Juliana Ross prepares to take the stage before performing in a drag show at Oilcan Harry’s in downtown Austin Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman
Finding your footing in a new city can be hard. Finding your footing — and your people — as a queer person can take even more work, especially in Texas.
Austin, though, has long carved out pockets where queer culture thrives. You see it in the rainbow crosswalk in downtown Austin, the queer comedy nights, and on Fourth Street, where men in tiny underwear dance beneath flashing lights to Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra.” The gay pockets are everywhere, and Grindr decided to make a travel itinerary out of them.
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In a new YouTube series, “Host or Travel,” travelers connect with locals through Grindr — the LGBTQ+ social networking and dating app — to explore queer-friendly corners of different cities. The Austin episode follows visitor Thanh as locals guide him through thrift stores, barbecue joints and dance floors across the city.
John-Carlos Estrada and Allison Miller take photos Monday at the Rainbow Crosswalk installation at Fourth and Colorado streets.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
Below are some of the spots featured in the episode — along with a few additional recommendations for anyone looking to build their own queer Austin itinerary.
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The Little Gay Shop
The Little Gay Shop at 828 Airport Blvd. supports LGBTQ creativity, with stock including works from local artists.
Stephen Spillman for Statesman
The tour begins at this East Austin storefront dedicated to queer books, gifts, art and apparel. Thanh meets local Devin, who works in trucking, outside the shop on East 12th Street, next door to King Bee — a bar well known in Austin’s lesbian scene. The area also sits near the recently shuttered gay bar Outer Heaven — gone but not forgotten.
1902 E. 12th St. thelittlegayshop.com.
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Dear Diary Coffee
Just a short walk away from The Little Gay Shop sits this vegan coffee shop, known for espresso drinks and pastries made without animal products.
1212 Chicon St. 512-489-6757, deardiary.coffee.
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La Barbecue
Customers use complimentary umbrellas to shade themselves while waiting in line at La Barbecue on East Cesar Chavez Street in East Austin on a hot afternoon Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
At one point, the episode lands where many Austin trips inevitably do: at a barbecue joint. The Michelin-recognized spot is famous for its bark-heavy brisket. Nearby, though not featured in the episode, is another East Cesar Chavez Street staple worth mentioning: Coco Coquette, the boutique known for wigs, makeup and party outfits.
2401 E. Cesar Chavez St. labarbecue.com.
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Coco Coquette: 2109 E. Cesar Chavez St. 512-344-9173, coco-coquette.com.
Top Drawer Thrift
Top Drawer Thrift manager Ben Zimmerman on Friday, August 4, 2023.
Jay Janner / American-Statesman
The bright pink building near North Loop sells clothing, books and vintage finds while supporting people living with HIV.
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5312 Airport Blvd. 512-454-5161, topdrawerthrift.org.
Pennybacker Bridge
If you’re looking to get out of the bustle of downtown, a short hike takes you to a spot overlooking Pennybacker Bridge. Here, Haley Soechting and Dana Teets pose for a selfie at the Loop 360 bridge overlook on May 15, 2017.
Austin American-Statesman
The sweeping Hill Country views at this overlook point remain one of Austin’s classic date-night backdrops. Just don’t leave valuables in the car.
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5300 N. Capital of Texas Highway.
The Creek & The Cave
Punkie Johnson performs during the Moontower Just for Laughs Comedy Festival at The Creek and the Cave on April 20, 2023, in Austin, Texas.
Suzanne Cordeiro / For American-Statesman
Thanh later meets local comedian Colton at this Red River comedy venue for a queer comedy show. Around the corner sits another nightlife spot not featured in the episode but difficult to ignore: Barbarella, home to the “TuesGays” dance nights, Y2K parties and occasional clothing vendors.
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611 E. Seventh St. 737-222-0852, creekandcave.com.
Barbarella: 611 Red River St. instagram.com/barbarella_atx.
The Iron Bear
Ken Earnest, right, and his husband, Rusty Salazar, left, at the Iron Bear in 2018.
Austin 360
For those wanting a slightly more laid-back Fourth Street experience, The Iron Bear offers a calmer alternative to some of the district’s louder dance clubs. The bar also serves food.
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301 W. Sixth St. 512-482-8993, theironbear.com.
Cheer Up Charlie’s
Bar-goers dance on stage during Meg the Stallion Tribute Night at Cheer Up Charlie’s in downtown Austin, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025
Sara Diggins/American-Statesman
Cheer Up Charlie’s hosts everything from live music to drag performances to queer line dancing nights.
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900 Red River St. 512-431-2133, cheerupcharlies.com.
Rain
Juliana Ross visits RAIN in downtown Austin Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman
Then comes Rain, where, as Thanh puts it in the episode, “everything leveled up.” The longtime Fourth Street club is known for packed dance floors, booming music and lines that regularly snake around the block.
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Top Drawer Thrift on Friday, August 4, 2023.
Jay Janner / American-Statesman
217 W. Fourth St. 512-494-1150, instagram.com/rainon4th.