![best gay bar miami beach best gay bar miami beach](https://offloadmedia.feverup.com/secretmiami.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/24044424/shutterstock_1063601108.png)
In all honesty, the bar is dark, there are gargoyle statues everywhere, and they play minimal house music that's so old that it's already on trend again. There's something intriguing about bear culture that draws people in, whether you're a bear or not.Ĭub, bear, otter, or anything in between, it doesn't matter the moment you walk into Ramrod, you can sense a community. Ramrod is basically the "Cheers" of Wilton Manors. If you haven't seen this bitch perform live, you're missing out. The venue hosts multiple shows weekly, including an exclusive performance from South Florida's own Dame Edna. The best night to come out on is a Thursday, where it's so packed that people spill out into the parking lot. It has been a mainstay of Wilton Manors' gay scene for more years than us young'uns can count. Georgie's Alibi could be considered the bar that started the Drive. The lounge is leaning towards upscale, but the drinks and food are reasonably priced considering the atmosphere you get in return. The specialty drinks may be a little on the pricey side, but they're made with top shelf liquor and fresh ingredients like mint and fruit. An impressively lit bar with muscley "straight" bartenders at your service, and the DJ spins the ultimate minimal house/lounge tracks. While the Asian style tapas is fantastic, the lounge is the real focal point of the establishment. The music ranges from '90s classics to today's Top 20, and with dart boards, pool tables, and video poker machines, there's literally something for everyone here.ĭapur is part lounge, part restaurant. Village Pub is a strong contender to stay afloat on the drive, with daily drink specials, a ridiculous amount of video screens (they only use VJs), and an open layout that prevents any sense of claustrophobia, even when it's a wall-to-wall sausage fest. Then before you know it, a new bar opens up one block away,closing down the beloved, now "old" bar. A new bar opens, gains hype, some dedicated regulars, makes a profit, everything seems just swell.
![best gay bar miami beach best gay bar miami beach](https://res.cloudinary.com/accelevents/image/fetch/c_pad,dpr_3.0,f_auto,fl_lossy,h_400/https://s3.amazonaws.com/v2-s3-prod-accelevents/cce6b591-ac0b-4739-b53c-2d44af97f01e_librarybargaytheringgayhotel2018.jpg)
Bars in Wilton Manors (and most bars in general) have a specific life cycle. Village Pub is the newest bar on the drive (next to the just opened Rumors, formerly Matty's), and coincidentally the most popular one too. These ten bars represent the best in Broward and Palm Beach counties and offer a little something for everyone. Thankfully, because of the volume of gays and gay or gay-friendly bars, there are some hidden gems among the muck and grime. All cliques, all the time, and if you approach someone without an invitation, nine times out of ten, you get a "you can't sit with us" glare. We don't know if it's the fear of speaking to new people or the fear of simply being yourself, but people-watching at a South Florida gay bar is straight out of Mean Girls. But most worrisome is the lack of diversity. Dated music (no, not "retro") and lack of age range (it's either 21-year-old power bottoms who lick the floor any pop diva walks on or your long-lost great-grandfather who keeps a large supply of kiddie porn in his basement - take your pick).
![best gay bar miami beach best gay bar miami beach](https://media2.miaminewtimes.com/mia/imager/u/golden-m/9411341/bars_new_bar_sugar_courtesyswireproperties.jpg)
Sure, it's no San Francisco (not until we legalize medical marijuana and gay marriage), but it's not exactly Pyongyang down here either.Īlthough we live in a cultural melting pot with a diverse, proud LGBT community, there's just one little problem: The majority of the gay bars down here are train wrecks in slow motion. Sure, there's still prejudice, bullying, and occasional hate crimes, but where isn't there these days? On a map, South Florida is one of the most gay-friendly areas in the country, not to mention the world. Being gay in South Florida is as common as it gets.