Gay and Lesbian Clubs in Chicago

Most of Chicago's gay bars are conveniently clustered on a stretch of North Halsted Street in Lakeview (in what's known as Boystown), making it easy to sample many of them in a breezy walk. Men's bars predominate -- few places in town cater exclusively to lesbians -- but a few gay bars get a mix of men and women. A helpful free resource is the weekly entertainment guide Nightspots. The gay bars and clubs recommended in this section don't charge a cover unless otherwise noted.