Summer and Pride month coincide to bring us a time in the city that’s just, well, magical. Weeknights and weekends meld together in the sweltering heat, giving us plenty of opportunities to eat and drink our away around the city. So, we’ve curated a few must-try Queer-owned and/or-operated restaurants in the city. Whether you’re looking for the perfect brunch spot or a memorable nightcap, this guide is a great way to fuel up or wind down your Pride month activities.
We also have to add that while it’s fun to explore Queer-owned or -led businesses during Pride, it’s especially important to support them throughout the year. Not only do these restaurants offer outstanding food and drinks, but they provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
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Soso's Soho
Anyone who yearns for a bit of community feel and enjoys good food and good spirits in a beautiful, brightly colored space will especially appreciate this gem of a spot from the same folks behind The Tyger and Chinese Tuxedo. Brightly colored and exceptionally outfitted, it’s got plush booths that are ideal for gathering with a crew, and a menu of crowd-pleasing dishes that range from crudités and tuna tartare to Jonah crab royale, duck a l’orange, and a four quarter cheeseburger. Essentially, there’s a little something for everyone. Even better is their family-style prix-fixe option for groups of four or more, priced at just $78 per person. And when it comes to drinks, they’ve got you covered with multiple variations on the classics, from Martinis and spritzes to Negronis and Manhattans.
Ursula Brooklyn Bedford-Stuyvesant
Take a trip to New Mexico by way of Ursula, the acclaimed restaurant by chef and owner Eric See, which has called Bed-Stuy home since relocating from Crown Heights in 2023. The stunningly turquoise (and pink) dining room visually transports you, while the smells from the kitchen and the taste of all those New Mexican-sourced ingredients make you feel like you’re in Santa Fe. What makes the cocktails, beer, and wine menu at Ursula exceptional is the care that they’ve taken in curating their list to include mostly Queer-, woman-, femme-, Black-, POC-, and Indigenous-owned makers. Open as early as 8 a.m. a few days a week, it’s also the perfect stop for a tasty fix for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and while they’re most known for their breakfast burritos, do not, we repeat, do not sleep on the green chile cheeseburger for dinner.
Via Carota West Village
Are you sipping a chianti while enjoying a bowl of fresh pappardelle with wild boar ragù in a picturesque villa nestled in a small town outside of Florence — or are you having dinner in the West Village? It’s the latter, but in this case, both feel true. Chefs and partners Jody Williams and Rita Sodi opened Via Carota in the fall of 2014, and the restaurant has since become not only a neighborhood staple but also a local institution thanks to its old-world-inspired Italian menu, rustic decor, and the community they’ve built in NYC. Yes, you come to Via Carota for the pitch-perfect food (don’t sleep on those salads, either) and homey ambiance, but while you’re there do order one of the Negronis, of which there are six — each balancing sweet and bitter notes perfectly. Seriously, they’re so good, the folks at Via Carota bottled it. Reservations are limited (and a little hard to get), but if you can’t get a table, the bar is the perfect place to unwind with an aperitif, or head across the street to Bar Pisellino. Or check out two of their other lovely West Village restaurants, I Sodi and The Commerce Inn.
Llama Inn Williamsburg
Llama Inn is the kind of cool, laid-back restaurant you’d expect to find in Williamsburg, but its seasonal Peruvian menu and Latin-inspired cocktails completely exceed all expectations. Since opening in 2015, the airy eatery has been a local favorite for brunch and dinner, and thanks to its whimsical drinks menu, it’s also a place where you actually won’t mind sitting at the bar for a sip and bite, even when the restaurant is at capacity. The dishes, which range from oysters and ceviche to beef tenderloin stir-fry and pork shoulder are perfect accompaniments to the cocktails, like Sangria-esque Llama Del Rey and A Touch of Evil, made with dark rum, mezcal, and passionfruit, or perhaps the newly topical — and complex — Paul Mezcal cocktail, which mixes Pisco acholado, mezcal espadin, chamomile, Cocchi Americano, and blanc vermouth. And if you happen to be closer to Hudson Yards, do check out Papa San and don’t forget an order of the eel pizza.
P.S. Llama Inn is hosting their annual Pride event on Thursday, June 26. More details here.
