LGBTQ+ travel isn’t confined to Pride month. LGBTQ+ travel is all year-long, and everywhere, from national parks to big cities — and speaking of big cities, the US is teeming with destinations for the gay traveler.
From coast to coast, from New England to the Pacific Northwest, these pride-friendly cities offer a wealth of activities, restaurants, attractions, and events geared towards LGBTQIA+ travelers.
Here’s where to eat in some of America’s pride-friendliest cities. (Photo Credit: @kingbrasserienola)
Cheers to destinations that actively support LGBTQ+ travelers. (Photo Credit: @hotelfontenot)
Pride how you Pride at Kimpton.
Whether you’re traveling for Pride, work, or leisure, here’s where to eat in America’s most hospitable cities: Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans, Portland, and Boston.
Chicago, Illinois
One of the foremost chef-driven restaurants in town, Big Jones is a neighborhood cornerstone — and LGBTQIA-owned restaurant — in the pride-friendly Andersonville neighborhood. Here, chef/owner Paul Fehribach delves into the rich, redolent foodways of the American South and the lowcountry. His recipes, showcased in his own Big Jones Cookbook, run the gamut from brunch to dinner, with dishes like skillet cornbread with sorghum butter, black raspberry beignets, and award-winning fried chicken.
Southern cuisine in Chicago? Yes, chef. (Photo Credit: Adam Bartoszewicz)
Elsewhere in Andersonville, Eli Tea Bar is a Michigan-based brand that set up shop locally, offering hundreds of non-alcoholic tea options, plus social gatherings geared towards the LGBTQ+ community (think trivia nights, open-mic nights, book clubs, and art events).
For sweets, West Town’s Pie, Pie My Darling is a lesbian-owned vegan bakery specializing in all manner of decadent whimsy, from Cookies & Cream Cake to Funfetti Rice Crispy Treats. And, in Lakeview, Jennivee’s Bakery is a trans-owned wonderland of desserts, featuring the likes of ube coconut bars and tres leches cupcakes.
Dallas, Texas
Rise and shine with drag brunch at Mr. Misster, a cocktail bar that offers a Champagne-soaked brunch every Saturday afternoon, complete with DJs, large-format bottles, and mimosas aplenty. The Trove is another spot that offers periodic drag brunch, in addition to Mexican- and Latin-influenced plates like sopes, street corn, and guacamole with edible gold.
Even the brunch is bigger in Texas. (Photo Credit: @caramel)
Dallas is home to some of the best Tex-Mex in the state. (Photo Credit: @shelbysorrel)
Then there’s Alexandre’s, a longtime fixture in Oak Lawn, renowned for live music, craft cocktails, and eclectic menus that include lobster sliders, shrimp risotto, and “Chick-full-gAy Nuggets.” Elsewhere in the gayborhood, travelers can feast on tacos and elotes at La Ventana, modern Tex-Mex at Campuzano (think fried banana burritos for dessert), and burgers at aptly dubbed diner, Hunky’s.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Nestled in a historic cottage in the Bywater, The Country Club has it all. There’s modern Creole cuisine (e.g. crab beignets with sofrito mascarpone, smoked shrimp dip with housemade tortilla chips), a bar brimming with cocktails and mocktails, a pool, and one of the most popular drag brunches in town, held every Saturday and Sunday. Nearby, Bywater Bakery is a cozy, welcoming cafe that offers breakfast gumbo alongside a bevy of layer cakes, pastries, and special sweets.
French-inspired cuisine is everywhere in New Orleans. (Photo Credit: @kingbrasserienola)
Our recommendation? Pair creative cocktails with live music while in town. (Photo Credit: @kingbrasserienola)
Described as “Nola’s Backyard Party,” Bacchanal Wine is a singular setting in which to pair creative bites with live music and an impressive array of esoteric wines. The sprawling Bywater concept, fronted by a bottle shop and retail counter, boasts a massive patio and music stage, with performances every day and an ever-changing menu that skews Mediterranean and shareable — examples include heirloom gazpacho, patatas fritas, bacon-wrapped dates, and pequillo peppers stuffed with Gulf shrimp.
