Where do you feel comfortable? That’s really the point of most watering holes. Beyond the bartender and the alcohol, the true function of a bar is as a meeting place where we feel at ease. That’s why we chose these LGBTQ-friendly bars for Pride Week and the rest of LGBT Pride Month.
By Greg Elwell Photos Emmy Verdin and Erick Perry
Copa
2200 W. Interstate 44 Service Road
405-525-0730
If you want to dance and like your music loud or if you hanker to catch a drag queen show, find all of that and more at Copa, a bar that has become an Oklahoma City legend. Whether your preference is mild or wild, it’s hard to find a more diverse and welcoming crowd than this one. If you look better the less you’re wearing, stop in on Tuesday nights for the amateur strip contest.
Partners and PartnersToo
2805 and 2807 NW 36th St.
405-942-2199
Partners and the adjacent PartnersToo are a lesbian dance club and bar but welcome all. Lovers of darts, Thunder basketball and beer pong will find that Partners is a great place to be whether you have a partner or not. It features live music, trivia and speed dating, too. Drinks (like the Thunder Up, pictured), dancing, a patio for lazy summer nights and an atmosphere that lets everyone know they belong might be just what you need.
Alibis
1200 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
405-605-3795
Maybe it’s called Alibis because you’ll see everyone you know there. Though it’s especially hopping during Pride Week — Friday features live music and karaoke; Saturday has “lube wrestling,” a burlesque show and bobbing for sex toys; and Sunday features a Drag King show and giant paint Twister — it’s a year-round neighborhood favorite. If you’re looking for a drink to share (try a Sweet Poison, pictured), check out its signature fishbowl cocktails.
Ledo Lounge
2200 NW 40th St.405-528-2221
Dancing is fun and all, but so is just sitting down for a relaxing drink and a bite to eat with friends. If the bluster and boisterousness of other bars gets to be too much, you might prefer a stop at Ledo Lounge. Inside the famous Habana Inn, this quiet, classy bar is a good place to get a respite from the noise and enjoy a Lido Limon-ade (pictured) in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. And if you do decide to boogie, it’s a quick walk to the dance floor.
Tramps
2201 NW 39th St.
405-521-9888
When people talk about Tramps, they might mention the packed patio or the interior that glows red like a homing beacon. But everybody will tell you it’s the place to be if you like drinks like the Liquid Marijuana cocktail (pictured) tasty, strong and inexpensive. It might be smoky inside, so be prepared. And it doesn’t accept credit cards, but there is an ATM inside. As the sign inside says, “Have a heart.” At Tramps, you’ll also have another drink.
Gushers Restaurant
2200 NW 40th St.
405-528-2221
Some bars are smoky, so if the haze gets to be too much, find your way to smoke-free eatery and bar Gushers. Not only is this restaurant welcoming to all, it’s a good pit stop before charging back into the club for another loop around the dance floor. Prime rib is its specialty and its fried shrimp is popular (pictured), but Gushers also is well-loved for its late-night service and Saturday night breakfast buffet.
Finishline
2200 W. Interstate 44 Service Road
405-525-2900
Put on your spurs and saddle up for a fun ride at Finishline. Another Habana Inn spot, this cowboy bar is a rootin’, tootin’, shootin’ (from a shot glass) nightclub where country mice and city mice get along with ease. There’s salt on the floor for line dancing and margaritas at the bar for lime drinking.
(Cover by Erin DeMoss / Oklahoma Gazette)
Print headline: All welcome
