Hell’s Kitchen guide

Ninth Avenue is the new Eighth Avenue. Just like the famed runway of Chelsea—which is no longer the only gay-boy epicenter—Hell’s Kitchen’s stretch of Ninth is a great place to start when scoping out some of the most hoppin’ hotspots around. It’s got queer bars, clubs, shops and eateries, and is just a skip-hop away from the Theater District. Need we say more?

Bars/Clubs

Bamboo 52
344 W 52nd St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-315-2777, bamboo52nyc.com)
The long and narrow front bar leads to a cozy lounge and lovely back patio edged with bamboo, but the unique draw here is the unique Japanese twist on HK boy bars; enjoy plates of sushi and sake cocktails (with plenty of specials), along with nightly DJs.

Barrage
401 W 47th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves (212-586-9390)
Join the cute and friendly locals who cram onto the low banquettes of this minimalist lounge. The crowd spills onto sidewalk, come spring and summer, when the entire front pulls open like a garage door.

Bar-Tini Ultra Lounge
642 Tenth Ave between 45th and 46th Sts (917-388-2897)
The newest spot in the ’hood, in the former Tenth Ave Lounge space, is a study in white—white bar, white bar stools, white trim on gray walls. It’s all rather lovely and clean—until you down one too many pretty cocktails, which is a cinch to do here. (Try the vitamin-infused vodka for help with your hangover.)

Club 57 at Providence
311 W 57th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-307-7228). Saturdays at 10pm
Okay, so it’s really just outside of HK’s borders. But Saturday nights at Providence—promoted by Brandon Voss and Tony Fornabaio—inject the weekend with an impressive dose of dance. The boys are young and beautiful at this new shindig. The main-floor DJs tend to pull in a dance-focused crowd, while DJ Lina gets an edgier crew in the lounge. Also from the Voss-Fornabaio duo is Rock It Fridays at gorgeous Amalia (204 W 55th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves).

Escuelita
301 W 39th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-631-0588, enyclub.com)
A mixed Latina crowd—boys and girls—have been pouring into this worn-in club for years. Nightly goings-on bring salsa and hip-hop DJs from Mary Mac to Eddie Cruz, while hosts including Harmonica Sunbeam and Flotilla Debarge oversee go-go-infused dancefests.

HK Lounge
405 W 39th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves (646-354-9062, hkhellskitchen.com)
The high-ceilinged glamour lounge has a lush, secret-hideaway feel—plus nightly happenings with go-go dancers, popular drag hosts (like Peppermint on Saturdays) and a hot lineup of DJs that draws a sexy, boy-heavy crowd .

Ninth Avenue Saloon
656 Ninth Ave between 45th and 46th Sts (212-307-1503)
The new Hell’s Kitchen may be all about swank, but you can still drink your worries away at this vaguely depressing-yet-friendly dive. Karaoke parties and occasional drag shows elevate the mood here from time to time, but the real reason to go is to toss back a few beers with friends and chat with folks who have been drinking here since the days before gays wouldn’t venture north of 23rd Street.

Posh
405 W 51st St between Ninth and Tenth Aves (212-957-2222, poshbarnyc.com)
This neighborhood pioneer can take some credit for starting the whole Hell’s Kitchen gay thing, as it was the first such watering hole in the ’hood. The intimate space is more down-to-earth than posh, and the various theme nights—Monday bingo with Ginger Snap and Lucky Tuesdays with DJ Scotty Rox and host Britney Houston, for example—bring in the local boys.

The Ritz
369 W 46th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-333-4177)
Not at all ritzy but located right on Restaurant Row, this is the ideal spot for a pre- or post-theater cocktail. Or you can skip Broadway altogether and just belly up to the always-mobbed (especially at happy hour) front bar, where the drinks are stiff and the regulars chatty. The back of the lounge is host to regular performances and dance parties.

Therapy
358 W 52nd St between Eighth and Ninth Aves, (212-397-1700, therapy-nyc.com)
This vast and stunning two-level space has the feel of a nightclub, but really it’s a multiuse lounge, offering everything from luscious psychotherapy-themed cocktails and a pretty extensive menu (chicken skewers, wild mushroom dumplings, cheese plate) to various nights of full-blown entertainment. Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour takes over on Mondays, and Broadway Sessions is on Tuesdays; DJs have the place jumping on weekends.

