blondofborg

Very ordinary

Definitely a venue for the younger crowd - typically with their beards. Nothing wrong with that, of course. But I felt a little out of place, being over 25. Music's also not all that, compared to neighbouring venues. And a cover? Please!

Totally unique & great fun

Shamelessly kitch, non-attitude bar with hot and friendly staff and easygoing patrons. Bar top line dancing? In a gay bar? What's not to love?

Great leather/fetish venue, particularly for first-timers

Can be as social or as sleazy as you want to make it. Yes, there's the backroom, but there's also plenty of space to chill out and socialise (though it's not as friendly as Woody's or Crews), a roomy rooftop patio and some great theme nights. Seeing a bunch of human pups leaning out the window howling at passers by on Church Street was its own special brand of awesome. Definitely drop by.

Neighbourhood bar at a premium price

One of the most balanced venues in Syd, with a healthy mix of gay boys and lesbians, and its ever present drag culture. But playing on its Priscilla heritage, it charges $15 just to get into the drag bar and downstairs nightclub (there is a free public bar which is usually packed) - then hefty prices for drinks after that. Upstairs dance floor is usually drink-sticky. Downstairs is better maintained - and less popular. The drag shows are fine, but you can see better at Midnight Shift for free.

Great all-round bar

Huge, diverse and very friendly, this is a great, very relaxed and well designed place to meet local guys and have a great time. No, you won't be able to dance much, and the shows aren't amazing. That's what the neighbouring bars are for. Woody's is just a great all-round hangout.

Decent leather bar

It's a little on the quiet side, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Attracts a nice enough crowd and the staff are very pleasant both to deal with and... yes, look at. It is one for the more faithful leather crowd though. Guys with a more casual interest will probably prefer Stud. Would give a 3 and a half rating if I could :)

Can be odd, but that's part of the fun

Visited Le Stud several times during our four day stay, and the vibe on each was very different. Friendly, cruisy, cold, dancey... it can go any way, depending on the crowd. Tends to be a good spot for guys-next-door or 30+ guys though, of all types.

Like what it's trying to do, but...

Love the idea behind Pony (gay grunge bar? awesome!), but the place is pretty lame. Staff and crowd are either cliquey or creepy. Strange layout too.

Great low-key bar

A lot tamer than its namesakes in other cities, but if you're looking for somewhere to come relax with a decent drink and chat to some nice guys, Eagle could be your place.

Seattle's biggest, if not best

Great service and plenty of space - though go to karaoke night at your peril.

Glorified barn

I've been to worse, but I can't figure out how this place attracts a queue every weekend - or how they can justify a cover. The layout is awful, the service and drinks merely passable and while the crowd is nice enough, it's definitely a place to come with a group of friends. Not much fun alone. Entertainment (drag) is better than most though.

Old fashioned, unpretentious fun

Not one for the see & be seen crowd, Numbers is more about service & atmosphere with a good mix of patrons. Just one, big, friendly community bar, really.

Strictly mediocre

This place's best asset is its friendly staff. And while the service is good, I'd like to see their meal quality and cleaning (the whole place smelt of stale beer both nights we went) get the same attention.

Nice enough but...

Decent service and down to earth crowd - the wall to wall pistachio (?) shells all over the floor were a bit of a worry! Seriously, kids. 'Butch' and 'broom' are not mutually exclusive concepts!

Great spot, even early in the week

Just a friendly, down to earth and all round fabulous venue in the heart of Boston. Cocktail list to die for, and be sure to check out Drag Bingo/Musical Mondays with the always divine Miss Constance Waverly. Have rarely been made to feel so welcome at a venue... well, anywhere!

Quirky fun for the brave

The Oxford Hotel isn't much fun on your own - in fact, it's a little scary. For reasons unknown, this place seems to be a bit of a freak magnet. Yet that's part of the appeal. Also appealing are the great staff, low drink prices (by Sydney standards) and solid party roster. Whether it's a relaxed afternoon drink out on the balcony or strutting your increasingly trashy moves on the downstairs dancefloor, a night at the Oxford is rarely dull. This is also the centre of Sydney's bear scene - so, a must-visit for bears and anthopologists alike.

All round great venue

Micky's is one of those few clubs that succeeds on just about every level. Strong drinks, friendly (and hot!) staff, great mixed crowd, great music and some of the best drag I've ever seen on Monday nights. Knocked off a star based on our last visit. Dancers are definitely not what they were a couple of years back! Still a great night out though.

