These establishments not only offer exceptional dining experiences but also serve as integral parts of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community, fostering inclusivity and celebration.
3809 N Broadway | Northalsted
(773) 904-8205
An intimate culinary experience honoring Japanese Tradition. The menu is complimented with great music, ambiance, and charming service.
5024 N Sheridan | Uptown
(773) 728-5511
Laid-back LGBTQ+ neighborhood bar with basic eats, great drinks and a diverse crowd of all ages.
2924 N Broadway | Lakeview
(773) 296-9097
Spacious, family-owned Mexican bar & grill with classic dishes, margaritas and a festive atmosphere.
3411 N Halsted | Northalsted
(773) 935-6696
One of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in Chicago and is consistently ranked as one of the best in the country. The menu features American diner classics with a vegetarian/vegan twist.
3542 N Halsted | Northalsted
(773) 857-0571
Casual, late-night BYOB spot serving a menu of Thai favorites & sushi with many vegetarian options.
3201 N Halsted | Northalsted
(773) 244-9191
A cozy and elegant restaurant featuring American fare, a full bar, and a summer patio. Popular with locals and visitors, for a romantic dinner, outstanding martinis, family and friends brunch, or happy hour.
3906 N Broadway | Northalsted
(773) 549-2932
Serving top quality, authentic dishes and margaritas. The restaurant is popular with the loyal patrons who love the families’ recipes of authentic Mexican food.
3701 N Broadway | Northalsted
(773) 549-0226
Neighborhood Irish pub with classic eats and decor, brunch service, late hours and a seasonal patio.
1111 W Granville | Edgewater
(773) 465-1616
Longtime neighborhood spot serving pizza, classic Italian eats and a full bar in old-school environment.
7036 N Clark | Rogers Park
(773) 754-7450
A modern American diner offering brunch, comfort food and coffee.
3700 N Halsted | Northalsted
(773) 525-1111
Features an innovative martini and cocktail list of more than 200 offerings, upscale contemporary cuisine, and entertainment by the world famous Kit Kat Divas.
5260 N Clark | Andersonville
(773) 271-5050
An Irish Gastro Pub serving a delicious menu and proudly boasting over 300 whiskeys. Has seasonal outdoor seating.
2229 S Michigan | South Loop
(312) 815-2662
Dinner, drinks and fabulous drag shows, Lips is the ultimate in drag dining.
4416 N Clark | Uptown
(773) 728-3397
LGBTQ-friendly American grill and bar featuring high-energy drag shows and theme nights, plus a menu of queen-themed cocktails.
3805 North Broadway | Northalsted
(773) 270-5301
A family owned offering top notch customer service and home-made entrees. Known for being a pancakes restaurant, but also serving plenty of great breakfast choices.
5358 N Clark | Andersonville
(773) 654-1369
Neighborhood sports and arcade bar serving classic comfort foods. Has seasonal outdoor seating.
3356 N Halsted | Northalsted
(773) 281-3355
One of Chicago’s best-known gay bars, featuring a dance floor, pool tables, and good eats.
3508 N Broadway | Northalsted
(773) 857-1059
Easygoing coffee shop specializing in cannabis-infused teas, coffees, lemonades & sweet treats.
Chicago's LGBTQ Neighborhoods
The first officially recognized gay village in the United States, Boystown is the commonly used nickname for the eclectic East Lakeview neighborhood known as Northalsted that is home to Chicago’s visible and active lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The neighborhood caters to a lively nightlife with more than 30 different gay and lesbian bars, nightclubs and restaurants. The neighborhood is also home to the Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ community center.
Northalsted hosts a number of annual events — Chicago Pride Fest, the Chicago Pride Parade and Northalsted Market Days — drawing over one million people to the North Side neighborhood each summer.
Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, known for its Swedish roots, historic architecture, and bustling urban main street, has one of the city’s LGBTQ communities, second only to the Northalsted neighborhood.
Andersonville’s commercial district and main shopping street, Clark St., features primarily independent, locally-owned boutiques and specialty stores. In addition, the area features a number of gay and lesbian bars, nightclubs and some of Chicago’s best restaurants.
Andersonville hosts Midsommarfest, one of Chicago’s most legendary street festivals, in early June. The annual event kicks off the summer neighborhood street festival season.
The Uptown neighborhood, and Edgewater to its north, are both LGBTQ-friendly neighborhoods.
A number of LGBTQ bars including Big Chicks and The Baton Show Lounge and health centers including Howard Brown Health, which provide health services to the LGBTQ community and its allies, help residents feel at home in Uptown.
You can also catch a show at the Pride Arts Center, which presents queer theatre, movies, and comedy that resonates with all audiences.
And if you’re looking for a gay-friendly beach in Chicago, it would have to be Kathy Osterman Beach – locals call it Hollywood Beach – in Edgewater.
This welcoming lakefront enclave of Rogers Park on the city’s far north side is home to a fascinating slice of LGBTQ history.
The Gerber/Hart Library and Archives is the largest circulating collection of LGBTQ books and historical items in the Midwest. Their rotating exhibits cover everything from local drag icons to queer sports groups.
Also in Rogers Park, the Leather Archives & Museum, an adults-only museum celebrating the history of leather and fetishism across sexual orientations.
Rogers Park is also home to the Glenwood Avenue Arts District and a number of LGBTQ bars and restaurants.
