino, where light meals, pastries, and cocktails are available.

Offering omnivore and vegan and six-course tasting menus, Hags is an ongoing experiment in queer fine dining. Every meal feels like a party, and the food is as whimsical as the design elements that go into the space. A salad may be spritzed with rosewater from a perfume bottle, or bluefin tuna served in a verjus rouge.

One of a flock of queer bars to open post-pandemic, Mary’s Bar has been dubbed a queer Irish pub where all are welcome. It was opened by the legendary team behind Ginger’s in Park Slope, in partnership with One Stop Beer Shop, which was housed in the Greenpoint space for more than a decade. Mary’s also serves as an Irish cultural center, offering queer Irish dance classes and Irish snacks.

One of the initial Williamsburg queers bars to open, to this day it’s less crowded and way more laid back than others in the area. Sit back in the booths of the tunnel-like space or head to the quaint backyard. Drag shows and karaoke are offered.

Bushwick’s House of Yes has gotten more mainstream over the years, but it’s still one of Brooklyn’s biggest venues for Pride. The massive space has multiple bars, and while covers can get steep, it’s always been reliable for a very Bushwick type of night.

Established in 2023, The Bush is part of a nationwide renaissance of lesbian-owned bars that caters broadly to a queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming community that’s more inclusive than ever. In addition to cocktails at this “dyke bar for the queers,” Caribbean patties are often available.

Gathering place before and after the annual Brooklyn Pride Parade, Medusa mounts a classic Greek taverna menu of meze, dips, salads, gyro platters, and kebabs, then throws in cocktails, brunch, and happy hour. There are two fireplaces inside with cozy sofas, and a terrace outdoors where a free BBQ happens every Sunday.

While Ginger’s in Park Slope is a lesbian hangout at its core, the bar welcomes all members of the LGBTQ+ community and attracts bar goers of all ages and genders. It’s a legit dive with cheap drinks, kitschy decor, and a pool table. There’s an enclosed garden out back, and the bar never feels clubby, so it’s an ideal spot for a chill night of pool and music. With plenty of space, it’s great for groups. This year, the bar opened a sibling location called Mary’s in Greenpoint.