City guide
Phoenix
The Melrose strip on 7th Avenue, two-stepping at Charlie's, and a Pride in October.
Phoenix's gay bars are spread out, but the Melrose District is where they bunch up: a mile of 7th Avenue between Indian School and Camelback, with the Melrose arch at the south end and Charlie's at the north. Kobalt and a few others sit along Central Avenue and 7th Street. Most people drive, and the light rail now gets you to Melrose and Midtown.
Neighborhoods
Melrose District
$$7th Ave from Indian School to Camelback. Visit Phoenix calls it the state's biggest cluster of LGBTQ+ bars, and there's a rainbow crosswalk at 7th Ave and Glenrosa.
Coronado
$$–$$$A historic district east of Central, roughly 7th to 14th Sts between Virginia Ave and McDowell. Gay men moved in and restored its old houses in the 1970s, and Visit Phoenix calls it the city's first gay neighborhood.
Willo
$$$A 1920s historic district between 7th Ave and Central, from McDowell to Thomas. Close to the light rail on Central, and a short drive to Melrose.
Downtown and Roosevelt Row
$$$Apartments, galleries, the Pride festival and the clinics on Central. The First Friday street market moved to Mesa in 2026, but the galleries still open.
Rent feel is a rough guide from $ (cheaper) to $$$$ (brace yourself).
Bars & clubs
Also on the strip: Boycott Bar (lesbian-owned, with Latin, country and drag nights, 4301 N 7th Ave). Coming: Barracks, a leather bar moving from Palm Springs, won its liquor license for 4601 N 7th Ave in July 2026; no opening date yet.
Health & PrEP
- Prisma Community Care 1101 N Central Ave, Ste 200
Formerly the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS. No-cost HIV and STI testing and PEP, by appointment only (no walk-ins): 602-307-5330. PEP hotline 602-595-8170, if it's been less than 72 hours. - Spectrum Medical Care Center 52 E Monterey Way
PrEP (including the long-acting shots), HIV care, and STI and hepatitis testing. Appointments required: (602) 604-9500. - Maricopa County STI Clinic 1645 E Roosevelt St
Walk-in STI testing and treatment, $20 a visit (insurance accepted since April 2026). Weekdays, closed for lunch noon–1; get there before 11am or 3pm. 602-506-7218. - Aunt Rita's Foundation 326 E Coronado Rd, Ste 102
Free HIV and STI testing at home or at nearly 100 places around Arizona; the site helps you find one. 602-882-8675.
New to PrEP, DoxyPEP or testing? Read Sexual health, the practical version. Looking for a regular doctor or a therapist, or sorting out what PrEP costs? See Finding a doctor who gets it.
This week in Phoenix
Today Wed, Oct 21
- 7pm
WTF?! Trivia at Stacy's at Melrose Game night
Wednesdays 7–9pm · Stacy's at Melrose, 4343 N 7th Ave (Melrose)
- 8pm
Drag Bingo at Thunderbird Lounge Drag
Wednesdays 8–10pm · Thunderbird Lounge, 710 W Montecito Ave (Melrose)
Tomorrow Thu, Oct 22
- 6pm
Country Line Dancing at Charlie's Phoenix Dance
Thursdays 6–8pm; Saturdays 6–8pm · Charlie's Phoenix, 727 W Camelback Rd (Melrose)
Friday Oct 23
- 6:45pm
Phoenix Gay Flag Football League Sports
Fall season on Friday evenings, games 6:45–10pm; the park can change · Phoenix-area park (check the league for this season's field)
Saturday Oct 24
- 6pm
Country Line Dancing at Charlie's Phoenix Dance
Thursdays 6–8pm; Saturdays 6–8pm · Charlie's Phoenix, 727 W Camelback Rd (Melrose)
Sunday Oct 25
Cactus Cities Softball League Sports
Sunday games during the season; the fall 2026 season began Sep 27 · Phoenix-area fields
Monday Oct 26
- 6:30pm
Arizona Gay Volleyball – League Nights Sports
Mondays and Tuesdays 6:30–10pm during the season · Steele Indian School Park and Margaret T. Hance Park volleyball courts
Tuesday Oct 27
- 6:30pm
Arizona Gay Volleyball – League Nights Sports
Mondays and Tuesdays 6:30–10pm during the season · Steele Indian School Park and Margaret T. Hance Park volleyball courts
- 7pm
Phoenix Gay Men's Chorus Chorus
Rehearsals Tuesdays 7–9pm; auditions on Tuesdays in July and August · Parsons Center for Health & Wellness, 1101 N Central Ave (downtown)
The whole week, day by day, including the quiet days.
Dates are in Phoenix time. Times are as each group lists them, monthly groups show only on the day they meet, and seasonal leagues play only in season, so check the group's site before you go. Nobody pays to be listed.
Pride & big events
Phoenix Pride is usually in October (2027 dates TBA). In 2026 the parade ran down 3rd St on Sunday, Oct 11, and the festival moved downtown to the Arizona Center in a smaller format, after the organization filed for Chapter 11 in May. The Rainbows Festival is in spring at Heritage Square (2026 was Mar 28–29).
First time going? Your first Pride covers going solo, what to bring, heat and crowds.
Moving tips
- Summer is serious: Phoenix's normal July high is 106.5°F, and July 2026 averaged 108°F. Plan outdoor things for early morning, carry water, and save long patio afternoons for October to April.
- The light rail's B Line runs up Central Ave past Kobalt, then west on Camelback to a 7th Ave/Camelback stop by Charlie's. Stacy's is about a 15-minute walk south from there. Otherwise most people drive or take a rideshare.
- From the airport, the free PHX Sky Train runs 24 hours and connects to the light rail at 44th St and Washington.
- The gay rodeo is Feb 12–14, 2027, at Corona Ranch in Laveen, southwest of downtown. You'll need a car.
- First Friday's street market moved from Roosevelt Row to Mesa in 2026; the downtown galleries still open that night.
Recently closed
Older guides still list these.
- Anvil (2424 E Thomas Rd, listed as closed by Phoenix New Times)
Venues checked against 2025–26 sources in October 2026. Something changed? Post in Everywhere Else, or Report a change to the Phoenix guide.
Community & leagues
Leagues & clubs
All 8 groups in Phoenix, by interest and day of the week, with times and links.