New York’s legendary ’90s gay bar, g Lounge, is making a comeback

Good news, gays, a cultural touchstone has been restored — g Lounge in New York City is back.

During the 90s and early aughts, the gay bar (located in the Chelsea gayborhood) was a cornerstone of the city’s LGBTQ+ culture. Its high-end lounge vibe and grand entrance attracted patrons from across the world, including A-listers like RuPaul, Anderson Cooper, and Lance Bass, and even inspired the writers of Queer as Folk and Sex and the City.

After an unfortunate closure in 2016, the bar reopened a year later as Rebar — a name it bore until co-owner Michael McGrail, who’s been with g Lounge since the start, saw an opportunity to restore its former glory.

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With the help of his hubby-turned-business-partner, Michael John Kay, and nightlife professional Juan Boria, the famed name has now returned, alongside a floor-plan update, including a front-and-center DJ booth and designated dance floor, top-notch lighting, and sound upgrades.

Their focus? Being the third space that the current generation of LGBTQ+ visitors so desperately need, like they were decades ago.

That means events like drag, uncensored drink and draw nights, and out-of-the-box parties like “Millennial Bullsh*t,” where Y2K tunes and snacks like Dunkaroos are aplenty, and the start time is a respectable 5 pm.

“[Back in the day], people brought families to G to come out of the closet, their friends, straight coworkers,” John Kay said. “That’s the environment we’re trying to create again.”

GayCities sat down with g Lounge’s new owners to get the rundown on this exciting era.

Why was restoring the original name, g Lounge, important to you?

Juan: Living in Manhattan and meeting people, they always ask me, “What’s your bar? Where are you going?” When [I’d say] Rebar, they’d be like, “I don’t know where that is.” But when I’d say “g Lounge,” [it was like], “Oh, I know the place. That’s where I met my first husband, first boyfriend, first whatever.”

Michael John Kay: We went in, we started softening the edges, and we realized that the name [Rebar] didn’t fit what we were trying to create. We were trying to bring back the feeling that came from g Lounge, which is about inclusion, having a place to go, and feeling a part of something, a safe space.

Do you have a favorite memory from the former g Lounge?

Michael McGrail: When new people would come to New York … they were told to go to g Lounge as a first experience, which was gratifying. It was great on St. Valentine’s. Michael would prepare a lot of decorations for us. He decorated the bar with stuffed little hearts. I still have one over here. It was beautiful.

Michael John Kay: Valentine’s was our favorite because we met two days before Valentine’s Day in 1989, so that was a special holiday …I made stuffed pillows, big, long, small, and I hung them all around the bar. Now that [g Lounge is] back, I’m decorating again.

What’s the best part of the revamped g Lounge?

Juan: We made quite a bit of an investment into the sound system, as well as the nightclub lighting system … We do a guest list system on the weekends now, and coat check is electronic. No more paper tickets, your phone number is your ticket.

Michael John Kay: The feature I like is the dance floor, because [Michael and I] met on a dance floor. It ain’t a party until there’s a mirrorball.

What’s the vibe that the g Lounge is going for?

Juan: We want to welcome all walks of life, all different body types, all different people. Our motto is, “Welcome home.” I love that our staff who does drag can come to the bar and get ready here. It’s a community aspect, it’s a home for a lot of people who don’t have places to go.

Michael John Kay: We brought love. It’s a safe space. We want everybody to feel it. The bartenders represent us, and they’re great guys that want to talk with everybody.

What’s your go-to drink on a night out?

Michael McGrail: Everybody knows my drink is the dirty martini — Ketel One, no olives.

Juan: At night, I’ll drink Modelo. When I feel like getting lit, I’ll drink a Bulleit Bourbon.

Michael John Kay: I have two, Bulleit ginger is one, and the other is the frozen cosmo, which originated at the g Lounge 20-some odd years ago. No one had it since then. They used to hire our bartenders to try and get the recipe from us.

Michael McGrail: I should’ve copy written it!

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