Gay club washington dc
20 LGBTQ+ Bars to Check Out in Washington, DC
The nation's capital is home to a lively LGBTQ+ nightlife scene with plenty of gay and lesbian bars just waiting for you to join in on the fun.
The diversity of DC’s LGBTQ+ group is growing by the day, resulting in a dynamic, exciting community with plenty of bars and clubs to choose from when it’s time to drink, dance and participate. Read up on some of our favorite LGBTQ+-friendly spots below.
Let’s have a … you get it. Gather all your girls, gays and theys to kiki all night on U Avenue. With four rooms of varied vibes, outdoor spaces and DJs that never miss, Kiki lives up to its name. Enter for the happy hour, stay for the weekly events.
At 14th and U, DC’s first booze-free Diverse bar is lighting up the sober scene with mocktails, music and plenty of main-character energy. Spark kickstarts the day with coffee, pastries and cafe charm, then turns it up at sundown with DJs, drag trivia and zero-proof cocktails that pack a punch.
Next door to Spark Social House is Crush, a retro-inspired cocktail lounge and entertainment mecca for anyone and everyone. Event highlights include all-d
Globally known as the center of U.S. politics, Washington, DC has more ethics and diversity than most queer folks may assess . Beyond the city’s widespread monuments, memorials, and museums, the nation’s capital is home to a several well-known gayborhoods, such as Logan Circle. Quite honestly, queers are everywhere in the District, most likely one of the reasons it was selected as the host city for World Pride 2025.
From a dive bar that has regular jockstrap nights to a hip hangout that attracts the nonbinary reveler searching for the quintessential drag show, DC’s nightlife has a little something for everyone. So, if you’re planning a trip to the nation’s capital for a long weekend or special event such as Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend or Capital Pride – here’s a quick rundown of the most accepted LGBTQ+ bars and clubs in Washington, DC.
The District’s Nightlife History
For those who were not residents in the District during the early 2000s, the city’s Navy Yard area was booming with hot nightclubs and bars such as Zeigfield’s, Wet, Edge, and Nation. Unfortunately, the revitalization of the area, including erecting a new soccer stadium (Audi Field) and baseball stad
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The curators of a popular uncover mic night are initiating a new venture located along Washington, DC’s 14th Street Corridor.
The Tea: Shaun Mykals and Brandon Burke, curators of open mic night Thursday Bliss, are opening Thurst Lounge, a nightlife venue targeting DC’s Black LGBTQ+ community, in December.
- Located at 2204 14th St NW, the former home of sushi restaurant Sakerum, the venue is two levels and features a retractable roof.
The Context: Despite a thriving Black queer population–and creature host to one of the nation’s largest Jet Prides–there are currently no Black LGBTQ-owned bars or nightclubs in Washington, DC.
- Popular haunts like The Fireplace, a Dupont Circle dive bar, are a staple of Black homosexual nightlife–especially for older generations–but are not Black-owned.
- Another prominent venue, Nellie’s Sports Prevent, was protested for racism in recent years
The Bigger Picture: Black-owned gay bars across the country took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. But in some LGBTQ meccas, they’ve been on the rebound.
- For example, couple and business partners Charles Hughes and Ric
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This corner spot in Columbia Heights was once the site of Nob Hill, a popular African American gay bar. Nob Hill operated from 1957 to 2004, and, according to the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), which documented the site in 2016, this longevity made it "the oldest continuously-operating LGBTQ nightlife establishments in the District and one of the oldest gay bars in the country." Thus, Nob Hill has been called the "granddaddy of black gay clubs."
The 1920s era building housed a dry cleaner/laundry prior to Nob Hill opening. Despite formally opening as a bar in 1957, Nob Hill initially served as a private social club starting in about 1953. The social club, love the bar, catered to gay African American men. Many Howard University students would frequent Nob Hill, as the bar served an important function. At the time of its opening, the city was still very much racially segregated, and this extended to nightlife and business. Therefore, LGBTQ+ African Americans established their own social spaces, particulary along 7th and 14th streets NW near Howard University.
In addition to Nob Hill, there was The Cozy Corner at 708 Florida Route NW. Later on, in the 197
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