Club Café

Club Café is one of my favorite go-to spots in the South End, especially for weekend brunch. My friends and I come here often—whether we have a play to see at the nearby Lyric Stage or not. I believe the restaurant gives a discount if you have a ticket. Check with your server as rules may change. The atmosphere is always lively, the brunch is consistently wonderful, and the prices are a great value for the quality and experience. I personally recommend the Eggs Benedict and the Maryland crab cakes—both are absolutely delicious. One of my friends always gets the buttermilk pancakes and loves them, and another friend is a big fan of the Cobb salad. They’ve also tried a couple of the cocktails and said they were very good. Highly recommend the berry pies with ice cream. One thing to be aware of: the bathrooms are unisex, and while that’s not a problem, there’s a bit of a learning curve. Most women head straight to the first restroom—which happens to be the one with urinals. Men, in the know, usually skip to the second bathroom without urinals. It might help to label the doors more clearly (e.g., “Bathroom with Urinals” vs. just “Bathroom”) to avoid any confusion. There is a step outside that either one of my friends or I trip over. Every. Single. Time. We do this even though we are careful. Just be careful. Service here is friendly and relaxed—not the fastest, but warm and welcoming. All in all, Club Café is a hidden treasure. Those who know it, know it—and once you do, you’ll likely be back. I highly recommend it for a fun and flavorful brunch in the South End.

This was a very unexpected 💎. My sister and I found this place just by luck. I can tell it's amazing. The drinks are on point. The bar tender has some skill. The food, just yum. I am a sucker for sweet potato fries and these are 🤤. It's very low key. Great music and if you really want they have a ton of tvs you can watch something. We will def be back for an early night 🍸

I went here with my friend for very first time and i would say we reached kind of very late but still they served food and shrimps are super delicious pizza is good too and Music and ambience is awesome perfect place to dance and enjoy your night i can’t wait to go again. But somehow i forgot to take pictures of my food but its good.

The security is super selective and racist! This place is everything but not inclusive. They randomly just don’t check on some people and let them in, while they don’t let other people in with empty tiny shot bottles / empty bottle of water. I have came to USA for a week just so I can enjoy myself, because I don’t get this in my country which is conservative and the security was super rude, didn’t wanna let us in even when we threw away empty tiny shot.

Security informed us that nine phones were stolen in one night — and it’s apparently been happening for weeks. When we asked for help, they just said “it happens” and did nothing. Instead of helping, they yelled at us to leave and cross the street — even though it wasn’t safe. The security and management are negligent and clearly don’t care about guest safety. This is not a safe place. Don’t go.

You guys need to do something about your security staff! The lady yelling at people outside to cross the street to wait for uber transformed a nice night out with friend into a crazy end of night with her screaming from the top of her lungs lol We are supposed to be a welcoming space no? That’s not very hospitable !

I have lived in Boston for 15 years and have been to club cafe numerous times. Recently though the security staff has been very aggressive. It makes the concept that club cafe is a safe haven for queer people, specially people of color - a joke. This has also been noted by various reviews here. I am not one to go bash a business online but sometimes accountability on how your organization is run is necessary. We were at Club Cafe last night and my husband went out to smoke a cigarette. When he tried to enter back after smoking, he was denied entry by a security guard stating they don't let people enter the establishment past 11:45 pm. I begged and pleaded the security guard to let my husband in so we could finish our meal and head out. He refused so I decided to walk out. While we were both outside waiting for our friends to finish their meal, my husband and I decided to light a cigarette. The security guard then walked up to me outside on the sidewalk and hit me unprovoked throwing my unlit cigarette on the floor. I told him that he cannot assault anyone on public property so he got two other security guards - one of whom was wearing black shorts and black t shirt and had tattoos. He was very aggressive and decided to push my husband onto the sidewalk and he hit the concrete floor necessitating calling an ambulance and spending the night at the emergency room. I pushed the security guard back and the other security guard hit me in my face sending my glasses onto the sidewalk and breaking them. The cops were called and an ambulance was called for necessary medical attention. I have left a voicemail to their security manager asking for a footage from the night but I doubt I will get it. I have meanwhile filed a police report and will be following up with assault charges due to the use of excessive force. I would tell everyone who is queer and thinks of this space as a safe space to be very weary. They target people and use excessive force on patrons. I am doubtful any of these 'bouncers' have received any training to de-escalate. There is no reason a patron in a business should be going to a hospital in an ambulance because they were assaulted by a member of that business. Wish I could give zero stars

