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Boston's Best Gay Bars

One of the great aspects about living in a large, metropolitan city like Boston, Massachusetts is that sense of multiculturalism; a feeling that there's a place for everyone in the city in which to fit and be themselves. This sensibility definitely applies to Boston's gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender population, for which there are plenty of bars at which to meet up with friends or family. Here are five of Boston's Best Gay Bars.

Paradise Bar
180 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02238
(617) 868-3000
www.paradisecambridge.com

This Massachusetts Ave. joint is a cash only bar located in the Cambridge area of Boston, right near Kendall Square and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dancing is the name of the game here at Paradise Bar. While the usual clientele is a varied mix of the young and old, gay and bi from Boston's queer community. Friendly staff and a cool, spacious dance floor make this a great place for the gay community of Boston to let loose on a Friday or Saturday night.

Related: Boston Area's Best Country Bars

Hot Mess Sundays
(Photo Credit: Hot Mess Sundays)

Hot Mess! Sundays
at Seaver Place
275 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 819-4297
www.chrisharrispresents.com/hotmess

Hot Mess! Sundays is a once a week celebration of gay culture, dance and the cult of fabulous held at the city's Underbar from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Sunday night. A visit here will likely be quite the sight, as one could find a veritable cornucopia of personalities here, mixing and mingling, drinking and dancing to hot music. Gay, lesbian, drag queens and bi sexual/transgender folk are all welcome here at Hot Mess! Sundays, where music mash ups and co-ed bathrooms are just the beginning.

Club Cafe
(Photo Credit: Club Cafe)

Club Cafe
209 Columbus Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 536-0966
www.clubcafe.com

Club Cafe is the sort of place where gay customers can bring their straight friends and virtually guarantee them a great time. Located on Columbus Ave. - in between Clarendon St. and Cahners Place in the city's Back Bay district, near Back Bay station - Club Cafe employs theme nights, such as "drag bingo," trivia and karaoke where clientele from all walks of life can attend, participate and have a great time while doing so, too. Of course, there's plenty of room for dancing and drinking, as well, making a trip to Club Cafe something new and fun.

Related: Boston's Best New Cocktail Bars of 2014

The Alley
(Photo Credit: The Alley)

Alley Bar
14 Pi Alley
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 263-1449
www.thealleybar.com

Looking for the gay and lesbian equivalent of a dive bar? Look no further than the Alley Bar, located on Pi Alley in Downtown Boston, near State St. Station. The Alley Bar offers plenty of cheap drinks on tap and an unpretentious atmosphere with plenty of space for conversation. This is old-school bar culture, only tailored towards the city's gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered population. Drop all pretension, leave all expectations at the door, and just have fun here at the Alley Bar.

The Boston Eagle
520 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 542-4494
www.facebook.com/Boston-Eagle

The Boston Eagle is another local Boston gay bar-located on Tremont St., in between Berkeley St. and Dwight St. in the city's South End near Washington St. at East Berkeley-which could be constituted as a "dive bar." The staff and clientele here at The Boston Eagle wouldn't have it any other way, however, as this last-call haven has been a Boston staple for many years. This is an old-school joint to the bone, and serves up cheap drinks and plenty of attitude.

George Pacheco has been writing professionally about arts and entertainment for over a decade. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, George currently resides in a humble New England home with his wife, cat and massive music and film collection. His work can be found at Examiner.com.

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