You don’t have to be gay to enjoy Tribe (1517-A Church St., 615/329-2912), but it helps to be beautiful, or at least well-dressed. The dance floor here is one of the best in the city, and the atmosphere is hip. Martinis and other specialty drinks are the poison of choice at this standard-setting club, which stays open until the wee hours.

Right next door to Tribe is Play (1519 Church St., 615/322-9627), the city’s newest gay club, with drag shows and performances by adult-film stars.

The Chute Complex (2535 Franklin Rd., 615/297-4571) has karaoke, drag shows, and a dance floor. It caters to gay men.

Women outnumber men at the Lipstick Lounge (1400 Woodland St., 615/226-6343), a cool yet homey club in East Nashville. Live music, pool, and great food attract a crowd nearly every night.

For a low-key evening of pool or a happy hour stop before dinner, TRAX (1501 2nd Ave. S., 615/742-8856) is the place to go. The patio is a nice place to sit in warm weather. There is wireless Internet and big-screen televisions.

Outloud Cafe (1707 Church St., 615/329-8006) is a casual restaurant, coffee shop, and low-key venue for entertainment, catering to the gay and lesbian crowd. Thursday is movie night, there are monthly art exhibits, and game night is Monday beginning at 7 p.m.