Welcome to the ultimate Chicago gay agenda, curated by a local lesbian (yours truly) and loaded with gay things to do in Chicago.
When I moved back to Chicago as a late in life lesbian, I didn’t know where to find a queer hairstylist or how to make queer friends or… where all the lesbians hang out (?!). I created this for folks moving to Chicago and fellow late in lifers. It’s also a great resource for queer travelers visiting Chicago.
Download a free gay Chicago map below for easy navigation when you’re OUT and about.
Disclaimer: Before you comment something like “this isn’t queer,” just remember everything is queer when you are. Second disclaimer: even queer-owned and queer-friendly spots have their own issues. I included all queer-owned businesses and bars in Chicago to create a cohesive guide, please do your own research. For new LGBTQ-owned businesses in Chicago and anything I missed, please leave a comment and I will add it to the list.
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To Stay
LGBTQIA-Friendly Neighborhoods to Live in Chicago
The amazing part about Chicago is that you can find queer community in just about every neighborhood. If you’re moving here, you don’t have to live in Northalsted or Andersonville (although, I DO recommend!) to be surrounded by the queer community. Queer people and families are everywhere. That said, below are a few neighborhoods that are historically queer and have a higher gay residency/amount of queer spaces.
Northalsted (aka Boystown)
First off, let me introduce you to Chicago’s official gayborhood: Northalsted (aka Boystown). Located on the northside of Chicago, Northalsted is a colorful neighborhood with rich LGBTQ+ history and a thriving queer culture. As you walk down North Halsted Street, you’ll find queer-owned businesses, queer bars, pride flags and delicious eateries. Northalsted is famous for its annual events like the Pride Parade and Market Days that attract visitors from all over the world. While it is predominantly gay men, it’s a great place for everyone to visit and live. I live right up the street – if you see me, say hi!
Andersonville (aka Lesbianville)
Andersonville (aka Girlstown or Lesbianville) is Chicago’s unofficial lesbian neighborhood. Andersonville is a laid back, community-oriented neighborhood filled with local businesses, vintage and thrift stores, queer bars, some of the best restaurants in Chicago (IMO), and you guessed it – lesbians. Andersonville hosts many events throughout the year, such as the annual Midsommarfest, a lively street festival celebrating the neighborhood’s rich culture. Whether you’re moving here or just visiting, I highly recommend strolling down Clark Street.
Uptown
If you’re a budget gorlie moving to Chicago and are looking for a queer neighborhood, Uptown is a great option. I used to live in Uptown and found a 1-bed in a high rise for $950/month. It’s not polished or luxurious like River North or Lincoln Park, but Uptown is historic, up and coming and extremely underrated!
Uptown is close to Northalsted and Andersonville, but also has a rich history and culture of its own. The neighborhood is home to a variety of LGBTQ+-friendly establishments, including bars, clubs, and performance venues. The iconic LGBTQ+ bar, The Baton Show Lounge, has been a staple of Uptown for decades, offering drag shows and entertainment. Additionally, Uptown has a thriving arts and music scene, with renowned theaters like The Green Mill and The Riviera Theatre. It’s also home to Little Vietnam, Chicago’s Vietnamese neighborhood, where you’ll find Asian markets and Vietnamese restaurants.
A Few Others
Depending on what you like, I also recommend Roger’s Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park, West Town, Pilsen, and Edgewater. If you are looking for housing/roommates, check out LGBTQ+ Roommate Exchange on Facebook.
LGBTQ-Friendly Hotels in Chicago
If you have friends coming to visit, here are the queer-friendly hotels in Chicago I always recommend:
- Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace Hotel (best location, near Northalsted + LGBTQ events)
- HI Chicago Hostel (most affordable, good option for solo travelers)
- voco Chicago Downtown (stylish + affordable)
- The Langham, Chicago (luxury option, best hotel in Chicago)
To find an affordable Airbnb in Chicago, click here.
