Ask enough queer New Yorkers where they actually spend their time, and an entirely different version of the city begins to emerge, one that exists beyond social media, party apps, or the rogue club-night poster. It’s a geography built on memory and activism, friendship and flirtation.
As the Pride month rigmarole begins to unfold, we asked some of the city’s most plugged-in queer figures (from grand marshals and nightlife impresarios to DJs, drag icons, and organizers) to share the places that matter most to them. Their answers span institutions and dive bars, beaches and vintage stores alike.
Miss Benny, actor
James Veloria: “When I want to pretend I’m a fashion trans to my friends I take them to James Veloria vintage in Chinatown. I almost never buy anything from there, but I love saying hi to the other girls trying on Miyake pieces. Last time I was there was with Tommy Dorfman. New York is fun.”
Corto: “I accidentally moved to what is now being called the trans triangle of Brooklyn, which is like: Bed Stuy, Crown Heights, and outer Bushwick. One of the mainstays is a coffee shop called Corto with a little back patio. I see a lot of pronouns in that building. Lots of people would be scared. This is me and my comedy partner Buddy Keaton giving LGBT friendship, for proof [pictured above].”
Coyote Club: “This is not a gay place on its own, in fact quite the contrary. Quite 21, and straight. But I like to frequent… and when I’m there it gets real bisexual real fast. Coyote Club. Bi now, gay later, many such cases.”
THELIMITDOESNOTEXIST, DJ and founder, SKSKSKS
WNYC Transmitter Park: “Probably one of New York’s most underrated parks for beautiful city views. I’ve definitely taken a few boys here on a summer bike date.”
Chinatown fruit stands on Mulberry and Mott: “Best place to get a Champagne Mango when in season aka right now. You’ll find the best version of any in-season fruit here, myself included.”
Gabriela: “Sorry for blowing up the spot but Romance on Thursday nights at Gabriela—if you didn’t know, now you do. Eli Escobar, got a DL link for the Charli XCX Backseat Romance edit?”
Jackson Howard, executive editor, FSG Books and Auwa Books
The Odeon: “The vibe is unbeatable, which is why I can’t go here without seeing several queer people (of all ages) I know: the martinis knock you out, the waiters are cute, the hostess, Roya Shanks, is the definition of iconic, and the whole experience feels like an episode of Sex and the City.”
Queer Nightlife Community Center (QNCC): “The recently launched Queer Nightlife Community Center is doing extraordinary, vital work by providing intentional space and a slate of practical services for those in New York’s queer nightlife world, while also hosting some of the most dynamic and out-there arts programming in the city.”
Ending Soon: “The most perfectly curated luxury consignment collection in the city, run by the profoundly chic and knowledgeable partners Houman Farahmand and Arsène Barski. It’s where I and so many others find our favorite one-of-a-kind clothes.”
My House: “Your boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, ex-boyfriend’s boyfriend, city councilman, nonbinary roommate, and every gay person in Brooklyn and parts of Manhattan and Queens have likely passed through a birthday/holiday celebration/award show/’I’m having people over’ situation at my apartment in Bed-Stuy. I’ve watched people conduct business, meet partners, and literally break-up; the fire department came when the elevator broke a few Prides ago. I’m sure I’ll see you there this summer.”
Peppermint, actress and drag performer
Sheridan Square: “The whole square, hunny! Sheridan Square is really the heart of queer New York, and we owe it all to our Black trans ancestors. You’ve got the Stonewall National Monument, generations of LGBTQ history, incredible queer bars and businesses, and people from all over the world coming to connect with our community. Every time I’m there, it reminds me that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.”
Lips Bar: “I have so much love for Lips. I performed there during my early years in drag, and it was one of those places where I could learn, grow, make mistakes, and really find my voice as a performer. So many queens have come through those doors. It’s not just a venue, it’s part of our cultural history in the city.”
Callen-Lorde Health Centers: “Because we love supporting queer-centered healthcare! Callen-Lorde has been a lifeline for queer and transgender people for decades, providing affirming, compassionate care when so many of us have struggled to find it elsewhere. They do vital work, and they’re a great reminder that caring for our community means investing in our health and wellbeing too.”
TBOY Wrestling: “It is absolutely a must-see and must-support. TBOY is creating something really special by bringing together athletics, entertainment, and trans visibility in a way that’s fun, empowering, and community-driven. It’s exactly the kind of bold, creative space I love seeing thrive, and the energy is always incredible.”
Papi Juice (Oscar Nñ, Mohammed Iman, and Adam R.), party series and DJ collective
BONG: “We’ll find any excuse to treat ourselves to dinner at BONG where Chef Chinchakriya Un has revolutionized Cambodian food in the city. Get the lobster, and bonus points if you spot Mama Kim in the kitchen remixing the menu with Baby Sinn.”
Rodeo: “You’re very likely to run into us at Rodeo, indulging in a gorgeous rotation of natural wines and a clandestine dancefloor. Especially fab for our hot lesbians to hang and for our dolls to peruse trade. Shoutout to the exceptionally hot bartenders!!”
Papi Juice: “Luckily it doesn’t get hotter and queerer than Papi Juice this summer 😉 Between our 13-year anniversary at Elsewhere, and our Pride weekend closer at Good Room, the sexiest dance floor in the world is calling. Pick up!”
Adam Eli, writer and creative consultant
Julius’: “Julius’ is hands-down the best gay bar in New York, maybe the entire world. It is a healthy mix of older regulars and ‘creative gays’ who don’t have 9-to-5s (I identify as both). Over cosmopolitans and deep-fried cheese-stuffed jalapeños, I recommend taking a close look at the decor. The best seat in the house is directly under the Catherine Opie portrait of Justin Vivian Bond. Partially because we have to honor our icons, but mostly because it is quiet enough to chat while still keeping an eye on the dance floor.”