West Hollywood - now in concentrate

If you don't like LA, The Abbey isn't going to do much to change your mind. It's as if the place wants to showcase the best (entertainment, great service, beautiful guys and unrelenting excess) and worst (soul-crushing narcissism, sub-orbital prices and unrelenting excess) of what WeHo has to offer - and this of course, makes it a must-visit. Come for the jaw-dropping decor and the equally jaw-dropping men. Stay for the entertainment (go-go performers with genuine talent) and that undeniably cool vibe. This is one of the few venues to 'see and be seen' that actually feels like it's earned the title. Worth coming back for breakfast or lunch too. You may love it. You may hate it. But you simply must try it.

Kitchy, sleazy fun

Everything about Eastern Bloc feels rough around the edges, and that's a big part of the appeal. The crowd is friendly (both verbally and physically) - they have to be, there isn't a lot of room to move, and this place gets popular. The pours are strong and the Soviet kitch just gives it a great atmosphere. Definitely make the trip.

"Now, be careful, love. It's very dark & they're all hands!'

That's the warning I got from the lovely English woman on the door and how right she was - not that that's a bad thing. Save the innocent act. You know you're going to end up here, if only out of curiosity. Well worth a visit - whatever your motivation.

Cramped and creepy

It may sound like a leather & denim bar but Boots and Saddle is more sleazy without being sexy. Not enough room to move - or escape that guy who just won't leave you alone! Skip it.

Nothing special - that's the point

Sure, there's the history, but Stonewall is really just a neighbourhood bar with wonderful service and an unpretentious crowd. And we love it just for that.

Great crowd, but know your showtunes!

Marie's Crisis is a terrific piano bar with a friendly crowd that usually includes some seriously talented performers. That said, you'll have a better time here if you know your showtunes - and I'm not just talking standards, either. It can make it hard to get into the spirit of the night. That, and there's only so much Seasons of Love a mere mortal can stand in one night.

Choose your style of bar

Loved the variety at the Monster. In the mood for a singalong? Get yourself piano-side. Prefer to dance it up? Head downstairs. Strong pours and friendly crowd - slightly older, yes, but still a fun night.

Ideal hotel for checking out gay Boston - and the rest

Simple, serviceable and comfy. Early check-in? No problem. Staff are reserved, but helpful and polite. A little on the pricey side, but central to all the best gay venues and within easy reach of just about everywhere. Would happily stay again.

Decent dance venue any night of the week

It's a pretty fun place to hang out, dance, or whatever takes your fancy. And I give it credit for still being pretty busy on a Monday night. But there's nothing particularly amazing about it. And a cover? On a Monday? Really? Still, a good time with the right crowd.

There's a queue for a reason...

Palms is the club of choice for the Sydney gay boy next door. Secure in its trashy celebration of 80's/90's nostalgia, always full, with a friendly, unpretentious crowd, Palms is the Cyndi Lauper of Oxford Street clubs. Shamelessly kitsch, sometimes scary, but always fun and memorable.

Is there a prize for most improved?

She's a bit of a tired old dame, but haven't we all been there? Rebuilding its image after an ugly phase of homophobic assaults, Stonewall's slowly getting its groove back. A $5 cover charge on Fri & Sat nights now keeps the trouble-makers out, and is a small price to pay for what's now a friendly, chilled out, and busy bar catering to a wide demographic. The days of twinky Stonewall are more or less over - most of those twinks are now well past 30 and the next generation have moved to Nevermind. The club now seems to be pitching itself to the Palms (boys-next-door) market, with a more updated outlook and jukebox. Crowd can be hit or miss, but the staff are normally friendly and some of the drags are a scream.

Perfect home base for exploring the Castro

If you're looking for upscale, modern, immaculately maintained accommodation in San Francisco - go stay in a hotel. If you want to be in the heart of the Castro, meet some great people, need something affordable and don't mind a little wear and tear (or sharing a bathroom), seriously consider Village House. Hosts were extremely friendly and accommodating, offering plenty of useful tips for exploring the city while helping us to feel right at home.

Great chillout space on Sundays

The Beresford becomes the Sydney gay scenes definitive 'local' on Sunday afternoons. Cheap drinks and a friendly crowd keep the outside courtyard packed til about 8pm. Ideal place to come with friends, or make new ones.

Perfect position

Strictly serviceable hotel. Clean, professional... clinically impersonal. But the location is impossible to beat. Perfect base for exploring WeHo and neighbouring cities - and we did it without a car. It's easier than you'd think.

