Every June, New York City’s Pride Month kicks off in Brooklyn with the annual Park Slope Twilight Parade, marching past the historic neighborhood’s beautiful brownstones. But you can celebrate LGBTQ+ pride year-round at the borough’s many gay bars and nightclubs. With a generally younger vibe than Manhattan and a diverse groove, Brooklyn’s gay nightlife offerings can match, and sometimes even outshine, the more established scene across the East River. At the bars below, you’ll find a wide variety of parties, DJs and special events.
3 Dollar Bill
Opened in 2018, this is the biggest LGBTQ+ bar and nightclub in Brooklyn. Located inside an old brewery, it has a large dance floor that doubles as a performance space for bands, drag shows, comedy and other special events. NYC party promoters like Ty Sunderland and Susanne Bartsch have recurring club nights tthat bring in a mix of Bushwick locals and LGBTQ+ folks from all over the City.
Photo: Erez Avissar
Bossa Nova Civic Club
Bossa Nova is justifiably known for its dancing, though not to the Brazilian music it’s named after. Every night of the week, its playlist runs the gamut from EDM to soul to techno to reggaeton. Check the club’s Facebook page to see what’s on the musical menu any given evening, and get ready to boogie down with the Bushwick crowd.
Ginger’s Bar
An unpretentious neighborhood joint with a fine jukebox to match, Ginger’s has been a popular ladies’ hangout for years but is now more mixed on most nights. Stop in for a game of pool or some casual conversation about how much Brooklyn has changed, a perennially popular topic, with Ginger’s remaining a bastion of the old ’hood.
Happyfun Hideaway
A Bushwick favorite located underneath the Myrtle Avenue M train, this laid-back lounge features crowds of 20-somethings who identify as gay, straight and everywhere in between. In addition to cocktails and beers, there’s also a fun comfort-food-based menu suited to snacking and chilling till the wee hours.
Courtesy, House of Yes
House of Yes
Located in the more industrial section of East Williamsburg, this large venue hosts big dance parties that often feature theatrical and acrobatic elements on its main stage. You’ll find a more artsy queer aesthetic here—the crowd and their outfits can be outré, but with a welcoming anything-goes vibe.
Metropolitan
Things are always hopping at this popular gay bar located near the nexus of the L and G trains in Williamsburg. On weekends, the bar is wall-to-wall with boys ready to dance and cruise all night long (or at least till 4am closing). On Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the spacious back garden hosts a free afternoon barbecue with cheap pitchers of beer.
Macri Park
The sister bar of nearby mothership Metropolitan, Macri Park is a smaller, cozier space. It’s got red velvety wallpaper, low lighting and some out-there drag shows starring local talents like Misty Meaner, Ruby Roo and Sassy Frass. Out back, there’s a lively patio with picnic tables framed by a semi-ironic white picket fence.
Courtesy, Mood Ring
Mood Ring
With inventive astrological-themed cocktails and decor by local artists, Mood Ring reflects the artistic creativity and gender fluidity of the Bushwick scene. The crowd at this colorful space tends to be a sampling of artists and students who identify across the gender spectrum, with some serious dancing in the back room going down on weekend nights.
The Vault
One of the newer bars in Bushwick, the Vault is an intimate two-level space with a larger basement for dancing and carousing. It hosts an eclectic mix of events—comedy showcases, ’90s dance nights, underwear parties and so on.
Xstasy Bar & Lounge
The largely Latino crowd at this LGBTQ+ bar reflects its Sunset Park neighborhood. It’s popular for a daily happy hour featuring $5 beers and cocktails. Later at night, you’ll find bingo, karaoke, go-go boys and, on Friday and Saturday nights, dancing to top 40 and club hits in a fog-and-light-filled back room.
