If you are about to move to Milan, you should know that it is the Italian capital of fashion and new trends, and it is also one of the most inclusive cities on the peninsula. The gay clubs in Milan are captivating, fun and offer a multitude of experiences: cocktails, aperitifs, champagne, music, great food, shows and drag shows. In short, it is an interesting offer, on a par with any other European capital.

As in any city that is culturally advanced and prepared to accept the new, there is no shortage of gay bars in Milan, and they are located just about everywhere. However, the real gay district of Milan is Porta Venezia, which is home to the best gay-friendly bars in the Lombard capital. The streets next to Porta Venezia concentrate the highlight of the rainbow movida. And, not surprisingly, it is precisely in Via Lecco that the Milano pride is held every year, a series of gay events with music and shows of various kinds.

After a visit to the city's landmarks (the Duomo and the Teatro della Scala), a tour of the shopping streets - Milan also has a street dedicated to LGBT shopping - then it is only right that you also get a taste of Milan's exciting social life.

In our gay guide of Milan, we will show you where to find the best gay bars in Milan and how to spend an exciting and unique evening in the city. The proposals we have collected are quite varied and suitable for different budgets, so you can choose your favourite gay bar in Milan. Let's go straight to unveiling the best gay friendly and LGBTQ+ venues in Milan.

Gay friendly and LGBTQ+ venues not to be missed in Milan

For several years now, Milan has assumed a central role in the national gay scene for its welcome and inclusiveness towards LGBTQIA+ people. With its numerous gay-friendly venues, it allows people to enjoy fun and high-quality out-of-home moments without having to go crazy looking for a gay bar. The greatest concentration of attractions is in the area between Via Lecco and Via Tadino, near Porta Venezia. But you don't have to stay on the gay street to enjoy an aperitif or hang out in a rainbow bar.

Let's see which are the best gay bars in Milan and where they are located.

Ceresio 7

Between Corso Como and Brera, in the same building as Dsquared2, you can find Ceresio 7, a vintage-looking and cosy pool and restaurant.

The place, opened in a former Enel building from the 1930s, offers sophisticated dishes with a delicious flavour. The view of the city is extraordinary and the stay in this gay bar in Milan is incomparable.

LeccoMilano

LeccoMilano is one of the institutions in the rainbow scene of the Lombard capital. Located on Via Lecco, from which it takes its name, it is one of Milan's best-loved and best-known gay venues for its hospitality, music and rich buffet aperitifs.

The cosy ambience frequently hosts a DJ who plays great live music. The LeccoMilano aperitif starts every night after 6pm and the space is distinguished by its red walls.

Red Café

Between Via Lecco and Via Panfilo Castaldi you will find the Red Café, an establishment open non-stop from eight in the morning until three at night.

It is a bar that is particularly popular with passers-by and the rainbow community because it is good value for money. The cocktail menu is extensive and the food you can enjoy at this gay bar in Milan is really tasty.

Sui Generis

Staying in Milan's gay district, another landmark for the LGBTQIA+ community is Sui Generis. Characterised by a lively and playful atmosphere, this gay-friendly bar is strictly family-run. Try the renowned cocktails and aperitifs.

Patchouli

Moving to Rogoredo we find the Patchouli, a fun and lively place for those who want to spend a lively evening. Alongside the aperitifs, in fact, there is a lively entertainment programme with DJsets and drag queens.

Among the club's highlights is the weekly queer night.

Wonder

To let loose to the rhythm of music, one can go to the Wonder, a dance club with several rooms. In the different rooms, one can listen to pop songs or commercial music, managed by a DJ.

The admission charge is rather low, especially due to the Wonder's wide range of offerings.

Plastic

With its chic ambience and dedicated to a select audience, the Plastic is a gay-friendly club that has been in vogue for several decades. It is a place frequented not only by LGBTQIA+ but dedicated to a much wider audience. The club, well known by the Milanese, is characterised by an engaging atmosphere of profound freedom that is easy to be enchanted by.

The opening hours are perfect if you like to enjoy the night to the full.

Mono Bar

One of the most popular gay friendly venues in Milan is by right Mono, a cosy and characteristic cocktail bar.

Located in the gay district, it is a strategic place to go for an aperitif or to open the evening with friends.

The location is not particularly large, but people like to enjoy Mono's delicacies in the outdoor area on Via Lecco.

Track Milano

Track has a large room in which some of Milan's most famous gay parties are organised. Generally, the big events are on Saturday nights, where it is common to meet internationally renowned DJs.

The best-known parties are the Block, the Gate and the Cox, where music is intertwined with choreography and lighting.

Noloso

In the Nolo area, between Viale Monza and the Pasteur metro station, is Noloso. Defining this gay club in Milan is rather difficult because it is not just a cocktail bar.

At Noloso, in fact, you can be amazed by the extraordinary art exhibitions or musical events. You certainly cannot do without the aperitif, one of the club's strong points along with the drinks.

Other gay-friendly venues in Milan

To complete our gay guide to Milan, it is only right to mention other very interesting places to spend the evening, make friends and have fun.

Grace Club is one of the places listed among the top clubs for its ambience, lighting, location and type of music. It is a restaurant club located in the Monumentale area, with a refined and exquisite menu, where you can dine with soft lighting and excellent live music. The club also organises an extremely hilarious weekly queer’s night.

If you love amazing things, you absolutely cannot miss Tropical Island, where you can even find sand like on a real beach.

For those looking for a club with free access, our recommendation goes to the Toilet Club, where you can listen to indie music or watch shows.

Finally, we recommend the Magazzini Generali, in the Lodi area, a club where you can spend pleasant and entertaining hours listening to live music. The Magazzini Generali hosts weekly La Boum, an evening in which sophisticated drag queens dress up as famous.

Gay parties and events

Milan's proposals dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community do not end with gay-friendly venues. In fact, the city offers many other entertainment opportunities for both day and night.

As far as Milan's gay bars are concerned, one of their best features is their transformism: they regularly change their mood with high-impact theme parties, such as Gate at Track or La Boum at Magazzini Generali.

In the city of LGBTQ+ pride, there are also gay saunas, with different types and steam rooms, labyrinths and massage services. The most famous are certainly Fenix Sauna, Royal Hammam and TBlue Sauna.

A last indication goes to Milan's cruising bars, such as Hot Dog Milano, the Metro Club, the Inferus Club and the Depot, where you can treat yourself to unique evenings and easily find company.

Finally, for a focus on queer culture, we recommend the MiX Festival, the annual film festival dedicated to LGBT+ people. But the event not to be missed is Milano Pride, the event celebrating individual freedom that will animate the city for a week with meetings, shows, art and colour.

In short, between clubs, parties and events you can plan any day of fun. If you are just passing through, the city will offer you pleasant moments of art, fashion, conviviality and inclusion. If you are thinking of moving to a gay friendly city, on the other hand, Milan will welcome you warmly.