Five LGBTQ+ Bars We Recommend! 🌈

Sophie Hutton: Tour Research, Development and Admin Assistant

Edinburgh and Glasgow each have their own 'pink triangle', highlighting a cluster of bars that are LGBTQ+ safe spaces. Whether you like vibrant, quirky bars or cosy, intimate spaces, drag bingo or tabletop boardgames, stovies or vegan chipotle chicken, there's something for everyone on this list of LGBTQ+ bars that we recommend!

🏳️‍🌈 CC Blooms, Edinburgh

CC Blooms, which is the namesake of Better Midler’s character in ‘Beaches’, is a sassy, vibrant bar which became a staple in Edinburgh’s LGBTQ+ scene in 1994. CC Bloom’s quirky, colourful interior is split over two levels and the restaurant and bar is located on the ground floor. By night, the basement ‘lab space’ becomes the ‘rabbit hole’, a weekly drag show hosted by ‘Alice Rabbit’, which includes lip syncing, dancing and comedy stand up!

🏳️‍🌈 The Regent, Edinburgh

For a more relaxed, homely vibe, visit The Regent on Montrose Terrace. The Regent is an LGBTQ+ safe space, with an interior that resembles a cosy lounge. Compete with friends in one of the tabletop board games, discuss the quirky, unique paintings which highlight local artists or relax with an IPA and a bowl of stovies. Numerous LGBTQ+ groups meet in this space on a regular basis.

🏳️‍🌈 Delmonica's, Glasgow

Lovingly referred to as Del’s, Delmonica’s has been at the heart of Glasgow’s LGBTQ+ community since 1991, when it claimed to 'step out of the closet with [an excess of] glitter and campness'. In the centre of Merchant City’s ‘pink triangle’, Delmonica’s is open seven nights a week with a variety of drag, quiz and dj nights. Alternatively, why not book a karaoke booth! For only ten pounds an hour (midweek), you can sing your heart out to a Beyoncé ballad!

🏳️‍🌈 Katie’s Bar, Glasgow

Blink and you may miss the entrance to Katie’s Bar, nestled between two restaurants in Merchant City. Katie’s Bar opened in 2013 and quickly became a wonderful addition to Glasgow’s ‘Pink Triangle’, offering drag queen collective shows and ‘bender bingo’, hosted every Monday from 8 o’clock onwards. With a £2.50 promotion on selected double measures every Monday and Wednesday...what's not to like?

🏳️‍🌈 The Flying Duck, Glasgow

Though it’s not an LGBTQ+ space exclusively, The Flying Duck is known for establishing the first regular LGBTQ+ indie night and its shabby chic, fairy light strung interior gives it an intimate, cosy feel. In addition to live music, film screenings and drag brunches, The Flying Duck caters to vegetarians and vegans, with a menu that’s one hundred percent vegan and mimics ‘Michigan' sized portions...yum!

Learn more about Scotland's LGBTQ+ bars, including a queer cooperative named 'Bonjour Glasgow' on the Walking Tours in Scotland: LGBTQ+ history walking tour. Click here to book!