Eat With Pride: 26 LGBTQ+ Restaurants to Know in 2025
The top LGBTQ+ restaurants to visit in 2025.
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免费下载You probably have many options when it comes to going out to eat, which is why it’s sometimes helpful to consider your values when you’re making a decision. In today’s divisive political culture, supporting LGBTQ+ businesses is even more important. Fortunately, there are plenty of outstanding LGBTQ+ restaurants and bars throughout the country.
As June is Pride month in the United States, it’s a great time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, but don’t let your support be pigeon-holed by a calendar month. Sure, hit a Pride parade and make a special point to patronize a LGBTQ business in June, but there’s no reason to stop there, especially when it comes to these 26 LGBTQ+ restaurants around the country. From cafes to oyster bars, they’re worth celebrating all year round.
Key takeaways
Supporting LGBTQ+ businesses can help make a difference in a hostile political environment.
While June is a great time to visit a LGBTQ+ restaurant, most of these options operate year-round and are worth far more than a single visit.
These restaurants and bars represent all corners of the country, from the Northeast to Southern California.
Why support LGBTQ+ restaurants?
As consumers, our wallets can sometimes speak louder than our voices, and supporting LGBTQ+ business owners delivers economic empowerment that basic performative allyship simply doesn’t. LGBTQ+ businesses frequently create safe spaces for all members of the community, especially the most vulnerable or threatened, making them invaluable havens, especially in more intolerant or outright violent parts of the country. Like any other business, these restaurants need the support of customers to stay in business.
These restaurants don’t just survive because of the safety they represent, however. They thrive on their own merit. Not only do all of the below spots serve up outstanding food and drink, but they’ve developed extraordinary guest experiences that keep diners coming back for more. In addition to being impactful members of their communities and advocates for the promise of equity that the United States continuously reneges on, they’re just dang delicious.
The top 26 LGBTQ+ restaurants to visit in 2025
Northeast
1. Elmo Restaurant and Lounge - New York, NY
Chelsea’s Elmo opened in 2001 to immediate rave reviews and, since then, has grown into one of the main social hubs and gathering places for this bohemian Manhattan neighborhood. Menu highlights include watermelon martinis and mouthwatering truffle fries, making it no surprise there are so many regulars.
What makes it special
Special events, live DJs most nights, and a famously charismatic (and suspiciously good-looking) wait staff that are trained to make the dining experience a whole lot more fun.
Since 1994, Cubbyhole has been a beloved neighborhood bar, unmissable with its trademark green exterior. And once you’re inside, it’s even more unmistakable thanks to the boisterously designed ceiling and flagstone floor. Cubbyhole is a vocal advocate for all people and is beloved in its community for its divey (for New York) prices and frequent parties.
What makes it special
It’s one of just three remaining lesbian bars in New York City, along with Henrietta Hudson and Ginger’s Bar.
3. Henrietta Hudson - New York, NY
Speaking of, Henrietta Hudson is one of the most famous lesbian bars in the country. This comes as no surprise thanks to their packed event calendar. This grungy yet chic hotspot features a queer jazz collective, queeraoke, and many more events throughout the week.
What makes it special
Queeraoke!? That honestly about sums it up. Henrietta Hudson is uncommonly fun, uncommonly welcoming, and unashamedly itself.
A hole in the wall in the East Village, HAGS punches well above its diminutive size. This queer-run restaurant offers high-end tasting menus for vegans and omnivores, plus a weekend brunch that neighbors love and Mahattanites travel for.
What makes it special
The pay-what-you-can brunch on Sundays, which means just what it says, makes this spot special. People can get a hearty, delicious meal and pay what they can afford.
Queer restaurateur and chef Eric See’s New Mexican haunt Ursula is a vibrant addition to his Brooklyn neighborhood. The line runs out the door for the breakfast burritos, and sit-down diners relish a lively atmosphere while enjoying everything from green chile fried mushroom sandwiches to smothered burritos.
What makes it special
TimeOut New York has reported that 80% of the restaurant’s staff are queer, making it an exceptionally inclusive work environment.
One of the country’s best tiki bars just so happens to be owned by Jason Doo, a first-generation Chinese-American gay man. Named after Wusong, a town near his family’s hometown of Shanghai, Wusong Road offers dazzling, delicious cocktails and mind-boggling small plates like coconut-glazed spareribs and scallion pancakes with braised Angus brisket.
What makes it special
Wusong Road recently made USA Today’s 2025 list of Best Restaurants of the Year, and for good reason. You don’t find a lot of tiki bars that serve up this high-quality of food.
This heartwarming cafe hails from real-life partners Bryna Gootkind and Lee Farrington and is a great addition to one of the country’s most underrated food cities. LB Kitchen captures the intoxicating seasonality of Maine, with a constantly evolving menu of seasonal, fresh, and usually organic food and drinks, including golden milk pancakes with grass-fed butter and overnight oats with bee pollen and almond milk.
What makes it special
When you think of Maine, you might think tundra, but it actually has an amazing farm-to-table movement that ensures fresh, rich ingredients that LB Kitchen highlights in spades.