PLEASE READ THE ONE STAR REVIEWS BEFORE YOU GO. the security team is one of the rudest and most aggressive i have EVER encountered. multiple times now i have been harassed and kicked out for situations that i had no part in. also the one time i actually needed real help because a man was assaulting me they were conveniently NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. trust me, i love a queer bar but you can’t claim to be a safe space when you treat people like THAT.

I have to say I was disappointed by Boston's gay scene. As far as we could tell, there isn't much of one. Jamie W and I made a point to stay in the Back Bay/South End because we heard it was gay central. Not really unless we missed something completely which was quite possible. The one exception - and a most welcome one - was this expansive multi-room gay bar lounge on Columbus Avenue. Boston doesn't have a WeHo or a Boystown, so this place combined a piano lounge and a karaoke club space with a big screen-saturated gay bar in between. Three bars in one. We weren't aware of the distinctions when we entered, but we came to appreciate the multi-purpose effort on a second visit when we watched the karaoke drag show while sipping delicious $15 Espresso Martinis (photo: https://yelp.to/q1cC6tE4pS). COCKTAILS - 4 stars...the espresso martinis were consistently smooth AMBIANCE - 4 stars...combines three clubs in one yet it feels like one SERVICE - 4 stars...fine bartenders all around TOTAL - 4 stars...its its own Boystown RELATED - Exploring Boston? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3XtfnFc

affordable drinks and USUALLY really good music , only club i've been to in boston where people ACTUALLY dance . mostly good experiences with the staff . i wish it wasn't so male dominated in the crowd but that's kinda just most gay clubs so i can't fault them i've heard a lot of discourse abt the club being rly aggressive and negative towards women . that blows . i haven't experienced that but it's worth mentioning bc ive had friends who have felt unsafe there

The food is excellent for Thanksgiving. All you can eat and at a reasonable price. This is one of the best Restaurants in Boston for a good Thanksgiving meal.

Skeptical I was... ever so skeptical. I'm from the Midwest and transplanted in the PNW... tell me there is a "club cafe" where you can drink / eat / dance... no thanks. Not my style. Oh boy, was I wrong! Club Cafe certainly did impress. We were meeting a friend who I've known for years but we've never actually met in person. He was ever so confident in recommending Club Cafe but we've all seen the venues I usually choose.... I like it quiet and cloth napkins... I'm beyond the age of "thumpa-thumpa" music in the background and generally... people... ...I'm glad I was wrong. Club Cafe proved to be the perfect choice for a lovely evening out in Boston. We arrived without a reservation, the host was so kind to accommodate our party. We had a lovely seat in the middle of the restaurant. The server, Isaac, was D-E-LIGHTFUL! Just an absolute doll - Hi Isaac!!!! Drinks, strong and on-point. Appetizers of fries, onion rings, and mozz sticks were ordered... not my usual choice but these were the bomb. I chose the LGBT wrap and Cesar Salad for dinner... I was so pleased with my choice. It was delightful. Our quick one hour dinner quickly turned into 4 hours and we aren't mad about it. If you get the chance to stop by Boston and want a night with good food and celebrating with your LGBTQ family - I say yes!

Went on a Sunday afternoon (Pride Weekend), the music was great, food was delicious, staff was so nice. Will be going back.

Came here on a Saturday night just before 10 pm to avoid the cover fee charged afterwards. There was also a considerable amount of free nearby street parking when we arrived at 9:45 pm which was extremely convenient. Make sure to get your stamp once they start so that you have easy access to enter and exit. Tables are for food only but they also have a full bar if you want to just stand and chat. We shared an order of nachos which was huge and cheesy. It's plenty for a party of 4 people and can be served with a side of chili. The chili flavor was more like ketchup and BBQ but was a fun additional topping to have either way. The space is pretty large with an entire dining area and good size dance space with a stage in the back. Bathrooms are gender neutral and monitored closely by their staff. Overall, I had a good time and felt very comfortable. About 1/3 of the music was to my liking while the rest were typical throw backs or house music. Very dependent on the DJ that night. Would come again!

