Exploring Gay in Orlando!
A highly inclusive destination, Orlando has been a pioneer in LGBTQ+ tourism dating back to the original Gay Days in 1991 and was named the first-ever “City of the Year” by GayCities.com. Orlando has also earned a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, which measures the LGBTQ+ inclusiveness of cities’ laws, policies and services. Orlando gay clubs and bars are well-known to be liberal spots where you can mingle all night. Likewise, Orlando is full of dining options so many travelers are not sure where to start. Orlando well-know to fine dining restaurants to help you decide, and establishments that are well-known to charm pink money.
Moreover, there are yearly gay days celebrated during summer at some Disney theme parks. While the gay scene in Orlando is not a grand as those in New York and San Francisco, you will nonetheless uncover a fantastic range of things to do and experience for kings and queens.
Orlando also has a prominent art scene and it helps hundreds of performers plying their trade at live entertainment shows around the city and at the theme parks. Thus, there are now drag act shows in several burger joints, shirtless go-go dancers, and many more fun attractions.
With its incredible music scene, fab dining options, an overwhelming array of attractions and great Orlando gay clubs you are bound to find a vibrant and exciting gay scene in the city.
Popular Orlando Gay Bars and Gay Clubs
There is no central gay scene in Orlando, but there are lots of gay-friendly establishments scattered throughout the city. Most of the gay related-activities converge during Gay Days Orlando, but the local scene is growing and flourishing for the gay community. Here are the top-rated Gay Bars and Clubs that you should visit.
The Parliament House
Parliament House id an institution for the gay community and a center for Gay Orlando. This gay bar and hotel is one of the largest and most well-known gay clubs in the area. It houses Footlight Theater, Rainbow Cafe and seven various bars. Likewise, the club is famous for its locally produced musicals and plays. There is a huge dance floor at the center stage with lots of laser lights and effects. Rainbow Cafe offers meals all day. More so, the impressive Parliament House also has a 112-room hotel connected to the entertainment complex.
Barcodes Orlando
A Barcodes Orlando gay-club located in College Park is well-known for easygoing gay bar with pool, video games & theme events, including biweekly underwear nights. They have a backyard deck area including a koi pond. Additionally, the bar exudes a soothing and laid-back ambiance. There is a billiards spot and a novelty shop that sells adult movies and toys. They also feature Thursday Latin nights which is the most well-known night in the bar.
Southern Nights
This club has been serving the LGBT community already for 35 years. It is one of the oldest gay clubs in the city with several closures and reopening after significant renovations. They are now more spacious, finer and feature an even more vibrant party atmosphere with local DJs and live events. They have various drag shows during weeknights and happy hour goes from four in the afternoon to nine in the evening.
Savoy Orlando
This gay nightclub has two separate bars, the Savoy and the Tattoo Lounge. They offer nightly entertainment with dancers and LED lights. Moreover, the bars have premium liquor offerings along with 30 types of beers. Savor is famous for its crisp and modern decor. They have electronic darts, pool tables, flat-screen television, and a huge outdoor patio. It is also the home of The Men of Savoy, their go-go dancers that perform shirtless daily from six in the evening to two in the morning.
Popular Gay Restaurants
Aside from its long line of gay bars and clubs, Orlando also boasts of a wide selection of gay-friendly restaurants and eateries that you can enjoy during your stay.
Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille
Well-known for their ‘open-air bar for open-minded people,’ everyone will enjoy a fantastic dining experience at Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grille. They have drag shows and trivia nights. Their menu includes salads, soups, and burgers, but they also have an extensive list of cocktails and craft beers. They have a popular show ‘Dining with the Divas,’ which includes singing, dancing, and improve performances.
White Wolf Cafe and Bar
A well-known gay-friendly food and nightspot in Orlando, the White Wolf is an award-winning, gourmet bistro serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. They have a full bar and our happy hour! I A top-rated event here is the weekend brunch. It is one of the city’s top gems and remains a universal family-run food joint.
Bohemian Hotel
This hotel features colorful rooms with fantastic artwork, an upscale bar, a fitness center, and a day spa. You can stay here all day and all night long.
Popular Attractions and Day Trips
There is always something happening in Orlando, to well-known Orlando is the world’s Theme Park Capital of the World because of having Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando. For instance, a two-day ticket to Universal Orlando will give you ample time to explore the rides and try out the attractions. More so, Walt Disney World is the biggest in the world, and nothing compares to it. However, there is more to Orlando than theme parks, Orlando offer other entertainment options and activities that might interest you. From the stages and the sound to the pyrotechnics and the performers, there is nothing quite like Electric Daisy Carnival
Vibrant communities, trendy neighborhoods and close proximity to fabulous beaches have created the perfect conditions for a distinctly cosmopolitan vibe to take hold, and today Gay Orlando has one of the most lively queer communities in the world with a distinctly Latin twist.
Southern Nights – One of Orlando’s Oldest LGBT Clubs
The Southern Nights are one of the oldest LGBT clubs in Orlando. It has welcomed party goers from the LGBTQ+ community for the past 35 years and is still counting. They closed the club sometime in 2014 for renovations, and later reopened with a bigger, better, and more awesome club. Southern Nights is well-loved for their popular DJs, live events, and shows. Weekdays are devoted to various drag shows. The happy hour starts at 4 pm and ends at 9 pm.Market on South
Market on South is another place that’s a hit with many LGBTQ+ communities. They provide a vegan lineup of foods that is located in the share market space. They offer up popular dishes such as chipotle sloppy joes, baked mac n’ cheese, BBQ pulled jack fruited and chipotle sloppy joes. They are open Mondays to Sundays.
