The World’s Best Queer Venues, According to Editors and Writers, Canada Reviews

Happy Pride! To celebrate, we asked editors and writers across some of the world’s best cities to tell us all about their favourite queer venues. There are (many) bars: a ‘subterranean sweatbox’ in east London, a sports bar showing only women’s sports, a Berlin-style bunker in the centre of Bangkok. There are bookshops and art spaces, community centres, lots and lots of drag-fuelled fun, and even lesbian arm-wrestling. These are some of the world’s greatest queer venues, according to .

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Dalston Superstore, London

‘The (costume) jewel in the crown of Dalston’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene, Superstore has been a chaotic, colourful haven for east London’s fun-loving queers since 2009. By day, east London’s most outré drag acts have hen dos gawping at one of London’s longest-running and least commercial drag brunches. And by night, step past the raucous crowd cackling in the smoking area, head beneath the glowing neon sign and you’ll find tattooed t-boys go-going on top of the bar to Kim Petras’s ‘Slut Pop’ and sweet young naifs rubbing shoulders with veteran nightlife gays as everyone tries to carve out enough space to dance, while some of east London’s most talented selectors play pounding techno in a subterranean sweatbox by the loos. It truly has something for everyone.’—Rosie Hewitson, Things to Do editor, London

Depot 48, Delhi

‘While most bars in the city are fighting for the loudest DJ set, Depot 48 invites participation. On any given night, you could walk into a drag show, a jazz performance, a live band or an unexpectedly chaotic karaoke session. Two levels cater to different moods: the lower floor is for intimate performances and sing-alongs, while the terrace is for socialising, offering a free-flowing energy where conversations spill between tables and strangers quickly become part of the night.’—Poulomi Deb and Raqeeb Raza,  India

She Said, Berlin

‘A beloved bookshop dedicated to female and queer authors, She Said’s stock runs the gamut from intersectional children’s books, funky calendar prints by FLINTA+* artists, and an international range of cookbooks to classic feminist theory and select zines from the community. Its cosy shop and cafe space also serves as a hub for cultural criticism, hosting film screenings, discussion panels, and book launches. So swing by, take your time picking out a stack, and settle in to enjoy with a slice of their killer orange cake.’—Kate Bettes, writer for  Berlin

*Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-binary, Transgender, and Agender

The Sports Bra, Portland, Oregon

‘The Sports Bra was the first bar in the USA dedicated to showing women’s sports. It’s LGBTQ+ owned by former basketball player Jenny Nguyen. It’s a queer-friendly bar with great ambience even when women’s sporting events aren’t playing, and it will be the best spot in Portland to watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027.’—Lola Méndez, contributor

New Sazae, Tokyo

‘A legendary gay bar and disco in Shinjuku Ni-Chome, Asia’s biggest and liveliest queer neighbourhood, New Sazae is celebrating 60 years in business in 2026. Its diverse, often international crowd moves to a soundtrack of soul and disco from the ’70s and ’80s, keeping the party going long past dawn every Friday and Saturday.’—Ili Saarinen, Deputy Editor,  Tokyo

Somos Voces, Mexico City

‘Just a few steps away from Rico, Blow and all the LGBTQ+ clubs in the Zona Rosa, there is a cultural forum where drag, literature and talks for the queer community come together. Its bookshop is the largest in Latin America and is dedicated solely to the community.’—Mauricio Nava, Editor,  Mexico City

La Mutinerie, Paris

‘Since 2012, this vast lesbian, anarchist and queer bar — with its slightly ramshackle décor — has established itself as the buzzing headquarters of LGBTQ+ activism in Paris. Because between festive moments like DJ sets, drag shows and lesbian arm-wrestling (yes, really), La Mutinerie also hums with writing workshops, support groups and dance classes. In short, everything it takes to build a community (and drive conservatives up the wall).’—Marine Delcambre,  Paris

Pride of our Footscray, Melbourne

‘Pride of our Footscray is a community-run LGBTQIA+ space founded by more than 200 part-owners, who each made an investment. As well as being a relaxed, inclusive bar, it also acts as a performance space and nightclub, providing local drag artists and musos a place to build names for themselves.’—Ashleigh Hastings,  Melbourne

