clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Food on a table with hands holding coffee mugs.
Queeny’s is welcoming to all.
Forrest Mason Media

15 Queer-Friendly Bars, Restaurants, and Coffee Shops in the Triangle

Safe spaces for queer and trans people to escape and unwind

View as Map
Queeny’s is welcoming to all.
| Forrest Mason Media

It’s safe to say that many parts of the Triangle celebrate Pride year-round, with intersectional pride flags a common sight in neighborhoods across Raleigh and Durham, actual North Carolina Pride celebrated around Duke’s East Campus in September, and any number of queer-friendly businesses making it clear that around here, all are welcome.

However there is something special about supporting queer businesses during Pride month, and though the area may not have the same concentration of traditional LGBTQ establishments as say New York or Los Angeles, there are plenty of queer-friendly spots at which to spread some love this June. It’s easy to keep those dollars circulating throughout the queer community from morning to night at these coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Read More

EverLou Coffee Co.

Copy Link

Downtown Durham coffee shop EverLou specializes in oat milk-based drinks. Think lattes, cappuccinos, and more all made with oat milk. It also regularly rotates specials on and off the menu, like the Princess Peach Tea (a peach blossom tea) and the Ferdinand (a rose and honey latte). During Pride Month it offers an entire Pride special menu, with $1 from each drink going to the Rainbow Collective for Change, a local nonprofit dedicated to creating safer spaces in schools for queer kids.

Queeny's

Copy Link

The intersectionality of queer life means a queer person often claims multiple identities at once, and Queeny’s is perhaps the best embodiment of that intersectionality. Co-owner Michelle Vanderwalker (who with Sean Umstead is also behind Kingfisher and Queenburger) has created a space that is uniquely Durham and uniquely queer — a neighborhood bar vibe with a library and podcast studio, late night eats, and cheap but delicious cocktails. Grab a burger or French dip birria sandwich, wash it down with a Cosmo, and watch as all walks of Durham life gather together.

White mugs with the word “Queeny’s”
Queeny’s serves as a restaurant, bar, and more.
Forrest Mason Media

Grub Durham

Copy Link

Breakfast until 3 p.m. Classic Southern sandwiches. Blue plate specials. Grub Durham is unique twist on an old school diner, with double-decker seating and loyal following. Owner Wendy Woods, a lifelong Durhamite and local restaurateur, has transformed a former gas station into a mainstay of the West Chapel Hill Street neighborhood. Menu highlights include Maybelle’s brisket, the smoked barbecue ribs, and an affordable array of towering breakfast biscuit sandwiches.

Arcana Bar and Lounge

Copy Link

Longtime catering and restaurant industry veteran Erin Karcher opened the basement bar and lounge Arcana with Lindsey Andrews in 2015. The bar’s witchy New Orleans-meets-Art Nouveau vibes have garnered a loyal following, as have the craft cocktails, regular tarot card readings, and events like cabaret nights. Cocktail offerings range from classics like a sazerac or mai tai to session cocktails, and easy-going sippers like the Octavia Minor, which is made with orgeat, lemon juice, Chambord, and prosecco.

A pink couch against a green wall.
Arcana is a vibe.
Arcana

Pinhook

Copy Link

Pinhook has been a staple of the downtown Durham queer scene since opening its doors in 2008. It’s back with live events after an extended pandemic closure, with near-nightly shows, regular drag performances helmed by hometown drag diva Vivica C. Coxx and her House of Coxx queens, and more. Think queer bar meets rock venue meets dive bar, with PBR tall boys, draft beer, and cheap well drinks. Owner Kym Register also fronts the queer country-funk band Loamlands.

Rofhiwa Book Café

Copy Link

Black books and black coffee — this queer-owned East Durham coffee shop and bookstore has embraced its identity as a place for those who may not always feel welcome in queer, white-centric spaces. A full coffee bar and snack offerings complement the extensive collection of fiction and non-fiction titles from Black authors, one of the only such collections in the Triangle. Owner Beverley Boitumelo Makhubele and curator Naledi Yaziyo continually strive to make the space a welcoming destination for all in a majority-minority neighborhood that faces rapid gentrification.

Beer Tooth Taproom

Copy Link

Named after the song Beer Tooth by Shelby Merchant, Beer Tooth Taproom is the culmination of owner Christa Donofrio’s journey from Budweiser to craft beer. With 36 rotating taps, along with non-beer beverages like seltzer and ciders, there is truly something for everyone. Beer Tooth also places a hefty emphasis on education, with a monthly “flight school” led by Donofio, who is a certified Cicerone beer server.

Every city needs a slightly dingy basement gay bar, and Raleigh has Flex. Pumping music, cheap drinks, weekly drag shows, go-go boys, fetish nights — Flex hits all the right notes. The karaoke nights are so legendary that the bar expanded them to three nights a week.