Eat and Drink
Queer Bars in Chicago
Lesbian Bars
- Dorothy (lesbian bar with specialty cocktails and events)
- The Closet (lesbian-owned queer late night dive bar)
- Nobody’s Darling (Black queer women-owned lesbian neighborhood bar)
- Whiskey Girl Tavern (lesbian-owned sports bar)
Gay Bars
- 2Bears Tavern Uptown (neighborhood, dog-friendly, late night BYOfood gay bar)
- Atmosphere (gay bar located in Andersonville with tons of events, including stripper bingo)
- Big Chicks (cozy, laid-back gay bar with a beer garden and small dance floor)
- Bobby Love’s (friendly neighborhood gay bar with good karaoke)
- Cell Block Chicago (kink-friendly leather bar)
- Charlie’s Chicago (gay bar with queer line dancing every Wednesday!)
- La Cuerva (Chicago’s oldest latino drag bar in Little Village)
- Elixir Lounge (cocktails + conversations gay bar)
- Jackhammer (kink-friendly leather bar)
- Jeffery Pub (Black-owned, late night gay bar)
- Lucky Horseshoe Lounge (laid-back gay bar with male dancers 7 days a week)
- Marty’s (upscale martini bar)
- Meeting House Tavern (2-story gay bar with darts, pool and board games)
- The North End (gay sports bar)
- Progress Bar (dance club with DJs)
- Roscoe’s (lively gay bar with full kitchen and tons of events)
- Second Story Bar (tiny downtown gay bar)
- Scarlet Bar (gay club with great dancing)
- Sidetrack (rated one of the best gay bars in the US)
- The SoFo Tap ( dog-friendly, neighborhood Bear bar with games and themed-nights)
- Splash Chicago (gay bar with drag and DJs)
- Touché (kink-friendly leather bar)
LGBTQ+ Nightclubs
- Club Escape (gay dance club featuring house and hip-hop music)
- Fantasy Nightclub (VIP membership gay club in Northalsted)
- Hydrate Nightclub (gay, late-night dance club with a rotating DJ line-up)
- Smart Bar (independent nightclub that offers varieties of dance music from cutting-edge DJs)
LGBTQ-owned Restaurants
Breakfast
- The Bagel (Jewish bagel shop and breakfast restaurant)
- The Lunchroom at SPACE 519 (upscale breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner spot in Gold Coast)
- Tweet (queer-owned casual neighborhood diner)
Lunch/Dinner
- Big Gay Sal’s Pizza (NEW! queer-owned pizza spot)
- Drew’s on Halsted (American bistro fare)
- The Dearborn (stylish American)
- Kale My Name (vegan casual restaurant)
- Lady Gregory’s Irish Bar & Restaurant (upscale Irish restaurant)
- Proxi (lesbian-owned small plates)
- R Public House (neighborhood pub with pizza and bar food)
- Sfera Chicago (Sicilian street food)
- South of the Border (Mexican cuisine)
- Taylor’s Tacos (Black Lesbian-owned taco joint)
- Wilde Bar & Restaurant (literary-themed upscale Irish pub)
- Wood (great upscale date night spot)
Bakeries + Desserts
- Chicago Sugar Daddy Patisserie (Food-Network-featured bakery offering classic and custom cakes, cupcakes, breads, and bars)
- Jennivee’s Bakery (trans and POC-owned bakery that was featured on Netflix’s Sugar Rush)
- Willie’s ‘n Waffles (18-and-up restaurant that offers fun, flirty, and sexually explicit menu items)
Coffee Shops
- Two-Hearted Queen (lesbian-owned coffee shop)
- Understudy Coffee and Books (queer-friendly coffee shop + library with queer events)
Also check out Best Vegan Restaurants in Chicago and Best Vegan Desserts in Chicago.
