Paradise is a long-running LGBT+ nightclub in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and one of the best known gay destinations on the Jersey Shore. It sits at 101 Asbury Avenue as part of the Empress Hotel, which makes it a weekend trip rather than a night out for most Philadelphians.
Why it is listed here. Asbury Park is roughly a ninety minute drive from Center City and has been a summer fixture for Philadelphia’s LGBT+ community for decades. Plenty of Philly crowds travel for Paradise weekends, and events there regularly draw the same DJs and promoters who work Philadelphia rooms.
What to expect. A large club operation attached to a hotel, with indoor and outdoor space and a season that peaks over the summer. Because it runs on a seasonal calendar and programming shifts considerably between summer and the rest of the year, check the venue directly before travelling.
Planning a trip. Staying at the Empress puts you on site. Asbury Park itself has a wider LGBT+ scene beyond the club, and the beach and boardwalk are a short walk away.
What’s on at Paradise? Any listed events appear below, pulled live from the PGC calendar.
