If you’re looking for gay bars in the area, then you’re in the right place. West Hollywood is known as one of the gayest cities in California and offers more than its fair share of gay bars for the LGBTQ+ community and allies alike to enjoy. From dancing and karaoke to sports viewings and drag shows, you won’t want to miss out on visiting the best gay bars in Los Angeles.
Best Gay Bars in LA
Los Angeles is home to some of the most iconic gay nightlife in the country. From legendary spots in West Hollywood to cozy neighborhood hangouts in Silver Lake and beyond, these bars celebrate community, creativity, and connection. Here are some of the best gay bars in Los Angeles to check out.
The Abbey WeHo
There’s a reason The Abbey has won not just one, but two MTV Logo awards for being the best gay bar in the world. This renowned bar serves its world-famous brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, where you can dine while watching drag superstars on the stage. But that’s not all. The Abbey has a lounge room, outdoor terraces and cabanas, an indoor dance floor, a DJ area, and viewing booths for a casual, but classy vibe fit for anyone looking for the best gay bar in Los Angeles.
The Chapel At The Abbey
Connected to The Abbey is The Chapel. This space is a more recent addition to The Abbey, which opened in 2016. It serves as the nightclub for the venue, offering events such as dancing, DJ sets, drag performances, and other forms of entertainment.
Micky’s WeHo
With four impressive decades to show for itself, Micky’s West Hollywood is a gay bar to add to the itinerary of anyone who loves West Hollywood. With a two-story nightclub, dance floor, outdoor patio, and lounge area, participate in the bar’s country line dancing, drag brunch, Latin dance night, and more. This venue serves food seven days a week, so show up with a hungry stomach or catch something to eat ahead of time.
Rocco’s WeHo
Feel like having Greek or Italian food? Rocco’s got you covered. With its industrial-style venue, covered terrace with indoor and outdoor dining for up to 200 people, this 5,000-square-foot restaurant and bar seamlessly blends food and partying. The bar offers karaoke nights, drag shows, brunch, and themed club music, and is located right by the rainbow crosswalk for a perfect pitstop while touring the city.
Trunks WeHo
Trunks WeHo’s mottos are “where the spirits are high and the prices are low,” and “gay, straight, curious – who gives a hell.” Here, you’ll find locals winding down after a long week, and tourists soaking up the iconic WeHo nightlife scene. With affordable prices and an open atmosphere, Trunks is one of the oldest West Hollywood gay bars and has over 35 years under its belt.
If you’re looking to bar hop and explore as many bars in Los Angeles as possible, this classic gay sports bar has pool tables, multiple TVs for sports, drink specials, and is just a short distance away from other gay bars. Trunks recently added an outdoor patio for outdoor relaxation.
Revolver Video Bar
Established in 1984, Revolver WeHo is a staple West Hollywood gay bar that sits right at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Larrabee. The bar symbolizes the ever-changing world, yet continues to stand as a steady venue for community in the daytime and a fun nightlife environment at night. Gay-owned and operated, Revolver plays a variety of music, music videos, and movie mash-ups for dancing and partying.
Mother Lode WeHo
The Mother Lode West Hollywood opened its doors all the way back in 1979, making it one of the oldest gay Los Angeles bars still in operation. The venue has a laid-back ambience and dive bar theme. Most notably, the bar wraps around a pool table for an iconic look. Mother Lode features go-go dancers and 70’s, 80’s,90’s, and 00’s music videos, for an unpretentious LGBTQ+ venue.
Beaches WeHo
Beaches is located in West Hollywood Beaches and serves as a fashionable restaurant and lounge for the LGBTQ+ community. The bar has a Cuban and 80s Miami-themed disco style, with authentic Cuban cuisine. Beaches offers a stunning staircase, neon lights, and tropical jungle walls that can’t be explained with words alone. Check out Beaches for the food, then explore the two-story venue for its top-notch equipment and DJ system to experience this bar first-hand.
