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A club dance floor full of people with a sparkling disco ball.
Rain on 4th’s dance floor.
Rain on 4th

11 Essential LGBTQ Bars in Austin

Safe spaces for queer and trans people to escape and unwind.

by Polly Anna Rocha Updated
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Rain on 4th’s dance floor.
| Rain on 4th
by Polly Anna Rocha Updated

The LGBTQ nightlife scene has long been the epicenter of culture, community, and camaraderie, especially so in Austin. Gay bars provide safe spaces for queer and trans people to escape and unwind from the pressures of everyday lives, which are constantly threatened by any number of debilitating forces. Sometimes, people just need someplace to dance and drown out all the foolishness.

Thankfully, Austin is abundant with such queer-friendly places as Oilcan Harry’s, which has been in place for decades, or the Iron Bear, which caters to a specific gay audience while remaining open to all. There’s the Fourth Street bar district, which is highly concentrated in rainbow flag-flying establishments, or more spread-out hubs like Cheer Up Charlies, where LGBTQ people are not only welcome but centered.

And while a lot of these spaces are at risk of disappearing, they are here now, so if you want to go to a drag show, sing some karaoke, have a cocktail, or dance in a place where you can be yourself, there’s a bar, club, or venue for everyone.

With updates by Nadia Chaudhury.

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Cheer Up Charlies

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Queer dance parties, drag shows, live entertainment, and ballroom culture are at the center of the lively scene at the downtown nightclub and bar. It offers organic juice cocktails and kombucha on tap, and has a spacious patio perfect for social occasions and mingling.

900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 431-2133
(512) 431-2133

The Iron Bear

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Austin’s premier bear bar moved to its current location on West Sixth Street in 2019. And still, the business offers drinks; food like smash burgers, hot dogs, and cheese curds; and there are many monthly themed days.

301 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 482-8993
(512) 482-8993

Elysium

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More of a goth nightclub than a traditional gay bar, Elysium is a welcoming spot for all sorts of lifestyles. Karaoke, DJ nights, burlesque performances, and frequent drag shows keep this bar’s nightlife calendar booked and busy.

705 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-8385
(512) 478-8385

Also featured in:

Swan Dive

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Because the downtown bar shares an outdoor space with adjacent Barbarella, the latter’s TuezGayz crowd (see below) often spills over, filling both bars with LGBTQ patrons and friends. Furthermore, the downtown bar features its own queer-oriented programming, including vogue nights, drag performances, dance parties, and queer comedy open mics.

615 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 659-7358
(512) 659-7358

Also featured in:

Barbarella Austin

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One of the hottest dance parties in town is the downtown club’s TuezGayz, which has taken place at the Red River video bar since 2010. The Tuesday club nights are often themed after various pop singers, including Ariana Grande, Robyn, and Charli XCX.

611 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

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Highland Lounge

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Size does matter at Highland Lounge, one of Austin’s largest LGBTQ nightclubs found in downtown. With multiple levels, a huge dance floor, and tons of colorful lights, Highland is a great place to watch a drag show and dance till the wee hours.

404 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 649-1212
(512) 649-1212

Also featured in:

Fourth & Co.

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Downtown restaurant and bar Fourth & Co.’s main attractions are drag brunches and drag bingos, both of which happen multiple times a month. The daily casual food menu includes dishes like fried pickles and meat-laden fries as well as burgers and hot dogs. There are also lots of cocktails, including pornstar martinis.

208 W 4th St Unit D, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 769-5608
(512) 769-5608

Also featured in:

Rain on 4th

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Whether it’s scantily clad go-go dancers or drag queens working the floor during a lip sync performance, Rain on 4th has loads of nightly entertainment. The club holds frequent amateur strip-off competitions for brave people who want to strut their own stuff, but it’s just as fun to enjoy the show from the audience with a drink in hand.

217 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-1150
(512) 494-1150

Also featured in:

Oilcan Harry’s

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Austin’s longest-running LGBTQ venue, Oilcan Harry’s has a reputation synonymous with queer entertainment. For over 30 years, the downtown nightclub has hosted countless dance parties and performances from drag royalty and budding drag stars.

