Gayborhood

Situated within the borders of Philadelphia’s Washington Square West neighborhood, the Gayborhood is one of Philly’s hottest spots. Its nightlife is marked by the many LGBT friendly bars and clubs that dot the area between Walnut and Spruce Streets. Whether you’re into cheap beer and dives, suits and cocktails, or something a little more wild, the gay-friendly establishments that gave the Gayborhood its popularity have what you need for a fun night out.

Nightclubs, though there are many, are not the only choices when deciding how to spend your night. Many of the city’s newest and yummiest restaurants lie within the friendly borders. Parisian cuisine at the Caribou Cafe delivers remarkable plates, perfect for pre or post theatre meals, and Green Eggs Cafe’s, know by Philly locals for its famous brunch (check out the red velvet pancakes!), opened its newest location here .

Whether you’re sipping a latte or letting loose, the Gayborhood’s rainbow-painted crosswalks will happily lead you where you long to be. Meet old friends or make some new ones, in Philly’s friendliest neighborhood.

Home Types in the Gayborhood

This area offers mostly condominiums, with very few row-homes or single family homes. The condos vary from high-rise buildings to low-rise buildings, one to three bedrooms, some with parking some without. Many of the low-rise condo buildings were converted from the mansions they originally were originally and made into condominium units. The few row-homes in midtown village range from small 1,100 square foot two or three story homes up to larger 1,800 to 2,500 square foot developments with parking.

Getting to the Gayborhood

The Gayborhood is smack dab in the middle of Philadelphia’s transportation centers. It sits right next to Jefferson station, one of three major hubs for the regional rail system. Buses are a plenty and, if you need to travel to New Jersey, the PATCO station is easily accessible along Locust Street. The Broad Street subway line is also a mere block away.

Neighborhood Corridors

The Gayborhood lies within Midtown Village is most prominent between Chestnut and Pine Streets and 12th and 13th Streets.

Staying Here

Sleep in style, with choices like the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, The Double Tree by Hilton, and the Independent Hotel. There are also plenty of Airbnb listings, if you want to stay in the neighborhood.

Walkscore & Bikescore

The Gayborhood is extremely pedestrian and bike friendly.

Walkscore: 100
Bikescore: 89

Don’t have a bike? Don’t worry! There are Indego bike rental stations conveniently within the Gayborhood area.

Restaurants and Dining

Craving steak, Mexican, pizza, Indian, vegetarian, or a mixture of everything? Midtown Village is bursting with flavor and eager to please the pickiest eater. Restaurants such as Fogo de Chao, The Capital Grille, and Vedge offer their unique perspectives, winning over locals time and time again. 
Cake and the Beanstalk offers amazing coffee and (if possible) even better food, delivering savory snacks and delicious baked goods daily. Check out their next door garden!

Bars and Nightlife

As Philly’s marketing campaign says– keep your history straight and your nightlife gay. With favorites like Woody’s, icandy, U Bar, and Venture Inn, you will only have one problem when it comes to nightlife in the Gayborhood – choosing where to go!

Shops, Galleries and Boutiques

The Wilma Theatre is a neighborhood staple, offering contemporary theatre experiences that engage audiences and artists alike. Local businesses, such as Duross & Langel and Eviama encourage visitors to treat themselves to a little (or a lot) TLC. Among them are multiple businesses that cater to everything from eyeglasses and art-goers to children and artists.

Parks, Landmarks and Attractions

The Gayborhood is not at a loss for things to do! The Gay Fest theatre festival is on its 5th year, celebrating the LGBT community with four Philadelphia premieres , staged readings, live readings, and more. This year also marked the 50th year since the LGBT civil rights movement, celebrated over the course of 4 days in June. The Pride Parade attracts visitors far and wide each June, with more than 25,000 people joining in the events.