This is a niche topic, and this list is inspired by Muddy’s reply to my comment on his post regarding living next to a SC. It could be useful to a traveler who sometimes likes to get their drink on and doesn’t necessarily want to have a SC address show up in their Uber history. Some of these places are so close you couldn’t really justify an Uber anyway. Plus, walking is good for you.
I would appreciate those who see value in the topic adding their suggestions. I have roughly ranked in order of personal preference based on my experience and the locale (also note my bias towards the Hilton Hhonors chain):
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Club Desire-Providence-Serendipitous that my favorite club is a mile or less from a Hampton inn and a full scale (but somewhat shabby) Hilton. The walk back to the hotel is peaceful and safe.
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Larry Flynt Hustler Club-Cleveland-Was last there just before the pandemic. Easy walk down the bluff to The Flats where LFHC and another club was located. I have a sentimental attachment because I had my first ITC BJ and first takeout experience there.
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Silks on the Water-Milwaukee-There’s a Hampton Inn in downtown Milwaukee that’s an easy stroll from Silks on The Water. It’s even closer to (right around the corner) Silks Downtown, but Silks Downtown is a waste of time IME. I was the only Black person at Silks on the Water but, hammered as I was, I managed to line up an OTC date for the next morning.
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Gold Club/LFHC/Condor Club-SFO-Only hit these SCs once, pre-pandemic. Plenty of decent hotel options off Market Street in downtown San Francisco, including a Hampton Inn, that put you in close range of these clubs. They were decent places to watch the stage and tip the dancers and drink.
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Midtown Manhattan clubs-Haven’t been in a Manhattan SC for nearly 20 years and even then they seemed like a ripoff. But, there’s plenty to choose from, plenty of hotels, and Midtown is eminently walkable.
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Downtown Minneapolis-Haven’t been to a Minnesota club in over 40 years and the one I recall in downtown MPLS was a shithole. Scanning the reviews there seem to be several clubs with decent reviews and there are also plenty of hotels. Downtown MPLS just isn’t that big.
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The Ritz/The Block-Baltimore- I’ve had some good times at The Ritz in Fells Point and have written a review about it. My base is a Tru by Hilton on Central Ave a few blocks west. The neighborhood in between is quiet, but I’ll admit feeling a little leery walking back to the hotel at closing time. If you want to drink the night away on The Block, there’s a nice Hampton in a converted office building on Calvert just a block off The Block. Area is busy enough that it seems safe.
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Breathless-Rahway, NJ-I don’t think of Breathless as a “destination” club but it can be a fun-enough club if you want to see throngs of mostly Latina dancers on stage and are willing to endure a relentless tip walk. I stay at The Watt at the Rahway train station plaza. We’re talking a 1.4 mile walk each way so you have to be a little more committed.
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Sirens-Columbus, OH-Had a mid experience on my one visit here. Dancers were standoffish and I mostly didn’t chase because there was nobody really worth chasing. But, the place is nice enough and there are $7 IPAs on tap. There’s an Embassy Suites 0.4 miles away.
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Teaser’s-Durham, NC-Don’t recall having too much fun my one visit to this place but it was ok. There’s a SpringHill Suites 0.6 miles away.
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Golden Banana-Peabody, MA-This place gets a lot of reviews. My experiences have been not great but not bad, especially if you’re mainly interested in drinking and sitting stageside. There are a Hampton Inn and a Homewood Suites right next to each other about a mile south on busy Route 1. There are a couple places where you need to walk on the shoulder of the highway on the trek.
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The Squire-Revere, MA-Another place that gets mixed reviews. My experiences have also been mixed. Once walked in, got a HJ, and walked out within 25 minutes. I’ve also spent hours there and barely got any LDs. Club has “urban” pretensions and you see a lot of “make it rain” shit that takes up a lot of oxygen in the place. Drinks are pricier. There’s a Four Points by Sheraton an 0.8 mile walk away, which requires scrambling across a couple exits on a traffic circle (or, “rotary” as the locals call them).
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King’s Inn-Dartmouth, MA-This place is a real dump and attractive women are in short supply but everybody is friendly enough and drinks are cheap. Guy who looks like the owner tends bar, with help. Nothing too wild in the back but I did DATY with a dancer there once. There’s a nice-enough Best Western a half mile west on route 6. If you have to travel to the Cape on business, this place pairs well with a stop off first at Desire in PVD to get your rocks off before the serious drinking starts, then head out to the Best Western, check in, and walk over to King’s Inn.
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Gallery at Beamers-Stamford, CT-I stayed long enough to choke down a drink at this place and move on. May have been a bad night. Quiet. Few dancers, and none looked that great. They didn’t engage, either. You have to watch out about straying too far from downtown Stamford , but this place is 0.6 miles from the Hampton Inn on Mill Street and the neighborhood seems safe enough and the route busy enough. Once I walked from the Hampton to Harry O’s, which was fucking insane. Don't do it
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Crystal City Restaurant-Arlington, VA-I’ve only been here once. It was during the day, I was driving, and I didn’t like it .I see reviewers who do like it so maybe you will. There are tons of hotels nearby, including a Hampton just north on the main drag (Route 1 again).
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Brass Ass/Brass Bull-Newport, KY-I don’t like these places and have given up on them . now I just stay across the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati and go to some of the cool bars there. But, in the spirit of the article, there are a Hampton Inn and Homewood suite a half mile away. The walk is safe through a gentrified area and there’s even a 24 hour White Castle at the halfway mark.
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Gold Club-Philadelphia- Again, I’m not recommending the club, although costly extras can be had with the right dancer, and there’s a Doubletree two blocks away. This is one case where I’d just take the hit and Uber to Delilah’s .
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Club 21Twenty, Pennsauken, NJ-A weird club I also don’t recommend. But, it is literally connected to the Riviera Motel, although I can’t say for sure if the motel is actually open.
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Centerfolds/ The Glass Slipper-Boston-I’m listing this last because I really dislike Centerfolds. It’s a glitzy ripoff. The Glass Slipper seems like a dump and I’ve never seen particularly attractive women there, but I suppose you could sit and drink there. There’s a Doubletree 3 blocks south on Washington. If I had to stay in downtown Boston, there are plenty of cool regular bars I’d hang out in instead.
