Before Montrose became the beating heart of queer Houston, one bar stood as a home base for the city’s early gay nightlife: The Exile. Located at 1011 Bell Street, The Exile was originally the downtown club Off Main in 1960, then rebranded as The Exile by 1965, and went on to operate for over two decades — closing its doors on September 30, 1986 after an influential 21 year run under that name.
A fixture of Houston’s gay scene long before broader acceptance or safe spaces were commonplace, The Exile anchored a community in a time of coded social life and simmering activism. Patrons gathered here not just to drink, but to connect, find solace, and build friendships in the face of a world that offered few public places where being queer was welcomed.
The Exile also had its place in the city’s broader LGBTQ+ milestones: Houston’s first Pride march in 1976 kicked off from The Exile’s parking lot, a modest but momentous beginning for what would become a major annual celebration of queer resilience and joy.