GYM Sportsbar And Grill WeHo
GYM Sportsbar and Grill in West Hollywood is a 15-year-old sports bar establishment with 15 big screen TVs and tasty food like burgers, wings, shrimp quesadillas, and more. The sports bar doesn’t advertise itself as LGBTQ+, wanting to encourage inclusivity. So, invite your friends and family from all walks of life out for sports viewing parties, drinks, and food, or dabble with karaoke or trivia night to change things up. So grab a beer, catch a game, and make a few new friends because this is one of those places where everyone feels welcome.
Schmitty’s WeHo
At Schmitty’s WeHo, you’ll find shirtless bartenders, drinks that will give you your money’s worth in intensity, and partying. This bar is just a few blocks away from La Cienga and features a smoking patio, happy hour, karaoke, and live music.
Or Bar West Hollywood
Or Bar West Hollywood brings back the disco era with house parties and quirky art. This bar operates in the daytime as a dog-friendly coffee and tea shop, with snacks and sofas perfect for getting work done. At night, however, Or Bar turns into an upscale community full of signature cocktails, Riviera and disco music, trivia nights, disco bingo, and dancing.
Precinct DTLA
Precinct DTLA is a brick-lined venue serving the LGBTQ+ community. It features cocktails and American food. On Sundays, the bar has a brunch menu worth checking out. At night, you can find many different events at Precinct, including disco, gay-themed trivia, live music, and drag shows.
Kiso DTLA
Open Wednesday through Saturday and on Sundays for special events, Kiso Los Angeles is more than an LGBTQ+ bar: it’s a community that takes pride in celebrating who you are. Kiso is located in one of the former oldest gay bars in DTLA and works to preserve the history of the space while adding its own unique twist, with a tropical theme perfect for dancing, checking out queer art, and attending events in its impressive three rooms.
Head to the lounge room to relax with a larger group, the dance floor room for dancing away, or the stage to see performances from talented artists.
The New Jalisco Bar
The New Jalisco Bar is a gay dive bar with a goal of providing the Latinx LGBTQ+ community with a place to party. This bar has been around for over 30 years and hosts regular drag performances with plenty of seating.
Akbar Silver Lake
If you like disco, then Akbar LA is the perfect bar for you to get your groove on. The bar features entertainment like showtune sing-a-longs, an underground disco, and funky parties for divas looking to dance to their hearts’ content. Silver Lake recently switched ownership after 27 years and continues to honor its love of rock and roll, disco, reggae, and more.
Eagle LA
For the hottest gay bar, Eagle LA’s got the venue and events. As LA’s top leather bar, the back patio serves as the setting for the bar’s towel party, where it has a steamy massage room. You can also play pool inside the venue or attend bingo night on the 4th Saturday of the month.
Hi Tops Los Feliz
Hi Tops Los Feliz is one of three bars owned by Hi Tops. This gay sports bar is the ideal place to watch games, with large screens and an inviting community for LA’s east side sports fans. Located above Hollywood Boulevard, Hi Tops Los Feliz isn’t just a sports bar: it also features lesbian nights, trivia nights, and DJs representing a variety of genres.
Bullet Bar North Hollywood
Bullet Bar North Hollywood is a leather and Levi’s bar showcasing bare chest contests, generous happy hours, karaoke, drag races, steam towel parties, and more. Explore your wild side by checking out their events, or simply attend any day of the week, as there are leather and jeans seven days of the week.
C Frenz Reseda
With nearly 20 years of experience, C Frenz Reseda is an LGBTQ+ bar that serves as a nightclub from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. You’ll find DJs and go-go dancers at the nightclub, karaoke opportunities, different types of shows, and of course, plenty of dancing. The venue also has two pool tables, game nights, BBQs, and two outdoor patios.
