Boston Massachusetts. AKA Beantown (can we say Boston baked beans?). Site of the beginning of Paul Revere’s ride to warn the colonists that the British were coming. This simple silversmith from Boston has been the subject of legends, myths, poetry, and more. The truth is, he did really ride from Boston to Lexington and Concord to warn the colonists so they would be prepared. And since that time, a lot of history has been made in Boston.
Part of the more recent history involves its fully progressive view on LGBTQ+ rights and equality. Here’s a brief rundown:
- Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2004, making Massachusetts the first state in the US to do so.
- Same-sex activity has been legal since 1974
- Discrimination in all areas – employment, housing, healthcare, etc. – banned
- Same-sex couples have full adoption rights
- Transgenders can change their gender on all legal documents – no exceptions or conditions
- Conversion therapy is banned
- Boston is ranked as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the US and perhaps in all of the region.
Given this climate for the LGBTQ community, it is only natural that there would be lots of queer-friendly establishments throughout the city of Boston, especially restaurants, bars, and clubs. And that’s the point of this article. Whether you are local or just visiting Boston, here’s where you will want to go to eat, drink, and be merry (and to celebrate who you are).
Best Gay and Lesbian in Boston Nightlife
Let’s not confine this listing to just gay men and lesbian women. The diversity of the LGBTQ+ population in Boston, all enjoying their identities and sexual orientations, will find a welcoming atmosphere at the many bars and clubs in the Boston metro area. Here’s a listing of the most popular.
Club Cafe
Here’s a restaurant/bar that has been around for 30 years in Boston’s Back Bay area. It is a bustling commercial area of Boston, especially known for its stunning architecture.
While its generally billed as a piano bar (and yes, there is a piano bar), there are also plenty of other events every week at Club Cafe – cabaret and dance parties, trivia Tuesdays, Hump Day Open Mic on karaoke Wednesdays, and even monthly jazz live music. It has a great outdoor patio for the warmer months and serves up a full menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – from appetizers and snacks to full meals.
Club Cafe is open 7 days a week, from 6 pm on. Monday – Wednesday closes at midnight; Thursday – Saturday, closes at 2 am; Sunday, from 11: am til midnight. To get all of the details about the menu and events, check out the Club Cafe website.
Midway Cafe
Midway Cafe has been around since 1987 in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. Jamaica Plain has an interesting history. It was one of only a few streetcar suburbs in the US and is famous for a large portion of what is known as the Emerald Necklace of parts, a design idea of Frederick Olmsted
Midway is a mixed bag venue that hosts plenty of regular and special events – Queeraoke every Thursday, live music, an occasional dyke night to please sapphic women, a long-standing drag show featuring local queens, and emo dance parties. Those emo dance parties are a big hit with the entire LGBTQ community, and there are are often long lines to get in. Add to that an outdoor patio and full array of beers and cocktails, and you have a near-perfect place with a great atmosphere.
Note: Midway Cafe is cash only. It’s open y days a week, 7 pm til 2 am. Tuesday – Friday; 6 pm – 2 am; Saturday and Sunday 5pm – 2 am.
For all the skinny on events, check their website on a regular basis.
Jacque Cabaret
Jacque’s Cabaret Official (@jacques_cabaret) • Instagram photos and videos
Here’s a fixture in Bay Village and in all of Boston. It is the smallest recognized of all neighborhoods in Boston with only a little over 1300 residents and 837 housing units, all row houses. But here sits Jacque’ Cabaret, a hugely popular show bar featuring nightly drag and cabaret shows, usually starting at 9 pm. In between all of this are dance parties, karaoke, live music, and lots of special events, all of which you’ll find on their Instagram account. Either get there really early or make reservations in advance.
Hours are as follows: Monday – Thursday 6 pm til midnight; Friday 3 pm – midnight; and Friday and Saturday from noon til midnight. Visitors won’t soon forget a night at Jacques Cabaret.
Cathedral Station
Anyone in the LGBTQ community who is a sports fan will gravitate to Cathedral Station in the South End neighborhood. The South End is a historic neighborhood in Boston, famous for its Victorian architecture, a highly diverse population (including the LGBTQ+ population) and a lively arts scene of galleries, theatres, and other cultural institutions. It spans 300 acres with close to 30 parks.
Cathedral Station houses large-screen TVs showing a variety of games. It also has separate areas for a bar, for dining, and a play area for pool or dartboards. Or guests can lounge out on the large patio in good weather. While its core audience are queer sports fans, there’s plenty else to do at the club. There are karaoke and trivia on regular nights.
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 2 pm – 2 am; Saturday, noon – 2 am; Sunday 11 am – midnight.
The Cathedral Station website has detailed info about all of its offerings and special events.
Trophy Room
The Trophy Room is a trendy restaurant and bar located on the first floor of the Pineapple Hotel in the South End neighborhood of Boston, opening in 2014. Here’s what stands out about this club that has become an “institution” in the neighborhood:
- It has a full menu of appetizers (aka bar food), sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, salads, desserts, and breakfasts (aka Recovery food and drink), all reasonably priced.
