gentleM Essen

Bar · Essen city centre

Brick walls, purple light and a fixed weekly schedule from bingo to karaoke: gentleM on Kettwiger Straße is considered one of the best queer bars in the Ruhr area.

• ★ 4.1 on Google (542)
• Karaoke & bingo
• Crowd 30–50
• High flirt factor

Address

Kettwiger Straße 60
45127 Essen

Opening hours

Mon–Wed 6 pm–1 am
Thu–Sat 6 pm–4 am
Sun 6 pm–12 am

Drinks

all cocktails €5.50 on Fridays
Minimum spend €5 (payment card)

Crowd

mostly 30–50, also women

Flirt factor

high

Music

Pop, Schlager, karaoke

Getting there

Main station, approx. 500 m, next to the Lichtburg

What makes gentleM special

gentleM is in the pedestrian zone on Kettwiger Straße, right next to the Lichtburg cinema and around 500 metres from the main station. Inside, brick walls and purple light create a cosy atmosphere, and the team’s Ruhr charm makes you feel at home quickly. For some time now there has also been an offshoot in Dortmund.

The crowd is younger than at the other Essen gay venues, most guests are between 30 and 50, and some women come too. The flirt factor is high, especially on programme nights: bingo on Mondays, karaoke night on Thursdays and Saturdays, Cocktail Night Deluxe on Fridays with all cocktails for €5.50, and Weekend Chillout on Sundays from 6 pm.

When you come in you get a payment card on which all drinks are booked. The minimum spend is €5.

Contact

Editorially researched, as of October 2026. Sources: on-site research by mann-liebt-mann.de, Google reviews (4.1 stars, 542 reviews), official website. Opening hours, prices and programme may change, please check before visiting.