Best gay things to do in new york city

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Dive into our guides, stories, and more to find Lonely Planet's favorite and sometimes unexpected summer destinations. For many years, queer people have flocked to New York City in search of acceptance and an environment they could thrive in. In the musical RentAngel famously starts off the song "Santa Fe" by saying, "New York City… center of the universe," while riding in a dirty subway car.

That singular moment seems to capture NYC so well. It's gritty, dirty and wild…while also being one of the most powerful cities in the world, holding a staggering array of influence in the worlds of commerce, fashion, theater and food. Johnson to author Larry Kramer. The city has also served as the launching point for many of the world's most famous drag stars, like Lady Bunny and Bob the Drag Queen.

Simply put, New York has been at the center of queer culture for over half a century. Each has a discerning and unique vibe that will attract different communities. Hell's Kitchen and Chelsea offer the most "traditional" gay bars and clubs, where visitors can check out venues with hunky shirtless bartenders, a mostly gay-male clientele, and thumping hits going late into the night.

Highlights of these neighborhoods include Industry, which many claim is New York's best gay bar. A stained-glass display behind the bar shimmers underneath disco bars and neon lighting, creating the perfect club vibe. Nightly drag shows are the main event from Sunday to Thursday, and DJs pump out music until 4am on both Friday and Saturday.

For a more campy and kitsch vibe, check out Flaming Saddles. Dance-pop hits are mixed in with country classics as shirtless waiters in cowboy hats dance on the bar.

LGBTQ Travel in New York State

It's a fun and totally ridiculous experience that's like a gay Coyote Ugly collided with a down-home honky-tonk, and the fact it doesn't take itself seriously is exactly why it's such a fun bar to go to — get ready for an unpretentious experience that's especially good for anyone visiting a gay bar for the first time.

A little further south is the West Village. The patrons fought back and stood their ground, refusing to be bullied by police any longer. While the Stonewall Uprising was over 50 years ago, the Stonewall Inn is still open and remains a popular spot. What makes the Stonewall so special is that, despite being an internationally recognized location that's even designated as both a National Historic Landmark and a National Monument, it's still basically a dive bar.

Wood-paneled walls and exposed brick give the Stonewall a pub-like feel. In fact, most locals don't even consider the Stonewall to be "trendy," which is exactly why it's one of my favorites. Despite being one of the most famous locales on the planet, it's still just a neighborhood tavern continuing to do what it's always been doing.

Just a few doors down is Duplex. Part piano bar, part cabaret, with an upstairs area that hosts everything from comedy nights to drag shows and bar trivia, Duplex is an awesomely funky and queer space that has something for everyone. One of my favorite things about Duplex is that it doesn't feel the need to conform to any preconceived notion of what a gay bar is.

It's loud yet loungey, fun yet tawdry. It's what I envision bars in the Roaring '20s must have felt like.