Favorite Gay Bar Anywhere?

Old Apr 30, 2008, 2:09 am
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Smile

Mine is bebar in Washington, DC! ^^

http://www.bebardc.com
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Old May 2, 2008, 8:27 pm
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Not your average dank, dark bars

Agree that most gay bars in most places tend to be dark, closed in without much design sense, and not very comfortable - in other ways all the same.

Which is fine, if you like all that and they can be fun if you catch them with the right people (like Fubar in LA and Quetzal in Paris), but there are a few stand-outs that provide a nice space with a nice upscale vibe.

NYC
G Lounge - one of the first gay bars with large windows, light, nicely designed spaces and a upscale atmosphere with a good looking crowd

Therapy - A Helsea favorite with two levels, with a mix of different vibes from more bar to more lounge. Lots of entertainment and eye candy.

LA/WEHO
Abbey - Who can resist this theme park of a bar? I do not know who the owner did on the Weho City Council to get this thing built, but it is a monument to LA gayness. Part enclosed, part open, huge fireplace, branded bar area, and lots of LA prettyboys and some celebrity faghags.

Here - The LA version of G Lounge, from the same owners. Upscale, nicely appointed, that is sometimes empty, sometimes packed.
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Old May 15, 2008, 9:19 am
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Originally Posted by Wonderboynyc
Agree that most gay bars in most places tend to be dark, closed in
I think it's a throwback to the days when going to a gay bar was considered shameful. The notion of a gay bar with huge windows like Twin Peaks in San Francisco was a symbol of liberation.
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Old May 15, 2008, 11:45 am
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Originally Posted by wiredboy10003
I think it's a throwback to the days when going to a gay bar was considered shameful. The notion of a gay bar with huge windows like Twin Peaks in San Francisco was a symbol of liberation.
It think it had less to do with "shame" than it was to protect the patrons from real danger, whether it be from the public or the police.
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Old May 16, 2008, 11:30 pm
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Dolphin Bar in Redondo Beach 5 miles South of LAX

I live near the Dophin Bar and frequent it often. It is not your average Gay/Lesbian bar because it is kind of a dive bar but it is laid back..they have a closed in outside patio for smokers, karaoke, pool table and everyone is so nice.

Check it out if you are in the area. http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-dolphin-.../query:dolphin

Cheri

Last edited by wingless; May 30, 2008 at 5:10 pm
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Old May 17, 2008, 2:03 pm
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Bulnes Class Buenos Aires, this is the early bar and just a bar, very nice even a bit upscale.
Steel/Jackhammer and Scandals- Ft Lauderdale

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Old Jun 4, 2008, 5:44 am
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As a long-timer admirer of older men (I edit GrayGay.com) I may have a slightly different top bar list to most of the others:

The Hideaway, Dallas
Boast an excellent piano bar and a neighbourhood bar separated by a deck where they have cook-outs (as in cooking) weekly. A nice place whatever your tastes.

The Quebec, London
Now that I've left London for Australia I really miss this place. Probably the best bar for older men and their admirers in Europe with a big lounge bar upstairs (where you can actually talk) and a darker crusier bar with a weekend dancefloor downstairs. They also have the best Karaoke sound system I've heard - even if the kit is old.

Alexander's, Paris
It may be small and narrow but the welcome from the inimitable Irish Steven and his French partner is unequalled - plus they do a huge selection of bar nibbles at cocktail hour and the place is packed as a result.

Tropics, Ft Lauderdale
A restaurant and piano bar that attracts a wide age range - mainly becasue the food if good. Excellent piano bar and a huge fishtank add to the ambiance.

Details for all the above on the GrayGay Guide at www.graygay.com

The RIP list
The Alta Plaza, San Francisco
Fantastic bar with "real" bartenders who could mix anything you asked for, live music playing most nights and a great restaurant on the mezzanine level - SFO has NOTHING like it now :-(

Napoleon Club, Boston
Not one but two piano bars and a dancefloor upstairs at weekends. Great piano-players (especially Maxine) and singers too.

Napoleon's, London
A great nightclub with a Restaurant, 3 bars (including the Horseshoe bar with Grace Jones on loop), a dancefloor and fruits in suits of all ages - what more could you ask for!
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Old Jun 4, 2008, 8:17 am
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Mine is the Portas Largas bar in Lisbon. Great (= strong ;-) caipirinhas and lots of people hanging around on the street in front of the bar. Definitely not one of the dark and hidden bars that had been mentioned in several postings here.

Last edited by swim; Jun 25, 2008 at 1:33 am Reason: dead link
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Old Jun 4, 2008, 6:14 pm
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I thank the good Lord for all the gay bars and good times that I remember. I thank him even more for all the gay bars and good times that I can't remember.
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Old Jun 7, 2008, 1:07 pm
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Originally Posted by Pewit
Alexander's, Paris
It may be small and narrow but the welcome from the inimitable Irish Steven and his French partner is unequalled - plus they do a huge selection of bar nibbles at cocktail hour and the place is packed as a result.
That's a new one, isn't it? Where is it located - Les Halles? (Oh, duh, it's on your website. )

(For whoever cares, I found out last night that New York's G on 19th Street somehow, sometime became .... if I recall correctly, "the G Lounge." I swear I'm getting so old. LOL)
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Old Jun 12, 2008, 6:30 pm
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Originally Posted by anonplz
(For whoever cares, I found out last night that New York's G on 19th Street somehow, sometime became .... if I recall correctly, "the G Lounge." I swear I'm getting so old. LOL)
I think it's officially been called that since the beginning, though they never stressed it. Maybe to differentiate it from nearby 'bars' like 'Gym Bar' and 'View Bar'. I remember asking the owner when it opened why the G in the logo was lowercase. His reply was that it was that it wasn't a "GAY" place, it was a 'gay' place, open to all. Cheers, darlings!
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Old Jun 19, 2008, 6:12 pm
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It'd be the "Cockring" in Amsterdam for me. Quite name, no?!

It has a bit of everything - bar (playing porn), nightclub (with great proggy sounds), and dark room. How very Dutch!
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Old Jun 19, 2008, 6:30 pm
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Originally Posted by Enigma
It'd be the "Cockring" in Amsterdam for me. Quite name, no?!

It has a bit of everything - bar (playing porn), nightclub (with great proggy sounds), and dark room. How very Dutch!
Do they still have those very special Sunday p.m. parties?
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Old Jun 23, 2008, 8:11 am
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Originally Posted by wiredboy10003
I think it's officially been called that since the beginning, though they never stressed it. Maybe to differentiate it from nearby 'bars' like 'Gym Bar' and 'View Bar'. I remember asking the owner when it opened why the G in the logo was lowercase. His reply was that it was that it wasn't a "GAY" place, it was a 'gay' place, open to all. Cheers, darlings!
I never knew that. @:-) I always just referred to it as "G", sort of like "Chelsea" or "New York"; it was just, "popped in to G last night for a nightcap." (You know, I learn so much on this board. )
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Old Jul 7, 2008, 6:44 pm
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Mannequins at Walt Disney World

I've been thinking about posting in this thread for a while now, but I've just received news that makes it very sad for me.

Although not an official "gay" club, every Thursday night at Mannequins on Pleasure Island is the unofficial gay night. Although I don't get there often enough, some of the best times I've ever had in a gay club have been on that rotating dance floor. Most of the patrons are Disney Cast members, which means they are super cute and super friendly.

Disney announced recently that Pleasure Island will close permanently by September 28, 2008. Very sad news indeed for this frequent WDW guest.

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