For some unknown reason, the crowds arrive en masse right after 11 p.m., just in time to pay the $10 cover. to beat the cover and the place seems empty, don’t be discouraged. The club is centrally located at the Commons near numerous universities, so the crowd is typically young. The venue, which is straight every other night, lives by the motto: “carpe noctum” (“seize the night”). PROS: No cover before 11 p.m., numerous bars, good DJs, geographically mixed crowdĬONS: $15 cover after 11 p.m, need a group, gets crowded late, and closes early (2 a.m.)ġ Boylston Pl., Boston, (617) 351-7000, This weekly event, also produced by Chris Harris, attracts what appears to be the entire gay population in Boston. This is a great place to bring a big crowd for a birthday or any other special occasion. feels a bit commercial, but it makes up for this in atmosphere. There is a stage up front littered with scantily-clad male dancers who will gladly accept stripper-style “donations.” Because of its touristy location, H.O.B. The space is huge and has plenty of space for dancing the night away. Best toġ5 Lansdowne St., Boston, (888) 693-2583 Promoter Chris Harris hosts this event at a commercial (read: chain) straight venue directly across the street from Fenway Park. PROS: Attractive men (both employees and customers), classy environment, good DJ, pregame-friendlyĬONS: $5 cover on weekends, expensive drinks. Go early on Thursdays for a drink (or three) before heading to Estate for Glamlife. Whereas most gay clubs are only gay one night per week, Club Café is gay every day, so it is the best weeknight option. It is sometimes said that Club Café is Boston’s S&M bar.
The crowd is mostly men, particularly those of a more glamorous aspect, but sometimes the average age is higher here than at the larger clubs listed below. The place is divided into three sections: a main bar and lounge, a back room with a bar and dance area, and the Napoleon Room piano bar. These places are all worth trying, if only for the experience, and because Boston is a relatively small city you won’t have to trek very far to find someplace that suits you.Ģ09 Columbus Ave., Boston, (617) 536-0966, This centrally located bar was just remodeled after 27 years of wear and tear by gays from Boston and beyond. Readers beware: if you’re not into young, glam gays, you probably won’t like the places listed below as much as my friends and I do. Instead of generalizing about the vibrant gay community in Boston and all that the city has to offer by way of gay bars and nightclubs, I have decided to highlight the spots that I enjoy most.
Still, while New York is considered to have the ultimate gay nightlife scene of any city in the country (followed by San Francisco), Boston is not far behind. It is important to note that I am a New Yorker at heart, and my praise for Boston is offered sparingly. This is not the case for me, however, especially considering to the two cities’ gay scenes. And, I don't think it's unique to Boston at all.īTW: I love that video.It is often said that you either love Boston or New York, but never both. It's pretty sad, I think, 'cause the notion of gay community is disappearing in a real sense. The same kind of thing happened to the Eagle and Spike (not to mention others) in NYC (Chelsea). Rather than keep one of the oldest bars in the country going, the owners sold out to condos. Napoleon Club is a perfect example of what's happened. It's just not as viable to have a club anymore with people hooking up through other means and with the costs associated with operating a club in an expensive city ever escalating. What's happened to Boston gay nightlife is what's happened to NYC gay nightlife: the Internet and - just as importantly - property values, property values, property values!!! I've been away from this thread and it has evolved interestingly. What the hell happend to Boston nightlife? It use to be so much more fun. Get a time a machine and go back to the 1990's.