The boys here sometimes stand-and-pose, but you will find plenty willing to let their hair down for fun. Bingo, Karaoke, and T-dances are some of the more popular events.
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A Boston legend
Club Café has been fairly characterized by the other reviews here. Drink prices trend higher than most of the other gay bars listed here, but are on par with big city, posh nightspots that attract the deep pockets of the Euro crowd, in Boston's Theater District. Food seems to go in waves from very good to disappointing. Sunday brunches are a good bet. There's almost no way to guess how good the food will or won't be, at any time in history. But, in fairness, it's a very nice setting for a gay dinner date. Moving from the restaurant area, which sometimes has piano/vocal entertainment, there is the front bar, with a seating area. There are appetizer specials during happy hour, and sometimes even free apps. The next room has another bar and some flat screens. It opens into the back room, with more video screens, and a stage that makes it a popular spot for cabaret acts, fundraisers, and special events. Their idea of being able to text the DJ a message that plays on the screens throughout the room, which is also used for "dating" games is fun. Various VJ's (video jockey's) spin. The classic joke (which has your choice of punchlines) is "Club Café is Boston's S&M bar... Sneakers and Mascara. (Optional: Stand and Model.) Clientele trends towards well-dressed in gay-popular labels. Men over 35 need to be very fit, or they stick out in the crowd of Armani Exchange twinks. All that said, the club is well done, bar staff knows how to make drinks, and for boy watching, it's gay Boston's choice.
Gay Republican Club
My friends and I have not liked this place since it opened and we were in our twenties. It IS a well laid out space. Skip the restaurant, but if you are hungry get a appetizer in the lounge area. The other rooms out back are ok with decent music...but yes a very young and not very diverse crowd. If you are very young and white and preppy...this might be your spot. I prefer something with a bit more of an edge.
Great Happy Hour!
Nice polite place for Happy Hour. Evenings totally range from Crazy to Boring depending on the crowd. Weekends packed!
It was ok
The bartender was friendly and found us hot soup on a very cold and windy day. Drinks were strong... we were to early would give it ago again next time around.
Would go again.
It was my first trip to Boston and I was told by many of the locals that Club Cafe is a must stop. We dined first, which was mediocore. Our waitress was wonderful. She really made us feel like we were at home. After dinner we headed to the back of the club where it was pretty busy. There were probably only 5 people dancing which was a bummer. But overall I liked the diversity of the place. Great to see both lesbians and gay men together in one establishment.