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Boston Gay Bars

Boston caters to its large LGBTQ+ population with a variety of queer venues focused on the South End and Jamaica Plain areas, from classic neighbourhood pubs to clubs to more relaxed lounges. These are spaces for the queer community to gather but they draw a mixed crowd of allies as well, such is the widely accepting nature of the Boston community. Many of the mainstream nightlife venues host LGBTQ+ friendly and themed nights, so you'll be welcome and find your crowd absolutely anywhere you choose to spend your night.

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Boston Eagle

Bear, Older Crowd, Fetish

The Eagle is one of Boston's oldest gay bars and remains pretty much unchanged. It has a gritty and rough around the edges yet charming vibe that has kept people coming back for decades, and a perfectly eclectic interior. The bar attracts a largely male and leather crowd but there's no dress code and everyone is welcome to visit this institution for a reliably unpretentious and classic pub experience.
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Candibar Boston

Lesbian, Dancing

Candibar is well-known in the Boston gay nightlife scene for its "Switch Thursdays" parties. These nights are open to everyone but especially popular with the local lesbian crowd, and everyone loves the surrealistic design of the club and its state-of-the-art sound system. Candibar features two rooms where a local and globally renowned DJ's spin everything from House to Eurodance, and on top of all that the whole nightclub is eco-friendly!
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Cathedral Station

Sports, Outdoor Seating, Pub Vibes

Cathedral Station is a sports bar and pub that welcomes everyone of all identities. There's a bar area, dining area, an entertainment space complete with pool table and dart boards, and an outdoor patio that's always a popular place to relax between games. The bar serves everything from beers to delicious and cheap cocktails, and the kitchen produced classic pub, as well as a more adventurous brunch menu and a range of evening nibbles.
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Club Cafe

Dancing, Drag

A leader in the Boston nightlife scene for over three decades, Club Cafe boasts a top rated restaurant, cabaret, and dance club that's open seven nights a week. Plenty of fun events like bingo, karaoke, and T-dances are just some of the different things you can expect throughout the week in the club, while in the restaurant you can find extensive dinner, drinks, and brunch menus. They even cater for banquets and parties!
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Jacques' Cabaret

Gay Friendly, Drag

Jacque's Cabaret is a slightly offbeat and quirky bar that specialises in flamboyant drag and cabaret. It has dive vibes and is one of the lesser known gay hangouts in the area, having not changed much over the years and kept its traditional and rough around the edges charm. Jacques hosts outstanding low-budget drag shows every night that are reliably popular, so much so that reservations are a must on weekends.
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Machine Nightclub

Dancing, Drag

Machine is an old-school style dance club with a state of the art sound system and light show, plus one of the biggest dance floors in Boston. A staple in Boston nightlife since 1998, Machine continues to feature first-class entertainment including DJ driven dance nights, theater, drag shows, themed parties, karaoke, and game nights. There's also the pool room if you need a break from the dance floor, and the club is always packed on weekends for regular events.
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The Alley Bar

Bear, Fetish, Cruising

This veteran gay bear leather cruise bar is hidden away in downtown, providing cheap drinks, dancing, and an unpretentious atmosphere. Recurring parties like “Fuzz” and “Casual Fridays” draw a very manly and cruisy crowd, and popular local DJs play an eclectic soundtrack from Top 40 to artsy indie pop. Craft beer, lively music, karaoke, pool, and most importantly lots of men make The Alley Bar a hidden gem.
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Trophy Room

Cosy, Cocktails, Gay Friendly

Trophy room serves classic gastro-pub style food alongside a range of craft beers and creative cocktails from an award-winning menu. Its ambience is perfect for both an intimate date night or a night on the town with your friends and tucked away in the heart of the South End, it's one of the few bars in the area open till late. A mixed crowd of locals and tourists makes this a super vibrant and inclusive place to spend your night.
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dbar

Gay Friendly, Cocktails

dbar is a full service restaurant in the heart of Dorchester, an area with a rapidly growing gay scene. It's a popular hangout for the community, with a bar serving legendary cocktails and a space that seamlessly transforms into a nightclub and lounge as the night goes on. This is the perfect place to spend a stylish date night in the cosy candlelit dining room, or dance into the early hours with a vibrant queer crowd.
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Recommended gay friendly hotels in Boston

As an LGBTQ+ traveller to Boston, it's important to stay somewhere welcoming, with great value and maybe near to gay venues. There is no shortage of great accommodation options in Boston, so you can decide to treat yourself to a luxury hotel or stay budget and spend what you save on partying! Check out GayMapper recommendations for gay friendly hotel deals in Boston, Massachusetts. Please support GayMapper by checking out our hotel deals as this helps us to keep the site updated with all this useful information!

Tours & Experiences in Boston

Make the most of your travels by pre-booking our popular tours and experiences.  There's a whole range of options, from cultural and historical to food, drink and nightlife.  Get under the skin of your destination, and book a tour or experience now.  

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