Sapphic Riot, Chiang Mai

​‘Sapphic Riot opened in Thailand’s second city in 2023 and is the go-to spot for locals and foreigners who identify as women-loving-women. The trans-inclusive space hosts live DJ sets throughout the week, serves non-alcoholic beverages, and hosts queer film screenings and lively karaoke nights.’—Lola Méndez, contributor

Maricafé, Buenos Aires

‘Maricafé is a café, bar, bookshop and LGBTQ+ boutique that serves as a community centre in Buenos Aires. They host the only Drag Brunch in Argentina and are known for their huge, iconic rainbow-hued cake, served daily for nearly two decades.’—Lola Méndez, contributor 

The Stranger Bar, HORN, Tuff Bar and Adult Material, Bangkok

‘Owned by a former Drag Race Thailand contestant, The Stranger Bar puts the queens front and centre every night of the week, with lip-sync battles, comedy acts and dance routines. Get there early if you want a decent spot near the stage – the place fills up fast and standing room gets tight once the main acts start. HORN is closer to a Berlin bunker than a standard Bangkok bar, with cutting-edge techno and a crowd that’s here for the beat. Tuff Bar is a lesbian bar and hangout spot that takes its community, but not itself, seriously; just the balance Bangkok has been craving. Finally, Adult Material is a new contemporary gallery opening in Chinatown this June, dedicated to queer perspectives across art and design.’—Kaweewat Siwanartwong, Bangkok 

Manhattans and The Pink Candy Nightclub, Cape Town 

‘Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard has long been at the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ community, with the neighbouring suburbs of De Waterkant, Green Point and Sea Point forming the unofficial LGBTQ+ hub of Cape Town. Our favourites are Manhattans, one of Cape Town’s most established LGBTQ+ venues, combining a restaurant, cocktail bar and late-night social hub in the heart of De Waterkant; and The Pink Candy Nightclub, a longstanding institution known for drag performances, themed events and an energetic dancefloor.

‘ Market Cape Town also hosts a regular drag night, Night of the Queens, with electrifying energy, outrageous looks and a celebration of bold self-expression.’—Selene Brophy,  South Africa 

Mihn, Hong Kong

‘Stylised as 宀, this rave space in Sheung Wan is no longer an underground spot, but that doesn’t mean it’s now like any other commercialised club. The focus is still on a carefully curated lineup of electronic music acts, boosted by a fantastic sound system. Mihn also houses Host, a monthly gay event that’s been running since 2018. As an intimate and inclusive space for all communities, queer folk may find it especially freeing that Mihn does not allow photos – the staff place security stickers over all phone cameras upon arrival – which means that everyone is free to be as expressive and unleashed as they want without the worry of being unwittingly documented.’—Catharina Cheung, Hong Kong 

Bandeira Bandeira and Museum of Sexual Diversity, São Paulo

‘Bandeira Bandeira in Barra Funda is a space dedicated to lesbian, bisexual and transgender women. It can get crowded inside, but trust us, the real excitement happens on the sidewalk. The MDS is the first museum in Latin America dedicated to the memory and studies of sexual diversity – featuring exhibitions, classes, a book club and so much more.’—Lívia Breves, Brazil 

The Imperial Erskineville, Sydney

‘There are few things more quintessentially Aussie than the local pub, and The Imperial proves just how queer they can be. From legendary drag shows to reclaiming the art of line dancing in knee-high boots, it’s known as one of Sydney’s most welcoming institutions.’—Alannah Sue,  Sydney 

Pink Flamingo and Novooeste Bar, Rio de Janeiro

‘Pink Flamingo in Copacabana features amazing drag shows, and artists from Brazil and around the world perform here. The energy is always guaranteed, especially on Treta party nights. Novooeste Bar, in Santa Teresa, is a women-led bar and a vibrant LGBTQIAP+ hub in the neighbourhood. The food and drinks are fantastic, and there’s always live music and art events.’—Lívia Breves, Brazil 

Elixir Mixology Bar, Puerto Vallarta

​‘Puerto Vallarta in Mexico is one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly destinations in Latin America, and is home to Elixir Mixology Bar, a lesbian bar with fantastic craft cocktails. The women-owned cocktail lounge can be found in the gaybourhood of Colonia Emiliano Zapata (known as the Romantic Zone), where it occasionally hosts sapphic-only events and a great daily happy hour from 4-7PM’.

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