Located within Hotel Gaythering, and just a short drive from Ocean Drive in South Beach, Bar Gaythering offers a welcoming space for gay patrons to express themselves freely in Miami Beach.
5. Open 7 nights a week, and with happy hour specials as well as different nightly events, such as drag shows, go-go dancers, Twist is a must visit for gay travellers to Miami.
Address: 1057 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Nathans Beach Club, South Beach
Nathan’s Beach Club is another of South Beach’s best-known gay bars, with its central location on Washington Avenue, and just a few blocks from Twist.
Nathan’s is a slightly more ‘chill’ venue, the front bar is almost more of a classy lounge, and on weekends there is a speakeasy style back room.
During the week, most nights are themed with a DJ and dancing, so it’s the perfect choice for a midweek night out, and on a weekend is a great place to start your night.
Address: 1216 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Bar Gaythering at Hotel Gaythering, South Beach
Located inside the popular hotel, this lobby bar is a well-known meeting point for many of South Beach’s LGBTQ+ residents, and so for visitors to Miami it is the perfect place to meet locals and dip your toes into the local gay scene.
The bar hosts multiple theme nights during the week, as well as various events – karaoke, trivia nights, and drag bingo to name just a few.
And with a daily happy hour 5pm to 8pm, with 50% off drinks, why wouldn’t you come and check it out!
Address: 1409 Lincoln Rd F1, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Palace Bar and Restaurant, South Beach
I have already introduced you to Palace above in relation to their super popular drag brunch, but Palace is more than just a brunch spot.
This iconic Ocean Drive gay bar is the number one drag bar and restaurant in Miami Beach, so of course you need to swing by whilst checking out the South Beach nightlife offerings.
Palace queens perform every night, between 7pm and 11pm, with shows roughly every 15 minutes.
It dares visitors to discover their alter egos, transforming from an award-winning eatery on Wednesdays and Thursdays to a high-octane drag spot on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Come celebrate LGBTQ community with one another while enjoying some top-notch drag.
3. With drag show performances by Drag Race alums, it's easy to see how this has quickly become a beloved space for gay community in Wynwood.
7.
It’s the mantra of Twist, one of Miami’s longest-running queer spaces. With a vibrant atmosphere, amazing drinks, and friendly gay people, it's easy to understand that stance.
It is here where the two popular gay hotels are located, as well as the majority of the gay nightlife.
It’s not uncommon at all to see fellow LGBTQ+ travellers out and about holding hands with their significant others, which is always great to see.
Things to do in Miami for Gay Travellers
There are countless things to do in Miami, both beach based in and around the iconic South Beach as well as in downtown Miami.
Whether you're stopping by for a drag event or a casual night out in Wynwood, Miami with friends, R House Wynwood welcomes all with open arms.
4. The hotel tagline is ‘where gay men stay and play,’ and they even class themselves as ‘the gayest hotel in Miami Beach’ – I can certainly see why!
The hotel’s primary target market is definitely gay male guests, and with its provocative style and naughty room touches, it delivers!
I loved the artwork around the hotel, the fact that the floors were labelled as ‘top,’ ‘vers’ and ‘bottom’ in the elevator, and the mini store at reception selling toys, lube, and poppers.
And for more of the touches that I shouldn’t really mention here, you can check out my Instagram reel where I show you exactly why it really is the gayest hotel in Miami.
Hotel Gaythering even has an onsite gay male sauna, complete with jacuzzi, dry sauna, steam room and even cabins to get to know your new acquaintance better – unless you decide to head upstairs to your room of course.
12th Street Beach is also known for its close proximity to iconic gay bars and clubs, so you can easily transition from beach mode to nightlife once the sun sets. We highly recommend stopping by, trying one of their delicious craft cocktails, and letting the high energy performances give your night out a great kickstart!
Address: 1052 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Azucar Nightclub
If you’re looking for something a little more upbeat than sitting in a South Beach bar, then Azucar Nightclub could be the choice for you.
Located just off Coral Way, in downtown Miami, Azucar Nightclub is a lively LGBTQ+ nightclub catering towards Miami’s thriving Latino community.
The nightclub specializes in drag – with various cabaret shows, performances and comedy events throughout the week, as well as of course, being somewhere to dance the night away on a weekend.
Address: 2301 SW 32nd Ave, Miami, FL 33145
Miami Gay Beach
Like any beach destination with a large gay population, and gay scene, it goes without saying that at least one beach becomes ‘the gay beach’ – even if unofficially!
And Miami goes as far as to have two beaches to choose from – 12th Street Gay Beach, in the South Beach area of Miami, and Haulover Gay Beach, which is a little further north.
12th Street Gay Beach is pretty easy to find and get to, especially if you are staying in South Beach, where most of the gay nightlife is.
Classic Burger $15.00
Fresh grilled beef, sesame bun, lettuce, tomato and onion. The restaurant is located in Upper Buena Vista in downtown Miami, in the Design District, so I would couple a lunch here with exploring the area. Lummus Park is more than just Muscle Beach – it’s home to a playground, paved pathways for running, cycling and rollerblading, benches to sit and read and people watch, volleyball courts, but of course, for me, the main attraction was Muscle Beach Fitness Area, found adjacent to 9th Street.
Whilst the name given to the actual beach here, Muscle Beach is also the name of the outdoor fitness area for exercise, weightlifting, and gymnastics.
You would just walk down 12th Street until you hit Ocean Drive, cross over onto the beach, and look out for the rainbow painted lifeguard tower, which is even numbered ‘12’.
Haulover Gay Beach is a little further away, roughly 12 miles north of South Beach, and so you would need to use public transport or have access to a car to get here.
Just make sure you make a reservation!
I visited for lunch, where the menu consists of three courses for just $38 per person, with plenty of choice to suit me.
Grilled steak, pico de gallo, cheddar Jack cheese, sour cream and guacamole. Since the 1990s, Twist has been a mainstay of Miami nightlife, and for good reason.
Create an Event and get friends (read some tips on finding new queer friends here) together to check out a queer bar in your city. There is a reason local figures like Karla Croqueta and DJ Hottpants collaborate with Gramps often: It has become a second home for Miami’s queer community and greater Miami.
BBQ Chicken Sandwich
$17.00
Pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions and sour cream.
Known for the glitz and glamour of its drag shows, Azucar also emphasizes dancing with its residents and visiting DJs. Operating Thursday through Sunday, opening late and closing later, Azucar isn’t a casual hangout spot – it’s a party.
Crispy tortilla chips covered with melted cheese, jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream and salsa.
This laid-back yet lively spot is a go-to for queer women, with Tuesday nights offering the unmissable Yes Ma'am event, a queer and lesbian ladies' night that’s basically a Miami institution.