Pom Pom’s Teahouse
PomPom’s Teahouse is owned and operated by Pom Pom who was born and raised in Thailand and made her way to NY, where she earned a degree as a pastry chef. She made use of her talent and creativity and established a popular transvestite restaurant, Lucky Changs. Here you can have a fusion of ‘east meets west’ food theme that is sure to deliver a gastronomic delight.
Stonewall
As the leading gay bar in the downtown area of Orlando, this club is an excellent establishment with various levels and offers state of the art sounds. Its main bar hosts different themes all through the week, whereas its patio bar offers a tropical-themed seating. Its Sky Bar is an open bar situated on the second-floor, with a great view of downtown Orlando skyline.
Hanks
Hanks is another popular gay-friendly bar that has been servicing Orlando for over three decades now. It is famous for holding amazing pool tourneys and trivia nights. The gay-friendly atmosphere at this bar is due to its antique jukebox and spacious patio behind its bar. Hank’s is well-loved among locals for its drink specials. Beers start at $2, and college students often get their first draft-free.
What are the best gay-friendly restaurants and cafes?
The dining scene in Orlando, Florida is young, and there is a slew of excellent new restaurants opening up that are gay-friendly. The mainstays, however, remain popular. Below are the most well known gay-friendly restaurants and cafes to check out:
Hawkers Asian Street Fare
This Asian street fare offers Singapore, Malaysian, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese foods.
Maxine’s On Shine
They offer liberal brunch pours and comfort food in its quaint residential location. If you love long but leisurely meals while catching up with gay friends, this is the best place to be.
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
This is a yearly Disney event held around August to November. There are concerts, stalls, and performances, together with fantastic food and drink choices that reflect several countries.
Seasons 52
Seasons 52 is a high-end wine and grill restaurant with great live piano music for a great dining experience. It is situated on the best area in Orlando, Dr. Phillips Blvd. Seasons 52 offers the best happy hour specials.
Señor Frog’s Sunday Drag Brunch
You should reserve your place for this one ahead of time! This is the best Drag Brunch you shouldn’t miss because it is filled with bottomless drinks, long hours of entertainment, and more.
What about the gay art scene?
Like the rest of Orlando, the arts and culture scene is experiencing massive changes. There are some that have closed like the Venue, the former multi-use performance space, but some new venues like the Steinmetz Hall at the great Dr. Phillips Center, where you can see great performances with dancers and classical musicians playing live music. There are also many drag shows and you can find, topless male go-go dancers, and other various performances that are sure to entertain the LGBTQ+ community.
Are there places to stay that are known to be more gay-friendly?
If you are looking for a gay-friendly place to stay in Orlando, Florida, then look no further. The best thus far are the following:
Four Seasons
This is the perfect luxury home base for your upcoming gay Orlando adventure. It is set in the secluded but residential setting near Disney Resort.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
This is a tropical oasis found within Universal Resort. The villas and landscape here all scream affluence and luxury.
Bohemian Hotel
This hotel features colorful rooms with fantastic artwork, an upscale bar, a fitness center, and a day spa. You can stay here all day and all night long.
Parliament House
It’s a legendary gay resort, so what can go wrong here? It has clubs, bars, and must-see weekly events.
Combine a few days in Orlando with a few days in Miami, Ft Lauderdale or one of the nearby beaches like Pass-A-Grill or Blowing Rocks Preserve, Daytona, Clearwater for an amazing city and beach experience.
If you have the time to travel, you have to check out the many other attractions while in Orlando. You can spend a few days in Miami, Ft Lauderdale or you can check other nearby beaches such as the Blowing Rocks Preserve, Daytona, Clearwater, or go for a secluded but LGBT-friendly beach like Pass-A-Grille. Orlando is a tolerant and open city, you do not have to be wary about gay public display of affection.
Visiting the theme parks – are they gay-friendly?
Orlando has a vibrant, out, and proud gay community with lots of places to hang out with like-minded people from all walks of life. There is no wonder why the theme parks here are so gay-friendly. You will be surprised to find out that there are even gay days at the Disney parks during summertime! Gay Days in Disney is a significant event that celebrates the LGBT community, and so is the much-awaited Disney fireworks. People from all genders celebrate life and fun at Disney.
Moreover, there is a once a year event that happens every October at the Universal Orlando where you can get to explore some 11 haunted houses and get to play Trick ‘r Treat and Stranger Things to your gay heart’s delight. It’s an event many gay people wait for.
Come Out With Pride Orlando
Come Out with Pride Orlando is the largest Orlando gay pride event in the whole of Florida. It is held yearly in October to bring together the LGBT community and friends to celebrate diversity and progress. During this event, there is a week-long list of events which ends with a parade and festival at Lake Eola.
There are hundreds of other gay-friendly events that take place annually, so check the Orlando’s schedule as you plan your trip. Much like cultural, historical and special occasions, gay events in Orlando also cause a surge in accommodations and restaurant bookings. Make reservations early on if you plan to visit Orlando during these times
More things to do in Orlando, deleite read here
So what are you waiting for? Book early, book often, book local and stay in a vacation rental!
Other useful resources
- A Disney World Fastpass+ guide
- How to save money at Disney World
Additionally, our dedicated concierge team can arrange any added extras you need such as great value car hire and attraction tickets.
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