Martha's Vineyard
Dancing · Cocktail Lounge · Springfield, MO
About
Martha's Vineyard has been Springfield's mainstay gay bar since 1996, drawing a young, mixed crowd of gay men and straight women. The venue spreads across two rooms and a spacious outdoor patio, with a wrap-around stage that hosts drag shows most nights. Drinks are strong, the staff stays friendly, and the happy hour deals keep the energy up even on slow weeknights.
The layout takes some getting used to: the stage cuts through the dance floor during shows, and the sound system leans heavy on bass. Bathrooms can be a mess, and last call is strict at 1:30 AM, so order before that cutoff. The outdoor space is the real draw: it's roomy, smoke-free, and gives you a break from the indoor crowd. Expect a collegiate vibe, especially on weekends.
Located in Springfield's Jordan Valley area, Martha's Vineyard is right downtown and easy to get to with street parking nearby.
Features
- ✓Two-room layout with a wrap-around drag stage
- ✓Spacious smoke-free outdoor patio
- ✓Strong drinks and friendly bartenders
- ✓Standard happy hour pricing
- ✓Unisex restrooms available
Good for
Practical
What people say
Rated from 34 reviews. 35 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
“Eh, but better than the other places”
Terrible sound system in the dance area. Dance floor is huge. Entry and lobby area are confusing. There's an outdoor patio for smoking. Lounge area is okay, but restrooms are disappointing. Annoying crowd of 18-year-olds acting like 12-year-olds. Staff seemed nice and served quickly. The place has a lot of potential, just needs some changes and a sound system with less bass.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“Martha's Vineyard”
My partner and I visited Martha's Vineyard during a weeklong stay in Springfield. It's easy to get to with plenty of parking. The crowd was light and very mixed—straight and gay, but mostly very young. It was a college crowd, and we were the oldest people there. The DJ was great and the staff were very friendly.
A guest · Over a year ago
I loved it over a year ago and will definitely be back. The DJ was great.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
“um”
This place was horrible. Why are there only two single-use bathrooms? If you like 90s music and young gays with no direction in life, then go here. The bartenders were awful and extremely slow.
A local visitor · Over a year ago
“Fun times”
Springfield is a fun small city. Martha's is the main gay bar in the area, right downtown and easy to get to with street parking or a lot across the way. The bar has two rooms and an outside area. It's mostly a younger crowd, with guys looking to hook up around 12:30. There are also many straight girls. The bar allows smoking inside. The worst part is the layout: there's a strange stage that wraps around the back wall of a makeshift dance floor, and everything stops during the drag show, which is usually a train wreck—but that's typical for the Midwest. The best part is the spacious outside area where you can escape the smoke and music. Bartenders are nice and drinks are fairly strong. Bathrooms are always a mess; if you find one that locks, good luck. All alcohol service stops at 1:30 in Springfield. I've ordered a drink at 1 and had it snatched from my hand at 1:15 while bartenders rudely yell at us to leave. Not a nice end to the night. The crowd is friendly though, and I see hookups happening all the time.
A visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Martha's Vineyard have drag shows? +
Yes, drag shows are a regular feature, performed on a wrap-around stage.
Is food served? +
No food is mentioned in the venue's description or reviews.
What is the dress code? +
No dress code is specified. Casual attire is typical among the young crowd.