- It has a full beer and cocktail menu, including the “Trophy Husband,” much to the delight of the lesbian community. It’s a clear sign of full inclusion.
- It follows all sports seasons with its wide-screen TV – Home Runs and Hops, Basketball and Bites, Football and Fare. No need to fight the crowds at Fenway Park during baseball season. Just hang out with your queer friends at Trophy for all weekly events in the sports world.
- Weekly trivia nights – “Geeks Who Drink”
Basically, the Trophy Room is a restaurant by day and early evening, and a bar after that. Grab your friends or make new friends here. Have a night at the Trophy, and you’ll be back for more.
Hours are: Monday – Thursday, 4 pm – 11;00 pm; Friday, 4 pm – 1 am; Saturday, breakfast from 8 am – noon, open until midnight; Sunday, breakfast 8 am – 1 pm, open until 10 pm.
During Boston Pride month, the Trophy Room is one of several organizers of a big block party to bring LGBTQ+ celebration to the neighborhood, along with special events.
Trophy Bar is a “do not miss” place for gay visitors to Boston. For an up-to-date rundown of pop-up and themed events, just check their Facebook page.
Dani’s Queer Bar
Opening in the fall of 2024, Dani’s is the first lesbian bar in Boston in 20 years. It is a special hangout for all of the queer community but especially for sapphic women and non binary members. Dani’s is located in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood.
The core audience of Dani’s is sapphic women, trans and non-binary members of the wider community but all are welcome and embraced. There are weekly events, including drag performances and emo dance parties. And it has a private lounge that can be booked for any type of party or event.
It’s a good sign that, in less than two years, Dani’s popularity has increased so much.
Hours of operation are as follows: Monday – Wednesday, 4 pm – midnight; Thursday and Friday, 4 pm – 2 am; Saturday and Sunday, 11 am (brunch) – 2 am.
if you are queer woman or a friend/ally, don’t miss a visit to this lesbian bar. You’ll be back to this dance club for more. To keep updated on all of their activities, day and night, get on the website often. The city of Boston is richer for the addition of this great spot.
dbar
Here is an upscale restaurant on Dorchester Ave. in the center of the Dorchester neighborhood. Unlike many of the mainstream clubs for the queer community, it is a full restaurant by day and early evening, transforming into an LGBTQ community party club atmosphere at night.
The restaurant features seasonal favorites, with local ingredients, along with the standards, like steak and salmon. The cocktail and wine menu is extensive. Another plus? It’s open 7 days a week. It’s hugely popular with the city’s gay crowd. Featured events include Show Tunes Tuesdays, Karaoke Fridays and Magnum Saturdays.
Club hours are as follows: Monday, closed; Tuesdays, 7 pm – midnight; Wednesday and Thursday, 7 pm – 10 pm; Friday and Saturday, 7 pm – 2 am; Sunday, 6 pm – 1 am.
A perfect queer fun night out can include an amazing meal and then the festivities that this queer bar offers. For all the details, check the website.
The owners of dbar are right to have a sense of pride in what they have built.
Blend
Another popular spot for the queer community in Dorchester, complete with great beer varieties and cocktails. An outdoor patio just adds to the night. Weekly night events include dancing to many music venues – rock, alternative, and hip hop to name a few, all with local DJs. Add an outdoor patio and what could be better?
Blend has quite an extensive menu with bar food, simple entrees, sides, salads, and desserts, served Tuesday through Friday, 5 – 9 pm, and a Sunday queer brunch featuring drag queens of course.
A signature event is Ru Pauls Drag Race every Friday at 8 demonstrating the true art form that drag performances are. Other queer clubs in Boston don’t offer these drag race shows. Dance parties, brunches, and other events round out the fare at Blend. A party atmosphere to hang with friends or just find new ones.
Dorchester is richer for the presence of Blend. Spend just one night there, and you’ll agree.
If you want to view the menu or keep up with regular and pop-up events (especially during Pride month), check the website often.
Boston Has It All
The LGBTQ+ population can find anything it wants in Boston whether its a dance club, a night of drag shows, trivia, karaoke, a weekend of revelry during pride, or to celebrate a special occasion with friends, spouses, and family. Whether it’s in Dorchester, the Jamaica Plain, the South End, Back Bay or anywhere else in the city, there is a welcoming climate to celebrate one’s gender identity and sexual orientation. In short, the city of Boston embraces the entire LGBTQ community. From Club Cafe to Dani’s and everything in between, day and night, the queer community can celebrate who they are and who they love.
Boston Pride week takes place during a weekend in June every year and spills into other days. The month of June coincides with other national celebrations around the US and is the largest pride celebration in New England, organized by the non-profit, Boston Pride for the People. But it’s not just in June that all queers have a sense of belonging.
If you are queer and living in the city of Boston, you are in a great place.
Make Boston Even Better Via Taimi
Taimi is the largest exclusively LGBTQIA+ online dating service on the planet, and much more. If you are planning a trip to Boston, download the Taimi app from its website. You’ll find social groups specific to Boston and can find residents to hook up with once you get there. If not, at least you’ll get recommendations on where to stay and the best gay bars and clubs.
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