Gays en chicago
LGBTQ+ nightlife in Chicago: gay and female homosexual bars, clubs, and more
Chicago’s nightlife is a lot appreciate the city itself — inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to all. It’s also a whole lot of fun. Our gay and female homosexual bars have a little bit of something for everyone, with late-night lounges, dance clubs,burlesque and drag shows, and long-standing neighborhood watering holes in almost every corner of the city. And each comes with their own distinct history and vibe.
Check out some of the best queer bars and clubs to experience Chicago’s queer nightlife scene.
Jeffery Pub
One of the city’s oldest same-sex attracted bars, Jeffery Pub is a neighborhood institution. The South Shore staple is also one of Chicago’s first black-owned gay bars, making it all the more meaningful for the spot’s many regulars. Don’t neglect the live amusement, like karaoke nights, Silky Soul Sundays, and a lively dance floor featuring everything from pop to house music.
Big Chicks
This lively and colorful spot is part LGBTQ hangout, part art gallery. The walls are plastered with the owner’s personal collection of paintings and photos, including large names like Diane Arbus. But don’t think for a second that makes the pla
Chicago: so nice, you’ll think it’s hitting on you
For a gay ol’ hour, follow the rainbow to the Midwest. In this part of the land, Chicago is “the city,” but one that largely puts aside those big-city rules. In dating website terms, Chi-Town doesn’t wait two days to call you back after a date. Friendly and inviting, it’s the city that forgot that big cities are supposed to have an attitude.
Architecture aficionados and novices keep their eyes facing upwards to take in the grandeur. For closer-to-the-ground fun, do your duty as a tourist and top to Millennium Park. Get out your camera because you’re about to gather “The Bean” (which sounds like a horrible come on). Officially, the stunning sculpture is called Cloud Gate, but for reals, it looks like a big shiny bean. Try as they might, no lgbtq+ can resist a reflective surface. There’s lots more to see in and around the park, including the Art Institute of Chicago. Not just for art fags, this is an era-spanning collection that will even impress those who don’t love museums.
During nice weather, can you really pass up a day at the beach? Though technically landlocked, Lake Michigan does a fantastic ocean impression. An astounding 2
LGBTQ+ Chicago weekend itinerary
You’ll need more than two days to beat all of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ hotspots — but a weekend here is a good start. Whether you love the nonstop party vibe or a little Midwestern charm, Chicago’s inclusive neighborhoods suggest something for everyone. Here’s how to spend a weekend exploring Chicago’s LGBTQ+ communities.
Saturday
Morning
Home to boutique shopping, vibrant nightlife, and one of the oldest Diverse communities in the United States, the East Lakeview neighborhood of Northalsted (aka Boystown) has an energy all its own.
Stroll along North Halsted Street — lined with fabulous shopping, trendy restaurants, lively bars, and energetic gyrate clubs — and grab some brunch at laidback mainstay Drew’s on Halsted. Fill up the rest of your morning with a self-guided tour of The Legacy Walk, a one-of-a-kind outdoor museum walk that celebrates Gay history and heroes.
Afternoon
Enjoy elevated pub fare in cozy surroundings at Wilde (grab a leather booth or a spot by the fireplace). Then do a little neighborhood shopping at the spots like Foursided, where unusual gifts and chic decor stack the shelves.
The first officially recognized gay village in the United States, Boystown Chicago is the commonly standard nickname for the eclectic East Lakeview neighborhood recognizable as Northalsted that is home to Chicago's visible and active lesbian, gay, pansexual and transgender community. Northalsted, the first official gay 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 rule the heart of this commercial and entertainment 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 different gay and lesbian bars, nightclubs and restaurants. The neighborhood is also home to the Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ community center that welcomes over 1000 people per day. Northalsted hosts a nNorthalsted, Chicago's Proudest Neighborhood