We spotlight the best gay bars and clubs in Melbourne, from Rainbow House Club to The 86, Poof Doof and beyond.
Let’s get one thing straight: all of Melbourne’s bars should be ‘queer-friendly’. And they are, for the most part. Still, many dedicated gay bars and clubs have intentionally made space for the LGBTQIA+ community from the beginning. These are the best Melbourne gay bars and clubs providing safe spaces for the queer community.
To celebrate what these venues offer for the queer community and beyond, here’s a list of Melbourne’s dedicated gay bars and clubs, ranked in no particular order.
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An iconic gay bar: Sircuit/Mollie’s Bar & Diner
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Same owners, but completely different venues. Upstairs at 103-105 Smith Street, you’ll find Mollie’s, a dedicated safe space for everyone. With a sunny terrace, sheltered from the elements and a cozy interior, Mollie’s combines a focus on great, freshly prepared food with a hint of sassy service. They said dinner with a show… From Wednesday to Sunday, you can enjoy your meal with a side of fabulous, raucous drag entertainment.
Downstairs is the famous Sircuit, which needs no introduction. With free inclusive entry every night from Thursday to Sunday, Sircuit is the go-to if you like your evenings to end in sweat-soaked shambles. With a rotating roster of events, DJs and Queens, Sircuit is, always, on.
103-105 Smith St, Fitzroy. For more on Sircuit and Mollie’s, head here and here.
Pride of our Footscray Community Bar
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Pride of our Footscray Community Bar is quietly nestled in the inner-west, opposite Footscray Market. Footscray’s dedicated LGBTQIA+ space, wholly community-owned, Pride is a pioneering example of the possibilities that are open for co-op living, working and thriving. Locals have the opportunity to buy into the bar, strengthening the community surrounding the space. The bar has a pool table and offers a multitude of fabulous entertainment nightly, from comedy to live music, poetry, adult bingo and – of course – drag.
1/86-88 Hopkins St, Footscray. More info here.
Rainbow House Club
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A cute neighbourhood bar committed to showcasing queer excellence five nights a week, Rainbow House Club offers a plethora of entertainment – from Wednesdays’ Tinkle, a “free queer piano bar” where you can score a free drink for having the gusto to sing, to Fisty’s Hyperpop Paradise, promising a rotating roster of iconic live performance and DJs on Sundays.
125 Smith St, Fitzroy. More info here.
An iconic gay club: Poof Doof
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The name says it all! Possibly the most famous gay space in town, with a sister venue holding it down in Sydney, Poof Doof has recently undergone an inclusivity makeover. It is now, as their revamped slogan decries, “A gay club for all”. We love to see it.
386 Chapel St, South Yarra. More info here.
Evie’s Bar & Diner
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Tucked away near the intersection of Smith and Gertrude is Evie’s. Did we expect anything less from Evie’s fabulous, aggressively bubblegum and ultraviolet interior? With weekly events hosted by “the hottest queens in town” including Balls Deep Bingo and Queeraoke, Evie’s is an absolute must-visit.
230/232 Gertrude St, Fitzroy. More info here.
A nudist gay bar: ADAM
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Located at Sircuit on Smith St, ADAM is one of the best classic gay bars in Melbourne, a nudist bar for guys that also doubles as a club. Known for hosting huge Thursday night parties, ADAM provides a safe space for trans and cis, same-sex attracted men to come and dance. Clothing is optional.
103 Smith St, Fitzroy. More info here.
The Laird
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Melbourne’s longest-running gay-owned and operated establishment. Since the ’80s, The Laird has been a fixture of the gay male community, having been granted a male-only status in 1998. The pub has accommodation and is a meeting place, haven and party space for both cis and trans-same-sex attracted men.
149 Gipps St, Abbotsford. More info here.
The 86
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Smith Street’s queer cabaret bar offers a nightly selection of fabulous shows, with a focus on drag performances. Former home to the popular Honcho Disko, The 86 is your certified go-to for entertainment, whether it’s comedy, burlesque or bingo… In short, all things high camp.
185 Smith St, Fitzroy. More info here.
DT’s Hotel
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Over in Richmond, DT’s Hotel is a fuss-free cabaret space, pub and gay bar. A friendly queer local, at DT’s you’ll find classic pub fare, lovely locals, and maybe even some karaoke or trivia.
164 Church St, Richmond. More info here.
Another iconic gay bar: The Peel
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Another of the most famous gay bars and clubs in Melbourne, their slogan “All roads lead to The Peel” says it all, really. Open ‘til very late, The Peel is always there for you, beckoning in the night, the promise of a good boogie within. That is if you’re a man. A strict door policy applies: The Peel is for trans and cis, same-sex attracted men – straight males can attend as guests but are asked to be respectful and mindful of their behaviour during their time at the venue.
46 Peel St, Collingwood. More info here.
Sub Club
Honourable mention for this list has to go to Sub Club. While not a dedicated gay space per se, the club is undoubtedly a safe space for the wonderful community of queer babies who love techno. While we truly miss Hugs&Kisses, Sub Club is somewhat filling the rowdy, frenetic, fun void it left in the CBD’s nightclub scene.
Flinders Ct, Melbourne CBD. More info here.
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Prince Public Bar
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As one of Melbourne’s oldest gay-friendly pubs, there are decades of rich local history here, and it’s tangible. It’s in the smoothness of the wood panelling and the black and white photos mounted on the wall. The soft glow of the famous meat fridge and the wood-fired barbecue standing ready for steak night. The squat, square façade and classic red umbrellas, are ready to welcome you as you are for any meal, any time.
29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda. Info here.
Wet On Wellington
This is a gay and sex-positive sauna with events for all genders. That said, you are more than welcome to come in, have a couple of drinks from their fully licenced bar and use their facilities including a built-in spa, greek Greek-inspired steam room and 25 25-metre heated pool.
162 Wellington St, Collingwood. Info here.
Keen on another fun read? Check out our piece on the best spots in Melbourne to catch a drag show.
