I remember spending hours at the NBA Jam arcade game. Along with many taps to choose from at the bar, they also have traditional arcade games. Replay is such a cool and funky concept for a bar. I’m almost certain that the place gets crowded on dancing nights. I saw a dancefloor and the place is spacious. I would solidly recommend it to anyone who’s more into the club scene. From my couple of encounters here, and for being a bar and club in Boystown, it seemed just fine. I’ve only been here a couple of times and one of those times was for a semifinal competition that was held to sing the National Anthem at Wrigley Field on Out At Wrigley. Sidetrack is a massively sized bar and club with a seemingly diverse crowd. This is the first entry on my Chicago list that is actually contained within the neighborhood of North Halsted which is contained within Boystown, also known as Lakeview. This is a must-see when you’re in the city. It also hosts game nights and other fun events and the theme always changes from night to night. The bar has karaoke, which is always a bonus for me. It is downstairs from a gay adult shop called Banana Video. The bar itself is on the first floor of a multi-level building. The neighborhood is called Andersonville. This is also in a neighborhood outside of Boystown. I always felt welcome there and the drinks were relatively inexpensive compared to many other places I’d encountered in the city of Chicago. I was here more than all of the other bars and clubs listed here combined. This was also a regular hangout spot for me when I lived in the city. The SoFo Tap is also another bar that has a very relaxed, inclusive feel to it. The SoFo Tap: 4923 N Clark Street, 1st Floor I won’t spoil anything for you but this was definitely my favorite area of the entire place. You may also want to check out the backroom for yourself. So, if you want a place where you can just sit and drink a beer, play some pool, and watch some very gay-friendly programming, then this place is definitely for you. This place is a leather bar and may not necessarily be for more of the glitzier, twinkier gays, but it’s definitely laid back and inclusive of all gays. This gay bar is not in the traditional “Boystown” area of the city but is in fact in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago near the intersection of Clark Street and Devon Avenue. Some of the clubs I wanted to mention shut down one way or another since the pandemic started but I did still include ones that have remained open and one at the end that even though it closed still holds a special place in my heart and in the minds of the community. Enjoy stylish dishes pulled from a wood fired oven at Wood, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient.Keep in mind, that I lived in Chicago last in June 2018 but I did frequent the bars and clubs often while I lived in the city. Get sassy at Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club, where dinner is served with a tableside drag show. Explore like a localįind the secret alley entrance to bargain threads at Ragstock. The pride doesn’t stop there - Northalsted Market Days in August is the largest street festival in the Midwest. The celebrations culminate with the famed Chicago Pride Parade, a spectacular procession that draws an estimated one million spectators each year. The party starts at Pride Fest, with two days of music, food, dancing, drag queens, and more. The neighborhood is also the heart of the city’s annual Pride Month celebrations. Check out the local nightlife scene, where you’ll find karaoke parties, drag shows, dance floors, dive bars, and more. Located on Halsted Street from Belmont Avenue to Grace Street, the Legacy Walk commemorates LGBTQ+ heroes and historical events with colorful monuments.Īlong the way, stop into funky boutiques, cool vintage clothing stores, and bustling eateries that capture the casual, funky spirit of the neighborhood. Stroll the award-winning Legacy Walk, the world’s only outdoor LGBTQ history museum. It’s also the center of some of Chicago’s most popular events and festivals.
It’s known for its welcoming vibe, nonstop nightlife, LGBTQ-owned businesses, and excellent dining options. Northalsted (also known as Boystown) is one of the most country’s inclusive LGBTQ+ communities and the oldest officially recognized gay neighborhood in the United States.