LGBTQ Insider Tips and Fun Facts

Nowhere else will you find such an authentically gay-friendly atmosphere and so much cosmopolitan excitement packed into just 1.9 square miles. Located in the heart of great Los Angeles, more than 40% of West Hollywood’s population identifies as LGBTQ. Visitors are assured a safe, welcoming urban environment that was built on the needs and interests of the community.

For gay visitors, there’s a lot to love about West Hollywood, including one of the world’s most thriving gay nightlife scenes, sleek designer hotels, and easy access to LA’s countless cultural and sightseeing landmarks. While there’s something exciting happening here year-round, the LA Pride festival in June and Halloween street party in October both draw hundreds of thousands of revelers, making them great times to visit.

If nightlife is your thing, Santa Monica Boulevard is where it’s all happening, with hot spots ranging from pulsing dance clubs to friendly neighborhood bars. The Abbey, Here Lounge, Revolver, Fiesta Cantina, Flaming Saddles, Gym Sports Bar, Micky’s and Rage are just a few of the bars and clubs that make the west side popular, while Gold Coast, Fubar and Hamburger Mary’s beckon visitors east.

All of West Hollywood’s hotels are exceedingly gay friendly. Spend your afternoons beside a glamorous rooftop pool at The London West Hollywood, Andaz West Hollywood or Mondrian. Ramada Plaza West Hollywood is located right in the heart of the action on Santa Monica Boulevard, buzzing with pedestrians, outdoor cafes, shops and bars. Spacious all-suite properties like the Petit Ermitage, Montrose West Hollywood, Le Parc Suite Hotel and Chamberlain are within easy walking distance of Santa Monica Boulevard, as is the chic pied-a-terre Palihouse. Same sex marriage is legal in California, and West Hollywood offers an array of options of places to get married, from hotel rooftops to intimate garden settings.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the clubs, West Hollywood is full of great restaurants, indulgent spas, sensational shopping, outstanding art galleries and gay-frequented coffee shops. Don’t miss the West Hollywood Design District, home to more than 300 art galleries, fashion boutiques, interior design showrooms, and outdoor cafes with awesome people watching. You might even run into Brad Pitt or Ellen DeGeneres shopping for new home furnishings.