Drag Brunch in Chicago
- The Baton Show Lounge (long-running drag show lounge, serving brunch and bottomless mimosas on Sundays)
- Furama (“Dim Sum & Drag”)
- Kit Kat Lounge (iconic restaurant and lounge with nightly drag and weekend drag brunch)
- Lark (Northalsted bar & restaurant that serves comfort food and weekend drag brunch)
- Lips Drag Queen Show Palace (Vegas-style drag shows and fabulous weekend brunch – blogger’s choice!)
Gay Happy Hours
- Every day – $8.95 martinis at Kit Kat Lounge (5-7pm, M-F)
- Monday – half off bottles of wine at Lark (with purchase of entree, 5-9pm)
- Wednesday – line dancing at Charlies (7-10pm)
- Thursday – $4 premium well cocktails + tall boys and free darts at The Sofo Tap
- Friday – $25 weekend buckets at Replay Lakeview
Sober Queer Spaces in Chicago
- Bendición Dry Bar & Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop
- Eli Tea Bar (dry bar and tea shop with frequent queer events and meet-ups)
Gay Things to Do in Chicago
LGBTQ-Owned Businesses
- Andersonville Galleria (retail market that features over 100 vendors offering apparel, jewelry, art, furnishings, and more)
- The Brown Elephant (resale store for gently-used clothing, home décor, and vintage finds)
- Bark Place (LGBTQ-owned business that offers pet boarding, grooming, daycare, walking, and in-home care)
- Barks N’ Rec (LGBTQ-owned doggy daycare, grooming, and training)
- CRAM Fashion (gay-owned menswear boutique)
- Chicago Upholstery and Drapery (residential and commercial reupholstery and fine drapery company)
- Cowboys and Astronauts (a lifestyle and supplies shop designed for all humans who are looking to find their own frontier)
- Early to Bed (feminist, LGBTQ-owned sex toy shop)
- Edgewater Candles (Locally-made, hand-poured soy candles)
- ENJOY Andersonville (urban general store and gift shop)
- ENJOY Lincoln Square (urban general store and gift shop)
- Foursided Card + Gift (custom framing, vintage finds, indie gift cards, and more)
- Here Here Market (high-quality culinary ingredients and products)
- Humboldt House (feminist home goods, jewelry, and lifestyle products)
- James Loves Danger (all natural pet supplies)
- Knee Deep Vintage (fashion-forward, vintage clothing store)
- Kone Ranger Clothing (“wildly unique” upcycled clothing company)
- Leather 64TEN (leather fetish clothing and custom gear)
- Men’s Room Chicago (LGBTQ+ fashion, fetish, and leatherware store + barbershop)
- Paper & Pencil (independent, queer-owned stationery shop)
- Rattleback Records (eclectic music store selling vinyl records, cassette and CDs)
- Roger Park Provisions (queer-owned specialty shop selling fine wines, spirits, cheeses, gifts, and more)
- The Scent Queens Candle Co. & Apothecary Shoppe (queer-owned and operated candle company)
- SPACE 519 (compact department store with a 40-seat restaurant and cafe)
- SWAY dispensary (first queer and BIPOC-owned dispensary brand in Illinois)
- Taste Food & Wine (wine shop with an eclectic selection from around the world)
- Unabridged Books (veteran Chicago bookseller that showcases a wide variety of titles, including a large LGBTQ+ literature section)
- Vase and Vessel (curated home accents for plant lovers and gift givers)
- Wall to Wall Framing (gay-owned small business offering affordable, custom framing services)
- Women and Children First Bookstore (indy-minded bookshop that’s known for it’s feminist and kid-focused literature)
LGBTQ+ Landmarks and Museums in Chicago
- AIDS Garden Chicago (2.5-acre park and public monument memorializing the HIV epidemic in Chicago, and honoring those who live with the disease today)
- The Legacy Walk (outdoor LGBTQ+ history exhibit in the Lakeview neighborhood)
- Leather Archives and Museum (leading museum and conservator of queer erotic art, with focus on kink, leather, and BDSM)
- Gerber/Hart Library (the largest circulating library of LGBTQ+ titles in the Midwest)
