6 must-see New York spots for any gay Lady Gaga fan
Mother Monster is bringing her Mayhem Ball back to New York next spring.
Mark
Lady Gaga and New York City have a love story that goes back to her birth.
The gay icon was born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where the city’s thriving arts scene inspired her passion for music and performance.
From dive bars to hotel rooms, the Big Apple was the backdrop for a journey that made the “Born This Way” singer one of the best-selling musical artists of all time.
And as the 39-year-old currently charts the world on her global Mayhem Ball tour — which just wrapped six sold-out shows in New York and will return for three more in 2026 — it’s easy to see how the inclusive and diverse city has inspired some of her biggest hits.
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Now, if only we could get our hands on some Gaga tickets!
Whether you’re traveling for the Mayhem Ball or planning a trip, here are 6 must-see spots for any Little Monster visiting New York City…
1. Hotel on Rivington
Hotel on Rivington
Incredible skyline views 107 Rivington St · New York, NY 10002(212) 475-2600
Website
According to Little Monster lore, this upscale Lower East Side hotel, which features unobstructed views of Manhattan, is where the singer got the inspiration for The Fame track, “Boys Boys Boys.” Apparently, Gaga partied here with The Killers after their 2006 show at Madison Square Garden, and the rest is Herstory.
2. The Stonewall Inn
Since 1969, The Stonewall Inn has been one of the most symbolic queer spaces in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. In 2019, Gaga made a surprise appearance at the hallowed spot to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Wearing a rainbow ensemble and thigh-high sparkling boots, she told the crowd, “You should be so, so proud of yourself.”
3. Ritz Bar and Lounge
Ritz Bar and Lounge
Get ready for some close quarters dancing 369 West 46th Street · New York, NY 10036(212) 333-4177
Website
This Hell’s Kitchen gay bar (which is under new ownership and received a stunning renovation earlier this year) features a spacious dance floor and a backyard patio. Its pop-themed parties and drag performances have attracted an A-list clientele of visitors over the years, including not just Gaga, but Madonna, Christina Aguilera, and Andy Cohen.
4. Marie’s Crisis
OK, there’s no direct connection between Gaga and this tiny dive bar in the West Village. (Although it’s not too far away from New York University, where she attended music school for two years.) Still, we imagine this sing-along piano place, which specializes exclusively in show tunes, would get the Stefani seal of approval.
If you’re lucky, you might even hear one of her favorite standards, like “Luck Be a Lady” or “La Vie en Rose.”
5. The Bitter End
The Bitter End
New York’s oldest rock n roll club 147 Bleecker St · New York, NY 10012(212) 673-7030
Website
Before Gaga was Gaga, she was just another singer-songwriter performing covers and original tracks during open-mic nights at this legendary Greenwich Village haunt. In 2016, she returned to the nightclub and performed on the roof for her Dive Club Tour.
6. Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
World’s most famous arena 4 Pennsylvania Plaza · New York, NY 10001(212) 465-6741
Website
Madison Square Garden is not only “the world’s most famous arena,” but holds a special place in Lady Gaga’s heart. In 2010, she sold out the same venue where she used to watch other artists perform with her Monster Ball, later returning for ArtRave in 2014. And while she waited more than a decade to return, the love is still mutual. By the time she wraps the Mayhem Ball at the Garden on April 13, she’ll have performed the show there nine times.
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