During the week—especially in summer—Woody’s is one of the Gayborhood’s busiest happy hour hangouts, but on weekends it can barely contain the sea of tank-top-clad fellas (and bachelorette parties!) that flood in for a night of drinking, dancing and boys-will-be-boys-ing. This is Philadelphia’s oldest gay bar, but it keeps things fresh with recent expansion projects that include the swanky, neon-hued Glo Bar cocktail lounge just off the main bar area downstairs. On the upper level, local DJs and a shimmering disco ball preside over a spacious dance floor that stays thumping—and packed on weekends—till 2am.
Before we present you with our list of best gay bars in Philadelphia, a few interesting facts about the local LGBTQ scene: almost every LGBTQ-centric destination in the city is found in Gayborhood, an enclave in Center City Philadelphia that has quickly become one of the most recognize neighborhoods in town.
Don't take that to mean that the city is lacking in variety: sports lovers can root for their favorite team at one of the sports bars in town, there's a piano lounge for those looking to belt out a tune (or six) and a leather dungeon for chaps-clad daddies and those who love them. And, of course, there are a ton of clubs in Philly that cater to the community as well.
RECOMMENDED: Our full guide to the best bars in Philadelphia