- Hollywood Beach (gay beach)
- Jane Addams Hull-House Museum (museum and memorial to Jane Addams, the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize)
LGBTQ+ Art Galleries
- Patron Gallery (contemporary art gallery)
Queer Theater + Comedy + Things to Do
- Chopping Block (queer-owned specialty shop with cooking + wine classes)
- Get in the Kitchen (drag queen hosted cooking classes)
- PrideArts (local queer theater)
- The Den (theater that often features queer plays + comedians)
- The Lincoln Lodge (comedy club that hosts a monthly lesbian comedy show called “The Lesbian Lodge”)
- Trickery (magic show)
Annual LGBTQ+ Events
- Market Days (weekend-long, live music street festival celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in Chicago’s Northalsted neighborhood)
- Pride Parade (held on the last Sunday in June, Chicago’s Pride Parade is one of the largest attended Pride parades in the world)
- Pride Fest (a two-day street festival in June, celebrating LGBTQ+ life, culture, and community)
- Reeling LGBTQ+ Film Festival (LGBTQ+ international film festival)
- Southside Pride (an annual street festival celebrating the life, legacy, and history of Chicago’s Black and Brown LGBTQ+ community)
LGBTQ+ Parties, Sports Clubs, and Social Gatherings
Sapphic Spaces, Parties, and Producers
- Flannel Friday (last event ever is set to be hosted June 2024)
- Slo ‘Mo (Slo ‘Mo hosts a wide range of events and parties from dance nights to comedy, concerts, and yoga)
- Smallworld Collective (events focused on uplifting Black queer culture)
- Trqpiteca (house music dance club and production company)
- Eden (Chicago Pride Fest’s largest after party for queer women)
- Hoochie Hotspot (organizer for Black queer parties and events)
- Peach Presents (event team and organizer dedicated to unifying LGBTQ+ women through food, drinks, art, and music)
- Party Noire (a cultural hub for Black femmes, QWOC, LGBTQ+ and gender non-confirming member of the Black community)
- Back Lot Bash (Chicago’s inclusive Pride music festival)
- Lovers and Friends (dance party for 30+ lesbians, queers, and allies)
- The Lesbian Social Club (electrifying events tailored for Chicago’s Lesbian community)
- Sapphic Saturday at Sidetrack (Chicago’s monthly lesbian party, hosted on the last Saturday of every month)
- The Queer Social Club (hosts queer events like Swappin’ Boots)
- Notes on masculinity (bimonthly queer cabaret show)
Sober get-togethers
- Lez Get Together (curates booze-free events and gatherings for the Chicago lesbian community)
- Queer Sober Social (hosts virtual and in-person events in Chicago for sober or sober-curious member of the LGBTQIA+ community)
Local’s Gay Guide to Chicago
Bath house
- Steamworks Baths Chicago (private gym, sauna, and bathhouse for gay men)
Gym
- Brush Park Gymnasium (inclusive gym for all fitness levels, designed by a queer family)
- Han Training (a queer and trans-affirming gym)
Queer Hair Salon’s and Barber Shops
- Alex Oh My (cool cuts + color, neurodivergent-friendly, use code “a friend of Courtney” for $20 off any service)
- Barbara&Barbara (queer owned-and-operated, LGBTQ+ centric hair salon)
- Chicago Male Salon (inclusive salon in Boystown, offering a full range of hair styling and skincare services)
- Fern and Moody Salon (Queer owners Francesca and Jackie help fellow queer folks get the hair they want, in a cool and inclusive atmosphere)
- Handsome Bastard Barber Shop (specializing in “effortless style”, from classic to modern cuts)
- Salon Glow Chicago (modern, chic salon specializing in blonding and hair extensions)
- Twisted Scissors (edgy, unique styles and vibrant colors)
Queer-Owned Med Spa
- Enfuse Medical Spa & Hair Restoration (gender-affirming services + botox/injectables)
Nail Salon
- Ginger Slam (LGBTQ-friendly nail salon)
- Pride Nail Boutique (manicure, pedicure, nail art, and waxing salon in the Northalsted neighborhood)
