While there are nowhere near as many gay bars in Jersey City as there are in Manhattan’s West Village, the neighborhood still has a couple of fun venues that cater to the LGBTQ+ community. Each year Jersey City has its own Pride festival too, which has been running for over two decades and takes place in the historic downtown area around the end of August. With drag shows, parties and tons of events happening all around Newark Ave/Grove Street, it’s one of the largest Pride festivals in the northeast.
Jersey City is a diverse community with tons of great bars and restaurants, including two gay bars – Pint Bar and Six 26 – which we’ll cover below. There’s also a roving LGBTQ+ Dance Party, which usually pops up each year during Pride Festival.
Pint Bar
This tiny bar up by Grove Street is super fun and serves over 50 American craft beers as well as 16oz cocktails.
There are tons of events and specials throughout the week including Tuesday “Bearly Bingo”, Wednesday Trivia, $9 giant “Ducked Up” cocktails on Thursdays and $5 shots on Sundays. It also has a daily Happy Hour, which runs till 7pm and includes $5 well Drinks, $4 Miller Lite/Yuengling, and $6 sangria/wine.
Opened in 1911, Pint Bar is one of Jersey City’s oldest bars and has been slinging drinks for over 110 years. It’s had multiple different names over the years and operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition.
The bar has a duke box, plus the 16oz pint glass cocktails come with a collectible rubber duckie on top! Vist this bar enough times and you’ll soon have a fun collection of rubber duckies all over your home.
34 Wayne Street, Jersey City, NJ (corner of Grove and Wayne streets)
https://www.pintjerseycity.com/
Six26
Six26 is a bar lounge and rooftop with high energy vibes and regular events. The bar’s name pays homage to the day the Marriage Equality Act was passed in the United States – June 26th, 2015.
The sleek rooftop has garden-esque vibes and features a mix of tables and comfy couches. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a drink in summer and watch the sunset. Downstairs you’ll find the Lounge at Six26, which has trendy club vibes and a dance floor that’ll make you want to stay all night.
Open till 2am every day, Six26 is a fun place to dance, enjoy life and meet new people. Happy Hour takes place Monday through Friday from 4pm to 8pm and includes $5 house wines, $5 well drinks, select $5 appetizers and $5 light beers.
There are also events all week, including taco Tuesdays, Karaoke Wednesdays, Drag Brunch Saturdays and Industry Sundays. Drag Brunch features a drag show that runs from 2pm to 4pm and includes $3 Mimosas.
128 Christopher Columbus Drive Jersey City, NJ 07302
Headroom // Ménage
Headroom is Jersey City’s Roving LGBTQ+ Dance Party and for National Pride Month 2022 it took place at legendary Jersey City bar Golden Cicada. The event included a dancy party, buffet style food and choreographed dance drag experience.
Other events have been held at establishments around the city, including Luna Restaurant & Bar and The Underground at Grove Square (now closed). For updates and indo, follow them on Instagram @headroomlounge.
https://www.instagram.com/headroomlounge/
While there aren’t many gay bars in Jersey City, the ones listed above serve as fun meeting places for Jersey City’s gay community. If you’re looking for more ideas for places to drink in JC, we have tons of lists to give you inspiration. From breweries and beer halls to speakeasies and rooftop bars, there are tons of watering holes where you can enjoy a drink or two.
