Hell’s Kitchen, sometimes known as Clinton (But not by New Yorkers, unless they happen to own real estate there), is a NYC neighborhood on Manhattan’s West Side and hotspot for LGBTQ nightlife. We’ve highlighted below what we think are the best gay bars in Hell’s Kitchen & Midtown West. Because both the Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea neighborhoods have seen such continued explosions of nightspots that are gay-owned or designed to serve the LGBTQ community, a large swath of Manhattan’s West Side is sometimes collectively referred to as “Hellsea.” We’ve covered the Chelsea gay bars in another article.
Hell’s Kitchen/Midtown West
- Atlas Social Club
- Josh Wood, Benjamin Maisani, Pablo Raimondi, and Asi Mazar hit a home run with the starry opening of the Hells Kitchen hotspot. When celebs like Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, and Cher start making cameos the neighborhood is more than willing to welcome a new bar to the area. 753 9th Ave. between 50th and 51st Sts., NYC
212-262-8527
Visit their Facebook page
- Barrage
- This Hell’s Kitchen lounge entices with au courant accouterments and outrageous drinks. A nightly happy hour from 11 p.m. to midnight is the perfect time for a discount. 401 W. 47th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC
212-586-9390
Visit their Facebook page
- Boxers HK
- The Hell’s Kitchen–clone of the Chelsea gay sports bar stalwart features a large ground floor, a basement game room dubbed The Dog Pound, and a spacious rooftop patio. Days and nights are equally as busy with crowds flocking to the increasingly popular Boozy Brunch. 742 Ninth Ave. at 50th St., NYC
212-951-1518
boxersnyc.com
- Fairytail Lounge
- Glittery centaurs and other enchanted-forest motifs distinguish this cozy lounge in way-west H.K. Theme parties, specialty cocktails and guest DJs add interest. 500 W. 48th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., NYC
646-648-3897
Visit their Facebook page
- Flaming Saddles
- When they’re not mixing up vodka sodas in glass steins, bartenders jump up on the bar to do choreographed boot-scootin’ to Achy Breaky-type tunes at this one-of-a-kind Hell’s Kitchen tavern. Red saloon décor and a small selection of down-home nibbles add to the authentic Western feel – call it Coyote Pretty. 793 Ninth Ave. at 53rd St., NYC
212-713-0481
flamingsaddles.com/nyc/
- Hardware
- Cheap drinks are poured at the front bar and fun tunes are spun for the rear dance floor at this easy-breezy neighborhood haunt. In the summer, a garage door swings up, letting the scene spill onto the street. When DJs aren’t doing their thing, live performers like Monet X Change, Miz Cracker & Showbiz Spitfire Paige Turner hit the stage. Opens at noon daily. 697 Tenth Ave between 47th and 48th Sts., NYC
212-924-9885
hardware-bar.com
- Industry
- The owners of Barracuda and Elmo opened this capacious venue features couch-filled nooks, a game room with a pool table and an industrial design that’s a nod to its parking-garage past. Sherry Vine, Tina Burner, and Kizha Carr shake things up on a weekly basis at this popular hotspot. 355 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC
646-476-2747
industry-bar.com
- 9th Avenue Saloon
- This decades-old neighborhood fixture attracts tourists, locals and Broadway professionals from both sides of the footlights with strong drinks, cheap prices and friendly staff. 656 Ninth Ave. at 46th St., NYC
212-307-1503
facebook.com/9thAveSaloon/
- Posh
- A mixed bag of Hell’s Kitchenites and even an occasional celebrity spill out onto the sidewalk at this lounge known for spinning pop and dance tunes. Daily Happy Hour specials include $3 for all draft or bottled beers. 405 W. 51st St. at Ninth Ave., NYC
212-957-2222
poshbarnyc.com
- Rise Bar
- John Blair, Beto Sutter, and Ted Arenas, three of the kings of nightlife royalty joined forces for a tres fabuleux yet unpretentious Hell’s Kitchen watering hole right in the middle of everything. 859 9th Avenue., NYC
646-892-3313
risebarnyc.com/
- The Ritz
- This upscale boy boîte boasts plenty of places to perch on multiple levels inside and outside — although the kickin’ sound system makes it hard to settle down. 369 W. 46th St. at Ninth Ave., NYC
212-333-4177
ritzbarandlounge.com
- Therapy
- The beautifully designed, modern duplex draws a fierce crowd. Weekly shows include performances by legendary performers like Peppermint, Sherry Vine, and Showbiz Spitfire Paige Turner’s infamous Sunday night Slurp show. 348 W. 52nd St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves., NYC
212-397-1700
therapy-nyc.com
- Vodka Soda/Bottoms Up
- The fun neighborhoody two bar, two story Hell’s Kitchen hangout is luring all of the cutest boys out from every nook and cranny of NYC. Pop in to see what all the fuss is about. 315 W 46th St., NYC
212-969-0460
facebook.com/vodkasodabottomsuphk
Looking for somewhere to eat in Hell’s Kitchen, check out Our Hell’s Kitchen restaurant list.
If you’re planning a trip to New York for WorldPride 2019, make sure to check out our WorldPride Guide for New York City travel tips, official NYC Pride events, attractions, nightlife, restaurants and more.
Want Metrosource LGBTQ content notifications? Sign up for MetroEspresso.
Leave a Comment