Best Gay Bars & Bathhouses In Saint Paul
Saint Paul has one dedicated LGBTQ+ bar of its own, but the broader scene Saint Paul residents actually use is the Twin Cities metro — specifically downtown Minneapolis, roughly 15 to 20 minutes west by car or light rail. The Twin Cities punch well above their weight when it comes to LGBTQ+ nightlife, offering everything from massive dance clubs and legendary dive bars to drag cabarets, queer sports bars, and a thriving pop-up party scene. Whether you live in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood or Frogtown, the venues below are where Saint Paul locals go.
The Saint Paul LGBTQ+ Scene
Unlike cities where gay bars cluster on a single strip, the Twin Cities scene is spread across neighborhoods — downtown Hennepin Avenue, the Northeast Arts District, Loring Park, Uptown, and across the river in Saint Paul. Black Hart of Saint Paul anchors Saint Paul's side of the scene, while the majority of dedicated LGBTQ+ venues sit in Minneapolis, a quick drive or Green Line ride away. Minneapolis and Saint Paul are home to an ever-changing underground network of queer culture and events; ad hoc dance parties and alternative club nights like The Klituation, GRRRL Scout, Daddy Issues, and Cyber City Disco are as reliably fun and, in many circles, as popular as the cities' gay bars. On the bathhouse front: Minneapolis is holding fast to older scientific understanding of HIV — city laws still define it in outdated terms, which is why it shut down the city's bathhouses in 1986 and prevents any new ones from opening. Minneapolis city leaders are considering legalizing adult bathhouses and sex venues where sexual activity between consenting adults would be allowed, but as of 2026 no licensed bathhouse operates in the Twin Cities metro.
Top Gay Bars & Clubs for Saint Paul Locals
Black Hart of Saint Paul
Type: Gay bar / Queer sports bar
Location: 1415 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104
Features: A queer soccer bar — perhaps the only one of its kind — it's a queer space built around community integration, situated just a few hundred yards from Minnesota United's Allianz Field. It continues the long legacy of the Town House Bar as a home for the LGBTQ+ community, with drag shows, burlesque, bingo, and karaoke on the calendar.
Website: https://www.blackhartstp.com
The Saloon
Type: Gay dance club / Bar and grill
Location: 830 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403 — approx. 15 min from Saint Paul
Features: One of the biggest names in Minneapolis gay nightlife, built for high-energy nights with multiple rooms, a packed dance floor, and a vibe that shifts depending on the party theme — a strong choice when you want options in one place. Self-described as "the cornerstone of downtown Minneapolis nightlife," the Saloon has been an LGBTQ+ community hub since 1977.
Website: https://www.thesaloonmpls.com
Gay 90's
Type: Gay club / Multi-floor entertainment complex
Location: 408 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401 — approx. 15 min from Saint Paul
Features: Now two floors and seven bars' worth of dancing the night away, the Gay 90's is a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ nightlife in the Cities, with a long history of welcoming trans folks and continuing open, inclusive, fun programming for everyone.
Website: https://www.gay90s.com
LUSH Lounge & Theater
Type: Queer bar / Drag and performance venue
Location: 990 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 — approx. 20 min from Saint Paul
Features: One of the best spots for queer nightlife in Minneapolis when you want a performance-first night — drag shows, ticketed events, and a theater setup that feels more like a mini venue than a standard bar, with drag brunch and evening shows as major draws. Reopened under new ownership in 2021, it is seeking to become the first nonprofit LGBTQ+ bar and theater.
Website: https://www.lushmpls.com
Eagle MPLS (formerly EagleBOLTbar)
Type: Gay bar / Neighborhood bar and grill
Location: 515 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415 — approx. 18 min from Saint Paul
Features: Formerly known as EagleBOLTbar and now under new management, the Eagle Minneapolis falls somewhere between a neighborhood bar and grill and a gay nightclub, with daily happy hour deals, Sunday beer bust and show tunes, and gear and underwear nights.
Website: https://www.eaglempls