Best Gay Nightlife in Palm Springs
*This article was originally published on 12/2/21 and has been updated on 11/26/24 for accuracy and relevance.
Every bar in Palm Springs is a gay bar as far as we're concerned. That's the beauty of a town that caters to the gay experience, so no matter where we go here in Palm Springs, we're free to be who we are without question.
The Arenas district is the gayborhood epicenter of all things Gay Palm Springs. And while there's plenty of fun to be had in the Arenas, there's even more fun to be had all over Palm Springs and Cathedral City (aka Cat City).
That said, even Stefan from SNL is excited about Palm Springs hottest night clubs, so here is the Best Gay Nightlife in Palm Springs in our opinion (in alphabetical order)...
Bar Cecil celebrate those who follow the beat to their own drum with an asthetic as creative and inspiring as their food and cocktails.
Winner of Desert Sun's Best Restaurant in 2020, Blackbook is a the real "chill bar" in the Arenas district as far as we're concerned. It's sleek industrial style also features the largest whiskey selection in Palm Springs.
Located in the same space as the original Don the Beachcomber restaurant that opened in 1953, Bootlegger Tiki serves up delicious tiki cocktails in an intimate speakeasy-style setting.
Boozehounds aims to provide a friendly environment for both canines and their humans. By day, they are a coffee, co-working, and lunch spot. By night, they are a perfect happy hour and dinner destination for the whole family.
A sophisticated newcomer that elevates the Palm Springs bar scene, Canopy Wine Lounge boasts a curated selection of world-class wines. With its sleek atmosphere and commitment to unforgettable experiences, this stylish lounge has quickly become a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts and trendsetters alike.
The coolest (pun fully intended) gay bar and dance club here in Palm Springs, Chill Bar is another staple gay-borhood bar in our beloved Arenas district, featuring drag bingo, go-go boys, and our favotie disco-ball male statues (featured on The Palm Springs Guys website)!
Dick’s wants you to cruise heavy, drink up, have a blast, get horny, find a ride, and come back for more. It's right in the Arenas district too.
Hunters is Palm Springs’ go-to gay bar and dance club fun for 20 years now. Featuring the longest happy hour in all the Valley, Hunters serves up drag shows, karaoke, and Djs that keep the dance floor pumping (loudly!) right in the Arenas district.
Formerly Studio One 11, One Eleven Bar has everything you need to enjoy a cocktail with old friends and then a second with new ones. They've got weekly drag shows, karaoke, and live local entertainment (they've even got a grand piano they wheel onto the stage). Always free and always a good time, One Eleven is our favorite bar in Cat City!
PS Air Bar is a fun Airline-themed speakeasy inside the Bouschet wine store, featuring cocktails, dinner, naught flight attendants, and live entertainment on the weekends. You know we love a good theme bar!
Honoring the Rat Pack era, Michael Holmes’ Purple Room is the desert’s premier supper club and live performance space, featuring local and national jazz artists and the always popular, The Judy Show!, a parody of the great icons of the 60s.
This is our kind of "sports bar" because Quadz is a TV bar showing popular, classic & obscure music video clips that gay men just LOVE to sing along to in the Arenas district!
With plenty of atmosphere for all patrons “to roost,” the Roost Lounge in Cat City is a another friendly neighborhood gay bar with ongoing entertainment and karaoke.
Open since 1991, Streetbar is a neighborhood bar attracting locals and tourists. They specialize in Cabaret, Karaoke, and the strongest (cash-only) drinks on the block (but you didn't hear it from us)!
Nestled in Uptown Palm Springs, Tailor Shop offers a speakeasy-inspired escape into "fine spirits and bespoke traditions." Its dark, moody interior features velvet banquettes, leather chairs, and a striking wrap-around marble bar, creating an intimate and luxurious vibe—ideal for cooling off on warm desert nights.
The only leather and Levi bar in Palm Springs, the Tool Shed serves up daily happy hours, heavy cruising, and fun theme nights like their signature Thursday night "Underwear Nights" in the Warm Sands district.
Truss & Twine, the chic cocktail bar by Workshop Kitchen, takes you on a journey through time with its era-inspired classic cocktails. Paired with a desert-influenced menu crafted from fresh Coachella Valley ingredients, this spot is a perfect blend of timeless style and local flavor.
This mid-century lounge serves up boutique California wines, craft beers, and throwback cocktails. It's also a favorite destination for live music and drag performances, like Ross Mathew's "Dragtastic Bubbly Brunch".