Vlada
331 W 51st St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-974-8030, vladabar.com)
The shtick at the sleek and narrow two-level Vlada is its vast array of delicious infused vodkas, which keep the boys nice and lubed for nightly events hosted by scenesters like Sherry Vine, Brenda Black and Bianca Del Rio.

Restaurants

Bamboo 52
344 W 52nd St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-315-2777, bamboo52nyc.com)
This place serves sushi with a twist. For more information, see Bars.

Chelsea Grill of Hell’s Kitchen
675 Ninth Ave between 46th and 47th Sts (212-974-9002)
The boys pack into this feel-good neighborhood bistro for protein-packed American standards like coriander-crusted black-and-blue tuna salad, burgers, pork chops and BBQ spareribs—and sometimes sneak in some carb-loading with waffle fries or homemade pasta dishes like rigatoni with tomatoes and smoked bacon. Vegetarians are well cared for too—as are lushes, with the Grill’s extensive wine and cocktails offerings.

Eatery NYC
798 Ninth Ave at 53rd St (212-765-7080)
Yet another restaurant that feels like a club, thanks to live DJs, sexy mood lighting and extensive bar offerings (are we sensing a theme here?), this one has quite a bit to offer, from a creative menu that ranges from a ginger-crusted tofu salad and a grilled pork tenderloin with braised red cabbage to tasty cocktails, and a flirty vibe.

44 & X
622 Tenth Ave at 44th St (212-977-1170, 44andx.com)
One of the neighborhood’s gay pioneers is still standing—and thriving—with its chic white chairs and blond-wood tables bringing a touch of South Beach to a crazy corner of the ’hood. Food is eclectic-comfort—buttermilk fried chicken with chive waffles, maple-glazed mahi-mahi with bok choy, impossibly rich mac and cheese—and the crowd and wait staff are lovely to look at.

HK Hell’s Kitchen
523 Ninth Ave at 39th St (917-770-8967)
The industrial-chic, feels-like-a-nightclub eatery on this gritty corner will make you believe you have gone to a party when really all you’ve done is eat dinner. It’s airy, sleek, packed and loud, serving everything from burgers and steak frites to clever salads, grilled chicken paillard and truffle gnocchi. And if you like the fab cocktails, you can continue imbibing postdinner right around the corner, at its HK Lounge (see Bars).

Vynl
754 Ninth Ave between 50th and 51st Sts (212-974-2003, vynl-nyc.com)
The boys seem to love this record-themed eatery (which has another location in Chelsea, natch), where old albums adorn the walls above the cozy booths, and menu items are an odd mishmash of comfort foods (burgers, turkey meatloaf, fried chicken, spaghetti and meatballs) and Asian delights (Massaman curry, veggie-basil stir-fry, sesame chicken). Cocktails are themed—Fiona Apple-tini, Peaches & Herb—and the vibe is all-around fun.

Shops

Delphinium Cards and Gifts
358 W 47th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-333-7732)
Owner Michael Quinn, a former musical-theater performer, has cornered the market on cool, gay-owned shops in the ’hood. This, his always-fun tchotchke boutique—jammed with fun stuff from sexy queer greeting cards and fat scented candles to bear-shaped banks and even books for babies. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, try his two other shops (see below).

Delphinium Home
653 Ninth Ave between 45th and 46th Sts (212-333-3213)
It’s ground zero for the coolest glassware, doormats, saltshakers, clocks, shower curtains, body scrub and teapots around. If your home is screaming for something, you’ll likely find it in this small but well-stocked shop.

Wear Me Out
353 W 47th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-333-3047)
It’s all about cool street and club wear here—by G Star, Ben Sherman, Rufskin, Energie and more—plus chic sunglasses, featherlight backpacks, Ginch Gonch and 2xist undies, and fun T-shirts with printed with fun phrases, like HOMOWOOD (tell it like it is!) in the shape of the Hollywood sign.