Best Gay Bars in Chelsea

Gay men moved into Chelsea in increasing numbers in the mid-1970s. Before that, Chelsea was a neighborhood for workers that could not find affordable housing in Manhattan. Splash, Barracuda, Rome, and G were some of the first gay bars in the area, as well as The Eagle - the only one from that time that still remains open. 

In the 80s, Chelsea became the main area for queer entertainment and the heart of New York's gay community. Tom of Finland's first exhibition happened in the neighborhood, which also became home to important activist groups, such as SMASH (Society to Make America Safe for Homosexuals), the Chelsea Gay Association (CGA), and the Gay Men's Health Crisis, the world's first and largest AIDS. 

Over the past decades, Chelsea was gentrified and the rent prices spiked. Most of the gay bars from the 80s closed their doors or moved to different neighborhoods, such as Hell’s Kitchen. However, there are still three gay bars very popular in Chelsea. 

This list features LeBain, The Eagle NYC, and REBAR Chelsea.

What to expect from gay bars in Chelsea?

The three main gay bars open in Chelsea have different aesthetics and audiences. The only thing they have in common is that you should expect the unexpected. Whether you’re into leather or into pool parties with incredible views of the city, prepare yourself for extremely sexy parties.

What is the best gay bar to hang out in Chelsea?

Although The Eagle is an institution for the gay community in New York City, LeBain is probably the most popular and the more sophisticated of all the options at the moment. LeBain, which is a bar located at the rooftop of The Standard Hotel, promotes very glamorous sunset parties.

Gay Pub Crawl in Chelsea

It’s possible to visit all three bars in Chelsea on the same night. Just take energetic drinks, and go for it. Since they are all so different from each other, you will get to experiment with different worlds of the gay community on the same night.

Chelsea Gay Bars Information: 

To avoid creating an endless page and getting you exhausted, we gathered only the main information of each bar. So, if you want to know more about their history, vibe, dress code, and watch videos so you can have an idea of where you’re going, please click on their names, and you will find everything you need! 

Le Bain

Location: The Standard, High Line, 848 Washington St, New York
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Opening Hours: Sunday 2PM–12AM, Thursday 10PM–4AM, Friday 4PM–4AM, Saturday 2PM–4AM
Website | Instagram 
Menu Price: $$$

Le Bain is the rooftop bar of The Standard High Line Hotel, one of the most popular hotels in New York City. LeBain is a must-go party destination, especially during the Summer. They feature world-famous DJs, a state-of-the-art sound system, a disco bar, and a plunge pool. The best part, however, is still the sexiest views of the city. It’s a friendly bar, and very sexy.

LeBain has a high-ceiling, modern decoration, and a pool/large hot tub on the floor where their famous pool parties take place. It’s weird but worth it to mention that LeBain has also one of the best bathrooms in town. The views are just incredible! 

The atmosphere inside is solar and flirty in the early evening. Think of a sunset party. But as soon as the sun goes out, everything turns dark and sexy. The crowd is mainly made up of stylish and creative people. Some A-list celebrities, such as Madonna, have been seen there a couple of times. Read more! 

The Eagle NYC

Location: 554 W 28th St, New York 
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Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 10PM-4AM, Sunday 5PM-4AM. 
Website | Instagram
Menu Price: $$ 

The Eagle is the most famous cruising and kinky bar in New York City. Leather daddies, puppies, BDSM fans, bears, and other tribes get all together to explore the best the night can offer. Things can get really wild after midnight at The Eagle. The bar staff, however, is not necessarily friendly to newcomers or curious patrons. 

The bar has a roof deck that gets very crowded during the Summer. The Eagle also promotes jockstraps themed-parties, beer events, puppy and handler competitions, and BDSM meetings.  

The history of the bar is also connected to the popularization of Tom of Finland, the artist who created a series of gay homoerotic images inspired by hyper-masculine figures after World War II. Tom of Finland’s work helped the leather scene to gain visibility all over the world. Competitions such as Mr. Leather were happening in the United States, and the Eagle started to host their own version in New York.  

Gay biker clubs, pool and softball teams, and other groups chose The Eagle as a meeting point over the decades. You will find “Eagle” bars in different cities all over the world, and although they have some similarities, they are not part of a franchise nor owned by the same person or group. Read more! 

REBAR Chelsea

Location: 225 W 19th St, New York
Get Directions
Opening Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 4PM-1AM, Thursday to Saturday 4PM-4AM. 
Website | Instagram
Menu Price: $$
225W 19th Street / Chelsea

REBAR Chelsea feels like a gym class. Hot, sweaty, and surrounded by muscled guys. They have exciting themed parties exploring different types of kink. The best part is the dance floor, always packed and always vibrant. You can expect different themed parties happening almost every night. 

The bar was opened in 2017 by Frank DiLuzio and Facundo Rodriguez, in the same building where the old G Lounge used to be. This is a very touristic kind of bar. 

REBAR is always busy, packed with people having fun. You can relax and flirt at the bar, enjoy the dance floor or catch up with your friends in their lounge area. Fun fact: When REBAR was opened in 2017, one of the owners gave an interview affirming that the establishment wouldn’t have TVs, shows, or go-gos performances. Well, that changed. REBAR has large screens and you will often find almost-naked dancers all over the dance floor. Read more!