Really disheartening how negative an experience me and my friends have had every time we go here. The staff (especially bouncers) are incredibly aggressive with no prompting and have been very misogynistic. Wish this could be a safe space for all LGBTQ folks but clearly they're only about showing respect to cis men here.

Too bad the staff here (mostly the bouncers) really hate women and fems. Wish there was a wlw club bc this is not a safe space for wlw, had some mid experiences here but lots of unprompted aggression from staff. Drinks are strong though

I'm really surprised by the negative reviews that I've seen. I had nachos and a martini, they were great. And the Duke, the barman was awesome! 5 stars all the way.

My friend and I waited over an hour and a half on Halloween, when we got in they said her ID wasn't scanning. She's 23 and used a drivers license. They said the only way they would let us in is if she had a passport photo. She showed them other official forms with her birthday on it and they still said no. Waited almost Two hours outside and had our night ruined because THEIR machine wasn't working?? So ridiculous, and I LOVE it here usually

Went to dance and had a great time! Bathrooms were super clean, got a boyfriend, had an absolute blast on the stage. Super enjoyed hanging out in the dance room with all of the fun screens, and the bartenders were very pleasant and serve full servings of liquor for sure! Lots of gay people, always a great thing to see. Would recommend to anyone, will be going back! Did not try the food but looked super good.

Wow! My son and I randomly happened on this gem off the train from NY. He had a hamburger and loved the sweet potato fries. I had the chicken and waffles, DELICIOUS! Staff were very friendly. I will definitely be back. PS. I am not LGBT, I just know good people and food when I experience them.

Autumn is amazing and she made me feel so appreciated!!!! I really enjoyed my time at club cafe and felt so supported by all the staff!

I've been here a couple of times to have a night out with friends. The line is sometimes a bit long, but it moves faster than one might think. It's also a great time to chat with friends because the music is going to be intense once you get in there. Coat check is reasonably priced and they use a digital system for tracking your items. The music is solid and and overall my friends and I had a fun time. The main setback is that the space is intended (and marketed) to be a LGBTQIA+ space and the crowd is not solely from that population. While allies are welcome, it felt like the majority of group was straight and this creates a strange dynamic in the space. As someone seeking out community and safe spaces, it doesn't feel the most welcoming to have a space taken over by straight folks. I am also unsure how other folks from the LGBTQIA+ community feel - this is simply my experience as a cisgender Latino gay man.

This place is awesome food, drinks and music all in one place is perfect. Go for brunch on Saturday and Sunday or dinner and a late night drink and dancing. It's a good time.

I've read some of the bad reviews and thought, " Did they go to the same place I did?" Because, let me tell you the service, food and fun were fantastic. The food isn't your typical bar food. Plenty of menu options. We ate in the Napoleon room and really enjoyed the sing a long led by the piano player. Most seemed to be regulars that welcomed us with open arms. If you are looking for a fun evening I highly recommend Club Cafe.

An absolute garbage establishment. Awful cocktails, bad music, and basic go go dancers reign here. Find somewhere else to have fun in Boston!

They no longer have the brunch buffet but their brunch menu is still good. I wish the service were a little faster and more attentive. I ordered eggs with toast and no potatoes (because I never eat them so it's a waste) plus I asked to have butter and jam with my toast and also salt for my eggs. Yes, you have to actually ask for this. After quite a wait,I got eggs with potatoes and toast, no salt,no butter,and no jam. Then they acted like I was being difficult when I asked for them (again.) Why not just have salt, pepper, and sugar right there on the table? And why not just give people butter and jelly with their toast? Do that many people want plain, dry toast? In any case,please don't try to make people feel bad for wanting their food in a reasonable amount of time, the way they ordered it. Even if they are straight women.

Fun bar lots of space on the dance floor fun that the music videos are projected on to the walls etc

Visited Boston for the weekend -- a waste of $15 for the cover charge! Unheard of in NYC, LA, Chicago, DC. So disappointed by the quality of the staff and the music. Asked for a tip as I was paying the cover. Will not be returning.

