The Independence Hotel is a stationed on 13 th and Locust. But, there is one hotel with the most convenient location, the Independent Hotel. Miles Kennedy / 2014 EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING USE APPROVED Local Stay?īut before we continue with this list of gay Philly spots, where will you sleep after a night on the town? Again, the gayborhood is right smack in the middle of Philadelphia’s Center City, so there are plenty of hotels to stay within walking distance of the establishment. So if you’re looking for a legitimate spot to meet and talk to gay Philly locals, the Bike Stop is the place to go. The building has developed a local and committed community that supports and frequents it regularly. Yes, the atmosphere is very leather and cruise-y, especially in its basement bar, but the spot is a dive bar like many others. They just rarely choose to).īut even though the Bike Stop is a leather bar, it doesn’t just cater to the leather community. (That said, women are still welcome in the space. There aren’t very many bachelorette parties that visit this bar, so gay men looking to just be in a gay male space will appreciate this place. But most importantly, it’s the most authentically gay male spot in the city. It’s a leather bar, it’s a local dive bar, and it’s a grunge bar. Images via Yelpīut if you’re looking for something even more dive-y and grungy, walk a few blocks down and between alleys, to find The Bike Stop. While the spot has a very diverse following, there’s a great karmic feeling in the fact that black people are literally dancing on iCandy’s grave. And since then, the establishment has become a local favorite for queer people of color and especially black people. After the club’s owner was caught saying the N word and other racist comments, he decided to sell the building to Tabu.
You see, the building that Tabu bought last year originally belonged to iCandy. Now, the spot has kept some of that dive bar feel while also being in a building with several floors and an outside patio area.īut even better than its dive-with-a-budget feel is its karmic fate. Because of that, the atmosphere around the establishment has changed and evolved. Within the last year, Tabu, which was originally popular gay dive/sports bar, expanded and bought a new building. Next is Tabu, a spot that’s somewhere in the middle between being a local dive and a more established mega-bar. So while Woody’s and Voyeur are more of your dancy/clubby spots, Tavern on Camac delivers on a variety of interests. Not only does this spot change depending on which pianist is playing that night or time, but the space also holds a small dance room on the second floor. But hey, that’ll loosen you up to go sing a song or two (certainly has for me). They’re expensive but they’re also doused in alcohol. Tavern is a classic culprit of gayborhood drinks.
GOING TO GAY BAR GAY BAR SONG FREE
If you ever want to make friends while singing show tunes or listen to a few free performances (good or bad), this is the place to go. This small space speaks of cabaret lights, cocktails, and laughing friends in an intimate and hushed tone.
Tavern on Camac is a small and pleasant piano bar found just a few blocks away from Woody’s and Voyeur. If you love musical theatre and pop music, you’ll love this spot. These following spaces vary in crowds and aesthetic, but they all cater to gay or gay-friendly clientele.įirst, we have Tavern on Camac.
Once you’ve got the “go at least once” spots out of the way, you can start to explore the spots locals more regularly frequent. Just watch out for the cover charge ($20 post-midnight!). If you’re looking to stay up late in the city, Voyeur is the place to go.
While Woody’s is respectable in size and more low-key in its presentation, the large scale Voyeur building is a more mainstream space focused on nightclub adventures. The two establishments have a joint venture where they often host bargain deals for entry and connecting events. Then right across from Woody’s is the popular Voyeur nightclub. Honestly, the fact that Woody’s is so well-known has made it what I call “The straight woman’s gay bar.” That said, it’s still the mecca of the gayborhood and should always be respected as such. It’s known by everyone and is a tourist hotspot, but it’s not necessarily the most representative of local life. But caution, Woody’s mainstream appeal has made it the gay bar equivalent to the Philly cheesesteak staple Genos.