Known as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement, New York City is the world mecca for LGBTQ nightlife (don’t @ me). Nightclubs, dive bars, quirky neighborhood joints, traditional spots, and unlikely venues make up the city’s queer going-out scene, with dozens of attendant events and pop-up parties further enriching the landscape. Each night presents the nearly impossible challenge of where to party, drink it out, or just relax.
Greenwich Village is famed for its high concentration of gay bars, but a combination of rising rents, decreasing stigmas, and increased diversity in the LGBTQ scene has laid the foundation for unique gay bars to become neighborhood staples citywide. And though it may be a challenge to venture from the comfort of your neighborhood gay bar, these LGBTQ bars and clubs across the city offer some of the best queer nightlife in all five boroughs.