Honestly the saddest I have been in days. I just got over food poisoning and went to a drag brunch and club cafe trying to have a good time with my girlfriend and our friend who haven't gone out all weekend. We each had two drinks. Someone knocked my girlfriends second drink out of her hand on the dance floor and we went to the bathroom. When we came out security approached us and explained we were being cut off because my girlfriend had looked "unsteady." She is two drinks in (less because the one had been knocked out). I have never been to a gay bar in Boston. I am sad to say this has made me more convinced than ever I need to leave Boston. There are no safe spaces for lesbians and bi women. If you think I sound drunk in this comment then the security guard was justified, otherwise he was discriminatory. Happy Halloween and have a good night :(

We had a lovely time here on Sunday night. They had a DJ that played decent music for dancing. I would definitely return.

Came here to have a good time after our graduation and would probably not advise to come here if you're looking for that. It was fun and all in the beginning but then we realized how rude the staff is and the security guards were being so unreasonable. My two friends and I needed to go to the bathroom and one of my friends was wearing a complicated outfit that resulted in her needing help to take off to use the bathroom. The guards kept knocking on the door but they were unable to open it due to one of them with her pants down to urinate. They then were extremely rude and explained that it's one per stall. We have never had issues at other venues and there was no security at the bathroom to tell us this ahead of time. We explained the situation, as this is our first time here and we are straight females. The manager did not hear us out and we didn't feel welcomed at all. We felt discriminated as we weren't actually even doing anything wrong. When we were escorted outside, we needed to go back in to get our coats from coatcheck and there was a drag queen outside who was also extremely rude. They wouldn't let us in and was just giving so much attitude. Long story short- Would highly recommend other nightclubs for a good time such as Royale, The Grand, Big Night Live, etc which are all nearby. This place has too many restrictions and was not straight-friendly.

Great Time! I went on a whim and the line was wrapped around the block. Nice ambiance and great drinks. Had the crab cake and the gouda fries. Crab cake was delicious, fries were just ok. They had a Halloween costume contest. I would definitely go again!

Good club, large enough, good vibe. Would come back. Seems to be the only game in town (if you aren't into the leather/bear scene).

I love handing out good reviews, and this one deserves one. This place is a perfect little gem. The first thing I was impressed by is when they ID you, you have to show your vaccination card. That is a bit comforting cause you are aware of what to expect. The first thing I noticed was the decor and atmosphere. It is beautiful. It has quite the ambience, the location is big. There is plenty of seating and open areas. There is a nice bar area, with these beautful lights and romantic feel. The second thing I loved is they have gender nuetral bathrooms. It adds to theme of the place. They have everything here I swear. Perfect drinks amazing, amazing food. You HAVE to try the steak, salmon and fries. Hats off to that Chef. mmmmmm mmmmmm, might be some of the most tender steak I had and it was ordered well done. Lets talk about the staff, Jose was my server. Easy on the eyes and so pleasant to deal with. Shout out to the bartender Peter. The doorman Chris, Mourico, David and Mike. Such a 5 star staff. Whoever is doing the hiring there kudos to you. You take your job seriously and it shows. This place has all the elements. It hits everything perfectly. They have so many events here, Drag Bingo, Karaoke, trivia night, and they create different specials on the weekend. This really is the best place ive been to in quite a while. They rock!

Security personnel could not be more rude and indignant. Treated incredibly poorly by staff here on the dance floor. I'm okay with cut and dry, with straightforward, but outright dismissive/rude? Bye. Don't waste a minute here.

Okay, your experience here probably varies widely on the day you go, I've gone and had a great time, other times I've gone and it wasn't worth the $15 cover charge. The staff can be super weird, the music can be really boring techno music, other times the vibes are on point and the music is pop/rnb hits with light DJing. The disco ball and lights are always on point tho and their drinks are what I'd expect from a dance club. My advice is to go on Friday nights, not Saturday! I will say, as a cis woman I've always felt safe there, but be mindful and respectful that this is a gay safe space, not yours!