211 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 351-8423
(512) 351-8423

Neon Grotto

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With its Instagram-worthy decor and exciting rooftop view, the downtown club is an aesthetically pleasing dance party-palooza. With tons of rotating DJs changing up the mix, the sounds are just as fresh as the drinks at this bar, which also hosts drag talent and karaoke nights.

318 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

Coconut Club

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Like sibling bars Barbarella and Swan Dive, Coconut Club shares much of its dedicated bar-going audience with its neighbor Neon Grotto (see above). Together, the two downtownestablishments have garnered near-cult following status with strong visuals and a seemingly endless supply of quality DJ sets.

310B Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

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Cheer Up Charlies

900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

Queer dance parties, drag shows, live entertainment, and ballroom culture are at the center of the lively scene at the downtown nightclub and bar. It offers organic juice cocktails and kombucha on tap, and has a spacious patio perfect for social occasions and mingling.

900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 431-2133
(512) 431-2133

The Iron Bear

301 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Austin’s premier bear bar moved to its current location on West Sixth Street in 2019. And still, the business offers drinks; food like smash burgers, hot dogs, and cheese curds; and there are many monthly themed days.

301 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 482-8993
(512) 482-8993

Elysium

705 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

More of a goth nightclub than a traditional gay bar, Elysium is a welcoming spot for all sorts of lifestyles. Karaoke, DJ nights, burlesque performances, and frequent drag shows keep this bar’s nightlife calendar booked and busy.

705 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-8385
(512) 478-8385

Swan Dive

615 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

Because the downtown bar shares an outdoor space with adjacent Barbarella, the latter’s TuezGayz crowd (see below) often spills over, filling both bars with LGBTQ patrons and friends. Furthermore, the downtown bar features its own queer-oriented programming, including vogue nights, drag performances, dance parties, and queer comedy open mics.

615 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 659-7358
(512) 659-7358

Barbarella Austin

611 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

One of the hottest dance parties in town is the downtown club’s TuezGayz, which has taken place at the Red River video bar since 2010. The Tuesday club nights are often themed after various pop singers, including Ariana Grande, Robyn, and Charli XCX.

611 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

Highland Lounge

404 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

Size does matter at Highland Lounge, one of Austin’s largest LGBTQ nightclubs found in downtown. With multiple levels, a huge dance floor, and tons of colorful lights, Highland is a great place to watch a drag show and dance till the wee hours.

404 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 649-1212
(512) 649-1212

Fourth & Co.

208 W 4th St Unit D, Austin, TX 78701

Downtown restaurant and bar Fourth & Co.’s main attractions are drag brunches and drag bingos, both of which happen multiple times a month. The daily casual food menu includes dishes like fried pickles and meat-laden fries as well as burgers and hot dogs. There are also lots of cocktails, including pornstar martinis.

208 W 4th St Unit D, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 769-5608
(512) 769-5608

Rain on 4th

217 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Whether it’s scantily clad go-go dancers or drag queens working the floor during a lip sync performance, Rain on 4th has loads of nightly entertainment. The club holds frequent amateur strip-off competitions for brave people who want to strut their own stuff, but it’s just as fun to enjoy the show from the audience with a drink in hand.

217 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-1150
(512) 494-1150

Oilcan Harry’s

211 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Austin’s longest-running LGBTQ venue, Oilcan Harry’s has a reputation synonymous with queer entertainment. For over 30 years, the downtown nightclub has hosted countless dance parties and performances from drag royalty and budding drag stars.

211 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 351-8423
(512) 351-8423

Neon Grotto

318 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

With its Instagram-worthy decor and exciting rooftop view, the downtown club is an aesthetically pleasing dance party-palooza. With tons of rotating DJs changing up the mix, the sounds are just as fresh as the drinks at this bar, which also hosts drag talent and karaoke nights.

318 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

Coconut Club

310B Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

Like sibling bars Barbarella and Swan Dive, Coconut Club shares much of its dedicated bar-going audience with its neighbor Neon Grotto (see above). Together, the two downtownestablishments have garnered near-cult following status with strong visuals and a seemingly endless supply of quality DJ sets.

310B Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

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