13 Gay Bars in Long Beach, CA — LGBTQ+ Nightlife

Open from 4pm to 2am on weekdays and noon to 2am on weekends, this dive bar in downtown Long Beach pours strong drinks and plays music videos on the TVs. It also features go-go boys and strippers, with karaoke happening occasionally. The crowd is mixed, with some reviews noting a significant straight female presence on certain nights. Happy hour and outdoor seating are available, and the bartenders are known for friendly service.

A mellow, down-to-earth crowd fills The Brit, a no-attitude pub in Downtown Long Beach. This English-style spot has pool tables, arcade games, and reasonably priced drinks. The vibe is friendly and relaxed, with outdoor seating and patrons who are more about good conversation than posing. It's a real neighborhood hangout.

Mineshaft is open daily from 11am to 2am, making it a reliable stop any time of day or night. This Levis and leather bar has been family owned since 1974, offering a no-attitude dive with a pool table, jukebox, and outdoor seating. The crowd is local and casual. It's known as a cruising spot, keeping things low-key. Drinks are reasonably priced. Best nights are Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. If you want more energy, nearby Hamburger Mary's Long Beach nightclub has drag shows.

A three-level video dance club that's the largest gay bar in Long Beach. Each floor has its own vibe, so you can move between dancing, karaoke, and hanging out. Formerly a steakhouse, it's been a gay club for 35 years. Happy hour runs daily, and there's a full bar plus free wifi. Best nights are Thursday through Saturday. Check out the tacos out front during Latin night. New owners Robert and Lenny keep the spot welcoming for all.

If you want a lively mix of food, drinks, and drag, Hamburger Mary's Long Beach fits. This restaurant by day turns into a hopping nightclub with two full bars, a big dance floor, and nightly drag shows. Weekend drag brunch brings bottomless mimosas with a breakfast buffet. Owner Dale Warner is deeply involved in local charity, a Pride Grand Marshall. Reviews mention service inconsistencies and high drink prices, so keep an eye on your tab. It's open late Thu through Sat, with T-girl Tuesday drawing a solid crowd.

Falcon reopened with outdoor seating and food from Thai Silk next door. This cash-only dive bar is small — around 35 by 20 feet — so it gets tight fast. The jukebox and karaoke keep things lively, and the casual crowd leans local. It's best on weekends, especially during Pride when the whole Broadway strip fills up. If you're bar-hopping, Falcon sits near other spots like Sweetwater Saloon. Bring cash and expect a packed, friendly room.

A leather-and-levi bar that's been serving North Long Beach since 1995. The Crest bills itself as a bar for manly men, drawing a crowd that doesn't fit the typical gay bar scene. Inside you'll find pool tables, darts, and a full bar with daily happy hour specials. The front room is for drinking and socializing; out back, a patio offers a more earthy, relaxed atmosphere. Tuesday is bingo night, and the bar provides free food during events. Weekend nights draw the biggest crowds, especially Friday through Sunday. It's a divey, casual spot with outdoor seating and free wifi.

If you're after cheap drinks and no attitude, Sweetwater Saloon is your spot. This historic dive bar opened in 1978 and still pulls in a mixed crowd of locals, pool players, and gay guys cruising the scene. Bartenders pour stiff wells and keep the jukebox rocking. Happy hour runs seven days from 10am to 8pm, with $2.25 draft domestics. Wednesdays are a standout: free pool plus $2.25 wells and drafts all night. It's on the Broadway strip, within walking distance of places like STRUT Bar & Club if you want to bar-hop.

This unpretentious dive bar in Downtown Long Beach shares an owner with SweetWater down the street, but keeps its own identity as a karaoke-loving neighborhood spot. The crowd skews older and the vibe is friendly, with cheap drinks and a parking lot out back. Halloween parties are a highlight here.

Owner-operated since 2014 by a former bartender who started working there in 2006. Flux is a casual neighborhood gay bar with a cozy outdoor patio, pool table, and cheap drinks that stay strong. The bar opens at 2pm daily and stays open until 2am, with best nights on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. It's small but friendly, and the full bar and free wifi make it easy to hang out.

Fake plumeria leis drape the ceiling while gogo dancers work the plinths. The Frat House is Garden Grove's only gay bar, with a dance floor on the right and a long bar on the left. The vibe is low-key, even on a Saturday night. Your $10 cover gets you in, and drinks like a rum and coke run about $11. Happy hour and drag shows pop up on the calendar.

Saturday nights draw a dedicated gay crowd to this Orange County Latin nightclub, which has been running since 2000. The three-floor layout splits into three distinct music rooms each night: expect Latin beats, Top 40, and a karaoke floor running simultaneously. Bravo also serves Mexican food from authentic Mexico City recipes, as noted by the owner. Free parking every night and a large smoking patio are practical perks. If you're headed toward Long Beach later, Hamburger Mary's Long Beach nightclub is a nearby option for drag dinner shows.

A younger, high-energy crowd packs in for late-night dancing and drag shows. STRUT Bar & Club calls itself OC's Premier Queer Venue, with go-go boys or strippers and live entertainment alongside the DJ booth. Doors open at 10pm for dancing and drinks, but there's also an 11am drag brunch with mimosas. The outdoor seating and full bar make it easy to settle in. Yelp notes the venue may be permanently closed, so check their status before heading out. Regulars know Saturday draws the biggest crowd.