Temple Bar Noho
Shuttered for a number of years before reopening in 2021, this iconic cocktail bar was the hangout of New York’s most eclectic downtown players in the 1990s — all of them no doubt downing a potent martini at the height of Temple Bar’s heyday back then. Today, it still retains a lot of that glamour with its glossy mahogany interiors, heavy green drapes, and a hanging disco ball gifted by Andy Warhol’s studio. Whether it’s for the history, the vibe, or the menu of sharp cocktails that go beyond your choice of martini (crafted by the experts at Attaboy), Temple Bar is a tough reservation, so make sure to book in advance, especially on nights when a DJ sets the mood.
Oti Lower East Side
Chef Elyas Popa’s colorful Romanian-ish restaurant is that perfect NYC dining hotspot. From recipes taken directly from Popa’s mom’s handwritten cookbook and its bright, energetic interior decor to hard-to-find wines from Eastern Europe and Romania, Oti is where you want to seek out flavorful discoveries. If you’ve never heard of ardei umpluti (peppers stuffed with pork, rice, herbs) or fasole batuta (an addicitively garlicky whipped bean dip), what are you waiting for? And don’t sleep on their limited-edition events, such as seafood boils and pop-up cocktail parties. You know a place with pink walls knows how to get down.
Milady’s Soho
When this famous Soho dive bar reopened in 2022 — after closing in 2014 following five decades of being a neighborhood institution — it auspiciously featured legendary cocktail master Julie Reiner at the helm. Famed for her work on other equally audacious bars, including Pegu Club, Leyenda, and Clover Club, Reiner revived Milady’s with a keen attention to decor and drinks without losing the convivial atmosphere the original was known for. In other words, expect a full calendar of LGBTQ+ events at all times. A food menu full of all things you can’t get enough of (fried calamari, loaded potato skins) will soak up a chunky selection of playful beverages, like the Corn Star Martini, spiked with vodka that’s been infused with Corn Pop cereal.
Walk-ins only.
Wanpaku/ Hidden Pearl Greenpoint
Hidden Pearl is, as the name suggests, truly a hidden gem. Located in the back of Wanpaku, a modern Japanese restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, this intimate speakeasy delivers an exciting medley of flavor thanks to head bartender Victoria Rivera. In the cocktail menu, expect to savor her creativity in drinks that marries her 15 years spent in Puerto Rico with the bar’s Japanese ethos. Salted tamarind and fried plantain dances with shochu and rum in a tropical highball; while a full-bodied boulevardier of walnut, cacao, and Japanese whiskey is crowned with a dreamy coconut-lucuma foam.
HAGS East Village
Co-owners Telly Justice and Camille Lindsley’s teeny-tiny fine-dining hotspot has a big focus on inclusion, which is why their tasting menus cater to both omnivores and vegans. And also why on Sundays, the duo offers a sliding-scale pay-as-you-wish à la carte brunch menu so that anyone can sample their unique take on seasonal, farmer-fresh ethos. The inventive work in the kitchen features everything from leeks paired with a coco-nib chile crisp to a tomato pie of focaccia topped with boquerones. Hags is also no stranger to staging must-see events, whether it’s a lively Halloween dinner or hosting other queer culinary figures for limited pop-ups.
Julius’ Greenwich Village
What can you expect to find in the city’s oldest continuously operating gay bar? Well, history, for one. Legend has it that the original venue first opened in the 19th century, but Julius’ Queer legacy really got started in the 1960s with the famous “Sip In” that you can still feel today. The wagon wheel chandelier, the timeworn wood bar, and the framed photos of notable patrons evoke heritage. And the community you sense within (it feels like everyone is regular at Julius’) is as authentic to the experience as their now-famous cheeseburger.
Walk-ins only.
Maite Bushwick
Ella Schmidt’s now 11-year-old restaurant, formerly a deli, is as welcoming as ever. The last few years has been especially busy with Queer-forward events and parties. With its antique-looking wood walls and stamped-tin ceiling, Maite might resemble at old time-y saloon, but the work Schmidt is doing in the kitchen is more global-reaching than that. The chalkboard that proclaims the daily menu: The fried gnocchi, ravioli smothered in mozzarella, egg-stuffed arepa, and the rice cooked with seafood might evoke meals in Italy, Spain, and Colombia. But, really, they’re all just delicious visions coming from Schmidt’s multicultural imagination.
