Votes are in! The winners of Best of GayCities 2022… – GayCities
Best of GayCities 2022 gave our fans the opportunity to vote for their travel favorites and enter for a chance to win a prize. The votes are in, and we are pleased as punch to announce this year’s winners. Without much further ado…
Timeless ‘Hood
These longtime, historic hoods offer fabulous dining, exciting nightlife, world-class shopping, and urban outdoor hangouts. The real question is: Which neighborhood did GayCities readers love the most?
Winner: Castro, San Francisco
This might be the obvious choice, but it was actually a pretty close race!
Runner-up: Northalsted, Chicago
Fun in the Sun
So many gay beaches could have easily made this list! We narrowed it down to the best seaside escapes in year-round sunshine. This nominee gave our readers the most wanderlust:
Winner: Black’s Beach, San Diego
Possibly the most famous nude beach in America, you can expect to find all types relaxing on the shore. From speedo clad queens to gay surfers in board shorts, and of course, those who prefer to wear nothing at all.
Runner-up: 12th Street Beach, Miami
Newcomer
Everyone loves the new kid on the block.
Winner: 2Bears Tavern, Chicago
Get ready, we’ve found your new favorite bar! This is one of the most welcoming gay bars we have ever discovered. With a dedication to the community and exemplary service, 2Bears has cultivated a strong following of regulars who keep coming back.
Runner-up: Heart WeHo
Insta-Traveler
These travelers delight our social feeds with jealousy-inducing adventure stories.
Winner: Sebastien & Stefan (@nomadicboys)
This adorable nomadic couple, Stefan and Sebastien, hail from London. They have been traveling the world for over 10 years, inspiring other gay travelers to see as much of the world as possible.
Runner-up: Tyler & Todd (@tylerandtodd)
Greatest Comeback
Each nominee in this category faced closure during the pandemic. With the support of their local communities, they were able to reopen and came back stronger than ever.
Winner: Boxers NYC
With two levels, pool tables, brick oven pizza, beer on tap, full bar, and plasma screens, this sports bar has the longest-running Happy Hour in Chelsea.
Runner-up: Mother Lode, Los Angeles
Nightclub
Which one of these legendary nightclubs keeps you coming back for more?
Winner: Sidetrack, Chicago
This behemoth bar has been a standout in the community since 1982. Today it draws in a large and diverse crowd.
Runner-up: The Monster, NYC
Drag Cabaret
Which drag cabaret takes the crown and reigns supreme?
Winner: Lips NYC
A celebration you will never forget! Lips offers a quality meal, hysterical and exquisite drag queens, and the best place to feel like a true queen.
Runner-up: Oasis, San Francisco
Dive Bar to Die For
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name (and pronouns). Which one of these legendary dive bars would you die for?
Winner: The Cock NYC
The old “Cock” was all about sleaze and its large downstairs darkroom. The newer location of this long standing gay bar keeps that tradition alive, albeit a bit tamer this time around…
Runner-up: Cinch Saloon, San Francisco
Ski Weeks
When the weather cools down, these ski weeks are guaranteed to heat you up.
Winner: Aspen Gay Ski Week
Aspen Gay Ski Week is known as the nation’s largest and oldest gay ski event. No wonder y’all chose it as your favorite!
Runner-up: Whistler Pride & Ski Festival
Stay Gay
Sometimes the best part of a vacation is the accommodations. Staying the night at one of these hotels is definitely an experience for the books!
Winner: Island House, Key West
This all-male getaway has been voted “Best Gay Resort in the World,” so it’s no surprise that Island House came to the top of our list. This sanctuary for men also hosts a free, daily happy hour for its guests.
Runner-up: All Worlds Resort, Palm Springs
Lesbian Hangout
Femme-identifying socialites to the front, this one is for the ladies!
Winner: Jolene’s, San Francisco
When Jolene’s took over Dear Mom, it became an instant LGBTQ+ classic. This laid-back bar offers themed nights, billiards, dancing, Sunday brunch, and delicious pub eats in a relaxed, spacious setting.
Runner-up: Cubbyhole, NYC
Travel-worthy Festivals
Pack your bags! This travel-worthy festivals is totally worth the airfare.
Winner: Folsom Street Fair, San Francisco
Folsom Street Fair, taking place in September in San Francisco’s SoMa District, is like one big, kinky Christmas.
RELATED: Best NSFW lewks from Folsom Street Fair 2022
Runner-up: Southern Decadence, New Orleans
Cruisy Cafe
Do you take your coffee with a side of eye candy and people-watching? These cafes are known around the globe for their ground-breaking coffee culture.
Winner: Kahve, NYC
You’ll find more than just a generic cup of joe at this compact Hell’s Kitchen coffee shop. Kahve serves international coffee drinks that go beyond your typical chain store’s latte or cappuccino.
Runner-up: Wicked Grounds, San Francisco
Culinary Queer
From Michelin stars to James Beard medallions, these queer chefs have earned their accolades and offer a taste of fabulous around the world.
Winner: Rob Connoley, Bulrush, St. Louis
RELATED: How queer chefs are rewriting the recipe for success
Runner-up: Kristen Kish, Arlo Grey, Austin
Gay Muralist
These artists’ beautiful pieces of public art showcase a more colorful side of the communities in which they reside. Which one takes your breath away?
Winner: David Puck
David Puck has painted murals all over the world, including in Germany, Denmark, The UK, Holland, The Canary Islands, Spain, Nicaragua, Guatemala and USA. Notable mural projects include London Mural Festival, Wide Open Walls, Global Street Art, LA Pride & NYC World Pride.
Runner-up: Juan Manuel Carmona & Simón Malvaez, San Francisco
Monument to Our History
These stunning tributes memorialize the progress LGBTQ communities across the globe have made toward equality and justice, while reminding us that there is still work to be done for future generations to come.
Winner: Gay Liberation Monument, NYC
Due to its location right in front of the legendary Stonewall Inn, where the gay liberation movement began, Christopher Park is embedded in LGBT history. Thirty years after the Stonewall Riots, in 1999, the park was added to the New York State Registry of Historic Places and to remember the events that occurred there, artist George Segal was commissioned to create a white sculpture of gay couples lounging in the park.
Runner-up: AIDS Memorial Grove, San Francisco
Small Town Pride
Bigger isn’t always better! But in this case, this small town Pride festival packs a big punch!
Winner: Sitges Pride, Sitges
Runner-up: Blue Ridge Pride Festival, Asheville