Mid-Atlantic & Southeast
A staple of Philadelphia’s gay neighborhood, Winkel is the project of chef Joncarl Lachman, a Dutchman serving up one of the most unique brunches you’ll find in the States. Benedicts with smoked salmon and Gouda? Check. Deep-fried bread pudding French toast? Check. Dutch open-faced sandwiches? Yep, this breakfast and lunch spot is not messing around.
What makes it special
The menu, which celebrates Pennsylvania’s historically Dutch heritage while putting dynamic twists on both American and Dutch classics, makes this place stand out..
9. Hank’s Oyster Bar - Washington, DC
If you live in the Washington, DC area, you might not have even known that Hank’s Oyster Bar — which now has three locations — is an LGBTQ+ business. Chef Jamie Leeds hasn’t made that a core part of the theme, but it’s nice to know that you can wolf down oysters on the half-shell and delicious Atlantic seafood while supporting an LGBTQ+-owned business.
What makes it special
What makes any oyster bar special? Happy hour! Stop in for oysters, apps, beer, and wine at amazing prices.
10. Neng Jr.’s - Asheville, NC
Asheville’s first Filipinx restaurant was opened by transgender Filipinx chef Silver Iocovozzi and features a dynamic array of contemporary flavors from the Philippines. From halo halo flan and king crab claws to mouth-watering chicken adobo (above), Neng Jr.’s is a welcome addition to a rapidly innovating food scene.
What makes it special
Any time a business is the first of its kind in a city is a big deal, and the historically progressive Asheville benefits from Neng Jr.’s proliferation of a cuisine that’s becoming increasingly popular all over the U.S.
11. Rosie’s Bar & Grill - Wilton Manors, FL
Located in a Fort Lauderdale suburb, Rosie’s is known as an al fresco dining hotspot. (Literally in the summer.) The brightly colored bar and grill is unapologetically proud, but the food is humble, featuring comfort food classics done well. You can’t go wrong with a heaping plate of chicken fingers and fries.
What makes it special
The Sunday Funday brunch is locally famous, serving up a menu of creative cocktails and not remotely ashamed to get a bit tipsy.
12. Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours - Atlanta, GA Chef Deborah VanTrece is something of a celebrity, having won Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games.” She and executive chef Robert Butts have put a globally-inspired twist on soul food with the likes of hoisin glazed oxtails and berbere grilled galbis. Plus, beverage expert Kursten Berry was a semifinalist for the James Beard Awards’ Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
What makes it special
The fusion of flavors at this place is something to behold, which is probably why VanTrece has been featured on so many TV shows and magazines.
Set in the trendy Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, R House is about as Miami as it gets. Chef Rocco Carulli’s contemporary Latin American mainstay is known just as much for its delectable menu of arepas, empanadas, and other dishes as it is for its iconic drag brunch. Weekend theatrics aside, R House offers family-style dinner feasts, as well, and a legendary cocktail menu.
What makes it special
We did use the word iconic. Seriously, spend a few minutes on their Instagram and you’ll see what we mean. You haven’t drag brunched if you haven’t drag brunched at R House.
Midwest
14. Barcelona Restaurant & Bar - Columbus, OH
A fusion of metropolitan chic and Old World flavors, Barcelona is owner Scott Hemlich’s love letter from the Midwest to Spain’s most beautiful city. The menu isn’t too dissimilar to one you might find in Barcelona, with traditional tapas like patatas bravas, several paella options, and all the jamón y queso.
What makes it special
Ohio isn’t exactly known for exotic dining, but Barcelona stands out in an underrated Columbus food scene. Come for the six-course prix fix menu, which is expertly paired with Spanish wines and craft cocktails.
15. Drew’s on Halsted - Lakeview, IL
Lakeview is known as a bit of a brunch capital of the Chicago area, and Drew’s on Halsted is no slouch in a murderer’s row of great brunch spots. Come for the bottomless mimosas, stay for the hearty entrees and live music, which Drew’s recruits from all over the world.
What makes it special
Bottomless mimosas and live entertainment make Drew’s on Halsted a great place to post up for a Sunday Funday.
16. Downtown Olly’s - Indianapolis, IN
Winner of Bar and Restaurant Expo’s 2022 LGBTQ Venue of the Year, Downtown Olly’s has been a hub for Indianapolis’s gay community for 20 years. Take a look at the building and the casual menu of pizza, burgers, and wings, and you might think this was any other Midwest diner. Then the drag queens would show up.
What makes it special
Downtown Olly’s has carved out an amazing niche in its community and hosts live music, drag performances, and karaoke on the patio for a flavorful twist in a quiet community.
West and Southwest
17. il seme - Tulsa, OK Wives Lisa Becklund and Linda Ford founded FarmBar several years ago, which quickly became one of Tulsa’s highest-regarded restaurants. With il seme, they celebrate the agricultural cuisine of Oklahoma by drawing parallels to rural Italy. With fresh-made pasta daily and ingredients sourced from local farms, they’re single-handedly putting Tulsa on the national food map.
