Boystown gay bars
Chicago is one of our favourite places in the US. We arrived with no expectations and were completely blown away.
Not only does Chicago have a huge and vibrant gay scene, it is a pretty city with incredibly friendly people and so much to do.
For a packed guide on everything to do in Chicago (hotels, activities, pride etc), test out our ‘Complete Gay Travel Mentor to Chicago‘.
For this mini guide, we are focusing on the best male lover bars in Chicago broken down into the gay bars in boystown and the gay bars in Andersonville.
Boystown and Andersonville (affectionately coined MANdersonville) are the main gay areas in Chicago and therefore where the majority of the gay nightlife can be found.
Flying the flag proudly in Chicago at the Pride Party in the Park!
Best Same-sex attracted Bars in Chicago (Boystown & Andersonville)
You can find same-sex attracted bars all across Chicago but the majority are launch in Boystown and Andersonville. We went to Sidetrack twice during our trip and loved it!
Here are some options to keep you busy!
Gay Bars in Boystown, Chicago
Our favourite gay bar in Chicago with the boys of Sidetrack!
Sidetrack was a finalist in Logo Tvs ‘Best Gay Exclude in the
Wide Selection of Drinks and The Best Customer Services at The Closet
The Closet often hosts huge parties. One of the establishment’s most popular annual events is the Pre-New Year’s Eve bash. It is also one of the bar’s busiest nights of the year as each year features a different theme. Such events, combined with a sapphic open season following softball games, video bowling, darts, bingo, karaoke, and other assorted games, is why The Closet Bar, as tiny as it might be has been a popular destination for more than three decades.
In addition to being a widespread entertainment and lesbian pick-up connected, The Closet Bar in Chicago is also a popular destination for drinking enthusiasts. If you would like to indulge in a delicious drink, you will be happy to learn that the establishment offers a expansive selection of tasteful drinks to enjoy. The drink selection is quite extensive and there is a little bit of everything for everyone. You will be hard-pressed not to find something you like as you scroll down the menu. It is also worth noting that the drinks are quite reasonably priced. It’s hard to find a nearby bar with better prices than The Closet Bar. This combined with the
Northalsted, Chicago's Proudest Neighborhood
The first officially established gay village in the United States, Boystown Chicago is the commonly accepted nickname for the eclectic East Lakeview neighborhood established as Northalsted that is home to Chicago's visible and active lesbian, gay, attracted to both genders and transgender community.
Northalsted, the first official same-sex attracted neighborhood in the country (credit: northalsted.com)
Northalsted is situated just southeast of Wrigleyville in Lakeview. The area is bordered by Broadway Ave. on the east and Halsted St. on the west, Grace St. to the north and Belmont Ave. to the south.
The two main (north-south) avenues of Halsted St. and Broadway dominate the heart of this commercial and show district. Broadway primarily offers a variety of themed shops and restaurants stretching throughout the neighborhood while Halsted caters to a lively nightlife with more than 30 alternative gay and womxn loving womxn bars, nightclubs and restaurants.
The neighborhood is also home to the Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ people center that welcomes over 1000 people per day. Northalsted hosts a n
The 34 best LGBTQ+ bars in Chicago
Photograph: Courtesy Sidetrack
Northalsted, aka "Boystown," is the historical center of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ scene, but amazing gay bars are all over the city.
Chicago has always been a trailblazing city when it comes to spaces for the LGBTQ community. One of the first American LGBT rights organizations, the Culture for Human Rights, was founded in Chicago in 1924, more than 40 years before Stonewall. And Northalsted, the gay nightlife hub also known as "Boystown," became the first officially-designated gay village in a major city in 1997.
These days, while a night out on Northalsted is still a joyful blur of boozy slushies and death drops, queer nightlife in Chicago is expansive, creative and thriving all over the city. From Rogers Park to South Shore, from James Beard-nominated cocktail bars to beloved, homey dives, there's a queer bar to fit your vibe. Oh, and don't forget about performative brunch. You'll need it after a night out on the town.
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