Boystown Gayborhood in Chicago, IL
Northalsted / Halsted Strip — derived from the Form B gayborhoods dataset.
About the neighbourhood
Boystown became America's first municipally designated gay village in 1997, marked by 18 rainbow pylons installed along Halsted Street — the single most recognised physical symbol of Chicago's LGBTQ+ community. The neighbourhood's roots run deeper than the designation: gay bars and community spaces took root in the 1960s, survived the AIDS crisis, and today anchor one of the densest concentrations of queer life in the United States. The adjacent Andersonville district to the north is historically Chicago's queer-women's neighbourhood, home to Women & Children First bookshop (open since 1979) and a cluster of feminist and lesbian-centred businesses. Together, Boystown and Andersonville form a north-side queer corridor that is Chicago's most walkable LGBTQ+ neighbourhood for daytime visits.
Getting there
- Belmont (Red Line) — Red subway
- Addison (Red Line) — Red subway
- Halsted Bus (#36) — 36 bus
Top venues
Roscoe's
restaurant- Hours: Mon–Sun 11am–2am
Ann Sather
brunch- Hours: Mon–Fri 7am–3pm; Sat–Sun 7am–4pm
Women & Children First
bookshop- Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–8pm; Sun 11am–6pm
Strange Cargo
shop- Hours: Daily 11am–7pm
The Legacy Walk (Halsted)
landmark- Hours: Always open (outdoor)
Center on Halsted
landmark- Hours: Mon–Sat 9am–9pm
Vetted affirming clinics offering PrEP, PEP, HRT, trans-affirming care, and HIV services for LGBTQ+ travelers.
Long-form PridePort guides covering queer nightlife, the local gayborhood, and curating the destination for LGBTQ+ travelers.