The LGBTQ+ community travels all year round — not just in the month of June, to celebrate Pride — which is why we’ve put together this series on where to Eat, Play, and Stay in America’s pride-friendliest cities.
Whether you’re looking to explore the hospitality of the Mid-West, southern decadence in Texas and Louisiana, the quiet, calming strength of the Pacific Northwest, or the historic eastern coast of these United States, we’ve got you covered.
It’s time to play in America’s friendliest cities. (Photo Credit: @nola_val)
Because everyone longs to travel safely. (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
Travelers can shop for books and zines at Women & Children First, a longstanding (since 1979) Andersonville bookstore, run by self-described “intersectional trans-inclusive feminists,” that specializes in children’s books, empowering reads, stories, and events like community readings and book clubs.
In Northalsted, The Legacy Walk is the world’s first outdoor LGBTQIA+ history museum, spanning a half-mile of North Halsted Street through the heart of the “gayborhood.” Here, 10 pairs of rainbow pylons weave stories of LGBTQIA+ pioneers, from Alan Turing to Matthew Shepard, who have left indelible marks on the world.
A wide variety of Chicago neighborhoods are LGBTQ+ friendly. (Photo Credit: Jack Lopez)
Further north, the Leather Archives & Museum spotlights leather and kink, as told through published books, erotic art, records, films, and more. And be sure and catch a show at Pride Arts Center, an indie Uptown anchor known for its recurring slate of LGBTQ+ shows, comedies, films, and performances.
Later, Jeffery Pub is a watering hole that blends cold drinks with community roots. One of the country’s most enduring Black-owned gay bars, the Southside staple offers drag shows in a casual pub-like setting, where affordable beer is juxtaposed by shimmering gowns and disco balls.
Explore the nightlife of Chicago. (Photo Credit: Mattia Occhi)
In Andersonville, Nobody’s Darling is a Black- and lesbian-owned cocktail bar known for its high-caliber cocktails (it was a James Beard finalist less than a year after opening), while Northalsted offers a plethora of high-energy LGBTQIA+ clubs, like Sidetrack and Hydrate, along with Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club for some of the most epic drag shows.
Dallas, Texas
Clocking in at 68 acres and spanning more than 20 blocks, Dallas’ Arts District is as expansive as it is entertaining, from the Crow Museum of Asian Art to outdoor displays at the Nasher Sculpture Center and edutainment for all ages at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, where exhibits range from dinosaurs to NASA’s Mars Rover.
In suburban Grapevine, Santa Fe-based Meow Wolf brought its famed immersive art experiences to the Dallas area. The Real Unreal, like Meow Wolf’s other locations, is part art gallery and part interactive museum, with hands-on displays and maze-like rooms.
In Dallas, the Arts District is not to be missed. (Photo Credit: Fernanda Garcia)
For a bit of theatrics, Uptown Players is an intimate theater whose mission is to “present professional theatre that meets a rising demand in the community for audiences to see their life experiences represented on stage.” Such an inclusive ethos means that performances frequently have a pride focus, like The Boys in the Band.
Come nightfall, The Round-Up Saloon is the ultimate hot spot in Oak Lawn. A massive, multi-room dance hall, it’s among the largest and oldest gay cowboy bars in the US, featuring karaoke, dance lessons, numerous bars, and lots of country music (this being Texas, Beyoncé’s Texas Hold ‘Em is a regular banger).
New Orleans, Louisiana
Joy, art, and music come together to form JAMNOLA, an only-in-New Orleans concept curated by local artists and musicians. The immersive experience allows visitors to explore different themed rooms, each one designed by local arts, like Bling Bayou — complete with a bedazzled alligator — and a room designed like a food market, where visitors can wear Doberge Cake hats or hold giant bottles of hot sauce.
Head to the Mardi Gras Museum, no matter the time of year. (Photo Credit: Leo Bayard)
NOLA knows how to throw a fabulous party. (Photo Credit: @hotelfontenot)
Pageantry is on full, over-the-top display at the Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture, showcasing the extravagant personal collections of performer Carl Mack, who accumulated Mardi Gras memorabilia over many years. Exhibits showcase the artful regalia of Mardi Gras costumes, including an interactive Costume Closer that allows visitors to try on their own outfits.
