Guide to Legendary West Hollywood Gay Bars

Where better to eat, drink and dance than West Hollywood? Since Prohibition times, this progressive city has earned a reputation for letting the good times roll. And let’s face it, gay bars do it best. Below are six legendary gay bars you must check out during your next visit to West Hollywood.

Food and Fanfare

Beaches WeHo

Calling all Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas fans! Beaches is the place to celebrate 1980s Miami pop culture, or just celebrate the fact that you’re done with work for the day. The motto here: “Be wild and free and look good doing it.” Beaches has two levels of seating and two full bars so there’s plenty of room for viewing parties (RuPaul’s Drag Race, for example) and a variety of theme nights.

The cocktail and food menus offer Cuban flair – refresh with a Mamacita Margarita and fill up on a mouthwatering roasted pork sandwich.

TomTom

The people at Tom Tom (Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd, Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz) have done a remarkable job creating a distinctly sophisticated vibe, especially with décor that plays with concepts of time and technology, thanks to Nick Alain, a Miami-based industrial designer. Unwind with a Kentucky bourbon cocktail and choose from delectable menu items, such as bacon gruyère mac and cheese, flatbreads and brioche Kobe sliders, plus a good selection of garden options.

The Abbey and The Chapel

Beloved by Angelenos gay and straight and known around the world, The Abbey started out as a coffee house in 1991. Gothic-themed, with stained-glass windows, the venue is huge – more than 14,000 square feet. The menu provides lots of classic comfort-food choices, such as burgers, sandwiches, salads, pastas, chicken pot pie and fried chicken. Portions are generous, so consider getting shared plates. Both The Abbey and its club-within-a-club, The Chapel, host drag shows, concerts and other events throughout the year.

Hamburger Mary’s

Burgers, booze and drag queens, what’s not to love? Saturday and Sunday Drag Brunch at Hamburger Mary’s is a lively way to lounge the day away (reservations are recommended). Along with the weekly drag shows, Hamburger Mary’s frequently hosts charity bingo games, karaoke nights and more.

Don’t Stop Dancing (or Drinking) Now!

Micky’s

Who doesn’t love a Gold Digger Martini? Get your fix at Micky’s. This bar hosts weekly events including Bring it Back to Brunch on Saturdays, Showgirls on Mondays and RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties. Oh, and did we mention it’s open until 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays?

Revolver

Revolver is a video bar with a clubby vibe, flat-screen TVs and a great sound system. During the week, Revolver hosts happy hour, karaoke and drag shows, while the weekends boast live DJs, go-go dancers and laser light shows.