Raf's NoHo
With wood-fire ovens dating back to the 1930’s at its core, this French-Italian restaurant and bakery might transport you to a cobblestone little corner on the old continent, but it retains that neighborhood-joint feeling through and through. Chef Mary Attea and pastry chef Camari Mick consistently deliver crowed-pleasing classics, from a bright salad of leeks, stracciatella, and hazelnuts and a hearty pork-ragu rigatoni for lunch to a harissa chocolate cake for dessert. These two know exactly what you want and what will keep you coming back time and again.
Cubbyhole
It may not be as old as Julius’, but Cubbyhole, which has been around since 1994, is just as beloved a fixture of NYC nightlife. Sadly, there aren’t many lesbian bars in the city, but Cubbyhole, which renovated in 2022, remains a welcoming destination for Queer women. The mix-and-match furniture as well as the ceiling festooned with lanterns give the bar a playful vibe, but Cubbyhole remains a community space, often hosting a variety of events, from fundraisers and book swaps to jazz performances. The drinks menu is varied, too, with a selection of beer, wine, specialty cocktails, and zero-proof beverages.
Walk-ins only.
Briscola Trattoria Crown Heights
Chef Silvia Barban’s (La Rina Pastificio) loving ode to the old-school Italian trattoria is all about hearty, comforting fare, like bomba di riso, named the bomba di Silvia here, that’s big enough for two and consists of tomato baked rice stuffed with mozzarella, green peas, meatballs, and basil. It’s a warm and inviting spot, ideal for a weekend brunch or dinner, where the service is always kind and generous.
Passerine Flatiron
Photo by Todd Coleman, courtesy of Passerine
If you’re seeking out thoughtful and meticulously crafted Indian fare served in a beautiful, breathtaking setting, look no further than this Gramercy stunner from owner Maneesh K. Goyal (also a partner in Temple Bar) and chef Chetan Shetty. What’s particularly special about Passerine is the flexibility of dining experiences you can have there, too. The front drawing room serves small plates like a beet poriyal tart, grilled oysters, and scallion uttapam, alongside some creative cocktails, while the main dining room offers you a choice of a la carte or tasting menu options. Whatever you do, however, don’t sleep on the desserts, especially the delightful ice cream sandwich.
Photo by Todd Coleman, courtesy of Passerine
SAE RON Lower East Side
Partners in life and in business, Erin and Jessica Lee-An, are behind this Lower East Side spot where the dishes draw on chef Jessica’s Korean upbringing and fine-dining chops from working in restaurants like Gotham Bar & Grill, The Clocktower, and Gramercy Tavern. Think crème rosé sujebi with Korean chile paste, smoked bacon and cheese, a jjajang beef pot pie, or an injeolmi cereal sundae. It’s also got a sleek and elegant, multi-level space, perfect for starting or ending your night. Upstairs, they serve soju-based cocktails like a Buckwheat Cold Noodle that’s a play on Korean naengmyun, and a Jasmine Matcha Latte with jasmine-infused soju, topped with housemade matcha mochi.
It's Him Hell’s Kitchen
Hell’s Kitchen might be better known for its more rambunctious nightlife offerings, but this newly minted cocktail den (it opened just a year ago) delivers a more mellow night out — if that’s what you’re after. There’s definitely a sensuality to It’s Him that’s more intimate, similar to a member’s club ambience, built around its sleek interiors (check out the marble floors), sharp drinks, and a variety of must-see events, from live music to literary readings.
Agi's Counter Crown Heights
At this charming Brooklyn restaurant, chef-owner Jeremy Salamon pays homage to his Hungarian and Jewish grandmothers to deliver addictive, nostalgia-driven fare, especially when it comes to bread-y items. A tuna melt stuffed into a griddled potato pullman or a Palacsinta (or Hungarian crepes) keep things very classic during the day. At night, expect even heartier plates of chicken schnitzel and pork chops. And if you’re really feeling the fantasy, place an order for an entire Sacher Torte to bring to your next Pride party. Or just pick up one of their cult-favored merch, like an illustrated T-shirt inspired by Golden Girls, where the show’s four main characters are drawn up like some of the restaurant’s most beloved dishes. And if you happen to find yourself in Red Hook, do head over to Pitt’s for some truly comforting fare that blends together the best of Southern cooking with a New York sensibility.
Read on to find out where the owners of Agi’s Counter and Pitt’s go for date night in NYC here.
