Gay Palm Beach

Palm Beach has always been one of South Florida’s more opulent jewels. The town occupies a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon, giving it some space from more down-to-earth West Palm Beach. In this notoriously wealthy town, LGBT travelers will find themselves rubbing elbows with those who like the finer things in life, high-speed, luxury cars, high-end shopping, and top-shelf cocktails. You’ll see vast wealth on parade along Worth Ave, home to retailers like Tiffany’s, Giorgio Armani, Jimmy Choo, and Louis Vuitton.

Despite the dazzle, Palm Beach really does offer a lot to those who enjoy life’s simpler pleasures. The beach is fringed by fine, white sand, the air chilled by faithful ocean breezes, and the air perfumed by blooms from ylang-ylang trees. There’s romance around every corner, in restaurants like Renato’s or Café Via Flora, and well-preserved nature areas like John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. The LGBT community is alive and thriving here, thanks to Compass Community Center, housed in a 14,000-square-foot building in nearby Lake Worth. 

Gay-Friendly Nightlife

Blame it on the high price of real estate in Palm Beach — most dedicated gay bars are scattered in nearby towns such as West Palm Beach or Lake Worth. Below, find a selection that is definitely worth the short drive required to get there.

Mad Hatter

It’s all about Happy Hour drinks and bar games at this laid-back dive joint on North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Looking for friendly locals to chat up and share gay travel stories? This is the top spot to do it.

H.G. Rooster's

This longstanding gay bar in West Palm Beach boasts daily drink specials and plenty of events, from karaoke and bingo to pool tournaments and Saturday performances from entertainers (temporarily closed).

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