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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, drink, and merry our away around the city. So, we’ve curated a few must-try queer-owned and/or-operated restaurants all throughout New York. 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.
Newly added: Good Days, Love Thy Neighbor, Pasta Night, and Sugar Monk.
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Love Thy Neighbor West Village
This newly opened bar and restaurant takes inclusivity to heart, with a deep commitment to celebrating the queer community and welcoming all to its beautiful West Village space where you won’t find any straight lines in sight, a purposeful nod to owners Shigefumi Kabashima (formerly of ROKC and NR) and Elias Popi’s (formerly of Oti) definition of hospitality: “fluid, open, and without boundaries.” You’ll find a single brick from the original Stonewall Inn embedded inside the bar, and a quote from Marsha P. Johnson (“No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us”) is inlaid into the floor by the entrance, too. Here, you’re bound to find something that draws you in, from chicken karaage and NYC pastrami tartare to braised short ribs and mochi with parmesan and prosciutto. P.S. Pay close attention to the playlist; the restaurant’s carefully tuned sound system is personally overseen by DJ, producer, and sound engineer Yuji Kawasaki. And look for them to open up in the daytime soon, too.
Soso’s Soho
Anyone who yearns for a bit of community feel and enjoys good food and drinks in a beautiful, brightly colored space will especially appreciate this gem from the same folks behind The Tyger and Chinese Tuxedo. Its plush booths are ideal for gathering with a crew, tucking into a menu of crowd-pleasing dishes ranging from crudités and tuna tartare to Jonah crab royale, duck a l’orange, and a juicy 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 $88 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 aromas and flavors of New Mexican-sourced ingredients make you feel like you’re in Santa Fe. What makes the cocktails, beer, and wine menu here exceptional is that they feature 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 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
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. 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 that Via Carota bottled them. 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 aperitivo. Or check out two of their other lovely West Village restaurants, I Sodi and The Commerce Inn.
Papa San Midtown West
This colorful Midtown izakaya from Erik Ramirez and Juan Correa builds the duo’s ever-changing empire of Nikkei and Peruvian culinary projects. At Papa San, which opened in February last year, expect Nikkei classics like a trio of spicy ceviches and a mussels chupe (a traditional Peruvian stew) to share menu space with more whimsical creations, like the now iconic eel pizza and the lucama soft serve for dessert. Across their various restaurants, including the newly opened Café Bar J.F. (a third space devoted to South America’s taverns), Ramirez and Correa have organized Pride events and fundraisers to support important queer organizations like the NYC AIDS Memorial. This year at Papa San will be no different, be sure to check their social for updates.
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. 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 of its sister spot, Attaboy), Temple Bar is a tough reservation, so make sure to book in advance, especially on nights when a DJ sets the mood.
Good Days Williamsburg
Owned by industry couple, chef Stephany Burgos and beverage director Amanda Norton, this South Williamsburg newcomer was welcomed with open arms by its neighborhood when it debuted last October. It could have been the bright back patio perfect for lingering, the 1,000-layer Japanese sweet potato topped with crème fraîche, or maybe it’s the fun, inclusive, vibe that defines every meal. Combined, Good Days immediately became a neighborhood hotspot. This Pride, Burgos and Norton plans to introduce a litany of sapphic and queer events, including burlesque performances, comedy shows, and the launch of a dinner party series that will eventually become a quarterly happening and will feature wines from women-owned vineyards.
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 rotating calendar of LGBTQ+ events. A food menu full of all things you can’t get enough of (fried calamari, chicken and corn empanadas) 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.
Sugar Monk West Harlem
Photo courtesy of Sugar Monk
Since it opened on Frederick Douglass Boulevard in 2019, this intimate and artsy cocktail bar has been described by its owners as an elegant speakeasy harking back to the Harlem Renaissance. At Sugar Monk, its bartenders curated a diverse lineup of beverages; many of them orbit around their in-house amari, bitters, tinctures, and liqueurs under the brand Atheras Spirits. If you can’t decide on a martini, for example, try the flight of three mini pours that serve to highlight the work they’re doing with Atheras. Moreover, every year during Pride, the team whips up a collection of limited-edition drinks that celebrates the queer community. And if you come on Tuesday, there’s live jazz playing.
Photo courtesy of Sugar Monk
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 scallops with vanilla oil, smoked date, and grapefruit. 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. Learn more here.
Maite Bushwick
Ella Schmidt’s now 11-year-old restaurant is as welcoming as ever. The last few years have been especially busy with queer-forward events and parties. With its antique-looking wood walls and stamped-tin ceiling, Maite might resemble an old time-y saloon, but Schmidt’s work in the kitchen is more global-reaching than that. Check the chalkboard for a rotating lineup of daily specials: 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 dreamy visions coming from Schmidt’s multicultural-inspired imagination.
Raf’s NoHo
With wood-fire ovens dating back to the 1930s 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 consistently delivers crowd-pleasing classics, from a bright salad of leeks, stracciatella, and hazelnuts and a hearty pork-ragu rigatoni for lunch to a white chocolate budino for dessert. Let’s face it: Raf’s is a Big Apple fave because it knows exactly what you want and what will keep you coming back time and again.
Cubbyhole
Cubbyhole has been around since 1994 and is a beloved a fixture of NYC nightlife. Sadly, the number of lesbian bars in the city are continuing to dwindle, but Cubbyhole, which renovated in 2022, remains a welcoming destination for queer-identifying 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. Learn more here.
Briscola Trattoria Crown Heights
For chef Silvia Barban (also of LaRina Pastificio & Vino), this 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
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). What’s particularly special about this design-forward dining room is the flexibility of experiences it offers. The front drawing room, for instance, serves small plates like Koliwada shrimp tacos and aloo kulcha alongside some creative cocktails, while the main dining room has both an a la carte and a tasting menu. Whatever you do, however, don’t sleep on the desserts, especially the ice cream sandwich.
Pasta Night Prospect Heights
What started as monthly pasta nights at its older sibling restaurant, Ciao, Gloria, has evolved into a dedicated destination for carbo-loading since 2024. But more than just a lively, casual restaurant for bowls of carbonara, plates of perfectly fried calamari, and free-flowing spritzes; Pasta Night is a social hub. It regularly hosts dinner parties, like the very queer Sunday Sauced drag performances, creative workshops, and pasta-making classes with James Beard-nominated restaurateur (and co-owner) Renato Poliafito.
It’s Him Hell’s Kitchen
Hell’s Kitchen might be better known for its more rambunctious nightlife offerings, but this cocktail den that opened two years 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 rotating variety of must-see events, previously featuring everything 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 memorable, nostalgia-driven fare, especially when it comes to bread-y items. A tuna melt stuffed into a griddled potato pullman and the palacsintas (or Hungarian crepes) keep things classic during the day. At night, expect heartier plates of roast chicken schnitzel and pork chops. And if you’re really feeling the fantasy, order their popular cheesecake for your next Pride party. Or just pick up one of their cult-favored merch, like an illustrated T-shirt inspired by “The Golden Girls,” where the show’s four main characters are drawn up like some of the restaurant’s most beloved dishes.
Read on to find out where the owners of Agi’s Counter and Pitt’s go for date night in NYC here.