For something that marries history with a bit of pomp, Commander’s Palace is an icon of upscale Creole cuisine. Open since 1893 in a Garden District manor, the family-run legend is known for its jazz brunch, its 25-cent martini lunches, and its contemporary riffs on local pastimes, from sherry-spiked turtle soup to pecan-crusted Gulf fish with Prosecco-poached crab.
The restaurants in NOLA are (almost) as bold as the cuisine. (Photo Credit: @hotelfontenot)
Tucked away in a quiet alcove in the French Quarter, Mona Lisa is a classic Italian-American gem — aptly decorated with Mona Lisa-inspired artwork. The food here is as comforting as the space, with dishes like meatball subs, Da Vinci pizzas (with Italian sausage, bacon, artichoke, and sun-dried tomato), and baked ziti with meat sauce.
Portland, Oregon
Savor “produce-laden Mexican cuisine” at Chelo, where shareable plates include sea scallop crudo, gorditas piled with local mushrooms and kale, and chilaquiles with ricotta, cauliflower, pear, and truffle.
Meals in Portland are made for sharing. (Photo Credit: @bacchusbarpdx)
As the name implies, inclusivity is key at Community Wine Bar, host to recurring events and pop-ups spotlighting LGBTQIA+ creators and businesses. In addition, the sunny space also stocks a kaleidoscope of wines, from red and wine, to orange and rosé, along with snacks (e.g. curried samosa hand pies, charcuterie plates) and non-alcoholic offerings.
Then there’s the cheekily dubbed Sports Bra, a femme-focused sports bar and restaurant that exclusively airs women’s sports, while rounding out its menu with women-owned entrepreneurs and businesses, including drinks made with Freeland Spirits. Food-wise, look for elevated pub grub, like fried cauliflower in turmeric-chickpea batter and a vegetarian tempeh Reuben.
And make sure to try some of Oregon’s Willamette Valley wines. (Photo Credit: @hotelvintagepdx)
Some of the country’s most eclectic cuisines now live in Portland. (Photo Credit: @riverplacehotel)
Among the buzziest recent entries in town, Kann is a mashup of Haitian-meets-Pacific Northwest cuisines. Courtesy of star chef Gregory Gourdet, his menu is an homage to his Haitian roots and his adopted home city, with one-of-a-kind offerings like plantain brioche buns, crispy taro root fritters with remoulade, jerk cauliflower with sour coconut cream, and wild Alaskan halibut steak with coconut pineapple sauce.
Boston, Massachusetts
Drag brunch is a booming business in Boston, held regularly at spots like Summer Shack, where guests can pair lobster rolls with Barbie-themed performances, and at Carrie Nation Restaurant and Cocktail Club, with a lavish buffet spread and equally lavish queens, like Destiny Boston and Dee De Ray.
It may not have drag, but Union Oyster House is an essential stopover as one of New England’s oldest restaurants. The multi-story restaurant, reminiscent of something from a Harry Potter scene, serves Boston specialties like chowder, steamed mussels, stuffed clams, and of course, freshly shucked oysters. For something a tad more modern, Saltie Girl is a chic seafood bar in trendy Back Bay, offering seafood towers, moules frites, and inventive twists like fried lobster and waffles.
When in Boston, fresh seafood is a must. (Photo Credit: Daniel Norris)
The oysters in New England are particularly delectable. (Photo Credit: Renaat Peeters)
In Cambridge, Wusong Road is a LGBTQIA-owned tiki bar and Chinese restaurant, from chef Jason Woo, where “New England American Chinese” cuisine means dishes like teriyaki broccolini, char siu beets, kale-carrot dumplings, roasted corn rangoons, and short rib lo mein. And don’t miss the colorful cocktails, like the Happy Caturday with white rum, hibiscus, guava, lemon, and pineapple.
The Trophy Room, in the South End, is a loud-and-proud restaurant and bar that puts concerted efforts into inclusivity. Front and center on its website, the restaurant proclaims, “A place for everyone… love is love, fun is fun.” Look for playful cocktails, weekend brunch, and dinner plates that run the gamut from hummus platters to margherita pizzas.
This post is Part One in our Pride Travel series on Where to Eat, Stay, and Play. Check out the full series now!
