The Hawk has been slinging drinks since 1933 and has become a premier gay bar in Cleveland. Enjoy the pool table, fully stocked jukebox, and a patio during a night out with locals.
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Was is it with this place and nazis?
Every weekend we go here is more of the same. Guys with shaved heads, mohawks, and military haircuts. Even saw a badass dude with prison tats. I mean, I thougth the Stallion and Mans World were supposed to be the leather bars, but the Hawk must be the new mans bar. One of my friends told me (I'm fairly new to the Hawk) that there used to be swastika graffiti in the mens room (no longer there). Maybe its the straight rock club next door, but alot of mean badass aryan types are coming to this bar so if you like your sex rough, this is the right bar for you.
What to make of this bar exactly???
I have been to the Hawk three times, twice with friends, once alone. It's definitely better with friends. The crowd seems to depend on the day of the week. Certain groups come for particular bartenders I think. The younger crowd shows up on Thursday nights and older men show up for happy hour. Sunday is a mixed assortment of nuts, fruits, and beefcake. I have not been able to pin this place down. Is it a fun dive, a cheap spot to hook up with trash, I don't know. Some customers are aloof, some are friendly, a few are hot, most are somewhere between middle age and the old age home. Quite a plentiful number of short men for some reason. Going here is a crap shoot. Beware, as some customers have serous nasty attitudes or can't say take no for an answer. One queen was dancing around the tables and laughing too loud. Like I said, all depends on the day and the crowd.
It is What it Is
Heard some really good things about the Hawk: butch men, "straight" guys, college men, bears, and other fun types. Our experience was somewhat different, sadly. Tuesday night was lively for a short time, then rapidly cleared. Some awful music on the jukebox and unfriendly customers. Everyone says that Bartender Chris is the reason to go on Thursdays. Who knows. But judging by Tuesday night, it doesn't seem promising. One highlight, we struck up a conversation with a young shaved head guy with a nazi fetish but the incoming crowd of queens scared him away. What might have been...? A mixed bag, but willing to give it another chance.
Me and my friends had the best time in a long time
What a blast! I met a guy with a swastika and other cool tats and piercings then went hooked up in the bathroom. The jukebox was blasting heavy metal and the bartender Chris was wicked hot. Will go back next Thursday!!!
Bears, Twinks, and Smells, OH MY
Old timers will tell you about the Tomahawk, which was the Hawk in an earlier incarnation. Sadly, today the bar isn't much more than a worn out shack where old bears and twinks go to drink away their problems and stir up mindless drama. Saturday nights are about the only good nights to go, but once in a while Sunday afternoons will be fun. The ideal place to slum with friends when you get bored with Twist or Bounce, but don't go looking for sex, unless you're into krazy twinkies or gross sweaty fat old men. Every once in a while, for some strange reason, the bar fills with a sick shitty smell. Don't know if its the restroom or the apartments upstairs, but when the foul odor arrives, its definitely time to clear out. Yes, welcome to Cleveland.