Beautiful Queer Owned and Friendly Spaces Worth a Visit
Bar Flores, Los Angeles, CA. Photo: Bar Flores
Finding a thoughtfully designed space with a strong sense of identity is one thing. Finding one that is also queer-owned or intentionally LGBTQIA+ friendly adds an entirely new layer of meaning. These are the kinds of places where design goes deeper than aesthetics. Where the warmth comes not just from the lighting but from the values at the heart of the space. Where every guest, no matter who they are, is meant to feel safe, welcomed, and like they belong. Whether you're traveling or simply searching for a new go-to in your own city, this guide features beautiful queer-owned businesses and LGBTQIA+ friendly places that combine design-forward ambiance with an inclusive spirit. Each one is worth a visit, a photo, and a toast.
Bar Flores | Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA
Photo: Bar Flores
Bar Flores is the kind of spot that effortlessly balances charm with edge. Tucked upstairs in a colorful courtyard off Sunset Boulevard, it’s a vibrant queer Latina-owned bar that celebrates community with style. The space is drenched in florals, with hand-painted details, rich textiles, and candlelit corners that set the mood without trying too hard. Their cocktail menu leans seasonal and refreshing, with a strong mezcal showing and rotating specials. Come early for a mellow start or stay late for DJs and dancing; there’s always something happening. Flores doesn’t just serve drinks; it sets a tone. One that’s welcoming, celebratory, and unapologetically beautiful.
Bootlegger Tiki | Palm Springs, CA
Photo: Bootlegger Tiki
Bootlegger Tiki is a moody hideaway in Palm Springs that delivers both atmosphere and heritage. Housed in the former Don the Beachcomber, it’s a small, queer-friendly space that merges midcentury nostalgia with contemporary cocktails. Inside, it’s dimly lit and densely layered; a warm glow from rattan light fixtures, palm fronds, and tropical motifs fills the intimate bar. Their tiki drinks are theatrical and expertly balanced, with housemade syrups and thoughtful garnishes. You come for the escapism, and stay because it’s the kind of place where everyone feels like a regular by their second visit.
Tailor Shop | Palm Springs, CA
Photo: Tailor Shop
Across town, Tailor Shop offers a completely different mood: polished, inventive, and subtly seductive. Run by a queer couple, this cocktail bar plays with the concept of tailoring by customizing drinks to suit your preferences. The space is sleek and dark, with vintage mirrors, curved banquettes, and an aesthetic that feels equal parts Paris and Palm Springs. Drinks lean classic with a twist, and the bartenders are generous with their knowledge and recommendations. It’s the kind of spot you’d bring someone you want to impress: quietly cool, impeccably styled, and deeply intentional.
Water Bear Bar | Boise, ID
Photo: Water Bear Bar
Water Bear Bar is a standout in Boise, thanks to its inclusive energy, striking design, and top-tier cocktails. LGBTQIA+ owned and operated, it’s a space that feels simultaneously intimate and buzzing. The bar’s layout encourages connection, with circular booths, warm lighting, and a soft-industrial aesthetic that feels right at home in downtown Boise. The cocktail menu is both playful and precise, leaning on local ingredients and house infusions. On Wednesdays, the space transforms into a community-based vinyl night known as All Wax Wednesdays: featuring all-vinyl sets from 5 to 11 PM with lo-fi tracks and an eclectic atmosphere. They also host immersive seasonal events and go all out for holidays like Christmas, turning the bar into a festive, detail-filled experience. This is a bar that feels like it truly belongs to the community it serves. If you're moved to support them, you can contribute to their crowdfunding campaign to help save Water Bear Bar here.
nathálie | Boston, MA
Photo: nathálie
nathálie is a sleek, women- and queer-owned wine bar located in Boston's Fenway neighborhood. With its clean lines, minimal palette, and rows of natural wine bottles lining the walls, it feels like a pocket of calm within the city. The wine list is carefully curated and changes frequently, offering a well-balanced mix of the familiar and the adventurous. Small plates are equally considered, leaning seasonal and shareable. There’s an intentionality here: from the ceramics to the lighting that makes the space feel as good as it looks. It’s a beautiful place to unwind, reconnect, or savor a slow evening.
Cloak & Dagger | Cleveland, OH
Photo: Cloak & Dagger
A gothic bar with a progressive spirit, Cloak & Dagger is where edge meets inclusivity. It’s a queer-friendly cocktail lounge with a dark, immersive interior that’s a nod to Victorian design and theatrical flair. The team here is deeply committed to safety and expression, they've even created a custom-coded menu to help guests communicate allergies, preferences, and boundaries. Drinks are show-stopping and layered, often using housemade tinctures and fresh herbs. It’s a space that invites curiosity and connection. In a city not always known for design-forward drinking, Cloak & Dagger is a bold outlier.
Bocage Champagne Bar | Saratoga Springs, NY
Photo: Bocage Champagne Bar
Bocage Champagne Bar is soft luxury in bar form. This queer-owned champagne bar brings a European sensibility to upstate New York, with velvet chairs, gold accents, and an intimate layout that feels like stepping into a friend’s glamorous salon. The by-the-glass list is impressively deep, featuring both big names and small producers, and the house cocktails lean effervescent and elegant. The service is thoughtful without being fussy, and the vibe is relaxed but celebratory. It’s the kind of place that makes an ordinary night feel like an occasion.
Clifton Club | Dallas, TX
Photo: Clifton Club
Clifton Club is a queer-owned cocktail bar in East Dallas with a decidedly retro, members-only energy, minus the pretension. The design evokes midcentury lounge culture: wood-paneled walls, plush seating, and a standout horseshoe bar. It’s chic but welcoming, with a playlist that spans decades and a drink menu that honors the classics while still innovating. The crowd is mixed and inclusive, and the bar’s regular events often spotlight local artists and musicians. Whether you’re in for a pre-dinner martini or a nightcap, Clifton delivers style and substance.
Bar Eden | Dallas, TX
Photo: Bar Eden
Tucked behind Paradiso in the Bishop Arts District, Bar Eden is a garden-themed bar with a refreshingly queer and femme energy. The floral-heavy design, layered with mirrors and soft pinks, is playful without feeling overdone. It’s a space that encourages joy and connection, often hosting events that center LGBTQIA+ artists and creators. The drinks lean bright and botanical, with house spritzes and low-ABV options standing out. It’s the kind of place where you linger, order one more, and maybe make a new friend before the night’s through.
Deep Dive | Seattle, WA
Photo: Deep Dive
Deep Dive, tucked beneath the Amazon Spheres in downtown Seattle, is a subterranean bar that balances mystery with precision. Queer-friendly and meticulously designed, it’s moody in the best way with all velvet drapes, dark wood, and glowing shelves of rare spirits. The bar program is robust, featuring thoughtful takes on classics and seasonal signatures with housemade ingredients. Deep Dive feels like a secret worth sharing. It’s perfect for a solo martini, a late-night date, or simply a quiet escape from the buzz above.
While inclusive design should be the standard, we know that’s not always the case. That’s why it matters to highlight the businesses doing it right; those that prioritize not just beauty, but belonging. These queer-owned businesses and LGBTQIA+ friendly places remind us what’s possible when space is created with care and intention.
Whether you’re mapping out an LGBTQIA+ travel guide or simply chasing good design and good energy, these queer-owned and friendly places belong on your radar. Each one offers more than just a pretty space: they provide culture, connection, and care. At Opulist, we believe the most beautiful spaces are the ones that feel as good as they look. These are the places doing both.
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