The Little Gay Pub

Inside Little Gay Pub’s Big Philly Expansion | Eater DC

"Opened its second, larger two-story location in Philadelphia in late May (just in time for Pride month) at 102 S. 13th Street in the heart of the Gayborhood, this spot occupies a space twice the size of the original and was conceived by co-owners Dito Sevilla, Benjamin Gander, and Dusty Martinez — all decorated D.C. hospitality veterans: Sevilla spearheaded a subterranean cocktail den below Italian restaurant Floriana, Gander managed local LGBTQ+ bars including Nellie’s and Number Nine for more than a decade, and Martinez has worked everywhere from go-go boy to general manager at Trade. Coming out of the pandemic they set out to fill “a space where we ourselves wanted to hang out,” says Sevilla, and, as he adds about the Philly expansion, “While we believe there’s more room to grow in D.C. eventually, we thought, how we could expand the brand, and Philadelphia is a city we love, has a great gay community, and made the most sense.” The design and decor continue the founders’ emphasis on art and LGBTQ historical memorabilia — nearly every square inch of wall space features a suggestive print, historical archive, political note, or pop-culture signal — and the Philly location adds local nods like lots of brass eagles and a playful portrait of Princess Diana wearing an NFL Eagles jacket to “celebrate the city, its history, and its icons,” says Sevilla; the decor has attracted local celebs such as Nancy Pelosi. The cocktail menu builds on the D.C. offerings while reflecting Philly tastes: the espresso martini is a top seller, as is the Aperol spritz, and Gander notes that “a fun find for us is that Philly loves tequila, so we have a few more tequila options.” Signature and new drinks include the “Big Gay Margarita” (a giant pint-glass margarita popular on the first floor), a beer-and-shot boilermaker combo, and the Tailspin — “a take on the Paper Plane and nod to Philadelphia’s aquatic plane shipyard” — with even the glassware chosen to be Philly-specific (and available for sale). Food nods to the original include baskets of tater tots and nostalgic “dino bites” (chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs and served on cheese boards), with local items in development — Sevilla specifically mentions a potential cheesesteak roll. The bathrooms are already a cultural moment thanks to mirrored-selfie mania (there’s even an Instagram handle that reposts them, @royal_flush_lgp); Martinez says, “In Philly, we’re lucky because we have more bathroom space.” One restroom is modern and “hypergreen” with a chandelier and swan faucet — “the selfies are going crazy,” he says — while the second-floor restroom offers a “Hollywood regency vibe, reflecting the English garden atmosphere of the bar space. It’s a pink version of the green bathroom. We are impressed that the selfies are a thing.” The owners stress intentionality and community: Martinez says the venue is “inclusive, a welcoming space for everyone in the LGBTQ community. It’s multigenerational, it’s a place to both start or end the night, and a neighborhood vibe.” The design process took well over a year, producing a first-floor area that Martinez calls “broody, almost masc,” while upstairs contains “echoes of an English Garden.” Two months after opening he says it’s “humbling to hear how happy our customers are. We see different facets of the community. … not clubby, dancey, or loud, but just an inclusive space.”" - Evan Caplan