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The nation's capital is home to a lively LGBTQ+ nightlife scene with plenty of gay and lesbian bars just waiting for you to join in on the fun.
Larry’s Lounge is a gay neighborhood pub, with always-affordable drinks, solid happy hour specials, mouth-watering pub fare (see: sweet potato tots) and one of the city’s friendliest patios (you can bring your dog, too!). The downstairs area resembles a suburban living room, cozy and welcoming upon entrance, the perfect intro to the bar’s home-like atmosphere.
Number Nine comes to the bustling Logan Circle courtesy of co-founder Ed Bailey, who helped DC’s gay nightlife scene to grow during his days as a DJ. Decked out in mirrors, leather banquettes and dark wood paneling, the lounge is perfect for nighttime socialization. The music video bar upstairs is also a must-see. Get there before 9 p.m. to enjoy two-for-one drink specials.
Green Lantern is tough to find, but certainly worth the hunt. Tucked into an otherwise unassuming alleyway off of Thomas Circle near Downtown, the bar is located in a converted two-story carriage house. The first floor’s lounge vibe is complete with a central granite bar perfect for peering into patrons on the opposite side. Groove to your heart’s content on Green Lantern’s multi-level dance floor (with disco lights!) and chat with its bare-chested bartenders, and don’t miss the “Shirtless Men Drink Free” event on Thursdays from 10 to 11 p.m.
This Shaw neighborhood bar is Sunday Funday central, especially when the popular rooftop can be enjoyed to the fullest. Hit the top floor for music and dancing with a side of jumbo wings.
Situated right in the heart of Adams Morgan’s bustling 18th Street is Pitchers, a gay sports bar, and A League of Her Own, the adjacent bar for lesbian and queer women. The brainchild of DC LGBTQ+ nightlife veteran Dave Perruzza, the 10,000-square-foot space features plenty of room for games as well as two patios. A sports-themed menu of bar favorites includes stadium dogs, chicken tenders and burgers.
A casual cafe converts into a lively lounge and dance floor at As You Are. The charming Eastern Market establishment welcomes LGBTQIA+ patrons and allies in a vibrant, celebratory space for queer expression and connection. Its exciting events calendar includes themed karaoke nights, open mics, craft nights, drag shows, Latin nights and maker markets. Service-industry stars Jo McDaniel and Rach “Coach” Pike wanted to create a haven where guests can feel safe and supported, so AYA checks all bags at peak hours and requires enthusiastic consent in the space.
Follow the beat down P Street to this iconic dive bar. The Fireplace is known for its notably diverse crowd, robust drink selection and warm namesake beside the bar. Head upstairs for black lights and DJs, and those strong drinks should have you dancing all night.
A two-level lounge and nightclub off U Street proudly serves as DC’s only Black-owned LGBTQ+ bar, created to quench the community’s thirst for an inclusive space. The whole venue pays homage to Black and queer culture, from a mural at the entrance to a staircase gallery of icons like James Baldwin, Audre Lorde and even the queen herself, Beyoncé.
The community space and lively hot spot off U Street brings the vibes, whether you prefer shaken, stirred or sassy. By day, enjoy chill happy hours in the airy atrium, and by night, expect drag shows, karaoke dance parties and RuPaul’s Drag Race watch parties.
At 14th and U, DC’s first booze-free LGBTQ+ bar is lighting up the sober scene with mocktails, music and plenty of main-character energy. Spark kickstarts the day with coffee, pastries and connections, then turns it up at sundown with DJs, drag trivia and zero-proof cocktails that pack a punch.
Let’s have a … you get it. Gather all your girls, gays and theys to kiki all night on U Street. With four rooms with varied vibes, outdoor spaces and DJs that never miss, Kiki lives up to its name. Come for the happy hour, stay for the weekly events.
Imagine your artsy friend’s apartment – if they served craft cocktails, pulled espresso like a pro and hung a gallery of queer art on every wall. Enter: Licht, meaning “light”. The intimate and sophisticated space on U Street offers upscale snacks and buzzing conversations.
This pioneering gay sports bar, one of the first to open outside of Dupont Circle, hosts all sorts of events, like trivia and drag bingo. Named for the owners' great-grandmother, the bar boasts dozens of TVs in the relaxed downstairs, and an upstairs patio dance floor that goes strong until close.
Through a Peruvian chicken joint and behind a vintage vending machine is a place where curiosity is encouraged and leather is guaranteed. Bold and unapologetic, District Eagle celebrates self-expression, moody lighting and unexpected connections.
