“I liked that we would be able to keep this bar women-owned and queer-owned,” Barnes adds. “I was making a lot of money for other bars and restaurants, so I wanted a space to curate events and feed my passion for cocktails,” Riddle says. Nobody’s Darling is one of just two Black-owned LGBTQ bar in Chicago. A revenue auditor by day, Riddle has operated LGBTQ bar pop-ups all over the city.
When the bar, tucked on a residential street, closed during the pandemic, ownership gave Riddle the first shot at taking over the venue. That’s partly what inspired Barnes and Riddle to accept a surprising proposition from Lori Petrushkevich, owner of lesbian wine bar Joie de Vine - a spot described by many as the last lesbian bar in Chicago. Chicago has followed a similar trajectory, signaled by the loss of community institutions like Star Gaze, which closed in 2009 after more than a decade. are few and far between, with an estimate from last June at as few as 16 remaining venues nationwide. Patrons have flocked from across the city to Nobody’s Darling.īars for lesbians and queer women in the U.S.
We didn’t want to exclude our trans siblings or gay men.” Rows of patrons are happy indeed, wrapped in animated conversation often punctuated by boisterous laughter.īarnes and Riddle, both Black queer women, understand why some might assume the bar is a lesbian space, but feel it’s important to make their inclusive approach clear: “We wanted to make sure that our community felt welcome. Energetic music from artists like Megan Thee Stallion thumps above the din of a lively crowd, but tight quarters leave little room for dancing beyond happy-to-be-here wiggles. On weekends, revelers crowd around the long bar in search of playful cocktails like the fuchsia-hued Pink Kitty and the tart Darling Mule, delivered in elegant cut glassware.
In the early evening, sunlight shines through a rainbow flag draped over the front door, illuminating the text of Walker’s ode to outcasts everywhere, reprinted in full on a back wall. Named for “Be Nobody’s Darling,” an Alice Walker poem, the long and narrow bar has already won over Andersonville residents and drawn customers from the South and West sides. “Be an outcast: be pleased to walk alone (uncool) or line the crowded river beds with other impetuous fools.” All Rights Reserved.Angela Barnes (left) and Renauda Riddle. We hope you'll enjoy all our selections - and we'd love to hear about your night out, too!Ĭopyright © 2012 Chicago Gay Bars. To help you complete your special Chicago gay bar outing, we've also included our favorite transportation recommendations in the Windy City. From burlesque to piano lounge, you'll find something for everyone across the taste spectrum. Not one of the bars is a replica of another. One of the great things about the Chicago gay bar scene is that each one has a vibe all its own.
Whether you're a recent transplant to Chicago or you've been here for years, we want to help you have the time of your life out on Chicago's gay bar scene! We've compiled this diverse selection of Chicago's best gay bars so that you can make the right choice for your night of fun.