Another distinctly New Orleans experience is Walking With the Gay Ghosts of New Orleans, a French Quarter walking tour that mixes LGBTQ+ history with spooky folklore. Tours take place all year long, combining elements of camp with genuinely fascinating history. This being New Orleans, doing the tour with a to-go drink in-hand is encouraged.
Explore the ghosts of the French Quarter.. (Photo Credit: @nicemnshuti)
New Orleans’ version of Pride, Southern Decadence, started in 1972 as a send-off to summer, eventually growing into an extended Labor Day weekend party with events and parades all over the city. Now one of the largest events of the year, with an economic impact sizable enough to rival Mardi Gras, Southern Decadence remains a pride requisite over Labor Day.
All bars in New Orleans have an inclusive come-one-and-all atmosphere, but one enduring gay staple is Cafe Lafitte in Exile, the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the country. The bi-level French Quarter bar, dating back to 1933, and once frequented by the likes of Truman Capote, boasts prime Bourbon Street views and an eternal party vibe, complete with billiards, affordable drinks, and friendly service.
Portland, Oregon
The world’s largest independent bookstore, Powell’s is basically a literary Mall of America, spanning three floors, numerous rooms, and countless tomes, from classic novels and murder mysteries, to vast sections dedicated to LGBTQ+ stories and authors.
Give yourself some space in Portland’s most historic bookstore. (Photo Credit: Marialaura Gionfriddo)
Part museum, part zany art gallery, and part sci-fi gift shop, the Freakybuttrue Pecularium is a uniquely Portland experience that has to be seen to be believed. The tongue-in-cheek museum offers a small smattering of rooms and collections ranging from Krampus and spontaneous combustion to aliens. Nearby, the Portland Japanese Garden offers a zen escape with 5.5 acres of meticulously manicured lawns, waterfalls, and a teahouse.
In addition to Portland Pride, the city hosts Portland Black Ride around the same time every summer, followed by the annual Coronation Ball — run by the state’s oldest LGBTQIA+ organization, the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court — in the fall. There’s also QDoc, a documentary film festival, held every November.
Portland’s Japanese Garden offers an exemplary escape into nature. (Photo Credit: Abhishek Jain)
Witness the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. (Photo Credit: Adrian Newell)
For nightlife, Eagle Portland is a popular go-to (especially for those into billiards and/or leather gear), while Crush Bar skews more colorful and quirky, with frequent drag and burlesque shows. Scandals, meanwhile, is a longstanding keystone (since 1979) that describes itself as “Portland’s Gay Cheers,” featuring a more conversational, social atmosphere with a patio and periodic events like block parties and art fundraisers.
Boston, Massachusetts
To get to the heart of LGBTQIA+ history in Boston, embark on The Boston Equality Tour, a walking tour that traces the route of the first Gay Pride March in 1971. With stops like St. Paul’s Cathedral and the State House on Beacon Hill, attendees learn about Pride’s politically charged origins, the pioneers who helped advocate for progress, and the advancements along the way.
Walk the Boston Equality Tour when in this historic city. (Photo Credit: Mark Boss)
Another stop on the Equality Trail is Jacques, an iconic cabaret and drag bar that’s been open since way back in 1938 (though it didn’t technically become a gay bar until the ‘40s). Today, it’s still a requisite stop for gay nightlife in Boston, with nightly karaoke and performances until midnight.
One of the best places to visit for LGBTQ+ representation is Trident Booksellers & Café, a hallowed Back Bay institution with deep selections of LGBTQIA+ literature, and community events like speed dating (and LGBTQIA+ “speed-friending”), author readings, and poetry open mic nights.
The city’s history has seeped down to the cobblestones. (Photo Credit: Amanda Murphy)
Later, Cathedral Station is a gay sports bar and pub with a convivial patio and a menu that goes beyond the call of pub grub duty — think Thai chili chicken tenders, Cuban sandwiches, and bourbon steak tip salad.
In Jamaica Plain, a downtown enclave with a particularly thriving LGBTQ+ population, Midway Cafe is a longstanding nightlife anchor known for live music sets and dance parties.
This post is Part Two in our Pride Travel series on Where to Eat, Stay, and Play. Check out the full series now!
