A Night at Julius’

Julius' Bar

Julius’ sits at the corner of West 10th Street and Waverly Place. The watering hole became popular in the 1950s and ’60s with gay men—despite laws that forbade bartenders from serving “known homosexuals.” Today it attracts a younger generation that is out, proud and ready to have fun, but also interested in honoring its LGBTQ+ past.

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Tracy Obiani-Beli Esu, Soho, Manhattan

“This is my first experience here—it is such a phenomenal trip! I just love the energy. I have met wonderful souls all evening. It is so divine and electric. That’s what I love about New York!”

Dino LaValle, Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan

“I like the eclectic group of people here for the Mattachine party. And also the music—having all types of genres is fun. It’s great that they use actual vinyl. It’s a novelty in a way.”

Jon Moore, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

“There’s no pretension. People are here to have a good time and support each other. It’s a friendly environment and nonintimidating. The regulars come, the young kids come, people who’ve lived here forever come.”

Angela Di Carlo, DJ for Mattachine party, Lower East Side, Manhattan

“The first time I came here, it felt like home. The minute I walked in, I knew this place was special and I knew this party was special. There was nothing like it in the City. It was immediate awe and respect. Everything about this is just right.”

Anthony DeWitt, Jersey City, New Jersey

“It’s very casual, it’s affordable, it’s easy to feel comfortable here. I think that’s why it’s popular. That’s why I and a lot my friends go here. It’s a place we can come and relax, and it’s not a scene.”

Wendy Zhang (left) and Yihong Lu, Corvallis, Oregon  

“I’m a big fan of John Cameron Mitchell, and I know he hosts the Mattachine party. I also did a study of the Stonewall Riots and then saw Julius’ is near Stonewall on a map. The music is good, and things are so nice in here. I feel safe in here.”

Daniel Onzo, Bartender, Julius’

Andrew Degand, Lower East Side, Manhattan

“An ex brought me here, and I loved that I could get food and drink at the same time. Now I come to Julius’ twice a week. I know most of the staff—Nick, Helen, Jeff, the bouncer. He’s the best. He’s become a good friend of mine.”

James Frank, Dallas, Texas

Alex Fawcett (left), Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and Ketak Gupta, Jersey City, New Jersey

“Everyone who comes here is so friendly, and everyone who works here is amazing. They remember your face. They may not remember your name, but when they see you they’re like, Hey, welcome back!”

Juan-Carlos Munoz-Najar 

Lamar Thomas, Security Manager, Julius’

DJ Tennessee (K. Tennessee Nichols), Harlem, Manhattan

“This is the first time I’ve DJed here, but I’ve been in this town a while: I played at Limelight, Tunnel, Palladium, Pyramid, Save the Robots. And Julius’ is a piece of history, gay history. It’s like a gay Smithsonian.”

Helen Buford, Owner, Julius’

“The challenge is that it’s an old building, so there’s always something that needs repair, but I do my best. I can be caught here drilling the tops of tables or fixing doorstops. I’m very hands-on; I carry my own drill set. I really love this place. And it’s a labor of love, so it’s easy to do.”

Conor Hassett (left), Brooklyn, and Anthony Dewitt, Jersey City, New Jersey

“If you’re 25 and broke in New York City and you have an open mind, this is a great place to get yourself a basket of fries and a cheap beer. Every time I’ve come here, I’ve had full-on conversations with absolute strangers that left me with a great story for the night.”

Raymond Franqui, Cook, Julius’

Heather Litteer, Lower East Side, Manhattan

“This is the first time I’ve performed here, but I’ve been coming for years. It’s like a family and a community, a place to meet up and celebrate being alive. It’s where you can be free and be yourself. It’s just so small and quaint—it has that old gay bar feel.”

_See our [LGBTQ+](/lgbtq) and [WorldPride](/worldpride) guides for much more on nightlife in NYC._

Take a tour of the Mattachine party, a celebration of 50+ years of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights at Julius', the longest running gay bar in NYC.

Photos of Julius' NYC | Historic LGBTQ+ Landmark & Bar NYC

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Julius' is a West Village bar that's been around for more than 100 years. We spent a night there at the Mattachine party talking with LGBTQ+ patrons about what makes this NYC nightspot special.

A Night Out at Julius’

Night at Julius’, A

We talked to LGBTQ+ patrons at Julius', a West Village bar that's been around for more than 100 years, about what makes the spot special.