Black gay bars in washington dc
20 LGBTQ+ Bars to Check Out in Washington, DC
The nation's capital is place to a lively LGBTQ+ nightlife scene with plenty of gay and queer woman bars just waiting for you to join in on the fun.
The diversity of DC’s LGBTQ+ community is growing by the day, resulting in a dynamic, thrilling community with plenty of bars and clubs to pick from when it’s time to guzzle, dance and participate. Read up on some of our favorite LGBTQ+-friendly spots below.
Let’s contain a … you get it. Collect all your girls, gays and theys to kiki all night on U Street. With four rooms of varied vibes, outdoor spaces and DJs that never miss, Kiki lives up to its name. Enter for the joyful hour, stay for the weekly events.
At 14th and U, DC’s first booze-free LGBTQ+ bar is lighting up the sober scene with mocktails, music and plenty of main-character energy. Spark kickstarts the day with coffee, pastries and cafe charm, then turns it up at sundown with DJs, drag trivia and zero-proof cocktails that pack a punch.
Next door to Spark Social Property is Crush, a retro-inspired cocktail lounge and entertainment mecca for anyone and everyone. Event highlights include all-day cheerful hour Tuesday
Longtime DMV residents Brandon Burke and Shaun Mykals were attracted to the Jet and queer history of D.C.’s U Street channel, and realized the investment potential in adding to the booming artistic and nightlife landscape and legacy. That’s why Burke and Mykals created Thurst Lounge, the only Black-owned LGBTQIA+ lounge in D.C.
Located at 2204 14th St NW, Thurst Lounge is scheduled to open in first Decemeber.
Nightlife Experience and Society Awareness
Originally from Albany, Novel York, Mykals relocated to the D.C. area after graduating college. Even before coming to the District, Mykals was a frequent partygoer, and continued that trend once checking out D.C.’s nightlife.
“I experienced it at a time where I could be a part of Black LGBTQIA+ audiences, there’s not a lot of spaces that exist like that now,” Mykals told The Informer.
Burke, a Baltimore native, currently resides in the District and, like Mykals, spent a lot of day partying throughout the nation’s capital.
“I’ve been a part of the D.C. nightlife since 2002 and it eventually led me to meet and become friends with Shaun, and then into creating [the event] ‘Thursday Bliss.’”
For Burke and Mykal
Gay bars. Ask any member of the LGBTQIA community to tell you a story about one and they’ll regale you with memories. Good ones, horrible ones, wild ones, emotional ones—because for decades, these spaces have been homes to a collective. They ushered us into adulthood; they provided sanctuary to be ourselves. We mourn them prefer family members after they’re gone.
But “everything closes,” as formerly local author June Thomas summed up at her publication talk earlier this month. So if everything is ephemeral, what makes lgbtq+ bars so special?
The stories of these spaces are interwoven with our individual and collective histories. And in D.C. that history runs deep. According to the Rainbow History Project’s archives, more than 200 gays bars have place up shop in the District since the 1920s—decades before June 28, 1969, when the Stonewall Riots marked an essential turning signal in the homosexual rights movement.
“The reason Pride exists,” says Ed Bailey, a well-known local DJ and gay nightlife entrepreneur, is “because there was a bar where a thing happened. It’s not like it’s surprising it happened at a block. Of course it happened at a bar. Because that’s where everyone was, right?
About Number 9
Number Nine is a two story, indoor-outdoor, lounge and video bar in the heart of Logan Circle. We have been uncover and and serving the LGBTIQIA community since 2010. Our cocktail menu is quite extensive with over 20 brands of vodka and multiple types of Mojitos. Our happy hours are quite popular and nighttime gets even busier with djs playing harmony videos on the second floor. Outside, we hold an expanded patio area that now includes a large streatery and cocktail servers.
We are confident to say that we were just named 2022 BEST GAY BAR IN DC in the annual "Best of DC" competition in the Washington Blade newspaper.
General Information
All seating both indoor and out is first approach, first serve. (We do not take reservations for seating.)
Number Nine is 21 and over at all times.
DC's Best Happy Hour - All Drinks Are 2 For 1
Monday through Friday, If you buy your first sip before 7pm, your second drink is FREE until 8pm!
Buy ANY slurp from the time we open until 7pm, Monday - Friday, and vour second drink is FREE. And you can redeem your receipt for your free drink until 8pm.
This is good for any drink...from our signature