The place looks nice from the outside but don't be fooled the own manager kicked out his own daughter out the club for being intoxicated!!! Instead of taking care of her in his office !! I threw out a bottle of seltzer that I wasn't drinking and said I'm not allowed in the place because I threw out a bottle ?!? That I wasn't drinking ... meanwhile the sign says no beverage allowed while in line ? So how do you say I'm not allowed in !?!?

Queens were gorgeous. Ambiance was delightful. Dancing was fun.

Great everything: Our server was attentive and helpful. Cocktails were creative and delicious. We had a spinach salad with steak tips and lobster mac and cheese - both were excellent. Great music, friendly patrons. Great place to go!

very busy for Pride, food was great, Drinks were Great and Bartender was great service from all

The BEST brunch we've ever had! We flew in for the night and wanted brunch before leaving the next day. Stopped at Friendly toast & they had a 2 hr wait. They suggested Club Cafe which is a block up from them. Amazing mimosa options & then the food came and I just can't say enough it was soo yummy. I got the French toast casserole which also had fruit and whip cream that just burst with flavor... OMG and the bacon . My husband got the crab cake Benedict and it was .com THEN to too it off our server Mike was just the best! Awesome friendly service dynamite food... I can't wait to go back!!!

Love this place! It has always been a staple for the LGBTQ+ ‍ community. Not only that, the food a really good. Came for lunch today after the marathon and got a chicken salad sandwich and house salad. It was DELICIOUS and 1/2 the price of what we would pay on Newbury Street. Keep up the great job making this a place for our community!

On 8/31/2023 A Waiter named Micheal W. had the nerve to ask for my credit card when I ordered my food. I observed him not asking white patrons for their card when they ordered so I assumed it was because I was black. I guess he thought I was going to dine and dash. Just because I'm a black man doesn't mean I'm going to leave without paying. I felt humiliated and dehumanized. I will never return to this establishment again. This is 2023 and racism is still alive and well! And by the way, they have no black staff; they are all white and Latino.

We went there for the all you can eat Thanksgiving dinner because some of the proceeds went to the Boston Living Center. It was horrible. There was a bone in my turkey that you could have used as a shiv in prison. Luckily I didn't bite down on it and impale my hard palate. I can't even describe what they called "stuffing". It made me wonder if there is an actual chef who works there. Push come to shove I had the soup which was good, didn't even finish the one plate I got, and the chocolate pie was great but wasn't made in-house. Ended up paying over $50. without tip. Lesson learned.

for artpop night, my heart wasnt stoppingZ no jewels n drugs, no sexxx dreams, and no applause. I got molested for no reason. pit your diva crowns up

the idea is there but the my experience was undermined by the staff. we arrived early for some sharing plates and drinks before the club opened. we were a group of 5 without a reservation so i planned on leaving the cash i had at the table which would have been well over a 50% tip to show gratitude to the server and support a local queer business. our waiter was unfortunately very rude. my group was younger then the others who were dining and clearly there for the dancing and drinks. i think he took this info and decided that we were a waste of his time. stopping by every few minutes to ask if we wanted more food drinks etc. he lost patience and basically said "we sat you here to eat and drink so if you're not going to do that get out" at this point we had been there under an hour and ordered sharing plates and at least a round of drinks for everyone. very disappointed to be treated that way on a night out with my friends. safe to say i kept my cash. other than that the whole establishment felt over policed and structured (security guards in every corner were very quick to correct you on little things) i got re-directed away from the bathroom while waiting for a friend - just little things like that. heard a new gay bar is opening around this area over the summer - excited to check that one out!!

We were here to watch RuPaul's Drag Race and had a great time! Except for when our bill came. Before then, one of my friends kept noticing our waiter's vibe was weird/hostile. Then, it turns out that when we paid we never got a receipt. When we finally asked for it, the receipt showed we had been charged for three additional drinks and each item was priced at $1 more than as listed on the menu. It was impossible to track down our waiter, and when we finally did he just gaslit us and tried to say we had ordered these items we just hadn't. He ended up just giving us cash to cover the mistake, which felt odd, and he never apologized. Just sad because we had a great time before all this drama with the bill. Unlikely to return.

One of the few classically queer hangouts in Boston at this point. I'm not big on the weekend nightlife but when I have gone it's always been packed. Great service from waitstaff and bartenders. Also, the food is INCREDIBLE - way better than your usual bar fare. Not sure how many go for dinner but I was very surprised at what I expected to be an average bar dinner being much more like a restaurant meal.

