Diversity Defines Lesbian Nightlife In Philadelphia

Philadelphia, a historic place with a rich history of LGBTQ rights activism, has much to offer butch, femme, gender-fluid and all lesbian visitors. There’s the city’s history: 1960s LGBTQ rights activist Barbara Gittings, who co-organized The Annual Reminders protests in front of Independence Hall, made her home near Rittenhouse Square. Edie Windsor, lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that brought down the Defense of Marriage Act, grew up and graduated from college in Philadelphia.

But it’s today’s late-night dance parties, safe spaces, art collectives, community events and restaurants that create the ultimate intersectional roadmap for lesbian visitors. Here are some places to get started:

Great LGBTQ Bars + Nightclubs For Lesbians:

• Boxers PHL – This laid-back gay sports bar is perhaps best known for its uniform of skimpy gym shorts. Seems everyone from the LGBTQ community hangs out here, particularly on game nights and weekends for lively happy hours, friendly games of pool and the hearty finger food menu featuring Boxer’s signature Buffalo wings. 1330 Walnut Street, (215) 735-2977, boxersphl.com
• The Cub Room – Nestled in New Hope, Bucks County, the friendly lounge at the New Hope Lodge features special live music events, such as Mx. Dena Underwood on piano. 400 W. Bridge Street, (215) 862-2737, newhopelodge.com/thecubroom
• Otto’s Taproom – The owners of Tavern on Camac and U Bar opened this pub two years ago in the city’s Brewerytown neighborhood. Draughts and craft beers dominate the drink selection, along with a relaxed local vibe that’s ideal for meeting new friends outside the usual Gayborhood haunts. 1216 N. 29^th Street, (215) 232-1108, ottostaproom.com
• The Raven – At this historic LGBTQ resort in New Hope, Bucks County, summer means cocktails by the pool. Throughout the year, visitors and locals alike enjoy cabaret, dance parties, dinners, billiards and special performances, less than an hour north of the city. 385 W. Bridge Street, New Hope, (215) 862-2081, theravennewhope.com
• Stir – One block from the city’s Rittenhouse Square, this friendly, lesbian-owned hotspot has become popular for its happy hour and creative cocktail list. Night owls have also made this intimate lounge a must for late-night parties (including boozy dollar drinks and college nights). 1705 Chancellor Street, (215) 732-2700, stirphilly.com
• Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar – After relocating into a new three-story space last year, Tabu has become one of the most popular LGBTQ nightclubs in the city. The mix of big games on big screens are a major draw in the main bar, while smaller nooks are made for mixing, mingling and date nights. Later in the evening, guests enjoy live events on the second and third floors, including an outdoor deck—such as karaoke, drag shows, dance parties, burlesque, Quizzo and more. Tabu’s signature tater tots get rave reviews. 254 S. 12^th Street, (215) 964-9675, tabuphilly.com
• Tavern on Camac – Philly has been singing the praises of this lively piano bar for going on a century now: From the 1920s to 1960s, Tavern on Camac was Maxine’s, and things haven’t changed that much since. The city’s longest continuously running LGBTQ bar is home to an intimate pub-fare restaurant, an energetic piano bar and dance club featuring DJ nights, karaoke and Showtune Sundays—all on one of the most charming streets in the city. 243 S. Camac Street, (215) 545-0900, tavernoncamac.com
• Toasted Walnut Bar & Kitchen – This lesbian-owned bar has three 70-inch TVs that are perfect for viewing parties (hello, “L Word” brunch reboot) and a friendly staff who welcomes a diverse clientele beginning at happy hour six days a week—and earlier, for Sunday brunch. Toasted Walnut’s back bar features beer pong; its mezzanine hosts popular DJ nights; and its kitchen offers light bites. The venue also hosts trivia and karaoke nights. 1316 Walnut Street, (215) 546-8888, toastedwalnut.com
• Voyeur – This after-hours club in the heart of the Gayborhood showcases nationally known DJs—well past last call. The main dance floor features a spectacular lighting and sound system, and the upstairs houses a VIP space. There’s also a basement lounge with more intimate weekly events geared toward the community. 1221 St. James Street, (215) 735-5772, voyeurnightclubcom

Especially Welcoming Restaurants & Bars For Lesbians:

