bar
Sidetrack
The first-evening video bar at 3349 N Halsted. The official about page says it opened in 1982 and now spans more than eight storefronts. Choose Chicago calls it the default Northalsted night.
North Halsted Street
North Halsted between Belmont and Grace is the first street crawl after you arrive. Sidetrack is at 3349. Roscoe’s is at 3356. Progress is at 3359. Splash, Scarlet, Hydrate, Kit Kat, Cell Block, The North End, Lucky Horseshoe, Steamworks, El Bar, Big Gay Sal’s, Center on Halsted, and the Legacy Walk pylons sit on the same corridor. Treat it as one outing, not a second neighborhood.
Updated 2 October 2026
Getting oriented
Think of this as an area to know, not a border.
Queer life spills across Chicago. This page simply groups places that are easy to combine in one outing.
- Getting there
- CTA Belmont (Red, Brown, Purple) for the south end. Addison (Red) for the north end. The 8 Halsted bus stops along the strip.
- Accessibility
- Street, building, lift, toilet, seating, and sensory access vary by venue. Check the exact venue when access is important.
What to find here
15 places to start with.
bar
Roscoe’s Tavern
Across Halsted from Sidetrack at 3356. The Northalsted directory says it opened in 1987 and has a pool room, patio, and dance floor. Choose Chicago names it with The Closet as a Boystown classic.
bar
Progress Bar
Drag bar at 3359 N Halsted, the door that used to be Cocktail. The official site prints weekly hours. The Northalsted directory lists it as a member.
club
Hydrate
Late club at 3458 N Halsted. The official site and the Northalsted directory say it opened for Pride Weekend 2003. Choose Chicago names it for drag and dance parties.
bar
The North End
Gay sports bar at 3733 N Halsted. The official site calls it a neighborhood gay sports bar since 1983.
bar
Splash
Halsted bar at 3339. The official site prints a weekly grid and names the Northalsted address.
bar
Lucky Horseshoe Lounge
Adult dancer bar at 3169 N Halsted. The official site and the Northalsted directory place it on the south end of the strip.
bar
Kit Kat Club
Drag supper club at 3524 N Halsted. The official site says it moved here from Waveland. Choose Chicago names tableside drag.
bar
Cell Block
Leather and kink bar at 3702 N Halsted. The official site says “The kinky side of Boystown” and “Never a dress code.” Choose Chicago names leather-theme nights here.
sauna
Steamworks Chicago
Bathhouse at 3246 N Halsted. The official Chicago page says it is always open and requires guests 18 and over with valid ID.
bar
El Bar
Halsted bar at 3209. The official site prints that address and a Thursday–Sunday grid. OpenStreetMap still names the building The Playground Theater. That name is stale and is not a second public listing.
cafe
Big Gay Sal’s Pizza
Pizza counter at 3445 N Halsted. The official site says it is minority- and LGBTQ+-owned. The Northalsted Pride crawl names this door.
community space
Center on Halsted
The public LGBTQ+ community building at 3656 N Halsted. Choose Chicago names the second- and third-floor galleries. This listing is the visitor building, not the health clinic inside it.
landmark
Legacy Walk
The outdoor LGBTQ+ history pylons on North Halsted. The Legacy Project and a 2019 City of Chicago landmark designation place the walk on Halsted between Belmont and Grace. It is not a bar.