Best Transgender Bars and Clubs in St. John's

St. John's is a city without a dedicated trans bar right now — Velvet Club and Lounge, which served as the anchor of the city's 2SLGBTQ+ nightlife for over a decade, closed in early 2025 after a public dispute over performer pay that drew national attention, having been a focal point for the city's queer scene for years. What exists in its place is something more dispersed: a patchwork of queer-owned event series, trans-forward community collectives, and consistently inclusive venues spread across downtown St. John's. The city's 2SLGBTQIA+ community is visible and deeply woven into the city's fabric, with queer-friendly spaces found across it — from community centres and drag venues to inclusive pubs and art collectives. The scene rewards those who follow it on social media and stay plugged into community networks.

The St. John's Trans Scene

St. John's is without a permanent official gay bar, but a patchwork of queer-run events are creating safe nighttime spaces for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. For trans people specifically, dedicated queer spaces remain especially important — they are places where trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people can go and feel absolutely accepted, without worrying about being criticized for the way they look or present. The scene now clusters around event-based nights — drag battles on George Street, dance parties organized by FLINTA-focused collectives, techno nights run by queer promoters, and Pride-anchored programming at downtown venues. St. John's may not boast a vast array of dedicated gay bars, but its nightlife scene is very welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community, with the compact downtown area — particularly George Street — at the centre of things. Oíche on George Street and Bannerman Brewing on Duckworth Street are the two consistently queer-friendly permanent venues locals return to most.

Top Transgender Bars and Clubs for St. John's Locals

Oíche

Type: LGBTQ+ dance club / queer nightlife venue

Location: 16 George Street, St. John's, NL

Features: This queer-owned club night is a community-powered space where queer folks, trans folks, BIPOC, and allies come together to dance and exist unapologetically, with rotating local and visiting DJs spinning house, techno, disco, queer pop, and underground beats depending on the night. It carries the loosest door energy on George Street and is where you are most likely to find a trans-majority crowd on a given night out.

Website: https://www.oiche.ca

JAG (115 George Street)

Type: LGBTQ+ event venue / cocktail bar

Location: 115 George Street, St. John's, NL

Features: JAG has become a go-to for Pride-anchored drag programming. Pride After Dark at JAG in July 2026 featured Canada's Drag Race star Jimbo, signalling the kind of high-profile queer bookings this room can pull. Worth checking its calendar outside Pride season for recurring queer events.

The Majestic Theatre

Type: Queer-friendly performance venue / bar and café

Location: 2 Cathedral Street, St. John's, NL

Features: A fully renovated historic theatre with full sound, lighting, and projection capability, with a ground-level venue where a professional stage meets a full-service bar and café. Tara Nova — Newfoundland's most prominent trans drag performer — held a Canada's Drag Race viewing party here after cutting ties with Velvet, and the venue has since partnered with St. John's Pride on events including Queeroke Night. It hosts some of the most trans-visible programming in the city.

Website: https://majestictheatrehill.com

The Bellavista