The best gay bars in Los Angeles

Akbar’s retro-style lounge has become Silver Lake’s ultimate gay alternative hipster hangout. As such, the crowd tends to be toward the younger side, drawing from L.A.’s burgeoning pockets of cool like Echo Park, Downtown and Elysian Fields. Drink and dance in the front room, or head to the back for comedy, queer history nights, open mics, benefit parties and more.

The Abbey is annually voted one of the world’s best gay bars, which explains the long lines on the weekends to get into this once-humble coffee house—which now boasts four full bars and five times the amount of real estate it originally occupied. The drinks at this West Hollywood stalwart are notoriously strong (albeit pricey) and the upscale, Gothic-meets-the-Mediterranean indoor/outdoor spaces, plentiful cabanas and hunky bartenders are all aesthetically satisfying.

If there’s a downside to the Abbey it’s actually the bar’s success: Not so very long ago, it was the nucleus of gay life in West Hollywood, but as its popularity has grown, increasingly the crowd—particularly at night—seems to be made up of tourists. To its credit though, the Abbey famously announced in 2012 that it would ban bachelorette parties until marriage equality was achieved, which helped to shore up its gay street cred among some of the faithful who felt it had overextended itself in its efforts to be hetero-friendly.

If you prefer beer to cocktails and like your strippers hairy and in harnesses—or some form of leather—then the Eagle might top your list of favorite bars in L.A. Formerly known as the Gauntlet II, the Eagle has become the haunt of choice for a cross-section of L.A. leather daddies, bears and sexy alternative Silver Lake types, all of whom play well together in this dark, sweaty, no-frills space that really packs in a crowd on the weekend. Popular monthly events include monthly Cruise Nights (check the calendar for exact dates of these and other events).

A favorite among locals, St. Felix is as close to a neighborhood bar as it gets in West Hollywood. The wait staff are memorably friendly, the bartenders are expert mixologists and the bar’s daily happy hour (from 4 to 8pm) is one of the best bargains on the Boulevard. Always buzzing but rarely uncomfortably overcrowded, St. Felix is the perfect place to go when you actually want to have a conversation with friends over a cocktail after work. No dancers here, just good food and great drinks in a bordello-style setting that keeps all the cool kids coming back for more.

The fun to be had at Fiesta Cantina is far from secret. In fact, this festive bar and Mexican restaurant is often packed to the gills with patrons taking advantage of one of WeHo’s best happy hour deals: two-for-one drinks from 4 to 8pm, and again during late-night. Fiesta Cantina offers a main floor and a rooftop deck for mingling, intermittent dancing, solid Mexican food options and walking bartenders that offer shot specials. Just a stone’s throw from the Abbey and never dull, Fiesta Cantina is a popular spot for a reason—strong drinks for cheap, a lively crowd and an upbeat vibe from noon till close.

This queer bar is only a residency for now, but with a debut like this, Honey’s at Star Love is sure to be around for a long time. Plant parents and disco divas alike will enjoy a spin on the lavish dance floor while semi-wallflowers chill at a passthrough window. There’s an adjacent stage partially illuminated by a projector where you can strut yourself, belt your heart out on karaoke night, or catch a movie or awards show screening. Introverts looking to avoid these high-traffic areas will love the little alcoves expertly strewn throughout. From cocktails to wine and beer to spirit-free options, the bartenders have a deft hand, good taste and an adventurous spirit that complements the bar.

Taking over the old Gold Coast space, this sultry gay bar—and daytime coffee shop—skews more cocktail lounge than high-energy nightclub. A glittering chandelier overhead and plush banquettes makes the act of sidling up with a friend (or a date) feel glamorous as hell. While the cocktails here run more expensive than the main Boystown corridor slightly further west, the crowd of handsome daddies and well-made drinks make Or Bar a great place to have in your queer nightlife arsenal.

L.A.’s first lesbian-owned queer bar in a decade opened with a bang in Eszett’s old digs. The Silver Lake strip mall location is now lightly yaasified into an intimate wine bar that’s ready for the crowds. Ideal for small groups and dates looking to grab a quick drink or two, the layout makes it easy to both focus on who you’re with and make friends with those next to you. Whether you’re able to drop $28 on a few shrimp or you just need some curly fries to soak up all your Miller High Lifes, there’s a price point where anyone can enjoy the Ruby Fruit. A scant, almost nondescript wine menu is contrasted against a surprisingly robust array of bar bites. Where the Ruby Fruit excels most, however, is in creating community—the bar regularly hosts queer co-working afternoons organized by Cuties, a Black-owned organization and TRANScendent Tuesdays, a trans-led mixers’ night geared toward gender-expansive folks, but open to all.

The self-dubbed “rock and roll gay bar” serves as a cool update for a turn-of-the-century building that once housed the Department of Corrections by going classic in décor: exposed brick, lots of black, and a red arrow above the door to mark the spot. The expansive 8,500-square-foot second-floor space includes a bar, dance floor, performance space and its best feature, a wrap-around terrace with commanding views and feels more Bourbon Street than Downtown L.A.—and serves as the perfect place for a Sunday beer bust.

Revolver is a video bar reborn. Several years ago it went out of business and the space became an upscale gay lounge. But when the lounge folded in 2011, Revolver came roaring back with a new look, better cocktails and, in a nod to the times, strippers on the tabletops. The result has been a resounding hit with the West Hollywood crowd, who now pack the relatively small bar to overflowing and often wait in line to get in at peak times. A happy medium between neighborhood bar and megaclub, Revolver strikes just the right note with a simple winning formula that combines good music, familiar videos and an inviting atmosphere.