Roscoe's Tavern

A staple video bar in the Boystown community, The Closet walls have been a second home to many since 1978. The Closet is a great place to kick back with friends or meet new people, whether you're looking to relax after work, or kick start your night. The Closet attracts a mostly lesbian crowd who pack the small bar and create a super friendly atmosphere, so all identities are welcome for dancing, games, and karaoke.

Leather, bears, gear and a refreshingly no-attitude atmosphere have made Jackhammer a longstanding favourite of Chicago's LGBTQ+ nightlife scene. Located in Rogers Park, away from the more mainstream Northalsted bars, this lively venue welcomes everyone from dedicated leather enthusiasts to curious visitors looking for something a little different. Jackhammer combines the feel of a neighbourhood bar with a more adventurous nightlife atmosphere, offering pool, darts, affordable drinks and a changing calendar of DJs, parties and fetish-themed events. The crowd is diverse, the dress code refreshingly flexible and self-expression is positively encouraged. Come dressed in leather or your favourite jeans, and enjoy a bar that celebrates individuality and community in equal measure.

Cell Block is Boystown's premier leather and fetish gay club. The main front bar has a dance floor where anyone can let go and have fun with a casual leather dress code. If you're more of a serious leather fan, the back bar opens on Friday and Saturday nights for some more mature fun. This space has a strict leather dress code and hosts events catering to multiple fetishes such as monthly puppy patrol parties.

Touche is one of Chicago's few surviving gay bars that caters specifically to the leather community. Plenty of themed events are on offer here, specific to leathermen, bears, and more. Touche has a neighbourhood bar vibe with draught beers on tap, pool table, darts, and pinball machines, but it also offers a less traditional back room where you can spend time with the leathermen you just met...

For a relaxed gay night out with friendly faces and no attitude, 2Bears Tavern Uptown is a great choice. This welcoming neighbourhood bar has a strong connection to Chicago's bear community, while attracting a diverse mix of LGBTQ+ locals and visitors who appreciate good company, affordable drinks and an easy-going atmosphere. Just steps from the Wilson Red Line station, it's a particularly sociable place to spend an evening, with pinball, darts, video games and regular activities including karaoke, trivia and poker. There's always something happening, but it's just as enjoyable when you simply want to settle in at the bar and chat. Open late and refreshingly unpretentious, 2Bears is a great alternative to the busier Northalsted nightlife scene. There's more than enough to keep you entertained, from pinball and darts to video games, karaoke, trivia and occasional drag-themed events. The atmosphere is unpretentious and inclusive, with no dress code or cover charge on regular nights. It's a particularly useful option for late-night drinks away from the busiest parts of Northalsted.

Chicago knows how to put on a show, and Kit Kat Club has been doing it with plenty of sparkle for more than two decades. Now in a glamorous new Northalsted location, this much-loved drag dining destination combines fabulous performances, creative cocktails and a lively restaurant atmosphere that makes even an ordinary evening feel like a celebration. The redesigned Art Deco-inspired space has plush seating, dramatic lighting and an impressive outdoor patio. Come for the weekend drag brunch, book a table for dinner with the Kit Kat Divas, or enjoy cocktails while soaking up the atmosphere. It's particularly good for groups and celebrations, although booking ahead is wise for popular performances.