Chicago - Nightlife - Gay Bar

3726 N. Broadway St., Chicago 60613
773-871-8887

Charlie's Chicago

Boystown's only gay country bar is a line-dancin', two-steppin' extravaganza in the early evenings, but after 2AM Charlie's transforms into a packed, raging after-hours non-country dance club. On a... read more

3641 N. Halsted St., Chicago 60657
773-325-2233

Circuit

This massive gay dance club is filled with gangsta wannabies, transgendered folk and cutie-pie boys all shaking their shit on a dance floor that gets cooled down with dry ice. Rotating DJs make Cir... read more

4804 N. Broadway St., Chicago 60640
773-784-2739

Crew Bar & Grill

Chicago's first gay sports bar. TVs are placed at every angle, and the crowd comes to watch games and eat decent bar food. Sure, there's the occasional "I HEART Tightends" jersey (sold along with o... read more

3458 N. Halsted St., Chicago 60657
773-975-9244

Hydrate

The former Manhole has turned into a premier gay dance club on Halsted. The interior redecoration continues with foam-core cutouts with revolving themes. Mercifully free of the gay top-40 anthems, ... read more

5419 N. Clark St., Chicago 60640
773-561-7363

Star Gaze

Don't be fooled by that welcoming-looking blue awning with the rainbow trim. One of the only lesbian bars in Chicago, it has a reputation for attracting some pretty tough customers. Relationship-or... read more

3325 N. Broadway St., Chicago 60657
773-477-8533

The Closet

Decades-old lesbian-run place in Boystown. Quiet earlier, it's packed after 2AM, oftentimes with a lot of hairless boys. Very fast service and videos from Mary, Missy, and Madonna. You'll find grou... read more

3356 N. Halsted St., Chicago 60657
773-281-3355

Roscoe's Tavern & Café

A gay standard that looks like Bennigan's. A young, square-ish, drunk crowd conservatively sporting Abercrombie and Fitch packs it full nightly for all sorts of "gay" events. Gay karaoke, a gay sin... read more

5024 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago 60640
773-728-5511

Big Chicks

Though owner Michelle Fire doesn't go topless at the Gay Pride Parade anymore, her bar is as popular as ever. Gay couples, dressed in everything from business casual to jeans abound during the week... read more

3349 N. Halsted St., Chicago 60657
773-477-9189

Sidetrack

Video kills the mood at this popular gay bar where TV screens are stashed literally everywhere you turn. Their "cherry lounge" has all the ambiance of a rec deck on Star Trek, with an ominous multi... read more

1932 E. Higgins Rd. , Chicago 60007
847-439-8840

Hunters Dance Club

Only gay bar in the region does a decent job. Large outdoor patio for moonlit nights, interior is never overly crowded, making it awkward for the solo stripper in the middle of the room. Expect to ... read more

5355 N. Clark St., Chicago 60640
773-784-1100

@mosphere

The most modern of the bars in the area, @mosphere is dimly lit with a clubby kind of feel. Special performances and events are held weekly, from drag shows to charity benefits. The rest of the wee... read more

5015 N. Clark St., Chicago 60640
773-728-0500

Eagle Leather Bar

You must walk down a dark passageway and past a slew of parked motorcycles to get to this hushed gay leather bar. It can be sleepy during the week, but the weekends explode with a motley assortment... read more

3169 N. Halsted St., Chicago 60657
773-404-3169

The Lucky Horseshoe Lounge

Located in the heart of Boystown, this highly frequented gay bar features male strippers every night of the week and during the day on weekends. That's a lot of skin, and a lot of skanks. Plenty of... read more

3320 N. Halsted St. , Chicago 60657
(773) 348-1053

Scarlet

Name inspired by gay color choice of the Roaring 20s. Gussied-up Lakeview spot prime for posh sips. Drink specials galore, Friday nights go off with weekly First Ward Ball: dancing on the bar prime... read more