Featured Gay Friendly Hotel in Phoenix / Scottsdale

Gay Phoenix/Scottsdale

Little more than a desert frontier settlement just a century ago, Phoenix has grown rapidly into one of the American West’s most dynamic and exciting getaways. The city sits low in an arid valley surrounded by mountains and high desert, its once-rugged terrain having been replaced to a large degree by massive blocks of residential subdivisions, strip retail and office developments, and oasis-like golf and tennis resorts. The many slick and trendy dining, shopping, and gay nightclub options — coupled with the sunny dry climate and abundance of outdoors diversions — make this an increasingly popular lesbian and gay travel destination. 

Part of the greater Phoenix area, Scottsdale is an upscale resort town and shopping destination. Sometimes considered a desert version of Miami’s South Beach, this oasis boasts popular nightlife and glamorous resorts, and it's a major art center for the metropolitan Phoenix area. Phoenix and Scottsdale have a lot of the charm of other desert gay getaways like Palm Springs (just a 4-hour drive away)—but are more accessible and provide a lot of great entertainment options.

Phoenix Gay Scene

Though there is no distinct gayborhood in Pheonix, you'll find it's a very gay-friendly city with lots of businesses that cater to the LGBTQ community. Most of the gay nightclubs and businesses are predominantly in the two-mile wide area between 7th Avenue on the West and 7th Street to the East. The Biltmore neighborhood and the Mill Avenue District are considered very gay-friendly as well. 

As for gay-friendly hotels, accommodations options here run the gamut from super-plush resorts and high-rise business hotels to a smattering of smaller gay-oriented properties. Many of the hotels offer special packages during Phoenix Pride, which takes place each year in April when the summer heat isn't so intense. Look for Echo Magazine at the many gay and gay-friendly bars & restaurans; the local, independent magazine publishes listings of weekly LGBTQ events, festivals, and happy hours.

When to Visit

This sprawling city has an incredibly dry climate—only the Sahara Desert is less humid than Phoenix’s Sonoran Desert. If you’re planning a trip here it’s important to consider how the different seasons can affect your stay. Outdoorsy types should avoid the deathly hot summers, although May through September can be great months to score great bargains at Phoenix’s gay friendly hotels, and there is air-conditioning virtually everywhere, so it’s rarely oppressive.

The biggest gay event of the year is Phoenix Pride, while many of the local universities are still in session, so it's a young, fun vibe in town. 

Gay-Friendly Activities & Attractions

What Phoenix has to offer is variety. Cultural highlights include provocative examples of mid-20th century architecture, a handful of highly regarded performing-arts venues, and some excellent museums and galleries. Also, while it’s an enormous and rapidly growing metro area, greater Phoenix hasn’t quite paved over paradise: just a short drive from downtown you can reach hundreds of hiking areas, from scenic Pima Canyon to craggy Squaw Peak. The region has prestigious golf courses, plus lavish tennis centers, spas, and athletic clubs. Swanky Scottsdale is home to most of the biggest resorts in the area, with beautiful spas, swimming pools, and golf courses.

Desert Botanical Garden

The Sonoran Desert, which cuts into Phoenix, is one of just four deserts in the United States and is home to the Desert Botanical Garden—one of the world’s largest collection of arid-land plants. A collection of artworks by legendary glass artist Dale Chihuly stand at the entrance to the botanical gardens, near a popular restaurant serving great brunches. Visit the Botanical Garden early in the day to avoid the oppresive sunshine.

Musical Instrument Museum

This one-of-a-kind museum shsowcases over 6,800 musical instruments from around the world. The gallery space takes you on a tour through different regions of the world, and by time period, to highlight the evolution of musical instruments through history. The accompanying audioguide with your ticket gives you a taste of the sounds of each instrument as you navigate through the museum.

Talesin West

Phoenix has a rich history and association with architecture. Many of the hotels and buildings are built in the iconic (and trendy) mid-century modern style reminiscent of other desert resort towns. But Phoenix was also famously the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright. His former home and studio, called Talesin West, was built in the 1930s and still operates as an architecture school today. You can visit on a 90-minute guided tour through select rooms and buildings to learn about his iconic architecture design style.

Gay-Friendly Dining

LGBT visitors will find themselves inundated with excellent dining and nightlife options. The region also helped put contemporary Southwestern fare on the map. Many notable chefs call Phoenix home and with the unique southwestern desert cuisine, there are some great options for dining in Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Armadillo Grill

This eclectic eatery is very casual but the food is exceptional, far beyond typical bar fare. The fried pickles here are legendary. Come for amazing happy specials on both drinks and food. 

Fez

A pretty patio and a huge menu of burgers, salads, tacos, and pastas is what you can expect at this popular spot just north of downtown Phoenix. 

The Churchill

Composed of several shipping containers housing a variety of dining options, The Churchill functions as a trendy food court with a mission. Each vendor completes four hours of community service each month, and the space is often used for non-proft fundraisers. 

Gay Nightlife

Charlie's Phoenix

You simply can't miss this country-themed spot, where you can learn line dancing with other tipsy gay patrons. Go-go dancers put on a show during weekend nights, and there's a small back patio for when the weathere is nice (which is often!).

Cruisin' 7th

It's never too early to head to Cruisin' 7th, open from 6 am to 2 am every day. This no-frills lounge is renowned for its drag shows, especially those held on the weekends. It's got a laid-back atmosphere and the divey feel inside makes it popular with locals. Come for karaoke! 

Kobalt Bar

Drags shows, karaoke, happy hour specials, local entertainment, free parking — you'll find all this and more at Kobalt, located in the Park Central shopping center. It's especially popular on weekends..

Gay Safety

Phoenix is a very welcoming city. While some parts of Arizona and the southwest may be more conservative and less accepting than others, in Phoenix and Scottsdale, the cosmopolitan energy and youthful community make it a fun and safe place to visit for every type of traveler.

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