Legends Nightclub

Copy Link

Legends Nightclub has been a leader in Triangle queer nightlife for more than 30 years. Think bumping dance club, strong drinks, and near-nightly drag shows. A more recent addition of a patio space and quieter back bar provide ample opportunity to make a night at Legends as crazy or calm as one likes. This is the place to be to dance the night away.

The Hippo

Copy Link

Downtown Raleigh’s the Hippo is a wine shop, wine bar, and a fully intentional neighborhood gathering spot. The queer-owned shop is a new addition to the Oak City’s impressive wine scene and focuses on low-intervention and natural wines. With no corkage fee, you might wander in to choose a bottle for home and end up staying a while.

Ruby Deluxe

Copy Link

Ruby Deluxe is part dance club, part lounge, part music venue, and wholly queer. The bar’s commitment to a fun, safe atmosphere (under FAQs on the website states, “bring yr fave people, mind yr manners, and get weird”) is as strong as the commitment to equality and justice. With regular drag brunches, DJ sets, and more, Ruby Deluxe is a place to have fun while feeling safe and welcomed.

Poole's

Copy Link

What’s there to say about Poole’s Diner that already hasn’t been said a million times over? Perhaps that chef Ashley Christensen’s beloved restaurant takes its commitment to equality as seriously as its commitment to serving expertly-prepared, locally-sourced Southern food. A mural on the side of the building reads “All are welcome in Raleigh,” with the word Raleigh in rainbow colors, and Christensen along with her wife Kaitlyn Goalen have regularly spoken up in support of LGBTQ+ policies and raised funds for local organizations such as the LGBTQ Center of Raleigh.

Poole'side Pies

Copy Link

Yes, this is also an AC Restaurant, but Poole’side Pies is worth an extra mention for two reasons — first, the Neopolitan-style pizzas and Southern-meets-Italian dishes are top notch. The meatballs made with local Lady Edison pork are worth a visit alone. Second, chef Christopher McLaurin (previously of Durham’s Picnic restaurant) joined as chef de cuisine, bringing his more than a decade of experience to the AC Restaurant Group. To make it a truly delicious (and queer night), start with a pizza at Poole’side and then hop next door to Poole’s Diner to continue the party.

The Fiction Kitchen

Copy Link

A leader in vegan cuisine, the Fiction Kitchen owners Caroline Morrison and Siobhan Southern have garnered statewide and national attention for their commitment to community and their ability to transform Southern staples like chicken and waffles and Salisbury steak into delicious, meatless offerings. There are also more international offerings like chicken tinga tacos made with mock chicken, Lion’s Mane mushroom crab rangoon, and peanut-roasted tofu lettuce wraps.

Cafe Root Cellar

Copy Link

Chef Sera Cuni’s Cafe Root Cellar has become a staple of the Pittsboro dining scene, and Cuni’s farm-to-table cuisine has gotten incredibly popular, especially following her appearance on Food Network’s Supermarket Stakeout. Occasional drag shows add a bit of glitter to a menu that features things like watermelon gazpacho, Nashville hot chicken bites, and Cuni’s famous burger.

EverLou Coffee Co.

Downtown Durham coffee shop EverLou specializes in oat milk-based drinks. Think lattes, cappuccinos, and more all made with oat milk. It also regularly rotates specials on and off the menu, like the Princess Peach Tea (a peach blossom tea) and the Ferdinand (a rose and honey latte). During Pride Month it offers an entire Pride special menu, with $1 from each drink going to the Rainbow Collective for Change, a local nonprofit dedicated to creating safer spaces in schools for queer kids.

Queeny's

The intersectionality of queer life means a queer person often claims multiple identities at once, and Queeny’s is perhaps the best embodiment of that intersectionality. Co-owner Michelle Vanderwalker (who with Sean Umstead is also behind Kingfisher and Queenburger) has created a space that is uniquely Durham and uniquely queer — a neighborhood bar vibe with a library and podcast studio, late night eats, and cheap but delicious cocktails. Grab a burger or French dip birria sandwich, wash it down with a Cosmo, and watch as all walks of Durham life gather together.

White mugs with the word “Queeny’s”
Queeny’s serves as a restaurant, bar, and more.
Forrest Mason Media

Grub Durham

Breakfast until 3 p.m. Classic Southern sandwiches. Blue plate specials. Grub Durham is unique twist on an old school diner, with double-decker seating and loyal following. Owner Wendy Woods, a lifelong Durhamite and local restaurateur, has transformed a former gas station into a mainstay of the West Chapel Hill Street neighborhood. Menu highlights include Maybelle’s brisket, the smoked barbecue ribs, and an affordable array of towering breakfast biscuit sandwiches.

Arcana Bar and Lounge

Longtime catering and restaurant industry veteran Erin Karcher opened the basement bar and lounge Arcana with Lindsey Andrews in 2015. The bar’s witchy New Orleans-meets-Art Nouveau vibes have garnered a loyal following, as have the craft cocktails, regular tarot card readings, and events like cabaret nights. Cocktail offerings range from classics like a sazerac or mai tai to session cocktails, and easy-going sippers like the Octavia Minor, which is made with orgeat, lemon juice, Chambord, and prosecco.