Artesia Bar South Bay
Artesia Bar is South Bay’s only LGBTQ+ bar. Open seven days a week, the bar features regular events, making it a good choice to visit if you’re looking for a local bar you can rely on for weekly themes. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday is karaoke-themed, every Wednesday is games and trivia night, second Fridays of each month are leather nights, third Fridays are Latin night, drag shows are on the second and last Saturday of the month, and drag bingo takes place on the last Wednesday of the month, giving you plenty to do each week.
The Ruby Fruit Silver Lake
Lesbian bars are rare in Los Angeles, making The Ruby Fruit a standout destination for queer women and sapphic nightlife. It’s part of a growing revival of women-led spaces across the country. The Ruby Fruit in Silver Lake calls itself a “strip mall bar and grill for the Sapphically Inclined.” As one of the only lesbian bars in Los Angeles, this LGBTQ+ bar is a must-visit if you’re into drag shows, naughty bingo nights, and, of course, women. The bar also offers a delicious gourmet menu, cocktails, beer, and wine.
LA Gay Nightlife Tips
LA is a big city with plenty of nightlife for the LGBTQ+ community. While there’s much to do, it can also be quite intimidating if you’ve never explored a city of this calibre. Here are a few tips to help set you up for a successful night:
- Bring a friend. If you’re new to the area, going with a friend or group is a good way to explore without worrying about getting lost or being in an unfamiliar place.
- Don’t leave your drink unattended. This goes for anywhere drinks are served. Be sure to receive your drink directly from the bartender or trusted friends.
- Dress accordingly. LA doesn’t receive much rainfall and can get very hot in the summer. Dress lightly to avoid overheating if you plan on bar-hopping.
- Eat before you drink. LA has many bars with eateries, so consider going to one if you have an empty stomach, or just eat ahead of time if you’re on a budget.
- Hire an Uber or Lyft. Public transport systems may be difficult to navigate if you’re visiting or new to LA. Add a night of drinking to the list, and it’s probably best to stick with a ride-sharing app for getting around town.
- Pay attention to your environment. Whether you’re getting a bad vibe from someone or a part of the venue or bar gives you an off feeling, trust your gut and excuse yourself.
- Plan your night early. Most bars in Los Angeles close at 2 AM.
IDs, Dress Codes, and Cover Charges
You will need your ID when entering gay bars in LA, as many nightclubs will ask for your ID before you can buy drinks or enter the premises. Anyone who looks under the age of 30 is likely to be asked for an ID, but the bartender and staff can ask for identification at any time if they suspect you are under 21.
Dress codes vary by bar; some gay bars are quite liberal with what you are allowed to wear, allowing you to even be shirtless, while other, more high-end gay bars expect you to wear semi-casual. To play it safe, check out the social media accounts for the bars you’re interested in or simply dress casually.
Not every bar or nightclub has a cover charge, but if they do, they’ll typically range from $5 to $20, so be sure to have cash on hand if you plan on going to more than one establishment that has a cover fee.
Getting Around After Hours
You’ll want to have a game plan in place for getting back to your residence, especially if you plan on drinking and don’t know your way around town. LA has a 24/7 metro busway system, but using a ride-sharing service can make it much easier to get to and from your residence.
Safety And Queer-Friendly Areas
Like many of the great cities for LGBTQ+ communities in California, West Hollywood is known as the largest queer-friendly area in Los Angeles, while places like East Los Angeles offer resources in a family-friendly community. Other areas include Silver Lake, Venice Beach, and Santa Monica. Each location offers its own unique slice of the city and is worth visiting during your time here.
Thinking About Relocating to Los Angeles?
If you’re thinking of moving to Los Angeles, this entertainment hub is teeming with things to do and provides a strong LGBTQ+ culture that will make you feel right at home.
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Whether you’re thinking of relocating to Los Angeles or want to explore other top California cities for LGBTQ+ couples looking for more of a family-oriented lifestyle, the state has plenty of places that are welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
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