Home Services
- Avenir Creative (hospitality interior design studio)
- Christy Webber Landscapes (full-service landscape provider)
Legal Assistance
- Lambda Legal (a dedicated legal team and civil rights organization that focuses on the LGBTQ+ community )
- Metz + Jones (Chicago-based LGBTQ+ probate, real estate, and estate planning law firm)
- Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois (a collective of lawyers, social workers, and activists who provide free legal services to low-income trans and gender non-confirming persons)
LGBTQ-Friendly Medical
- Howard Brown (LGBTQ-affirming primary care)
Queer Photographer
- Tawny Ballard Photography (Queer, Chicago-based wedding, elopement, and couples photographer)
Queer Therapists
- Inclusive Insight (inclusive therapy and mental health services)
- Mental health services at Center on Halsted (behavioral health services for the LGBTQ+ community)
Queer Resource Centers
- AIDS Foundation of Chicago (resources and support for people living with HIV)
- Brave Space Alliance (Black and trans-led LGBTQ+ resource center)
- Center on Halsted, Chicago’s LGBTQ Center (Blogger’s choice – great place to start for Chicago LGBTQ+ resources)
Queer Sports Leagues, Clubs, and Activities
For sports lovers who prefer watching, I recommend watching games at Whiskey Girl Tavern, a lesbian-owned sports bar in Edgewater. There are multiple Pride-themed Chicago sports games all year-round including Cubs Pride Night, Sox Pride Night, Blackhawks Pride Game, Red Stars Pride Game, and more.
You could also support Chicago queers (aka women’s sports) by going to a Chicago Sky, Red Stars, or Women’s Rugby game!
- Center on Halsted Open Gym Volleyball (provides a safe environment for volleyball players of all skill levels)
- Chicago Dragons Rugby (the first gay and inclusive rugby team in the Midwest)
- Chicago Gay Hockey Association (for all people with a passion for hockey)
- Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus (inclusive, community-based performing arts organization)
- Chicago Rowing Union (educational and competitive rowing programs for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies)
- Second City Tennis (leagues and programs for Chicago’s LGBTQ+ tennis enthusiasts)
- Stonewall Sports (bocce, bowling, dodgeball, kickball)
- Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (largest LGBTQ+ sports league in the Midwest)
- Queer Kickboxing Club Chicago (kickboxing, martial arts, lifting, and yoga)
- Windy City Cycling Club (Chicago’s LGBTQIA+ cycling organization)
Where to Find Events, Things to Do, and Queer Friends in Chicago
Top 25 Gay Things to Do in Chicago
- Touch the Bean (aka Cloud Gate)
- Go Thrifting + Vintage Shopping in Wicker Park
- Queer Theater at PrideArts
- Go to the queer comedy show Baby Wine at the Annoyance Theater
- Stroll around Garfield Park Conservatory
- Eat the rainbow at The Original Rainbow Cone
- Have a drink at Chicago’s lesbian bar, Dorothy
- Go to a queer event at Eli Tea Bar
- See a broadway show downtown
- Check out Sidetrack’s monthly story-telling event, Outspoken
- Go to Gerber/Hart Library, Chicago’s gay library
- Do the self-guided Legacy Walk tour
- Go to the Leather Archives and Museum
- Celebrate Pride at Chicago’s Pride Parade
- Head to LGBTQ+ street festival, Market Days
- Stop by Unabridged Bookstore
- Go for drag brunch at Lips Drag Queen Show Palace
- Go to date night at Wood
- Do a beach day at Hollywood Beach
- Picnic at AIDS Garden Chicago
- Get breakfast at Tweet
- Take photos with the rainbow crosswalks in Northalsted
- Shop til’ you drop at local shops in Andersonville
- Get cocktails and sit on the patio at Nobody’s Darling
- Go to a queer party or concert at Sleeping Village
What’s your favorite gay thing to do in Chicago? Did I miss anything? Comment below!
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