A pink couch against a green wall.
Arcana is a vibe.
Arcana

Pinhook

Pinhook has been a staple of the downtown Durham queer scene since opening its doors in 2008. It’s back with live events after an extended pandemic closure, with near-nightly shows, regular drag performances helmed by hometown drag diva Vivica C. Coxx and her House of Coxx queens, and more. Think queer bar meets rock venue meets dive bar, with PBR tall boys, draft beer, and cheap well drinks. Owner Kym Register also fronts the queer country-funk band Loamlands.

Rofhiwa Book Café

Black books and black coffee — this queer-owned East Durham coffee shop and bookstore has embraced its identity as a place for those who may not always feel welcome in queer, white-centric spaces. A full coffee bar and snack offerings complement the extensive collection of fiction and non-fiction titles from Black authors, one of the only such collections in the Triangle. Owner Beverley Boitumelo Makhubele and curator Naledi Yaziyo continually strive to make the space a welcoming destination for all in a majority-minority neighborhood that faces rapid gentrification.

Beer Tooth Taproom

Named after the song Beer Tooth by Shelby Merchant, Beer Tooth Taproom is the culmination of owner Christa Donofrio’s journey from Budweiser to craft beer. With 36 rotating taps, along with non-beer beverages like seltzer and ciders, there is truly something for everyone. Beer Tooth also places a hefty emphasis on education, with a monthly “flight school” led by Donofio, who is a certified Cicerone beer server.

Flex

Every city needs a slightly dingy basement gay bar, and Raleigh has Flex. Pumping music, cheap drinks, weekly drag shows, go-go boys, fetish nights — Flex hits all the right notes. The karaoke nights are so legendary that the bar expanded them to three nights a week.

Legends Nightclub

Legends Nightclub has been a leader in Triangle queer nightlife for more than 30 years. Think bumping dance club, strong drinks, and near-nightly drag shows. A more recent addition of a patio space and quieter back bar provide ample opportunity to make a night at Legends as crazy or calm as one likes. This is the place to be to dance the night away.

The Hippo

Downtown Raleigh’s the Hippo is a wine shop, wine bar, and a fully intentional neighborhood gathering spot. The queer-owned shop is a new addition to the Oak City’s impressive wine scene and focuses on low-intervention and natural wines. With no corkage fee, you might wander in to choose a bottle for home and end up staying a while.

Ruby Deluxe

Ruby Deluxe is part dance club, part lounge, part music venue, and wholly queer. The bar’s commitment to a fun, safe atmosphere (under FAQs on the website states, “bring yr fave people, mind yr manners, and get weird”) is as strong as the commitment to equality and justice. With regular drag brunches, DJ sets, and more, Ruby Deluxe is a place to have fun while feeling safe and welcomed.

Poole's

What’s there to say about Poole’s Diner that already hasn’t been said a million times over? Perhaps that chef Ashley Christensen’s beloved restaurant takes its commitment to equality as seriously as its commitment to serving expertly-prepared, locally-sourced Southern food. A mural on the side of the building reads “All are welcome in Raleigh,” with the word Raleigh in rainbow colors, and Christensen along with her wife Kaitlyn Goalen have regularly spoken up in support of LGBTQ+ policies and raised funds for local organizations such as the LGBTQ Center of Raleigh.

Poole'side Pies

Yes, this is also an AC Restaurant, but Poole’side Pies is worth an extra mention for two reasons — first, the Neopolitan-style pizzas and Southern-meets-Italian dishes are top notch. The meatballs made with local Lady Edison pork are worth a visit alone. Second, chef Christopher McLaurin (previously of Durham’s Picnic restaurant) joined as chef de cuisine, bringing his more than a decade of experience to the AC Restaurant Group. To make it a truly delicious (and queer night), start with a pizza at Poole’side and then hop next door to Poole’s Diner to continue the party.

The Fiction Kitchen

A leader in vegan cuisine, the Fiction Kitchen owners Caroline Morrison and Siobhan Southern have garnered statewide and national attention for their commitment to community and their ability to transform Southern staples like chicken and waffles and Salisbury steak into delicious, meatless offerings. There are also more international offerings like chicken tinga tacos made with mock chicken, Lion’s Mane mushroom crab rangoon, and peanut-roasted tofu lettuce wraps.

Cafe Root Cellar

Chef Sera Cuni’s Cafe Root Cellar has become a staple of the Pittsboro dining scene, and Cuni’s farm-to-table cuisine has gotten incredibly popular, especially following her appearance on Food Network’s Supermarket Stakeout. Occasional drag shows add a bit of glitter to a menu that features things like watermelon gazpacho, Nashville hot chicken bites, and Cuni’s famous burger.

Related Maps