Perfect brunch spot just off Taylor Square

Friendly and attentive service, a relaxed vibe and flexible menu, not to mention excellent meals, make this place the ideal choice to soak up your Sunday hangover.

Unique Laotian option on Oxford St

Pink Peppercorn is a touch pricier than its neighbours, but the attention to detail, friendly service and wonderfully varied Laotian menu more than justify this. Reservations recommended.

Nice place to start the night, but...

At its best in the afternoons/early evenings, but can turn trashy quite quickly, attracting a sizeable straight, and sometimes homophobic crowd. Keep your wits about you and know when to leave. On the upside, it has some of the most interesting decor on Oxford St.

Nothing wrong with it - nothing great either

The Bank kind of inherited its 'gay' status with the near-simultaneous demise of the Newtown Hotel, and the closure of the Imperial for 3 years of renovations. It's a serviceable, if somewhat sterile venue with little or no personality to show for its 'diversity.' Also attracts a significant (very gay-friendly) straight crowd. There's no dancefloor to speak of, just a Thai restaurant downstairs - the likes of which one can find every 3-4 doors along in Newtown. On the upside, it's clean and friendly enough. If you're looking for a bar that embodies the spirit of gentified, yuppie Newtown, this is it.

Fun, friendly video bar

Small and packed with friendly neighbourhood guys, this is a great place to start a big night out (or interrupt one, depending on how 'friendly' the guy you're talking to wants to get). Good drinks and friendly staff too.

Gay Vegas' best hidden surprise

Think of a neighbourhood bar wishlist. Friendly crowd, friendly staff, cheap (and strong) drinks, no attitude, a little sleazy without being a grope-a-thon, and a rustic theme that shrouds the place in a terrific atmostphere without being too intrusive. Welcome to Badlands.

Feels like teen spirit...

There's no way around it, Freezone has the look and feel of a student bar. That's not necessarily a bad thing (don't worry, no ripped couches or drink-stained carpets here either!), but if you're not with a group of friends, you're probably in for a pretty quiet evening. Staff are very friendly, and the shooter boys are particularly chatty and cool. Worth checking out to see if it works for you.

Mediocre for the price

If Piranha & 8 1/2 is Las Vegas' attempt at West Hollywood , it has much to learn. Still, taken on its own terms, it's okay. It's not worth the $20 entry, though we refused to pay this and turned to leave, only to have the doorman chase after us and offer us halfprice entry, which we thought was fair, to see what the fuss was about. The bar staff and dancers are friendly (moreso than the crowd), yet the place feels cold, calculated and stage-managed. There's no sense of the subversiveness that one finds in the WeHo bars this is trying to imitate - and that can be the difference between great gay club, and a merely decent one.

A little too neighbourhood

Moby Dick seems like the kind of homely bar that's perfect to unwind after work. As a visitor, I simply found it dull. Aside from an opportunity to unleash your inner pool/pinball freak, there's not much here that can't be had at much more lively venues in the Castro.

Decent enough, but strange attitude

Fun bar with music tailored more to the R&B crowd, which is a nice alternative to the regular pop/electro fare in a lot of gay venues. The crowd was a little odd the night we went though. Friendly, yet kind of bitchy. This seemed to extend to the bar staff as well. This could just be the culture of the place, so it might be fine for locals. It didn't project a very visitor-friendly image.

For those in need of some anti-glam

Fubar is a great antidote for the more upscale, glamorous WeHo clubs, with a proud dive-bar attitude. No super-muscle boys here, just the everyday boys next door. Yet there's something a little cold and observational about the place. Definitely a 'local' bar, and the crowd are not as outgoing as some. Still a good night out, particularly if you're looking for something a little quieter and grungier.

Come as you are for a fun night with a touch of sleaze

There's no denying it. The Shift has a reputation. Guys are here to pick up, and a good half of those guys are Asian, or sliding towards 60. But the bar attracts all types, helped by its constant evolution (upstairs in particular, seems to have a hard time choosing a theme and sticking with it) and no-attitude atmosphere. Probably Oxford Street's sleaziest non-SOP venue, but really, what's wrong with that? Security are tough, but polite and fair, and the drag shows are among the best on the strip.

Former hot spot needs a revival

Once the jewel in Oxford Street's crown, ARQ is now a has-been diva in desperate need of a face lift. Which is not to say it isn't still fun, but it's a strictly by-the-numbers experience. Average music and a cooler-than-thou crowd with a heavy straight percentage. The drag shows are decent enough, but have nothing on what you can catch at Imperial, and the above-average prices leave you feeling like your wallet's been gouged in the name of past glories.