Gayborhoods around the world are changing, and fast. The rent goes up, the bars get straighter and the sex shops turn into Starbucks.
That’s why we love the nominees for best gayborhood in this year’s Best of GayCities — they’ve held onto their charm and are still great places to be unapologetically yourself.
There’s San Francisco’s Castro, NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen, Zona Rosa in Puerto Vallarta, Boystown in Chicago. Florida has Wilton Manors and Philadelphia has a hopping Gayborhood too.
Vote for your favorite ‘hood and win a chance at a free trip for two to any destination in the continental U.S., courtesy of our friends at Hyatt.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Voting is easy. Just sign into your GayCities account and make your selections. You’ll automatically be entered into the prize sweepstakes.
Polls close January 5. You must be a U.S. resident to win the prize. See the complete rules.
cleverusername
I’m not saying this is the best gayborhood in the country or anything, but I’m slightly obsessed with Houston’s Montrose neighborhood. Basically every restaurant on Westheimer Road in that neighborhood is amazing. Uchi, Indika, Underbelly etc. are some of the best restaurants I’ve ever eaten. There’s nowhere on Earth quite like the Rothko Chapel, and the Menil Collection is also awesome (and free). Because Houston is the most diverse major city in the country, I love to go and see all the different kinds of men (my personal favorite bar there is a latino club called Blur) so that’s my personal favorite to visit probably. I don’t live there, but I think it’s very underrated. That being said, I think the best gayborhood is in my hometown Chicago. Boystown is one of very few places that still feels like a true gayborhood. It’s a truly unique place.
SoloMcDaniel
I love how we scream for equality but still hold on to the notion that we have to have our own neighborhood.
And while this quiz is meant to be fun & light, it shows how much Queerty is out of touch. “Boystown”, which is now referred to as Lakeview, is no longer the “center” of gay life in Chicago. Andersonville is now considered the main “gay” area. However there are lots of gay individuals who live in the South Loop, River North & Ukrainian Village and feel very connected to their neighborhoods, even with the absence of bathhouses, dildo stores and bars that feature “methed up” twinks dancing in their underwear.
When I first visited Castro, I was surprised by how “separate” it felt. It was like the gays put up this imaginary wall so they could keep the rest of the city out and they could live in their little bubble world, kind of like the Amish. San Francisco can keep their “gayborhood”. I prefer to live in the real world.
Cam
@SoloMcDaniel:
There is equality for Greeks, and yet Balimore still has a neighborhood where there are more Greek restaurants called “Greektown” Little Italy still exists in many large cities, as do Polish neighborhoods, Russian neighborhoods etc…
TVC 15
@SoloMcDaniel: Yeah, I live in Andersonville, and I hardly ever go to East Lakeview (Boystown). Most of the guys I socialize with live in Andersonville, Edgewater, Uptown, and Rogers Park.