Virginia Beach has always been a place where everyone is welcome to feel the sand between their toes — and for LGBTQ+ travelers, that welcome doesn’t fade once summer ends. The coastal city’s inclusive spirit shows up in its restaurants, breweries, galleries, nightlife and beaches alike. This is LGBTQ+ Virginia Beach: open, easygoing and ready to make you feel at home.
Nightlife and Entertainment
The Rainbow Cactus Company
For nearly three decades, The Rainbow Cactus has been the heartbeat of Virginia Beach’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene. Established in 1997, this beloved show bar and nightclub has outlasted trends, moved locations and grown into something far bigger than a bar — it’s a community institution. After more than two decades on Holland Road, The Rainbow Cactus proudly opened a new chapter in 2023 on South Lynnhaven Road, bringing the same energy, spirit and sense of belonging to a brand new space.
On any given week you’ll find drag shows, karaoke nights, DJs, live bands and pool — with the occasional RuPaul’s Drag Race queen dropping in to join the fun. Whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth, walking through the doors of The Rainbow Cactus feels like coming home.
Dining and Coffee
Mi Vida
There’s more to Mi Vida than its colorful plates and lively atmosphere. The restaurant is part of KNEAD Hospitality + Design, the award-winning restaurant group co-founded in 2015 by husbands Jason Berry and Michael Reginbogin. What started as a bold vision for elevated, design-forward dining has grown into one of the most influential hospitality groups in the country — ten concepts across 15 locations and more than a thousand team members strong. Though Mi Vida is part of that larger family, the heart behind it is personal and community-driven.
At the Virginia Beach location inside Atlantic Park, Culinary Director Roberto Santibañez brings authentic regional Mexican cuisine to life — handmade tortillas, wood-fired meats, fresh ceviches and an agave spirits program that takes the cocktail menu as seriously as the kitchen. The space is bold, colorful and designed to make you feel something the moment you walk in, staying true to KNEAD’s founding philosophy that guests eat with their eyes first.
Pourfavor Coffee Shop
Behind every great cup of coffee is a great story — and at Pourfavor, that story starts with Marie and Tina DePedro. This wife-and-wife duo built Pourfavor around a simple but powerful philosophy: coffee, community and inclusivity. Marie, originally from Puerto Rico, and Tina, a Virginia Beach native, travel the world sourcing the best coffee for their customers and bring that global perspective back to their cozy shop in Inland. Stop in on any given day and you may find one of their adult children working behind the counter — because at Pourfavor, family is always part of the experience.
The menu is as creative as the story behind it. Pourfavor is home to the original coffee flight — four crafted drinks served side by side, letting you sample lattes, mochas, macchiatos and seasonal specialties without having to choose just one. The warm atmosphere, locally curated artwork and genuinely welcoming energy make it the kind of coffee shop you come back to every time you’re in Virginia Beach. During Pride Month each June, Pourfavor runs special programming in celebration of the community that has made them one of Virginia Beach’s most beloved small businesses.
Virginia Beach Winery
Tucked just off Lynnhaven Parkway, Virginia Beach Winery pours small-batch wines with the kind of neighborhood energy that makes it easy to stay for one more glass. One of the business’s partners is openly transgender, and that spirit of openness carries through the whole operation — the team’s approach to inclusion comes down to one idea: everyone is welcome to relax, sip something good and be exactly who they are.
The winery has hosted Drag Bingo in the past, with plans to bring it back, and keeps a lively calendar year-round — comedy nights, paint-and-sip classes, live music and the occasional hands-on winemaking workshop. Its pop-up chef, also part of the LGBTQ+ community, serves up charcuterie and small bites to pair with the pours. Whether you’re settling in for a full tasting or just popping in for a glass and a bite, Virginia Beach Winery makes it easy to feel like a regular from the very first visit.
Wellness and Beauty
Cazimi Collective
In 2023, they turned that dream into Cazimi Collective, an arts and farm retreat center created to better serve exceptional but strategically under-resourced communities. Currently operating from a six-bedroom beachside home in Sandbridge — complete with a pool, hot tub, gardens and a dock along a canal that connects to the North Bay — Cazimi is one block from the Atlantic and very much a labor of love in progress.
In 2023, they turned that dream into Cazimi Collective, an arts and farm retreat center created to better serve exceptional but strategically under-resourced communities. Currently operating from a six-bedroom beachside home in Sandbridge — complete with a pool, hot tub, gardens and a dock along a canal that connects to the North Bay — Cazimi is one block from the Atlantic and very much a labor of love in progress.
Retreats here are intentional, intimate and transformative. As one 2024 attendee put it: “You created a space for people to show up as their true and whole selves, and it shaped a shared environment of acceptance and love for each other.”
Electrology by Jessica
A veteran-operated and LGBTQ+-owned permanent hair removal practice, Electrology by Jessica was founded by Jessica Gee in 2021 with a clear purpose — to help those in need, including fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community, feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. Located at 1147 Independence Boulevard, Suite B in Virginia Beach, Jessica’s inclusive, judgment-free approach has made her practice a trusted resource across Hampton Roads.
For some transgender and nonbinary clients, permanent hair removal can be an important part of feeling more comfortable and confident in their appearance. As Jessica puts it, everyone carries an idealized image of themselves — and her work helps clients get there, regardless of age, skin tone or gender identity. Open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m.
Shopping and Creative Businesses
The Artificer’s Archive
If you’re looking for a piece of Virginia Beach to take home, The Artificer’s Archive is where to find it. Created by award-winning designer and mixed media artist Jama Watts, this collection of wearable art and home goods is entirely handmade — jewelry, beadwork, fiber art, resin, glass, wood and more, each piece reflecting a distinct creative vision that has earned national recognition.
Watts’ work has been featured on HGTV’s That’s Clever and has taken top honors at the Fire Mountain Gems and Bead Dreams competition. You can find The Artificer’s Archive at the Virginia Beach Art Center’s Artists Gallery, as well as at pop-ups and festivals throughout Hampton Roads. Follow along to catch the next appearance.
Supporting LGBTQ+-owned businesses is one way to experience the people and creativity that shape Virginia Beach — during Pride Month and every other month of the year.
Planning a longer stay? Our 3-Day LGBTQ+-Friendly Virginia Beach Itinerary walks you through the best of the region day by day — from drag brunches and craft breweries to beach mornings and nightlife.
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Written by Nicole Partis
From coastlines to city streets, Nicole is always in search of great food, new experiences and the next place to take a dip in the sea. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Southern California and has traveled to over 20 countries, always on the move. Passionate about travel writing, she is constantly on the lookout for destinations and experiences worth sharing.
