The only gay bar on Kentucky's Urban Bourbon Trail, Chill BAR offers a fun and welcoming space for Louisville's LGBTQ+ community. Test your knowledge at trivia night, sing your heart out at karaoke, or dance the night away under the neon lights at one of the bar's iconic dance parties. Enjoy a cocktail out on their spacious patio for a more relaxed evening. Or, attend one of the bar's hilariously fun show-tune sing-alongs.

Dating back more than 40 years, Carmichael's is the city’s oldest independent bookstore. Located in both Crescent Hill and the Highlands, this bookstore is known to stock LGBTQ+ fiction and non-fiction and has a history of being a welcoming space to the community. Participate in the store's year-long reading bingo event, peruse indie authors' works or browse for items like candles, bookmarks and magnets.

Old Louisville Coffee Co-op is a queer-owned gathering space that is a lot more than just a cafe. It also hosts monthly events, from open mic nights featuring poetry and hip-hop to comedy performances and a rap night. Plus, the space is home to periodic teach-ins, drag and burlesque shows, skill shares and clothing swaps.

Located in the trendy and energized NuLu district, Revelry is a charming boutique and gallery that sells a selection of LGBTQ+ art and designs from Queer Kentucky, such as pins, posters and embroidered ball caps. But, of course, that's not all - the gallery hosts rotating exhibitions from local Louisville artists and sells a wide collection of home goods, jewelry, apparel and accessories both in-store and online.

Prepare to dance the night away underneath the flashes of neon lights at Louisville's Play Dance Bar, an LGBTQ+ dance club with a schedule chock-full of thumping DJ sets and glitzy drag shows. Rent a booth or table, enjoy a cocktail and prepare for a night of top-notch entertainment.

Despite its name, Big Bar is a cozy joint known for its great music, friendly atmosphere and affordable drinks. Its owners—who met while drinking at another Highlands bar—recently celebrated ten years in business by expanding and renovating the space. It's considered one of the original LGBTQ bars in the Highlands and offers weekly events, such as RuPaul's Drag Race viewing parties, karaoke nights and fabulous drag performances.

For a classic queer nightlife experience, head over to The House Lounge. Home to a weekly piano night and frequent drag performances (by the likes of Cadillac Seville, Vanessa Demornay and Cammie Dietrich), this recently updated Louisville lounge and restaurant draws a big crowd for its welcoming ambiance and tasty cocktails.