Gay bars oakland

Oakland works well for LGBTQ+ travelers who want big-city culture without the San Francisco price tag. Sip on a craft cocktail while you gaze at the boats bobbing on the water—talk about living the dock life!

So, if you thought Oakland was just a stopover on the way to somewhere else, think again.

As in any big city, keep your wits about you, especially when out late. The weather stays warm and dry, and you can catch Oakland Pride and lots of outdoor nights without the midsummer crowds. The city also has a strong taproom and winery tasting room scene, making it easy to plan your entire visit around eating, drinking, or some combination of the two.”

It would take volumes to highlight all of our favorite Oakland restaurants and other destinations within this East Bay city, so, to narrow down the list, the San Francisco Bay Times received guidance from the following:

•Peter Gamez, President and CEO of Visit Oakland;
•DJ Lady Ryan, the official DJ of the Valkyries and the Co-Owner of newly opened Golden Ratio in Oakland;
•Emily Winston, the CEO and Founder of Boichik Bagels;
•Joy Baucom of Oakland-based Diligence Security Group;
•and Jeffrey Myers, Committee Chair of the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District.

Here are just some of the businesses they mentioned:

Nightlife

The Athletic Club Oakland – roomy sports bar with an energetic vibe
https://www.theacoakland.com/

Fluid510 – one of the top LGBTQ destinations in the city
https://fluid510.com/

The Fox Theater – an architectural masterpiece that, like The Castro, was converted for concerts https://thefoxoakland.com/

Golden Ratio – a new must-visit venue owned and operated by powerhouse duo DJ Lady Ryan and Dennise Acio https://bit.ly/4q6KCBc

Lucy Blue – a sexy new bar & lounge across from the Fox Theatre; the latest project from Chef Michele McQueen https://lucybluebar.com/

Next Level Nightclub – run by talented Valentino Carrillo of ultra-popular Que Rico and Valentino Presents https://www.nextleveloakland.com/

Night Heron – swanky modern bar that could become, as the owners say, “your new roosting place”; also near the Fox Theatre
https://www.nightheronoakland.com/

Paramount Theatre – another architectural masterpiece that is the home of the Oakland Ballet and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir
https://www.paramountoakland.org/

Que Rico Nightclub – often called “the Bay Area’s most diverse nightclub,” it is an iconic spot for the LGBTQ+ Latin community and more
https://www.quericonightclub.com/

Summer Bar & Lounge – a gay destination in the heart of Old Town Oakland
https://www.thebarsummer.com/

Town Bar & Lounge – a QPOC-owned Art Deco bar & lounge with great cocktails and dancing https://www.goingtotownoakland.com/

White Horse Bar – Known as “the mother of all queer bars,” featuring Page
https://bit.ly/48UvtMH

Restaurants

Asmara Restaurant – Eritrean/Ethiopian
https://asmararestaurantoakland.com/

Bardo Lounge & Supper Club – American staples
https://www.bardooakland.com/

Brenda’s Oakland – Creole, French/Soul
https://brendasoakland.com/

Café Gabriela – Filipina-inspired comfort food
https://www.cafegabriela.com/

The Fat Lady Bar & Restaurant – American fare in a Victorian-style setting
https://thefatladyrestaurant.com/

FOB Kitchen – Contemporary Filipina
https://www.fobkitchen.com/

Forge Rockridge – Neapolitan pizzas and American comfort food
https://forgerockridge.com/

Grand Lake Kitchen – European/American with iconic brunches
https://www.grandlakekitchen.com/

Home of Chicken and Waffles – the name says it!
https://homeofchickenandwaffles.com/

Jaji – Contemporary Afghan
https://www.jajioak.com/

Mua – eclectic small plates
https://muaoakland.com/

Nick’s Pizza – sourdough crust “Oakland-style” pizza
http://oaklandstylepizza.com/

Parche – Contemporary Colombian
https://www.parcheoak.com/

Sobre Mesa – Afro-Latino small plates
https://sobremesaoak.com/

Tay Ho Oakland – Vietnamese
https://tayhooakland.com/

Bakeries

Bake Sum – Asian-American baked goods often creatively inspired by dim sum and other food favorites
https://www.bakesum.com/

Crumble & Whisk – delish cheesecakes and much more
https://www.crumbleandwhisk.com/

Coffee/Tea

Ain’t Normal Café
https://www.aintnormalcafe.com/

Charlie May Coffee & Tea House
https://www.charliemaycoffee.com/

Mother Tongue Coffee
https://mothertongue.coffee/

Red Bay Coffee
https://www.redbaycoffee.com/

Food Halls

Prescott Market
https://www.prescottmarket.com/

Rockridge Market Hall
https://rockridgemarkethall.com/

Swan’s Market
https://swansmarket.com/

Clothing and Gifts

Oakland Don’t Play
https://www.oaklanddontplay.com/

Oaklandish
https://www.oaklandish.com/

Out of the Closet – thrift shop benefiting the AIDS Healthcare Foundation
https://outofthecloset.org/

Movie Theatres

Grand Lake Theatre
https://www.renaissancerialto.com/

The New Parkway Theater
https://www.thenewparkway.com/

Gyms

The Queer Gym
https://www.thequeergym.com/

Pinpoint Training
https://www.pinpointtraining.co/

Radically Fit
https://www.radicallyfitoakland.com/

Martial Arts

Hand to Hand Kajukenbo https://handtohandkajukenbo.com/

Finally, once you have enriched your hopefully long and healthy life with decades of enjoyment in Oakland, you will need to consider your last chapter.

Many of the bars listed here collect donations and stage fundraising events for the Oakland LGBTQ+ Center.

Find more queer bars and places to go in our Guide to Queer-Owned Businesses in Oakland.
 

See all that The Town has to offer! The White Horse Inn at 6551Telegraph Avenue in Oakland is said to be the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the U.S.

It officially opened in 1933, but operated as a gay speakeasy since before the end of Prohibition. You get strong queer community roots, great food, and easy BART access to the rest of the Bay. Neighborhoods like Uptown and Downtown make it simple to bar-hop, catch a show, and get around without a car. At least that can be done in fabulous queer style in this East Bay city, which is home to the stunning Julia Morgan-designed Chapel of the Chimes (https://bit.ly/4iWeXQT)—visit there while you are alive to appreciate its remarkable architecture, art, and history—and the equally impressive Mountain View Cemetery that is a national treasure (https://www.mountainviewcemetery.org/).

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. 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.

Crime rates have been rising here in certain areas of the city, so keep you and your peeps safe!

Our Top Picks For Oakland LGBTQ+ Bars & Clubs

Here is our list of top gay bars and queer spots around Oakland:

An Oakland institution, White Horse Bar has been proudly serving up LGBTQ+ vibes since before most of us could spell “fabulous.” If you haven't strutted through these doors, have you really been to Oakland?

Need a vintage kimono or a first edition book? The Oakland Museum of California is a good place to get a feel for the city’s and state’s history. 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.

The vibe’s a mixed bag, with gay and queer events depending on the night, so do yourself a favor and stalk their socials for the latest tea.

Fluid510 is a LGBTQ+ lounge and restaurant with delectable libations, great happy hour options, and loads of amazing fun!

For venues, start at White Horse Inn, the historic East Bay queer bar with karaoke, DJs, and drag; bring cash and expect a cover. Lake Merritt is historically the best place to start here! For a bathhouse option nearby, Steamworks Berkeley (also listed as Steamworks Baths Berkeley) offers saunas, hot tubs, rooms, and busy weekends.

Piedmont Avenue is the high street of your dreams with quirky shops and to-die-for eateries.