Melbourne Gay Bars

A boutique cabaret bar on Smith Street in the heart of the Melbourne gay village. The bar hosts weekly drag queen shows, boylesque shows and burlesque nights.

The 86 serves a crowd-pleasing choice of 42 in-house cocktail, and there is a late night dance floor. Regular special deals on pizzas and beers.

One of Australia's longest-running exclusively gay bar/hotel. The Laird is widely known as a gay institution - to the extent that it has been granted permission by Victoria's Anti-Discrimination Board to operate a men-only policy.

The Laird caters to a wide range of men but is particularly popular with the leather, bear and alternative crowd. Different theme each week, from a relaxed and informal pool competition to hardcore events with a dress code.

Check Laird's website for upcoming parties..

Gayer than ever since the change in door policy. The PEEL, now exempt from the Anti-Discrimination Act, is a predominantly gay male venue that has been around for over 30 years.

There are 3 bars, a dance floor and a courtyard. Open on Fridays and Saturdays with regular special events and drag acts. The dance floor is open for everyone who enjoys dance tunes like the best of Whitney and JLo on Fridays and 80s hits on Saturdays.

Francesca's Bar is a gay-popular cocktail bar that also serves up light bites, as well as pizza. They host trivia nights and a bunch of other themed events. Check their website for the latest information.

They have a beer garden and also rents their space out for different functions, with catering, bar, DJ, and AV equipment.

Prince Public Bar (P.P.B.) is a gay-friendly bar attached to The Prince Hotel. They host regular live music and other live performances, plus quiz nights and footy watch parties.

In February, when Melbourne celebrates the Midsumma Festival, The Prince rebrands into The Kween (no, really, they actually change their storefront sign), and hosts Pride parties, drag bingos, and other fun events.

The Prince serves brunch, as well as a variety of yummy cocktails at the public bar and a huge selection of wines at the wine bar. 

Looking for a more traditional bar, offering nothing more than a decent pint and a warm welcome? Then DT's Hotel could be for you.

In reality, DT's does offer more than just drinks, with regular special events, from quiz nights and comedies to garden BBQs and trans meet-ups.

UBQ is part bar, part community hub, with something happening almost every night of the week. From drag cabaret to queeraoke, Wednesday trivia to Sunday shows, the space brings queer creatives front and centre. The bar serves cocktails, small bites, and pizza, with a rotating schedule of fundraisers, live acts, and themed parties.

Mollie’s is a gay bar that mixes pub-style food, rooftop views, and live entertainment all under one roof. There’s drag bingo, drag roulette, and high-energy shows upstairs, with a club downstairs for late-night dancing. The rooftop terrace is all-weather, with heaters and views across Collingwood, and the menu focuses on comfort food served with charm. It’s a popular spot for a pregame, full night out, or relaxed catch-up in a setting.