The gay bars Miami visitors ask about most are clustered in South Beach, with a drag brunch and dinner show scene in Wynwood and a late night bar downtown that books queer nights. Miami has fewer dedicated LGBTQ bars than it once did, which makes the ones still open worth knowing well. Every listing below sticks to the drag, DJ, karaoke and show nights that each venue publishes itself, and all of them welcome everyone.
Quick Picks
- Best for dancing until 5am: Twist, South Beach.
- Best for drag brunch on the beach: Palace, Ocean Drive.
- Best for a drag dinner show: R House, Wynwood.
- Best for karaoke and trivia: Bar Gaythering, Lincoln Road.
- Best for a late night downtown: The Corner, Downtown Miami.
Twist
Twist at 1057 Washington Avenue is one of the longest running gay clubs in South Beach and the one most people mean when they talk about gay bars on Miami Beach. It is seven bars and three dance floors across two stories, there is never a cover, and Miami New Times readers named it Best Gay Bar in 2026. It opens every day from 3pm to 5am, with two for one drinks on everything from 3pm to 9pm, and the whole club opens at 10pm on Friday and Saturday.
The weekly schedule runs Latin dance shows in Bar 5 on Mondays at midnight, Akasha Tuesdays with Akasha O’Hara Lords performing at midnight, and karaoke Wednesdays in the Bungalow Bar from 10pm. Thursday is Sabroso, a Latin party with live percussion and a midnight show hosted by Poizon Ivy. Friday has DJs in the main room until 5am with a midnight show by CC Glitzer, and Sunday closes with a Latin comedy drag act at midnight. Best for groups who want to bar hop without leaving the building (get directions).
Palace
Palace at 1052 Ocean Drive has been serving drag on Ocean Drive since 1988, and it now adds a rooftop pool bar above the restaurant. Drag brunch runs Friday through Monday, and the Sunday brunch, hosted by Tiffany Fantasia, has seatings at 11am and 2pm. Drag Madness Fridays start at 7pm. Palace is open from 11am to 2am Friday through Sunday and 11am to 1am Monday through Thursday.
Reservations are the safest way in for brunch and the evening shows, and Palace also takes bachelorette party bookings. The best choice for a first drag show in Miami, with the ocean across the street (get directions).
R House
R House at 2727 NW 2nd Avenue in Wynwood is a restaurant first, with a drag program that takes over at the end of the week. Drag brunch runs every Saturday and Sunday with family style menus, and recent calendars list a Friday night show called Turn It Out and a Saturday night show called Icons. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday 4pm to 10pm, Friday 4pm to 11pm, Saturday 11:30am to midnight and Sunday 11:30am to 6pm, and it is closed Monday and Tuesday. Valet is available. Book ahead for brunch, which fills on weekends (get directions).
Bar Gaythering
Inside Hotel Gaythering at 1409 Lincoln Road, west of West Avenue, Bar Gaythering is a lobby bar with a full weekly calendar and a calmer pace than Washington Avenue. Karaoke runs every Monday at 8pm, trivia is Wednesday at 8pm, and bingo is Thursday from 8pm to midnight. On Friday the bar hosts a Drag Race viewing party when the show is in season and a DJ when it is not, and Sunday Funday brings a T Dance with a DJ from 4pm to 8pm. Best for locals and anyone who wants to talk as well as dance (get directions).
The Corner
The Corner at 1035 N Miami Avenue is a downtown bar that stays open until 5am Sunday through Thursday and 7am on Friday and Saturday. It is not a gay bar in the strict sense, but its own calendar mixes a queer women’s night with jazz nights, late night karaoke and DJ sets that run past sunrise. Best for night owls and anyone looking for an LGBTQ friendly crowd away from the beach (get directions).
Planning a Night Out
Twist, Palace and Bar Gaythering are all in South Beach and within a short walk or a quick ride of each other: Palace is on Ocean Drive, Twist is a few blocks inland on Washington Avenue, and Gaythering is at the west end of Lincoln Road. R House in Wynwood and The Corner downtown are a rideshare away from the beach. Parking in South Beach is metered and garages fill on weekends, so rideshare is the easier choice. Friday and Saturday are the busiest nights at Twist, brunch days at Palace and R House are Friday through Sunday, and weeknights are when the smaller shows and karaoke happen. A classic plan is drag brunch at Palace, an afternoon on the sand, then Twist after 11pm. Our guides to South Beach nightlife, bars in Miami Beach and Wynwood after dark cover the bars around these stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best gay bars in Miami?
Twist and Palace in South Beach are the best known, with Bar Gaythering on Lincoln Road for a relaxed night, R House in Wynwood for drag brunch and dinner shows, and The Corner downtown for a late night crowd.
Where are the gay bars in South Beach?
Twist is at 1057 Washington Avenue, Palace is at 1052 Ocean Drive, and Bar Gaythering is inside Hotel Gaythering at 1409 Lincoln Road. All three are within a short ride of each other.
Which gay bars on Miami Beach are open late?
Twist is open every day until 5am and never charges a cover. Palace stays open until 2am Friday through Sunday.
Where can I see drag shows in Miami?
Palace runs drag brunch Friday through Monday and Drag Madness on Friday nights at 7pm. R House has drag brunch every weekend plus Friday and Saturday night shows, and Twist has midnight shows several nights a week.
Are there LGBTQ bars in Miami outside South Beach?
Yes. R House in Wynwood is built around drag, and The Corner in downtown Miami hosts queer nights on its calendar alongside jazz, karaoke and DJs.
Header photo: Ted Eytan, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