• The Barbary – Crowds line up for live music and dance parties at this off-the-beaten-path club that attracts the city’s LGBTQ hipster set to Fishtown. Popular DJs spin sets during special retro events, like old-school Goth and New Wave parties. 951 Frankford Avenue, (215) 634-7400, facebook.@thebarbary
• Bob and Barbara’s – Each Thursday night, revelers head to this legendary South Street dive bar for the city’s longest-running drag show, hosted by Miss Lisa Lisa. B and B’s is also best known for its Citywide Special, a shot of Jim Beam with a Pabst Blue Ribbon chaser. 1509 South Street, (215) 545-4511, bobandbarbaras.com
• Bud & Marilyn’s ­– Of all of chef Marcie Turney and wife Valerie Safran’s acclaimed dining destinations along 13^th Street, Bud & Marilyn’s feels most like community. On the menu: American comfort food and cocktails. Later this year, Turney and Safran will debut an eatery in Center City’s iconic LOVE Park. 1234 Locust Street, (215) 546-2220, budandmarilyns.com
• Dirty Frank’s – An unassuming corner dive bar welcomes perhaps the most diverse clientele in the city: Lawyers, artists, students, even the occasionally visiting celebrity feel welcome in an eclectic atmosphere that is super LGBTQ-welcoming. Bonus: Rotating art exhibitions at the bar’s Off the Wall gallery showcase original work by up-and-coming and established artists. In June 2019, a special exhibition celebrates the 50^th anniversary of Stonewall. 347 S. 13^th Street, (215) 732-5010, dirtyfranksbar.com
• Franky Bradley’s – The venue that once housed Philly’s premiere lesbian bar stays true to its roots with a regular lineup of LGBTQ-friendly events—including drag and burlesque—in its upper-level lounge. Kitschy artwork decorates the downstairs dining room, where patrons can mingle at the bar at happy hour or grab a table for a romantic dinner. 1320 Chancellor Street, (215) 735-0735, frankybradleys.com
• L’Etage – Upstairs from creperie Beau Monde, this gay-owned, Parisian-inspired nightclub features underground drag, burlesque and gender-fluid performance acts from Philly and New York. 624 S. 6^th Street, (215) 592-0656, creperie-beaumonde.com
• Punch Line – This Northern Liberties comedy club spotlights funny people seven days a week, with a lineup that includes LGBTQ comedy nights and special sets by well-known LGBTQ comics. Punch Line’s Drag Diva Brunch every Saturday is a must. 33 E. Laurel Street, (215) 608-6555, punchlinephilly.com
• Valanni – This popular little Gayborhood restaubar welcomes young professionals at its dimly lit bar for cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired small plates. Valanni’s brunch is always a weekend draw, especially in warmer months, when sidewalk seating is the place to see and be seen. 1229 Spruce Street, (215) 790-9494, valanni.com

Day-to-Night Hangouts & Community Spaces:

• Amalgam Comics + Coffeehouse – Queer-, Black- and female-owned, this Fishtown comics shop and cafe has become a welcoming hub for die-hard fans from throughout the region and regularly hosts game nights, readings and meetings. 2578 Frankford Avenue, (215) 427-3300, amalgamphilly.com
• William Way LGBT Community Center – This hub of LGBTQ life in Philadelphia hosts live entertainment, gallery exhibitions, outings, support groups and, more recently, women’s programming 365 days (and nights) a year. Nightlife options vary—book clubs, yoga classes, coffee talks, mahjongg games, art openings—to the less so, such as bi-monthly concerts, holiday celebrations and the annual Mr. Philly Drag King pageant. The welcoming safe space also has a library and extensive archive of LGBTQ history. 1315 Spruce Street, (215) 732-2220, waygay.org

Parties, Art, Networking & More:

• Gay and Lesbian Urban Explorers (GLUE) – GLUE gathers adventuresome adventurers for special outings throughout the city. Typical destinations might include old warehouses, abandoned buildings or untraveled tunnels. meetup.com/PHL-GLUE
• Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) – On Wednesdays until 8 p.m., visitors explore some of the country’s most cutting-edge fine art and installations at this University of Pennsylvania museum. Many of ICA’s major shows here have focused on art through a genderqueer lens. 118 S. 36^th Street, (215) 898-7108, icaphila.org
• Lesbians Who Tech + Allies – This nationally based networking mixer connects Philly lesbians in the tech industry via happy hour meet-ups across the city. lesbianswhotech.org
• Our Night Out – This networking event is designed to connect LGBTQ people through social events that support local nonprofit organizations. Monthly events take place at rotating venues in the city. facebook.com/ournightout
• Queer Urbanist Exchange – A social group for people interested in urban design and planning hosts monthly happy hours, along with socially driven and educational events throughout the year. @QUE
• Sex Dwarf – WXPN DJ Robert Drake hosts this popular New Wave dance party every first Saturday of the month at rotating venues. The party transforms the space it’s in into a 1980s-style clubhouse, complete with retro tunes spinning late into the night. facebook.com/phillysexdwarf
• Sip City Mixer – Mover-and-shaker Rebecca Kenton organizes this free-entry extended happy hour. Her goal: Gather and celebrate diverse women in the community every three to five weeks with parties at some of the most popular venues in the city. @sipcitymixer
• Stimulus Philly – Women of all persuasions frequent these fashionable parties created by lesbians who created an alternative to the usual nightlife scene. facebook.com/thestimulus
• Sunday Tea – This pop-up day party centers on LGBTQ people of color looking for a laidback vibe to end the weekend. The attire: Sunday brunch casual—it’s a tea party, after all. Concourse Dance Bar, 1635 Market Street, (267) 534-4128, concoursedancebar.com
• SWAY – One of Philly’s biggest dance parties is created by and for LGBTQ people of color—and always lands at a new venue. facebook.com/pg/TheStimulus
• T Girls United – This transgender-friendly group hosts parties at different venues throughout the region. meetup.com/patgirls

Burlesque, Karaoke + Cabaret:

• Bearded Ladies Cabaret – Helmed by queer performer John Jarboe, this theater troupe produces its own shows and appears at beloved special events. Barbara Streisand, Edith Piaf and Mr. Rogers count among the inspirations for the group’s productions. beardedladiescabaret.com
• Honeytree Evil Eye Burlesque – A devoted LGBTQ crowd follows burlesque dancer Honeytree Evil Eye to late-night events around town, thanks to her rotating cast of LGBTQ performers. facebook.com/honeytree.evileye.9
• Peek-a-Boo Revue – The neo-burlesque troupe is an adults-only pastiche of singing, dancing, comedy and classic striptease, embodying all that is vaudeville entertainment with an injection of modernity. Founded in 1998, Philly’s longest running burlesque show performs at clubs all over town. peekaboorevue.com
• Sing Your Life Karaoke – For decades, Sara Sherr has hosted one of the best karaoke nights in the city—and has the loyal LGBTQ following to prove it. The best way to catch her next gig is by following her on social media. @singyourlifekaraoke

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