It's 2015, people. Get over whatever bullshit misconceptions you've been holding onto all these years (yes, Texas, we're looking squarely at you) and get with the 21st century. Once you do, you'll discover a crucial fact: Nothing beats a party at a gay bar. Let's embrace our inner fabulous and wave the flag for the 10 Best Gay Bars in Dallas.
See also: The Best Bro Bars in Dallas The 10 Best Hipster Bars and Lounges in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area
It's fairly dark in this place, which is lit red. Now 20 years old, this leather bar has an enormous leather eagle hanging from the ceiling, holding handcuffs, chains and a banner that reads "Levi Leather." But everyone is welcome here and sometimes they have drag shows onstage. There are often DJs playing house or '80s music to keep the dance floor moving. Wednesdays are Underwear Nights and Thursdays are for Bears, with DJ Trojan spinning. There is nothing pretentious about the place, the staff is friendly and the drinks are cheap. You can play pool at Dallas Eagle, and there's a large dance floor and a nice patio. Jeremy Hallock
5740 Maple Ave.dallaseagle.com
This hole-in-the-wall is a favorite of people of all sexual orientations, but it's still visibly a gay bar. No watering hole is more broken-in comfortable than The Grapevine, which is why it's one of Dallas' best dive bars. The crowd is an impossibly interesting mix of artsy types, 20-somethings and your garden-variety alcoholics. This is the kind of place where people-watching just won't cut it; even the most introverted among us won't be able to avoid striking up a conversation. The drinks are mixed strong and the jukebox has an impressive selection of tunes that can serve as the perfect soundtrack to your binge drinking. Amy McCarthy
3902 Maple Ave.grapevinebar.com
75-cent beers on Sunday! I repeat, they have 75-cent beers on Sunday! Along with killer Bloody Marys and, one more time, 75-cent beers! Sorry, I got a little excited; I really, really, really, really like cheap beer. There's also a fantastic jukebox and the bartenders make a mean drink, but really it's all about the 75-cent beer. You know that scene in Varsity Blues where the guys have been partying all night, and then stumble wearily into the sun? Yeah, that's what it's like after a Sunday at Hidden Door. Oh and fair warning: It's cash only. Jaime-Paul Falcon
5025 Bowser Ave.hiddendoor-dallas.com
I have literally never seen anyone eat a meal at J.R.'s Bar and Grill, no matter the circumstances. There are huge bars staffed by guys who are impressively good at mixing six vodka cranberries in less than two minutes. At its peak times, you'll have to wait a bit for a drink, but the crowd's so entertaining you won't mind. The upstairs patio is the best place in the world to hear good drunken gossip; you'll find yourself wanting to go out for a cigarette even if you don't smoke. Amy McCarthy
3923 Cedar Springs Roadcaven.com
Mable Peabody's Beauty Parlor & Chainsaw Repair, besides having the best bar name in Texas, is also the perfect spot for a drunken, crossdressing good time. Mable's has upped its game lately by booking more bands to play, and costumes aren't just suggested, they're almost expected. Regulars are a rowdy bunch of kind-hearted eclectics supplemented by an unfailingly kind bar staff. Friday's notorious Karaoke Night brings out Denton's most enchanting characters; so much so that there was even a song written about one. Mable's ragtag crew is fully equipped to captivate guys, gals and everyone in between. Matt Wood
1215 E. University Drive, Dentonmablepeabodys.com
To quote my good friend Hutch, "Pekers has the best karaoke, hands down, run by a wannabe Bette Midler." And he's right, it is the best karaoke in town, and after enough drinks you start to think The Rose herself is really in the room leading people through drunken renditions of "Wind Beneath My Wings." Bonus points for the occasional cash prize they give out during karaoke; many a bar tab has been covered this way over the years. Jaime-Paul Falcon
2615 Oak Lawn Ave.pekersbar.com
There is literally nothing on the planet more charming than a western-themed gay bar, and Round-Up Saloon is constantly packed with cute dudes in tight jeans, which is never a bad thing. You don't have to wear cowboy boots to fit in, but this is a good time to break out the ones in the back of your closet that you've been dying to wear. Lady Gaga comes to Round-Up to party when she visits Dallas, but don't let that stop you from hanging out in one of Dallas' friendliest gay bars. Chances are you can talk a cute cowboy into buying you a drink, but if you can't, the sad country tunes will help you shed a few tears into your beer. Amy McCarthy
3912 Cedar Springs Roadroundupsaloon.com
There's no disputing that The Tin Room is a little (or a lot) sketchy. But that's the charm, and boy do they have a lot of it. The go-go dancers are much more, ahem, suggestive than what you're used to at the more PG-rated gay bars, but there is people-watching for miles and a generally friendly crowd that is ridiculously accepting. People who don't dance come here to shake their stuff; the crowd will make even the worst dancer look infinitely better. Whatever you do, though, don't look behind the curtain that separates the bar's "private room" from the rest of the club. That is, of course, unless you're looking for an eyeful. Amy McCarthy
2514 Hudnalltinroom.net
Listen, it's 2015, and I'm not the biggest fan of designating between gay bars and straight bars. It seems reductive. But if we're going to make a list like this we have to talk about Woody's. Woody's is the best sports bar in Dallas. Yes, it's a gay bar, but that doesn't matter, because there's not a better place to catch a Cowboys game in the metroplex. The patio kicks ass, the upstairs bar has the stronger drinks, and the downstairs bar is prone to sing-a-longs. Eat your heart out, Buffalo Wild Wings patrons. Jaime-Paul Falcon
4011 Cedar Springs Roaddallaswoodys.com
Zippers
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Outside, the banner on this old building is bathed in red light. Inside, several male strippers dance to hip-hop music; they can get aggressive about tips, and they're not afraid to whip it out. Zippers is loud, often crowded, people get sweaty and some of them make out in corners and bathrooms. But mostly people come to dance, get a stiff drink and meet new people. All things considered, this is a friendly neighborhood dive bar with a small patio where the attire ranges from sweatpants to suits. Jeremy Hallock
3333 Fitzhugh Ave.facebook.com/dallas.zippers
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