There was so much surveillance by security interrupting my friends in the bathroom and the manager treated us all awfully. We are a group of various queer and trans identities and none of us felt welcome in this space. There might be free entry before 10pm but it's worthwhile to pay a cover somewhere else where they will treat you better. We were yelled at by various staff throughout our night despite buying food and drinks before entering the club.

I know that I had a very critical review of Club Cafe from couple years ago, but I've been here a couple times since then and things have changed. I went here with a friend last night for drinks and dinner. This time, the servers and the host were friendly and very accommodating. I'm surprised-- and glad-- that they survived the COVID season. We made a reservation and we were shown our seats, even though we were a few minutes early. There was good sanitation and social distancing inside and outside. We started with ordering a couple drinks: I got the lychee martini and my friend got an old fashioned. The drinks came fairly quickly and they were fine (not spectacular). We also ordered fried calamari for appetizers, my friend got the meatball pasta and I got the 1/2 chicken (a special item). The calamari was so-so, and the meatball was a little too salty. The chicken was good, however and the carrots, mashed potatoes and broccoli presentation was good. Overall, the service and the food standards have definitely gotten better. Definitely good if you want to get decent food and drinks in Boston. Ratings based on: 50% for food, 30% for service and 20% for everything else: Food: 3 stars @ 50% = 1.5 Service: 4.5 stars @ 30% = 1.35 Everything else (cleanliness, ambience, etc): 5 stars @ 20% = 1.0 Total = 3.85, rounding to 4.0

I have always loved visiting club cafe for a fun judgement free night with fellow queer folks. However, I was recently kicked out while hanging out casually at the bar for being "too drunk" when this was clearly not the case. I was also the only non white cis woman in my group. I explained to the manager how it felt very prejudiced and he couldn't care less. Even though in the past I've had great times, unfortunately I now find the staff here to be misogynistic and problematic, avoid at all costs.

My friend brought me here for the first time this Saturday and it was a night to remember. I haven't had this much fun in years hehe

This is the spot to be at on a Saturday night!! What you like at a club: strong drinks, packed dance floors and early 2000s JLo music on blast. Here are the quick pros and cons: Pros: - Lots if people and loud music. This is a con for some but I love the energy of everyone grooving and dancing to loud music. You will lose your voice by the end of the night if you try to carry a conversation. - Friendliest people you'll club with. This club is one of the most inclusive clubs you'll walk into. I saw a drag queen, cis couple making out next to a gay couple. It's a good vibe. - Good Music. Music choice depends on the DJ. But it usually includes hip hop (40%), pop (20%), latin music (10%), EDM/other Cons - Long line for entry. I can't blame them for being busy but you may need to wait 30-45 minutes on a Sat/Fri night. - Drinks were on the pricey side ($14-$16 for drinks, $9 for shots) but I'd recommend the buttery nipple shots for a quick, sweet buzz. - Closes at 2am, which to me is early. The neighborhood isn't the best so have a buddy with you if you plan to walk back or be willing to pay for pricey uber fares since the T closes at 1.

This place is a total bad vibe- the security guys were completely unreasonable and combative. No thanks

They have a non-inclusive policy over the VIP passes they sell, quite shocking given the fact this is a LGBTQ establishment and the year is 2021. A couple of friends were able to buy the passes directly at the restaurant last March. That very same week, I went to this place to buy them and I was told they only sell the passes via email. I did send three emails and after two months I was finally told all the passes were sold out and my friends bought the last ones (I know this is not true because another friend was able to buy one pass on late April, also directly at the restaurant) It is clear they are only selling these passes to those who fit a specific criteria/profile. Who knows what that is?

The security here is the rudest people you will see. They will ask you to leave the stairs in front of the furniture store next to their entrance even though you are not on their property.

Wow. I have never been more disgusted by a place than this. If you are a woman, do not come here. They search through all your belongings one by one and remove anything that looks suspicious. The woman in front of me had her lipstick removed because it was in a black container. Bartenders are rude. Expensive drinks and cover charge. There is zero reason to go here.