Okay, so Dane DeMarco’s new burger spot, Burgertime, is technically in New Jersey. Try the signature “pink drink,” although you really can’t go wrong with any of the high-quality coffees and teas on the menu. Owners Sonam Parikh and Kate Egghart stock the shelves with art and accessories from local makers, and snacks include to-die-for samosas and pakoras from another West Philly staple, International Foods and Spices. 52nd Street, West Philly Mina’s World Gab BonghiĪ staple of the 52nd Street corridor, Mina’s World is one of the best queer-owned cafes in the area. The Instagram-worthy cakes and cupcakes are top tier and don’t disappoint in the flavor department either. If you have a sweet tooth (and honestly, even if you don’t), Lily Fischer and Nima Etemadi’s Cake Life is unmissable. Right off Frankford Avenue in the heart of Fishtown is arguably the best queer-owned bake shop in the city. Cake Lifeġ306 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown Cake Life Bake Shop Carly Fuller Do not skimp on any of the homemade sambals or you’ll definitely regret it later. A favorite of carnivores and vegans alike, the menu is all hits and no misses. This neighborhood gem in South Philly, run by Diana Widjojo and her sister Maylia, serves up Indonesian comfort food that will bring you back for more again and again. McLaughlin implemented a 20 percent service fee on all checks to pay for health benefits for all workers, as well as a 401(k) matching program, a rare find in most traditional restaurant environments.
Mission Taqueriaġ516 Sansom Street, 2nd Floor, Center City Mission Taqueria Neal Santosĭaniel McLaughlin’s vibe-heavy taco joint above another Center City mainstay, Oyster House, is known for its tacos, margaritas, and more recently, its fair work environment. Come for the famous Jonnathan bread and Dutch specialties like the herring on rye, and stay for the laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff. Owned by JonCarl Lachman, the chef behind the East Passyunk favorite (and sadly soon-to-be-closed) Noord, Winkel is a destination brunch spot in the Gayborhood. Whether you’re looking for a quiet cup of coffee, a killer lunch, or a wild night out, here are the queer-owned Philly mainstays to suit every need. At a time where bars and restaurants are still struggling, it’s more important than ever to support queer-owned businesses in our community, especially as those that have been forced to close their doors have left neighborhoods without some long-time favorites. Check the website to see who’s playing and buy tickets in advance.In such a varied and diverse city, it’s no surprise that Philly is home to a long-thriving queer community. Even when drag is off the menu, the space caters to SLC’s alternative crowd with a range of live events to suit almost everyone’s taste. Leave the long Mormon garments at home, this event is more Andrew Christian than Joseph Smith.Īlthough this midsize concert venue isn’t explicitly gay, Metro hosts the city’s best drag shows (it’s the number one place to find the girls of RuPaul’s Drag Race when they’re in town). The local crowd gets rowdy on the third Thursday of every month after checking their clothes for the Underwear Party. This laid-back bar is famous for cheap drinks, Thursday night karaoke, and Sunday BBQs on the patio between Mother’s Day and Labor Day. Expect live DJs, drag queens, go-go dancers, and a weekly party theme inviting you to dress up so you can get down in style. This straight lounge becomes a queer dance club once every week for Revolution Fridays. The city is chock-a-block with hip coffee shops, international food options, artistic offerings, and enough outdoor activities to make you feel you’re living in a Patagonia clothing ad. You’ll find queer folks congregating in neighborhoods like Sugar House, the Marmalade District of Capitol Hill, and in the Avenues near Temple Square, but there’s no true gayborhood of which to speak. In some ways, Salt Lake City is so gay it’s post-gay. That’s higher than both New York City and Los Angeles. A whopping 4.7 percent of the population identifies as LGBT. The same year Biskupski was elected, Gallup released a poll naming Salt Lake City the seventh gayest city in the United States. SLC is so queer-friendly that officials renamed a street in honor of the politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk in 2016.
She currently serves with three openly gay city council members: Amy Fowler, Derek Kitchen, and Chris Wharton. In 2015, Jackie Biskupski became the city’s first openly gay mayor. Nowhere is this change more pronounced than in Salt Lake’s flourishing LGBTQ+ community. Photo: Austen Diamond Photography/Visit Salt Lake