The 7 best gay bars in Philadelphia

During the week—especially in summer—Woody’s is one of the Gayborhood’s busiest happy hour hangouts, but on weekends it can barely contain the sea of tank-top-clad fellas (and bachelorette parties!) that flood in for a night of drinking, dancing and boys-will-be-boys-ing. This is Philadelphia’s oldest gay bar, but it keeps things fresh with recent expansion projects that include the swanky, neon-hued Glo Bar cocktail lounge just off the main bar area downstairs. On the upper level, local DJs and a shimmering disco ball preside over a spacious dance floor that stays thumping—and packed on weekends—till 2am.

Tavern on Camac, situated on a quiet cobblestoned side street in the Gayborhood, is most known for its sleek piano lounge, which draws seasoned songbirds—and the occasional theater major from nearby University of the Arts—for hours of boozy showtune sing-alongs. But you don’t have to have pipes like Judy to have fun here. The upstairs dance floor, compact as it may be, is a particular favorite on weekends for nightlifers looking for an alternative to the meat market that is Woody’s.

Lined with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the busy corner of 13th and Locust, U Bar offers a no-frills, unpretentious atmosphere to sit, have a stiff drink and watch the Gayborhood go by. This may be the most Cheers-like gay watering hole Philly has to offer, with its center bar lined with stools and frequented by devoted, chatty regulars. Stand-alone tables (and a jukebox) dot the front and rear of the bar, providing an ideal perch for those stopping in for cheap, well-poured drinks before hitting the town.

Situated on a quiet alley off Walnut Street, the Bike Stop is the Gayborhood’s horny, chaps-wearing older brother. Porn blaring on big screens welcomes guests into the gay leather bar’s punky main floor as leather-clad dudes mingle in dark corners about the room. Upstairs, the crowd congregates around a pool table for games and more drinks from a bar selling beer and cheap cocktails. If you’re feeling brave, slip down into the basement “dungeon,” which looks every bit the way it sounds. On any given night in the steamy, cave-like dwelling you could see anything from whips to guys in chains to a couple (or three?) doing things out in the open that would make Erotica-era Madonna blush.

Located in a two-story rowhome, Tabu is Philadelphia’s first gay sports bar. It wears that badge proudly in its downstairs bar decked with big-screen TVs playing whatever sports game is hot that night. The kitchen in the back keeps bellies full with a selection of lunch fare throughout the day, including customer favorites like tater tots and tacos. The scene is decidedly different as you enter the modernly decorated upstairs lounge. There, you’ll find another bar, one that’s slightly more upscale than the sporty one downstairs, and a performance stage that plays home to performances—from drag shows and burlesque to singing and comedy competitions—almost every night of the week.

The only after-hours club in the Gayborhood, Voyeur Nightclub just gets heated up when all the other bars in the neighborhood close. The 20,000-square-feet venue—a favorite among LGBTQ and straight crowds alike—comprises three dance floors that, on weekends, all rage with local and national DJs spinning everything from EDM to hip-hop to top 40 tunes. It has all the high-tech bells and whistles, like laser light shows, top-notch sound systems and an illuminated runway-style dance floor. You’ll find bars throughout the warehouse-like space serving pricey cocktails and Red Bulls to keep you going until the wee hours.

Stir is the Philadelphia gay bar that managed to get away. It’s the only establishment of its kind to exist outside the Gayborhood, taking up residence in a nondescript alley near Rittenhouse Square Park. It’s a popular happy hour stop for LGBTQers working in the neighborhood, but also home to many an afterparty as well as comedy and other events.