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Featured Gay Bars & Clubs
The Gay & Lesbian scene in Las Vegas is not quite as vibrant as it is in other major cities and there is no one location (like the Castro, the Village, or WeHo) where the majority of the bars and clubs are located. But there is a little something for every taste in the gay Vegas bar scene:
  • Badlands Saloon
  • Buffalo
  • Charlie's Las Vegas
  • Flex
  • Free Zone
  • Gipsy
  • Good Times
  • Krave
  • Las Vegas Eagle
  • Resources
  • Las Vegas Gay Bars & Clubs
    Badlands Saloon
    953 E. Sahara #B22
    702-792-9262
    Open 24 Hours
    No Cover

    One of two country-western bars in town (see Charlie's below for the other), the Badlands is less yee-haw and more down home friendly. Yes, they have the obligatory line dancing and cowboy decor, but it's more of a hangout for friendly locals than a pick-up joint for the Brokeback Mountain set. FYI, the Sahara Commercial Center where this bar is located has several other gay establishments including a couple of bars and a couple of, ahem, health clubs.

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    The Buffalo
    4640 Paradise Rd. #1
    702-738-8355
    Open 24 Hours
    No Cover

    The Buffalo is Las Vegas' attempt at a leather bar but it is really more of a dive-bar (but in a good way). A couple of billiards tables, video poker, dart board, and a crowd that skews over 35 make this a place that isn't terribly "hip" (the fact that I'm using that word should tell you something about me) but it's a lot more comfortable for folks just wanting to kick back and have a beer. Drinks are remarkably cheap here and they have regular beer busts that make it even cheaper. There are several other gay bars within walking distance if this one isn't doing the trick (so to speak).

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    Charlie's Las Vegas
    5012 S. Arville
    702-876-1844
    Open 24 Hours
    No Cover

    Recently redone as a part of a small national chain of gay country-western bars, Charlie's offers up some good-old cowboy flavor (oh, stop it) including line dancing, rodeo events, and more. It's kind of out of the way for most tourists but if you're interested in the country gay bar aesthetic this is one of your few options in Vegas.

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    Flex
    4347 W. Charleston
    702-385-3539
    Open 24 Hours
    No Cover except for special events

    The location of this straight-ahead (no pun intended) dance club on the northwest side of town is both good and bad. The good news is that it mainly draws a local crowd so you get a generally friendlier vibe. The bad news is if you're on this site you're probably a tourist and won't want to go this far to go to a gay bar. If you do make it, expect a nice dance floor and plenty of events to liven things up like go-go dancers, drag revues, liquor and beer busts, and more.

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    Free Zone
    610 E. Naples
    702-794-2300
    website
    Open 24 Hours
    No Cover except for special events

    It's "something for everyone" presentation may seem a little schizophrenic on the surface but this is actually a friendly little club that does a bunch of different theme evenings to lure in a wide variety of people. There's country dancing, karaoke, ladies night, drag shows, and club music depending on what night you visit so call ahead to see what's happening when you're in town.

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    Gipsy
    4605 Paradise Rd.
    702-731-1919
    website
    Open Nightly at 9pm
    Cover Varies

    No matter how much competition comes down the pike (see Krave), the Gipsy continues to be the most popular gay nightclub in Las Vegas. It's pretty much just like the most popular gay nightclub in whatever city you're from, only it's just down the street from a casino. A big dance floor takes up the center of the room with the main bar area off to the side and lots of tables available for "VIPs" (meaning, people willing to pay extra). The crowd is mostly younger, mostly pretty, and mostly on the prowl so if that sound appealing to you, you've found your place. They have plenty of events and entertainmnet (liquor busts to strippers) so check the website or call ahead to find out what's happening before you go.

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    Good Times
    1775 E. Tropicana Ave.
    702-736-9494
    website
    Open 24 Hours
    No Cover

    A friendly neighborhood type bar/dance club, the Good Times is located far enough from The Strip that it isn't overwhelmed with tourists on the prowl but close enough that you can still go here to enjoy yourself. A good sized dance floor dominates one portion of the space with a properly separate bar area on the other side providing places for actual conversation if you want it. They offer special events and theme nights including karaoke so check the website or call ahead.

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    Krave
    3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (next to the Aladdin)
    702-836-0830
    website
    Nightly except Wednesday, opening times vary but usually 10 or 11pm
    Cover Varies

    As the Strip’s only “alternative” club, Krave was initially marketed toward the gay and lesbian crowd, which made sense owing to its pedigree from Sia Amiri, the former owner of Los Angeles’ biggest gay club Rage, and circuit party impresario Jeffrey Sanker. I know those names mean nothing to most of you but they mean a lot in the gay club scene.

    But the realities of and competition in the Vegas club scene have resulted in a slight shift of focus, with that “alternative” moniker being thrown around more liberally and words like “omni-sexual” sprinkled in for good measure. What that means is while the place definitely has a gay club vibe, the clientele is not exclusively of that persuasion.

    The space is a definite stunner, with high ceilings, plush booths and lots of seating areas surrounding a big dance floor, a nicely designed and accessible bar, and plenty of dramatic pink and purple lighting effects spotlighting the vaguely gothic décor (someone may have spent a little too much time with their Cher catalogue). If you are gay, lesbian, or open-minded about the whole thing, this would be a great place to party.

    Notice the word “would” in that previous sentence.

    Krave’s biggest problem is its location. Tacked onto the outside of the Aladdin on Harmon Avenue in the building that has already housed two failed nightclubs (The Blue Note and Ibiza), there is no direct access from just about anywhere. It’s only half a block from The Strip but it’s hard to notice and there is no entrance from the Desert Passage mall or the Aladdin itself. The only way in is from the street.

    While there is valet parking at the door, self parking requires quite a hike from the Aladdin parking garage, all the way through the deserted Desert Passage, outside to the street and up half a block to the entrance. Not exactly what you’d call high profile.

    The two times I have visited (a Friday night the first time and a weeknight the second) the place was virtually deserted but I'm told by friends who have visited on both weekend and weeknights that the joint is usually packed so I guess I just managed to hit it on off nights.

    Note that there is a nightly show and food service - check their website for more information.

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    Las Vegas Eagle
    3430 E. Tropicana
    702-458-8662
    Open 24 Hours
    No Cover

    The Eagle is famous for its twice-weekly "Underwear Nights" where you drink for free if you take off your pants. That should pretty much tell you everything you need to know about this bar. Kinda sleazy but in a good way.

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    Gay & Lesbian Resources
    These are not the only gay bars in town, just the ones I think are worth knowing about. For more information on these and other gay bars, activities, lodging, resources, and the like, check any of these websites:
  • GayLasVegas.com
  • GayVegas.com
  • QVegas.com
  • OutLasVegas.com

    Note there is one exclusively gay hotel in Las Vegas called the Blue Moon Resort. For a full review, click here. Opens in a pop-up window.

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