Chicago suburbs gay bars
Chicago’s nightlife is a lot like the town itself — inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to all. It has some of the most renowned queenly performers, incredible lgbtq+ nightlife artists of all kinds, and queer neighborhoods teeming with bars and clubs.
And what greater time to deal with yourself to the flamboyance than the PRIDE weekend i.e 25th-26th June?
SIDETRACK
This LGBTQ-owned hotspot is one of the most popular bars in Northalsted, and one of the biggest in Chicago. Sidetrack is famous for its sprawling layout with multiple levels and rooms including a roof deck that’s open whenever the weather cooperates that fit more than 1,000 party-goers. Huge video screens play new and classic music videos. The owners are also local activists who helped move beyond local anti-discrimination legislation in the 1980s.
There’s never a cover, and you’ll also find one of the more extensive drink menus here, complete with a decent wine and beer list and Sidetrack’s famous frozen cocktails.
Sidetrack is generally heralded as the king of Chicago gay bars, and not for no reason : This behemoth bar has been a standout in the society since 1982
Sid
The 34 best LGBTQ+ bars in Chicago
Photograph: Courtesy Sidetrack
Northalsted, aka "Boystown," is the historical center of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ scene, but superb 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 Society for Human Rights, was founded in Chicago in 1924, more than 40 years before Stonewall. And Northalsted, the gay nightlife hub also famous 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 drag brunch. You'll need it after a darkness out on the town.
RECOMMENDED: Sip at the best bars in Chicago
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LGBTQ+ nightlife in Chicago: gay and sapphic bars, clubs, and more
Chicago’s nightlife is a lot fond of the city itself — inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to all. It’s also a whole lot of fun. Our gay and queer woman 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 singular history and vibe.
Check out some of the best same-sex attracted bars and clubs to experience Chicago’s queer nightlife scene.
Jeffery Pub
One of the city’s oldest lgbtq+ 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 suffer from the live show, 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
1. Velvet Rope Ultra Lounge
Known for service with a smile—and sometimes a sugary-sweet drag-queen smirk—this suburban spot offers a menu that goes beyond pub grub (mini filet mignon sandwiches, $16). Bottle service starts at $150. 728 Lake St., Oak Park; velvetropeultralounge.com
2. Inn Exile
Not far from Midway, this club could be called the Sidetrack of the South Side. Like Boystown’s grande dame, it’s a video exclude with a 10-foot screen above the dance floor playing Top 40 and country hits. 5758 W. 65th St.; innexilechicago.com
3. Chances Dances
This roving outfit welcomes all to its popular LGBTQ move parties—“full of young hipsters drinking PBR and dancing to Beyoncé,” according to one recent attendee—that hop between Subterranean (2011 W. North Ave.), Danny’s (1959 W. Dickens Ave.), and the Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia Ave.). chancesdances.org
4. Temptations Nightclub
The self-described “hottest suburban nightclub with a downtown feel,” a mostly lesbian destination in Franklin Park, offers one amenity that’s distinctly un-Loop-like: plenty of free parking. DJs spin Wed