20+ Awesome Bars and Nightlife Spots in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood

Classic cocktails, local brews and reasonably priced wines pour every night at this piano-bar-meets-dance-club located on a charming brick-paved street right in the heart of the Gayborhood.

Taking up residence in the corner spot that once housed Venture Inn, Bar X pours up all the standard cocktails and boasts a nice selection of beers in bottles and cans. During the week, the space offers drink specials and an unpretentious place to chill, but the weekends rev up with occasional drag shows and dancing on the basement-level dance floor.

Enjoy vegan drinks and plant-based grub in the enclaves of this stylish, dimly lit cocktail bar.

Named one of the “50 Greatest Gay Bars in the World” by Out Magazine, Woody’s offers several bars — like onsite cocktail den Rosewood and its bubblier sister Globar — and a pulsating second-level dance floor.

El Vez serves modern Mexican dishes for lunch and dinner in an atmosphere that’s as vibrant and colorful as the food. If it’s warm outside, snag a seat at one of the sidewalk tables and sip a frozen margarita while taking in the lively sights and sounds of the neighborhood.

Graffiti Bar is an intimate, 30-seat, open-air patio tucked behind its sister restaurant, Sampan. An ideal destination for happy hour, guests enjoy drinks outside with light bites from Sampan against a backdrop of graffiti-lined walls that surround the bar.

One of the area’s only dive bars, Dirty Frank’s comes decked out with an iconic mural on the building’s facade, an always-eclectic crowd inside, a dart board and an array of affordable pints and pitchers. Hit the ATM on the way, as this popular spot is cash-only.

For wine by the bottle or glass and a curated menu with which to pair it, head to Vintage, a small, chic wine bar on bustling 13th Street.

This stylish, wine-centric hotspot boasts a gorgeous marble bar where guests can pick from a menu of 20 diverse wines as well as beers and a selection of inventive cocktails.

From Quizzo nights to burlesque shows to the occasional movie screening on Tabu’s big screens, there’s more than just the big game going on at this multi-level sports bar and nightclub. That being said, it’s also a great spot to catch the Phillies while relaxing with a local draft.

This classy restaurant and bar serves up live piano music every weekend, Tuesday night movies and fun-filled karaoke nights on Wednesdays.

Owned and operated by the manager of the former Gayborhood staple Sisters Nightclub, this uber-welcoming bar and 3,800-square-foot performance venue serves all the usual drinks, plus tacos, skewers, sliders and other snacks available until late. Patrons who swing by on a weeknight might stumble upon any number of drag and variety shows, TV-viewing parties or meetups.

A dimly lit bar welcomes guests into Oloroso, where they can enjoy a menu of Spanish tapas complemented with an A-plus selection of sherry, including varieties on tap. Wines, craft cocktails and beers in bottles and on draft satiate the non-sherry-drinking crowd.

Bud & Marilyn’s, a retro-inspired hangout, is yet another killer concept from life and business partners Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran. Attracting a lively happy-hour crowd, the bar serves up signature and classic cocktails.

U Bar serves as a great low-key spot to grab a drink or two with friends. Plus, with floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s also a great locale for people-watching.

When it’s last call at nearly every bar in the city, Voyeur Nightclub is only getting started. At this after-hours club, find an abundance of special events and multiple dance floors that stays alive well past 2 a.m.

For fans of leather and Levi’s, The Bike Stop is a must. Tucked away on a side street in the Gayborhood, this off-the-beaten-path locale sets a scene that’s both friendly and unique. Find a leather-wearing crowd upon walking in and a sports-watching crew upstairs, often cheering while enjoying beer, wings and a game of pool.

In this dimly lit, comfy hangout with Scrabble-tiled walls and a bound library book for a menu, bartenders serve exquisite, Instagrammable craft cocktails of both the woodsy and floral variety, along with beers and a plentiful selection of wines. Upstairs seating is available for libations-enhanced reading sessions and casual conversation.

Franky Bradley’s offers a spacious, bi-level restaurant and bar that serves up classic cocktails and American food. A room upstairs sporting quirky ’70s-themed decor hosts weekly dance nights, burlesque performances and drag shows.

This hip lounge attracts a well-chiseled crowd for top-notch cocktails and innovative Mediterranean-Latin fusion. The popular mezze board includes an oversized tasting of hummus, lamb steak, sausage and more. The lively bar scene stretches well into the wee hours of the night.

Tria is the premier Gayborhood destination for fine wine, artisan cheese, craft beer or all three. Can’t decide what to order? A well-trained waitstaff will happily make recommendations.

At Time, sip on one of more than 200 varieties of whiskey in the Whiskey Bar, or walk upstairs and enter the Parisian-inspired salon to hear some DJ mixes. The main dining room features live music every night of the week.