Darling, let's spill the tea on Melbourne's fabulous gay bar scene! Whether you're a local queen looking for your next watering hole or a curious visitor ready to paint the town rainbow, we've got the ultimate guide to the hottest LGBTQIA+ venues in Melbourne for 2025. From bear-friendly pubs to drag-tastic dinner shows, here's where you need to be!

The Laird: Where Bears Roam Free

Honey, if you like your men burly and your atmosphere cozy, The Laird is your spiritual home. This iconic Melbourne gay bar has been serving the bear community and their admirers since before some of us were born! As host to the legendary Southern HiBearnation festival and VicBears' annual BearFest, it's practically the United Nations of furry fabulousness. The warm, welcoming pub vibes make it impossible not to feel at home – just don't blame us if you end up calling everyone 'daddy' by the end of the night!

Learn more about The Laird

Sircuit: Where Party Meets Play

Is it a bar? Is it a club? Who cares when you're having this much fun! Sircuit serves as Melbourne's answer to the question 'Where can I see amazing drag while playing pool and dancing my heart out?' With a rotating roster of Melbourne's fiercest queens and hottest DJs, this venue perfectly bridges the gap between casual drinks and full-blown party paradise.

Check out what's on at Sircuit

Mollies Bar and Diner: Drag with a Side of Delicious

Upstairs from Sircuit, Mollies is serving looks AND meals! The Eggplant Parma is giving main character energy, and their Vegan Burger? Chef's kiss! But the real gag is their Drag Roulette shows, where queens have to lip-sync to random tracks on the spot. It's like Russian Roulette, but with more glitter and zero casualties!

Discover Mollies Bar and Diner

UBQueer: Double the Space, Double the Fun

2025 has blessed us with an expanded UBQueer, now featuring two levels of queer excellence! Upstairs is giving community realness with performances, trivia, and queereoake (yes, that's how we spell it now), while downstairs keeps the party pumping on weekends. Run by queens for queens – and everyone else in our rainbow family!

Explore UBQueer

Evies Disco Diner: Retro Realness

Serving '80s realness with a side of vegan delights, Evies is where Studio 54 meets RuPaul's Drag Race meets your favourite diner. Their bottomless brunch is the stuff of legends, and the cocktails? Honey, they'll have you living your best Madonna fantasy in no time!

Visit Evies Disco Diner

The Peel: The After-Hours Icon

As the saying goes, 'All roads lead to The Peel' – and usually around 5am! Thanks to that blessed 24-hour license and DJs like ENN, Tonky, and Nick Jay keeping the beats pumping, this is where your 'quick night out' turns into an epic dawn adventure. No judgment here – we've all been there!

Experience The Peel

Pride of Footscray: Western Wonderland

West side is the best side at Pride of Footscray! This gem is proving that fabulous queer spaces exist beyond the city limits. With regular shows and special performances, it's the rainbow beacon of Melbourne's west.

Visit Pride of Footscray

LOEV: South-East's Queer Haven

Moorabbin's answer to queer nightlife, LOEV is serving community realness with a side of live music and social events. It's proof that the rainbow doesn't stop at the city limits!

Discover LOEV

Whether you're after a cozy bear den, a drag extravaganza, or a dawn dance party, Melbourne's gay bars have something for everyone. Each venue brings its own flavour to our vibrant queer community, creating spaces where everyone can feel free to be themselves. Now get out there and support your local queer venues – and tell them we sent you!

Dear Nelly Podcast