Black gay bars in dc
20 LGBTQ+ Bars to Check Out in Washington, DC
The nation's capital is home to a lively LGBTQ+ nightlife scene with plenty of gay and lesbian bars just waiting for you to join in on the fun.
The diversity of DC’s LGBTQ+ group is growing by the day, resulting in a dynamic, exciting community with plenty of bars and clubs to choose from when it’s time to drink, dance and participate. Read up on some of our favorite LGBTQ+-friendly spots below.
Let’s have a … you get it. Gather all your girls, gays and theys to kiki all night on U Lane. With four rooms of varied vibes, outdoor spaces and DJs that never miss, Kiki lives up to its name. Reach for the happy hour, stay for the weekly events.
At 14th and U, DC’s first booze-free Homosexual 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 House is Crush, a retro-inspired cocktail lounge and entertainment mecca for anyone and everyone. Event highlights include all-d
Longtime DMV residents Brandon Burke and Shaun Mykals were attracted to the Dark and queer history of D.C.’s U Street corridor, 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 early Decemeber.
Nightlife Exposure and Community Awareness
Originally from Albany, Recent 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 love that now,” Mykals told The Informer.
Burke, a Baltimore native, currently resides in the District and, like Mykals, spent a lot of time 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 get friends with Shaun, and then into creating [the event] ‘Thursday Bliss.’”
For Burke and Mykal
Nightlife Directory
U Street
811 14th Street NW
Washington, DC20009
(202) 667-4490
Web site
Concert hall plays host to occasional gay events. Check the website. Near U Street Metro.
Favorite for: Both Men & Women
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This corner spot in Columbia Heights was once the site of Nob Hill, a popular African American gay prevent. Nob Hill operated from 1957 to 2004, and, according to the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), which documented the site in 2016, this longevity made it "the oldest continuously-operating LGBTQ nightlife establishments in the District and one of the oldest gay bars in the country." Thus, Nob Hill has been called the "granddaddy of black gay clubs."
The 1920s era building housed a parched cleaner/laundry prior to Nob Hill opening. Despite formally opening as a prevent in 1957, Nob Hill initially served as a intimate social club starting in about 1953. The social club, like the prevent, catered to same-sex attracted African American men. Many Howard University students would frequent Nob Hill, as the bar served an important function. At the period of its opening, the city was still very much racially segregated, and this extended to nightlife and amusement. Therefore, LGBTQ+ African Americans established their own social spaces, particulary along 7th and 14th streets NW near Howard University.
In addition to Nob Hill, there was The Cozy Corner at 708 Florida Avenue NW. Later on, in the 197