Gay restaurants in dc

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It’s within a short walking distance of both the bars and restaurants of the gaybourhood and the annual Pride parade (lyledc.com).

The Darcy: Halfway between Dupont Circle and Logan Circle, The Darcy is the perfect halfway house for the best of Washington DC’s queer nightlife.

gay restaurants in dc

Show gratitude for the progress being made and promise to resist those who would see that progress undone.

On the right page: Little District Books on Barracks Row proudly declares that it’s ‘DC’s only queer bookstore’. 3-5 October 2025; bourbonandbelonging.com

Rendezvous, Wyoming

Lovers of the outdoors can sign up for this welcoming LGBTQ+ camping trip in the Medicine Bow National Forest, which attracts hundreds each year.

Flights cost from £523 return and take around 8 hours. And while it might not look exactly how we pictured it, there’s never been a better time to celebrate the local LGBTQ+ community than now.

Far from relegated to a cluster of gay bars in Dupont, D.C.’s deeply rooted queer scene can be found in just about every corner of the city — as long as you know where to look.

WorldPride DC 2025 will take place from 17 May–8 June 2025 (worldpridedc.org). I’ve already celebrated Pride in the city twice, and I couldn’t be more excited to return this year for WorldPride DC 2025 (17 May-8 June). Find more travel information at washington.org.

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Ten Wonderful LGBTQ+-Owned Restaurants in Washington, D.C.

Guides   Washington D.C.

By Meredith Paige Heil, a lifestyle writer based in Washington, D.C.

with over 10 years of editorial experience. The city has the largest per-capita population of LGBTQ+ adults in the nation, and that presence is keenly felt wherever you go.

Queer people are the beating heart of this city. Or for go-go dancers and drag queens, head to Trade, a fun dive bar. It’s a favourite among Hollywood royalty too (fairmont.com).

These hotels have all completed Booking.com’s Travel Proud training, to ensure that they are offering the most inclusive and welcoming stay for all LGBTQ+ guests.

More LGBTQ+ festivals in the USA

Rendezvous is an LGBTQ+ camping trip in the Medicine Bow National Forest (Shutterstock)

Bourbon and Belonging, Kentucky

Cities across Kentucky will again take part in what is believed to be the world’s only LGBTQ+ bourbon festival as it returns for its second year.

Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Food & Wine, Eater, Bon Appétit, and more. 13–17 August 2025; wyomingequality.org

Criminal Queerness Festival, New York City

Spearheaded by the National Queer Theater collective, this Big Apple festival focuses on the work of playwrights from countries where queerness is censored or criminalised.

But it’s also important to remember that some of the biggest steps towards equality have happened right here in the city. Take a visit to The Supreme Court, where same-sex marriage was enshrined into law, or explore the powerful exhibits at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Expect design-forward rooms with mid-century touches and imaginative world dishes at the onsite Gerrard Street Kitchen (thedarcyhotel.com).

The Fairmont Washington DC: Ever a classic, the Fairmont promises a luxury escape in a central location – perfect for those planning lots of sightseeing.

Here’s where to show your support by spending your time and your hard-earned cash during 2025 World Pride and beyond.

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11-28 June; nationalqueertheater.org

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Airlines including British Airways (ba.com) and Virgin Atlantic (virginatlantic.com) fly direct from the UK to Dulles International Airport.

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The LGBTQ+ guide to Washington DC

Unfolding against a divisive political backdrop, WorldPride will take place in the nation’s capital this summer to honour the 50th anniversary of Pride in DC.

Calum McSwiggan plots the perfect escape in the capital

Calum McSwiggan

29 May 2025

(Alamy)

Washington DC is one of the few places in the USA that exudes queerness, no matter where you are. Watch diverse and poignant productions from LGBTQ+ writers at HERE Arts Center, with plays including Jedidiah Mugarura’s Tomorrow Never Came, Dena Igusti’s What You Are to Me and Krystal Ortiz’s frikiNation.

Here’s what you shouldn’t miss.

Must-sees

In October 1979, the first-ever National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights occurred, as 100,000 gay and lesbian people descended on the capital, galvanised by the murder of the openly gay politician Harvey Milk (Alamy)

Get political: The nation’s ongoing battle for LGBTQ+ rights cannot be ignored.

And whether it’s a rainbow flag flying from a neighbourhood porch – year round, not just during Pride month – or a friendly smile from a barista wearing a Trans Pride pin, travelling LGBTQ+ folk get a warm welcome.

It’s the thing that keeps me coming back.