What makes it special
Many of il seme’s ingredients come from Becklund and Ford’s own farm in Depew, taking farm-to-table to a whole new level.
18. Under the Umbrella Cafe & Bakery - Denver, CO
Owners Jyll Tuggle and Kathleen Rooney are real-life partners who regularly work barista shifts so that they can hang out with their customers. Under the Umbrella implies a mantra that everybody is safe and welcome at this friendly cafe serving up croissants, lemon bars, and breakfast sandwiches.
What makes it special
Locals say Under the Umbrella is one of the friendliest places around, which is why many have been coming to this Congress Park hot spot for the full 16 years it has existed.
19. Petite Maison - Telluride, CO
Translated from French, Petite Maison literally means “Little House,” and that name could not be more accurate. This beloved aprés-ski bistro is much more refined than the lodge bar you may have seen in movies, offering contemporary French haute cuisine in a date night ambience. Hit the slopes, work up a sweat, and then get some steak tartare and escargot.
What makes it special
Telluride’s Gay Ski Week is held in late winter every year, and Petite Maison is one of the most popular stops.
Owner and lead baker Vanarin Kuch founded Koffeteria seemingly to unleash the pastries of his mind. The Top Chef alum experiments with abandon at Koffeteria, with a constantly changing menu of sweet and savory pastries featuring unusual ingredients like pho, taro, giardiniera, and more fruits and vegetables than you may have known existed. It’s no surprise it was recognized as the New York Times’ Best Bakery in 2024.
What makes it special
Koffeteria is not your average coffee shop. Kuch is one of America’s most inventive bakers and it all comes out in his shop. Just look at that lort cha danish in the Instagram embed!
Set on the ground floor of the LINE Hotel in downtown Austin, Arlo Gray is the playground of celebrity chef Kristen Kish and chef Alejandro Munoz. This elegant restaurant overlooking Ladybird Lake fuses central Texan flavors with influences from France and Italy. From oyster mushrooms with pepita butter to grilled pork chops with chamomile and acorn squash puree, it’s a sophisticated take on accessible flavors.
What makes it special
Between the gorgeous dining room ambiance, the convenience of being in a hotel, and Kristen Kish’s celebrity status, there are a few special things about Arlo Gray.
West Coast
A standout in LA’s vibrant queer scene, Honey’s is a bar, live music venue, and community space in East Hollywood that aims to make every night special. Dive into a decadent cocktail, like The Billie (made with tequila, passionfruit, citrus, and Campari), or enjoy something off the spirit-free menu. We told you it was inclusive.
What makes it special
Honey’s is as much an event space as it is a bar, and it’s renowned for helping people host awesome events. If you’ve ever wanted to reserve a bar for a night, Honey’s is a spectacular companion.
23. Brenda’s Meat & Three - San Francisco, CA
A meat & three is a Southern culinary tradition consisting of one meat and three side dishes. Chef and owner Brenda Buenviajé grew up with this concept outside of New Orleans and decided to bring it to San Francisco. Choose from entrees like fried chicken or blackened catfish and sides like collard greens and mac and cheese. And, of course, end with beignets.
What makes it special
The meat & three is a down-home classic, and it’s cool to see it applied in a more upscale setting like San Francisco without any excess thrills.
24. Red Sauce Pizza - Portland, OR
The staff at Red Sauce Pizza wear shirts that say “Gay Pizza,” which is just beautiful. Owner Shardell Dues has pushed Red Sauce to become one of Portland’s most popular pizza spots, thanks to pies like the Nummy, which is topped with pepperoni, fresh pineapple, and jalapeños. Grab some soft serve ice cream while you’re there and enjoy it on the back patio.
What makes it special
Red Sauce is a big-time event space, too, hosting charitable and queer-centric events throughout the year.
Once the “sauciest food truck in Seattle,” Marination has expanded into two brick-and-mortar locations where they serve up locally-famous Hawaiian-Korean fusion food. Owners Kamal Saxton and Roz Edison call their menu “Everyday Aloha,” featuring items like kalua pork tacos, Korean cheesesteaks, and spam fried rice.
What makes it special
Marination is incredibly motivated to give back to their community and has donated proceeds to many local nonprofits. So, support them back!
26. The Velvet Elk - Seattle, WA
An intimate, chic cocktail bar, The Velvet Elk looks like an upscale cocktail lounge, so you might be surprised when you see the positively gluttonous small plates menu. Pork belly, bison meatballs, Boom Boom fries with spicy ranch — who says you can’t enjoy some rich, messy foods with a craft cocktail?
What makes it special
You could very easily spend your whole night on the town at The Velvet Elk thanks to a living room space with board games, a zodiac vending machine, and a communal acoustic guitar.
Support your local LGBTQ+ restaurants
While these are great highlights from around the country, they’re far from the only LGBTQ+-owned restaurants in the country. These options may not be in your neighborhood, but a simple Google search can help you find an LGBTQ+-owned business to support this Pride month and beyond. And, of course, if you’re ever taking a trip, each of these restaurants is well worth a visit.
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