An LGBT bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+) clientele. Bars and nightclubs have historically served as centers of gay culture due to their role as some of the few places people with same-sex orientations and gender-variant identities could openly socialize.
While many LGBT bars have historically catered specifically to men, lesbian bars cater exclusively or predominantly to lesbian women. Some bars of both types are now considered "queer" bars, welcoming LGBTQ+ people of all genders.
This is a list of notable LGBT bars worldwide. This is not a complete list.
Africa
BarCityCountryYear openedYear closedNotesAmsterdamCape TownSouth AfricaBabylon the BarJohannesburgSouth AfricaBeaulah BarCape TownSouth AfricaBronxCape TownSouth AfricaZer021Cape TownSouth Africa
Asia
BarCityCountryYear openedYear closedNotesAiiro CafeTokyoJapanCommander DTaipeiTaiwanDragon MenTokyoJapanSunee PlazaPattayaThailand1996 Area known for LGBT nightlife, including more than 50 institutions Opened in 1996 as Crazy Pub.Video PubJerusalemIsrael2012
Australia
BarCityCountryYear openedYear closedNotesCapriccio'sSydneyAustralia19692008Connections NightclubPerth, NorthbridgeAustralia1975Known colloquially as ConniesRuby RedsSurry Hills, SydneyAustralia19751980sClosed and reopened as "Rubies". Site functioned as other venues for LGBTQ+ patrons from 1980s to 2023
Europe BarCityCountryYear openedYear closedNotesAdmiral DuncanLondonEngland (possibly earlier)One of the oldest gay pubs in SohoThe BackstreetLondonEngland19852022The Black CapLondonEngland1751 (as Mother Black Cap)2015Known for drag cabaretCafé 't MandjeAmsterdamNetherlands19271982One of the first gay bars in the Netherlands. Closed in 1982 and reopened in 20072007The ColeherneLondonEngland18662008Known as a popular landmark leather bar during the 1970s and 1980sComptons of SohoLondonEngland1986Known as "The Grand Dame of Queer Street"Cruz 101ManchesterEngland1992One of the most popular and longest-running gay clubs in Greater ManchesterDTMHelsinkiFinland19922025Formerly the largest gay club in Northern EuropeEldorado BerlinGermanyc. 18481932Name of multiple early queer and gay clubs in Berlin, closed by the Nazi'sThe GeorgeDublinIreland1985One of Ireland's oldest and largest gay bars, and the most popular in DublinThe George and DragonLondonEngland1716Historic venueHeavenLondonEngland1979Superclub with major influence in the development of London's LGBT sceneHerculesHelsinkiFinland2000Most popular gay club in HelsinkiThe Joiners ArmsLondonEngland19972015Central to the East London gay sceneKikiReykjavikIceland2014Iceland's only gay barLondon AstoriaLondonEngland19762009Home to G-A-Y until 2008The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Performers Shaped Popular Culture (1955-1979) by Jon Savage, Faber & Faber, ISBN 9780571358373, publ. June 2024 - BANG (disco, London), p. 584-5, 601, 603,Le QueenParisFrance1991c. 2019The New PennyLeedsEngland1953First gay venue in the UK to open outside LondonThe Queen AdelaideHackney, LondonEngland1834Inherited furnishings from the closure of the George and Dragon in 2015The Queen's HeadAmsterdamNetherlands1998Pan Club CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark19702007One of Europe's largest gay clubs and the biggest in CopenhagenPantibarDublinIreland2007Run by drag queen and activist Rory O'NeillRoyal Vauxhall TavernLondonEngland1862South London's oldest surviving queer venueTom's BarBerlin, SchönebergGermany19822024Trade LondonEngland19902008The WayOut ClubLondonEngland1993One of London's best known transgender venuesXXLLondon and BirminghamEngland20002019Nightclub catering to the bear sub-group
North America