Of the roughly 34 remaining lesbian bars in the United States, four of them are in New York City. While they are spread out across two boroughs, Manhattan and Brooklyn, they are all easy to visit on a trip to NYC.
What makes NYC’s lesbian bars stand out? For one, they lean into the power of the term “dyke.” This word was first used as a homophobic and misogynistic slur in the early 20th century, typically directed toward women with “masculine” qualities. The label has since been re-claimed by lesbians. In many communities, “dyke” is used at Pride celebrations, with Dyke Marches (grassroots, feminist protests) often happening the same weekend as Pride celebrations. Dykes on Bikes lead many Pride parades around the world.
These bars also hold historical significance. Their lesbian founders’ desire to create community at a time when it was (and continues to be) challenging to be visibly queer speaks to the history of resistance and power ingrained in every aspect of queer life in New York City. The women and trans people who built these spaces had the word “dyke” slung at them as a slur. The folks who frequent these spots now keep that tenacity and sense of community alive.
Bars come and go, but in the largest city in the U.S, it’s clear that the history of dykes (lesbians, sapphics, queer women, trans folks) who built these spaces will not be forgotten.
Here’s why you should visit each of New York City’s dyke bars.
Henrietta Hudson (438 Hudson St., Manhattan, New York City). This West Village spot is America’s longest-running lesbian bar; it’s 34 years old but has a history going back 40 years. In 1985, co-founder Lisa Cannistraci found herself ducking into a bar (then called Cubby Hole) to escape a downpour. The timing was perfect; she was looking for a serving job, and they were looking for a bartender. She was hired on the spot. When the bar closed five years later, Cannistraci opened Henrietta Hudson. Stormé Delarverie (a Black, butch lesbian drag queen who said she threw the first punch at the Stonewall riots) famously worked there as a bouncer for many years.
Weekends at Henrietta Hudson are reliable club nights and the space is a treat to dance in, with great DJs, great drinks (called “Gender Fluids” on the menu) and a diverse crowd of “queer humans.” If you want to sneak in a song request, make sure to visit on a Thursday, like I did, for the well-attended Butch/Femme/They/Them night.
Henrietta Hudson is just around the corner from the Stonewall Inn, which makes for a great three-bar crawl, along with the latest iteration of Cubbyhole.
Cubbyhole (281 W. 12th St., Manhattan, New York City). Cubbyhole’s co-founder, Tanya Saunders, lived a whole life before opening the bar. She came to the United States as a refugee from Germany just before the start of the Second World War, and at one point she shared a home with her first girlfriend and their “husbands,” a gay male couple. When she opened the bar in 1994, it had gone through several different iterations and names. The current name, Cubbyhole, commemorates the original 1980s-era Cubby Hole, with permission from the original owners.
These days, this West Village dive bar is known for its recognizable green walls and awnings, and delightfully decorated ceiling. Look up and you won’t find much empty space between the wacky, often seasonal array of objects hanging from above. (Think of an “I Spy” book.) This 30-year-old cornerstone of the queer community is cash-only, but there’s an ATM in the bar. They serve several draft beers, bottles and cans, wine, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails (but no food). My friends and I enjoyed our Dyke Beers on delightfully quirky Daffy Duck and Wonder Woman stools while we bopped around to whatever played on the jukebox. Cubbyhole is small and cozy, perfect for meeting new folks. They host Trans Nights, Queer Book Swaps, Latinx Happy Hours and all sorts of unique theme nights. Their active Instagram feed is the best place to find out what’s going on.
Ginger’s Bar (363 5th Ave., Brooklyn, New York City). This queer, Irish bar is a Brooklyn institution—it’s been around since the year 2000. Park Slope, a neighbourhood that was affectionately known as Dyke Slope when lesbians flocked there in the 1980s, is the perfect setting for this space. With a pool table and an outdoor patio, Ginger’s laid-back, dive bar vibes instantly make a visitor feel at home. Ginger’s is cash-only, and you’ll definitely want to have enough on hand to buy a pint for your pals at this pub. They host name-change events for trans folks (law students provide free services to help with legal name/gender-marker changes), queer markets, clothing swap for self-identified fat folks, trivia nights and a new queer traditional Irish music night.
The Bush (333 Troutman St., Brooklyn, New York City). The Bush Dyke Bar opened in 2023, making it the baby gay on this list. While NYC’s other lesbian bars have rich histories, the Bush represents sapphic futures. Founders Nikke Alleyne and Justine LaViolette wanted to create a space that catered to hook-up culture for lesbians, something that can be difficult for queer women to find. The founders hope that it becomes one of many in a resurgence of queer bars centring dykes in the city.
The large space works best when it’s packed; it’s certainly the perfect venue for lots of lesbians to gather. During my visit, I got the full-frontal Bush experience; I have NEVER seen a more packed sapphic space than when I visited for a pop-up lesbian strip show, by PleaseHer. Sexy queer dancers gyrated on the bar, while others showed off their strength on the pole. Cash flew from all directions while dykes enjoyed a show catered to them.
The Bush has an array of regular events, like T4T Tuesdays for trans folks, reggae nights and Zodiac Aphrodisiac nights, when they spin only tunes and feature hosts and DJs born under that night’s astrological sign. They even host the occasional cozy movie night. Alongside tasty cocktails and the usual drink options, the Bush serves beef patties until 11 p.m.
