Jefferson St.) is located one street away from Palafox Street in downtown, and you’ll find that the decor is elegant and upscale, with a beautiful bar made of polished wood. Karaoke nights tend to bring in a more mixed crowd. Heinberg St.) skews slightly older, but not exclusively anyone who likes very masculine men, bears, or leather will find themselves welcome here. The Jewels of the Emerald Coast, Emerald City’s drag cast, is headed by the legendary Lauren Mitchell. Wright St.) The bar is split up into two sides, “Emerald City,” which has a dance club atmosphere and drag shows on the weekends, and “The Other Side,” a well-lit, oak-finished bar perfectly suited for happy hour, with music videos playing at a soft volume in the background. The largest LGBT nightclub in Pensacola is Emerald City (406 E.
Pensacola Pride, traditionally held the last week in June, consists of an entire week of events, which include a gala and a mini-film festival. Over 60,000 people converge on Pensacola and nearby Pensacola Beach for the festivities. Some of the biggest events geared toward the LGBT community include Memorial Day Weekend, which is the unofficial start of the circuit party season in the U.S. Pensacola has a small but thriving LGBT scene. Take care to book in advance in the spring and summer as those are the busy seasons. There’s shopping and dining on-site as well as a dream-worthy spa experience. It is a resort open to everyone, but it is by far the most gay-friendly of the beach resorts, and where many people stay during Memorial Day Weekend. Not everyone wants to stay in downtown some people want to be right there on the beach! Trust me, Portofino is where you want to go. The main lobby of the hotel is a repurposed train depot from 1912, and the grand ballroom seats 500, perfect for pageants or weddings or any party you can think of. Situated in between the Pensacola Bay Center and Emerald City, it’s a favorite for business travelers, but you haven’t seen downtown Pensacola opulence until you tried staying in their two-story penthouse suites on the upper levels. The Crowne Plaza, fifteen stories tall, is the tallest building in town.
Make sure you don’t miss the complimentary happy hour for guests each day and get to know who’s staying there too! (200 N. Their pool area is designed in the Old Florida style, and each room offers amenities from luxurious bedding to flat-screen TVs. As the 20th century progressed, Pensacola became a hot vacation spot, as millions of visitors walked “the world’s whitest beaches.” Let me tell you about this beautiful city, which is one of Florida’s lesser-known LGBT travel gems.Ī boutique hotel with modern decor, Solé Inn and Suites is very gay-friendly and is located within walking distance from the heart of downtown. Known as the “birthplace of naval aviation,” Pensacola’s culture has been heavily shaped by the Navy base in town, proudly flying airplanes since 1914. Pensacola takes pride in its status as “America’s First Settlement.” Throughout much of its history, Pensacola has been a strategic city for five nations’ armed forces - namely Spain, France, Great Britain, the Confederacy, and the United States. The city of Pensacola, on the northwest Gulf Coast of Florida, has a long and storied history, dating back to 1559 when Spanish settlers first tried to settle the area.