In this guide · 14 sections
Gay Bars & Clubs in Long Beach
Long Beach has a friendly, unpretentious queer nightlife that feels more neighborhood than mega-club. It's a place to sing karaoke, catch a drag show, shoot pool or dance, without the attitude of some bigger cities.
Where the Scene Is
The heart of it is the Broadway Corridor — East Broadway roughly between Alamitos and Cherry avenues, in the Alamitos Beach neighborhood just inland from the shore. Most of the city's gay bars sit within a short walk of each other here, and in 2024 the city formally designated an LGBTQ+ Cultural District along Broadway. Note that Belmont Shore's Second Street, often mentioned in general guides, is a gay-friendly shopping strip rather than the bar district.
The Bars
The Falcon
A Broadway Corridor cornerstone since the mid-1990s, The Falcon is a laid-back neighborhood gay bar with stiff drinks, a pool table and a loyal regular crowd. A reliable first or last stop on a Broadway bar crawl.
The Mineshaft
A long-running Levi/leather-leaning bar on East Broadway with a cruisy, masculine vibe and a friendly bartender-knows-your-name feel. Cash-friendly, no-frills and a Long Beach institution.
The Men's Room
At 1744 E Broadway (the former Brit space), The Men's Room is a newer masculine-leaning neighborhood bar with a warm, chatty atmosphere, themed nights and an easygoing crowd of locals and visitors.
Broadway Bar (Broadway Cocktail Lounge)
A decades-old LGBTQ+ karaoke bar at 1100 E Broadway. Grab the mic, nurse a strong pour and settle in with a mixed, all-ages-of-adult crowd. One venue, two names — you'll see it listed both ways.
Sweetwater Saloon
A gay-identified Broadway dive with cheap drinks, a jukebox and a come-as-you-are crowd. More rock-and-roll than dance floor, and all the better for it.
Hamburger Mary's
Gay-owned and downtown on Pine Avenue, Mary's pairs burgers and bottomless brunch with a busy calendar of drag: Wild Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursdays, weekend drag brunch and more. Great for groups and first-timers.
The Silver Fox
Open since 1981, this Redondo Avenue video and karaoke bar is one of the oldest gay bars in the area. Music videos, sing-alongs and a nostalgic, welcoming atmosphere where generations of queer locals have gathered.
Que Sera
A short walk from the corridor on East 7th Street, Que Sera is a live-music bar with deep roots in Long Beach's queer and lesbian history (it helped launch Melissa Etheridge). Expect local bands, DJ nights and community events.
WERK Long Beach
On East Pacific Coast Highway, WERK is the city's main late-night gay dance club, operating the space long known as Executive Suite. Multiple rooms, DJs and go-go energy on weekends.
North Long Beach: The Crest & Falcon North
Up on Cherry Avenue, The Crest is a relaxed neighborhood gay bar — a chill, chatty spot rather than a dance club — and Falcon North (sister to The Falcon, in the former Pistons space) adds videos and a small dance floor for the north side of town.
What to Expect
Weekends are busiest, especially for drag at Hamburger Mary's and dancing at WERK; weeknights are quieter and good for conversation. Dress is casual Southern California. All venues are 21+ with ID, and Uber/Lyft are the easiest way to bar-hop the corridor. Long Beach is generally safe and welcoming, but use normal night-out common sense.