“Men’s” Bathrooms at Oh Mary!: “Community building can be found in the gender inclusive ‘men’s’ bathroom, one floor below the Lyceum Theatre’s grand lobby. Above the urinals are portraits of Cole Escola starring in pieces of classic American theater shot by Daniel Rampulla. One photo features Escola in a pinafore and bears the caption ‘I wanted to take Belle in a different direction that made people uncomfortable, but getting arrested really hurt my feelings.’ A quick trip here and you will head into the show as intended: horned up, ready to laugh, and hopefully soaked in urine.”
Fugitive Materials: “Deep in Crown Heights, nestled in a 1910 Neo-Grec townhouse is one of the most extraordinary archives I’ve ever seen. Fugitive Materials is a collection of ‘radical, lesser-known, and alternative histories’ which means that its materials pertain to the queer movement and the feminist, disability justice, labor movements, and more. It is by appointment only, and your guide will likely be the archive’s founder, Daylon Orr, who is exactly how you want your local queer archivist to be—bespectacled, soft-spoken, passionate, and basically a walking encyclopedia. Time to hop on the 4 train, because you can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you come from!”
Dominique Jackson, Actor
- Stonewall Inn: “Where I used to host ‘Da Flow’ on Mondays.”
- Cats: The Jellicle Ball
- The pier at Christopher St.
- The Hetrick-Martin Institute
- Destination Tomorrow in the Bronx
Seva Granik, co-founder, Queer Nightlife Community Center (QNCC)
Nowadays and Merge: “My favorite club is, of course, Nowadays. It is literally the best club in the United States—and many will attest! I would even say that it’s easily the best club in North America, if not further out. Mind-bending—just impossibly good—bookings that cater to a far wider audience than any other club in town would even try to approach. There is also an underground club/roving party called Merge that I really like; a fabulous underground techno rave where I go to see all my friends. That usually happens once a month and there is one tonight that I’m really excited for.”
Bossa Nova Civic Club: “I don’t really drink at this age and bar culture is a bit weird to me, frankly, but Bossa still slaps hard for me, having been—and kind of continuing to be—the most important electronic dance music bar in town.”
Topos Too: “Okay, I recently started to drink coffee and I’m a recent Bushwick/Ridgewood transplant, AND I’m married to a huge nerd and a writer, so my fav coffee shop would have to be Topos Too. It’s actually a bookstore with a coffee shop, and the vibes there are SUPER nerdy; I do like to go there and look at nerds reading books and picking out books—it’s kind of lit, actually, in a quiet way. And no one there knows me or gives a shit about who I am so I really appreciate that aspect.”
Bernie Wagenblast, Voice of the MTA
Stonewall National Monument: “The first time I went there after my transition I unexpectedly started crying. I thought of what happened there in 1969 when I was 12 years old and all that has taken place since. It remains a place of protest.”
Christopher Street/Stonewall subway station: “I recorded a special announcement for the station using my more feminine-sounding voice for the first time. The stop is also the closest to the Stonewall Inn, and its name was recently changed to include Stonewall.”
NYC Pride March: “It’s the biggest gathering of the queer community and allies in the world. The energy and support is amazing.”
Coney Island: “This may seem like a strange addition, but I see Coney Island as a place that has long been a place where those who were society’s outcasts found a place to belong. To me, that vibe can still be found there, and it makes it inviting to those who may not find acceptance where they grew up.”
Memphis Oliver-Murphy, DJ
Cafeteria (Chelsea): “This place is so iconic to me because it has been one of New York’s queer brunch and dinner hotspots for years from the Chelsea gays to the Dolls and Club Kids. Not to mention a picture of Amanda Lepore on the menu.”
Bossanova Civic Club: “This bar has been supporting young queer DJs since I started back in 2017. I think its one of the first places I’ve ever DJ’d.”
Basement: “Basement is home to one of Brooklyn’s largest queer scenes. A lot of DJs got their start playing at this club including. They also fly in international queer talent.”
Gays Against Guns, Nonprofit
AIDS Memorial, Fire Island Pines & Cherry Grove Beach, Stonewall Monument, Bethesda Fountain, Father Duffy Square in Times Square, Lenape Circle: “These are where we hold actions and rallies!”
LGBTQ Community Center, Julius’ Bar, Cowgirl Cafe, The People’s Beach at Jacob Riis Park: “We come to these spaces to find community and joy.”
Faris Al-Shathir, co-founder, executive & artistic director, BOFFO
Top of the Bay: “While I rarely eat out when I’m on Fire Island, if I do, you’ll find me at Top of the Bay in Cherry Grove.”
Function x Sniffies: “While I always prefer a Fire Island house party, if you’re going to find me at a club this summer it’ll be at the Function x Sniffies party at the Pavilion in The Pines.”
BOFFO: “I get to work with my favorite artists in my favorite place, Fire Island. Through our BOFFO Residency, we have six artist presentations this summer that will pop up in different locations: historic homes, on the beach, in the Meatrack, only time will tell. We only announce the details a few days before it happens, so stay tuned.”
Ryan D. Petersen, writer and DJ
Force Fitness Club: “The least gay gym, ONLY straight guys work out here—which actually makes it most gay? The painted red and black walls are the perfect background for thirst traps.”
Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center: “I always run into a fellow sister at the final screening of a Visconti 4K restoration.”
GOLD STAR: “A fun, mix-y party that my boyfriend and I throw. But to be honest, we’re kind of stealing valor… neither one of us is a true gold star gay.”
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