What’s the best nightclub in the world? Many attribute the moniker to Berghain, Berlin‘s uber-exclusive techno institution notorious for its draconian door policy. Yet, while writing a recent article exploring effective strategies to gain entrance past the club’s iron-clad velvet rope, every interviewee acknowledged the stature of Berghain but disputed the claim that it was the best club in the world. So which nightclub, if any, holds this distinction?
Obviously, the metric for “best” is highly subjective, factoring in variables such as aesthetics, ambiance, music, sexuality, and even cultural relevance. In order to explore these nuances, we’ve kiki-ed with a diverse cross-section of nightlife professionals to discuss their favorite clubs, and what elements contribute to their opinions.
Basement, Brooklyn
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Matt Denton’s music career has taken him to turn tables across the globe, from Winter Party in Miami Beach and Utopia in Mexico City to the recent Spring Fever party at House of Yes in Brooklyn. But the New York-based DJ’s favorite nightclub is a different Brooklyn destination, Basement. This stark warehouse space harkens back to the gritty, industrial aesthetic pioneered during the advent of Berlin’s techno scene. Its spartan interior stands in contrast to Manhattan’s many pretentious queer clubs.
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“One of the things I really like about Basement is that it’s just really about the sounds and the vibe,” said Denton. “There are no decorations, there’s no VIP, there are no tables and booths. It’s just a warehouse, and some good music, and some good people fun people.”
That being said, this club reflects an air of exclusivity inherent in gay Gotham’s status-conscious identity. Like Berghain, Basement enforces a strict door policy.
“Even though Basement does draw a very diverse crowd, they still have a pretty tight door,” cautioned Denton. ” I’ve actually heard of people being turned away for wearing too colorful of clothes.”
So, if you are looking to descend on Basement, be sure to keep it New York chic with a monochromatic ensemble.
The Cock, New York
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This East Village institution sprung from the mind of Mario Diaz like a modern-day Zaddy Zeus birthing Athena from his kinky cranium. Originating in the late 90’s at the corner of 12th Street and Avenue A, this fetish-fueled dive bar has traversed a number of locations. (Most notably The Cock filled the space that was The Hole, like something from a homoerotic anatomy lesson.) Dirty Daddy Diaz founded this kink club as a response to the AIDS-phobia that plagued Guilliani-era New York.
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“When I created The Cock, it just really struck something that was very necessary,” Diaz explained, “a sex positivity that we really needed, particularly in the East Village at that time. People responded kindly to what I was creating, which was an extremely sex-positive, tongue-in-cheek, dive bar where we were taking on the city and Giuliani and the quality of life campaign and the cabaret laws, and just saying fuck you to all of it. We’re gonna express our sexuality freely and openly. It was really punk rock and celebratory. It was also pre-cell phones, so people weren’t concerned about having their photo taken or anything being posted online.”
This anonymity continues to this day in The Cock’s dimly lit basement space, where jockstrap-clad men melt into the shadows to satisfy their oral fixations, participate in mutual manual pleasure, and in the recent case of a particularly kinky daddy-dom, diaper a twink on a platform.
And, although Diaz sold his share of The Cock when he relocated to Los Angeles in the early 2000s, its debaucherous legacy lives on in his scandalous west coast parties, such as the late, great Big Fat Dick in West Hollywood and his newest event HotDog in the eastside gayborhood of Silver Lake.
“I serve sex on a platter with a sense of humor and a wink.”
The Eagle, Fort Lauderdale
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For New York-based DJ ‘Joey with the Mustache’, creating unique experiences is crucial for a gay club. That’s why of the myriad Eagle leather bars that inhabit nearly every major city across the US, Joey prefers the one located in Fort Lauderdale. This iteration of the Eagle features a leather shop, dance floors, a winding bar, a 50’s style diner chill-out space, and a locker room play space. The diversity of its interior aids patrons in choosing their own ideal party experience.
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“There’s a really happy vibe every time I go,” said Joey, “and you can select what kind of experience you want extremely easily. If you want a play space you can go have that, you can have a dance floor, you can have a chill time, you can go outside on the patio and have a kiki. It’s just so seamless to go between those experiences. I think it’s really magical how it weaves this nice nightclub feel, as well as giving the vibe of a neighborhood bar.”
G-A-Y, London
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“Drag’s Baddest Bitch” Rhea Litre often cites a quote from her longtime collaborator Willam, “If you got the money, I got the talent.” Rhea’s talent has taken her to venues around the globe, from Rocco’s in her hometown of West Hollywood to the covert queer clubs of Dubai, and everything in between. But the drag diva’s favorite destination is nestled in the heart of London’s gayborhood of SoHo. The aptly named G-A-Y is infamous for its outre stage performances.
