Gay bars oakland

Oakland isn’t just San Francisco’s hip little sister; it’s an eclectic playground all its own, serving up queer culture, history, and some fantastic views in the Bay Area. If you’re a fitness fan, check out the East Bay Front Runners, an LGBTQ+ running and walking group who organize a pride run in October. Morgan and her family are actually buried in this 226-acre rural oasis that is open to the public for recreational visits on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

7th West is good for a laid-back night, with a backyard that hosts dance parties, games, and comedy. Oakland’s Art Deco architecture will draw you to the Uptown neighborhood, near Chinatown and Old Oakland. Head north from Chinatown around Lake Merritt to visit the volunteer-run Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. Leaning into the glamor of its Art Deco home, this dark and shiny cocktail bar has dedicated areas for dancing, performances and DJs, as well as tables for enjoying delightfully-garnished beverages.

Town Bar is located at 2001 Broadway, entrance on 20th Street.
 

 

Continue down Broadway and cross the street to walk past streetwear-inspired marijuana retailer and streetwear boutique Dope Era.

The owners host many musically-inclined events on their small stage, and the sparkly yet casual atmosphere suits a relaxed mood.

Summer Bar is located at 526 8th Street.
 

Oakland’s queer identity is defined by far more than its nightlife, but the recent concentration of queer bars downtown has made it easy to sample this famously diverse city’s varied queer scenes.

Their fun-loving crew will make sure your drink is always on point while you channel your inner child with board games or throw darts (safely, we don’t need any eye-patch chic moments here). While there has been a trend of big tech moving out of California, Oakland still draws influential mid-sized and smaller firms attracted by talent, affordability, and the city’s unique environment as one of the most diverse and sunniest parts of the central Bay Area.

For three years in a row, Oakland has earned the number one spot on Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious “Best Food Cities in the U.S.” readers’ choice awards list.

Located on Telegraph Avenue, it’s known for its vintage charm, inclusive atmosphere, and vibrant events like karaoke, drag nights, and dance parties. In Temescal, located in the north of the city, you’ll find buzzy soul food spot Burdell, as well as out-of-the-box pizzas (think toppings like Monterey Bay squid and chanterelles) at fan-favorite Pizzaiolo; Fruitvale, named after the fruit orchards that dominated this part of town in the mid-19th century, is packed with taco trucks that serve some of the best birria in the country.

The large streetside parklet is perfect on the rare warm evening.

Que Rico is located at 381 15th Street.
 

Summer Bar
 

Alternatively, to end the night on a mellow note, visit Summer Bar, a femme-oriented lounge in Old Oakland. And for those panoramic city views, make your way to the Oakland Hills.

For those who want to dance, Que Rico is a sometimes-raucous nightclub hosting Spanish-language drag shows, dance parties, and a mean spicy margarita, just a block away from Feelmore Social. It’s like stepping into another world—one where ancient redwoods soar to the sky and the air smells like eucalyptus and adventure.

Oakland hosts major players like Kaiser Permanente, PG&E, Pandora, and Blue Shield. So, clear your schedule, because once you step inside, Oakland's LGBTQ+ nightlife will have you hooked!

Things To Do + See in Oakland

Oakland’s community is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse in the United States. Thanks to this cultural renaissance, visitors and natives alike can sample Oakland’s many dimensions of queerness in a single evening, through a bar crawl.

Town Bar

Just around the corner on 20th Street, Town Bar is a queer and mixed spot inside a stunning emerald stone façade originally constructed for a luxurious department store.

(The other two often mentioned are San Francisco—also no surprise there—and Seattle.)

There is renewed energy, though, concerning the number of LGBTQ+-owned and allied businesses in Oakland, and their latest efforts to successfully organize. With drag shows that’ll make you clutch your pearls, karaoke nights for your inner pop diva, and pool tables for the more chill (or competitive) types, this spot is the heartbeat of Oakland’s queer nightlife.

On the cozier side of things, Summer Bar & Lounge is the go-to spot for the East Bay’s LGBTQ+ scene to unwind and recharge with some killer dance beats.

The Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District is now fully established, following the 2017 opening of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center.

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