Disco gay new york
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Cover: No! Look: GLAM
Bars & Nightlife
overview
While their significance is often underestimated or dismissed by heterosexual society, bars and other establishments played a pivotal role throughout the 20th century — but particularly in the pre-Stonewall era — as centers for LGBT movement and community.
These spaces, whether always gay friendly or only during certain times of the day or week, gave LGBT people the freedom to be themselves in a way they usually could not be in their personal or professional lives.
This curated collection largely reflects the bar and nightlife scene of downtown Manhattan; as we research more sites we encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions in upper Manhattan and the outer boroughs.
Header Photo
Truman Capote (center) with Liza Minnelli and Steve Rubell at Studio 54 in an undated photo. Photographer and origin unknown.
Studio 54 (originally Gallo Opera House)
History
Opened as the Gallo Opera House in 1927, it was foreclosed after the stock market crash in 1929 and became the New Yorker Theater. There was one production here with LGBT associations – Rainbow (1928), with singer/actor Libby Holman. It became the Casino de Paris nightclub in 1933, the New Yorker Theater again in 1939 under the Federal Theater Project of the Works Progress Administration and was a CBS television studio from 1942 to 1972.
Legendary nightclub Studio 54, the brainchild of Brooklyn-born Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, operated here during its first incarnation from April 1977 to February 1980. The two sold the business in 1980 and the club soon reopened operating until 1986, but without the glamour of its heyday.
By 1976, discomania was sweeping the nation with over 8,000 dance clubs throughout the country. Rubell and Schrager wanted to produce a new nightclub that replicated the energy of New York’s gay clubs, which were more sway oriented and sexually charged. They were inspired after visiting Le Jardin at 110 West 43rd Stree
New York has played a major role in Diverse history and it’s no wonder there are a slew of bars that have been beacons for the community (and prime party spots) for decades. The best queer bars in NYC range from dive bars to twirl clubs, with historic spots like the Stonewall Inn anchoring them all. The West Village is a classic destination for homosexual nightlife, but you’ll spot something exciting and welcoming in pretty much any part of the city.
You can check out the best drag shows or cabaret performances, but these queer spaces all give something unique, from cozy vibes and cheap drinks to high-energy dancing and brunch parties - sometimes in the same place on different days! Maybe your interests skew more trendy and urbane, or perhaps you're more of the down-and-dirty hook-up spots, the "what happens on the weekends, stays on the weekends" type — we're not here to judge! There are plenty of LGBTQ+ things to do in New York, but if it’s a bar you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in NYC
May 2025: We removed Ginger's and Barracuda Lounge. We added Loafers Cocktail Bar.
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