
Washington DC
Dupont Circle to 14th and U
Washington's LGBTQ+ life started in Dupont Circle and now spreads along 14th and U Streets, Logan Circle and Shaw, with Adams Morgan and the Navy Yard adding more. Capital Pride every June, and the city's long political and activist history, give the scene a character of its own.
Cover photo: Green Lantern · Photo: AgnosticPreachersKid / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Editor's picks
Six places to start in Washington DC
01Photo: AgnosticPreachersKid / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Green Lantern
Bars · Green Court Northwest 1335, Washington, 20005
02Photo: nelliessportsbar.comNellie's Restaurant & Sports Bar
Bars · U Street Northwest 900, Washington, 20001-4048
03Photo: APK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)The Little Gay Pub
Bars · P Street Northwest 1100
District Eagle
Bars · U Street Northwest 1357B, Washington, 20009
JR's Bar
Bars · 17th Street Northwest 1519, Washington, 20036
Licht
Bars · U Street Northwest 1520, Washington, 20009-3912
LGBTQ+ bars, clubs and queer places in Washington DC
4 placesRevoltClubs
Thurst LoungeClubs
Photos from Google Maps and the venues, credited on each photo. Independent listings. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the venues. Info can change, check before you go.
Swipe less. Go out more.
Queer bars, clubs, cabarets, cafés and community spaces in 35 cities. Find more nearby in the Waimz™ app.
Get the appWashington DC for LGBTQ+ visitors
Where is the gay area in Washington DC?
Washington's LGBTQ+ life started in Dupont Circle and now spreads along 14th and U Streets, Logan Circle and Shaw, with Adams Morgan and the Navy Yard adding more. Capital Pride every June, and the city's long political and activist history, give the scene a character of its own.
How can I meet LGBTQ+ people in Washington DC?
Go out to the places in this guide, join a local queer community group, or use Waimz™ to find dates, friends and LGBTQ+-friendly places nearby.
From the magazine
All guidesHow to find your LGBTQ+ community in a new city
Practical ways to meet queer friends and find chosen family after a move.
LGBTQ+ dating safety: tips for meeting in real life
What to do before, during and after a first date, and how to protect your privacy.
LGBTQ+ travel: finding queer-friendly places anywhere
Plan a trip, find queer-friendly places and meet locals safely, wherever you go.
How to make LGBTQ+ friends as an adult
Where adult queer friendships start, how to deepen them and how to keep them going.
What is a gayborhood? A guide to LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods
The history, the famous examples and how to make the most of an LGBTQ+ neighbourhood.
First time at a gay bar: what to expect
A calm, honest walkthrough of your first night out at a queer venue.