The best drag brunch and shows in Boston

Say “drag” in Boston, and Jacque’s Cabaret is usually the first place that will come to mind. What’s your pleasure—Drag Karaoke, Drag on Broadway, RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties, Drag Comedy open mic? This longtime institution has it all (that is, except for brunch), and beauties like Destiny, Dee Dee de Ray, Crystal Crawford and Amanda Playwith will all have your attention.

This local seafood institution may be most known for its celebrated lobster roll and crispy fish and chips—but come the weekend, its drag show programming steals the spotlight. At both its Back Bay and Cambridge locations, Summer Shack has a calendar crammed with Saturday and Sunday drag brunches. This place goes all out with themes (there's everything from Disney villains to Grease to Beyoncé) and many of its dates offer two separate seatings to choose from (11am for the early-risers and 2pm for the sleepyheads). Purchase tickets online.

One of Boston’s most beloved LGBTQ+ clubs, Club Café is a gay-friendly cabaret/piano bar/dance club/classy New American bistro. So it’s no shock that this hot spot, located on the edge of the South End, is popular for its drag performances. Every Monday at 7-10pm, the club hosts Drag Bingo with Mizery and special guests (think cocktails, prizes and amazing performances with no cover charge). A couple of Sundays every month, this spot also holds an epic drag brunch—to find more information about the exact dates and to purchase tickets, consult Club Café events calendar.

This pseudo-speakeasy may try to recreate the ambiance of Prohibition's underground drinking history, there's nothing secret about its stellar drag brunch. Carrie Nation's weekly Drag Me to Brunch series is held every Sunday at this 1920s-inspired Beacon Hill cocktail lounge. Hosted by Destiny Boston and Dee Dee de Ray, and featuring a rotation of additional performers, this is one of the OGs of Boston’s drag brunch scene. Brunch is served buffet style, and there are photo ops aprés-show with the performers.

This quirky spot in Salem transforms into fabulousness on Sundays for its Diamond’s Dine-In Drag Brunch. More of a super late lunch (it runs from 2pm to 5pm), this weekly event is hosted by local lovely Miz Diamond Wigfall and frequently features special guests (hello, local drag king Dick Kayin and Buster Pants). Sip some mimosas and get ready for an afternoon of performances and games!!

If there’s one place where things can get a little spicy, it’s a drag brunch—and El Brunch de Las Chicas at Ghost Pepper is no exception. Held once a month, the two-hour Saturday show is everything celebratory and festive—the decor, the queens, the Mexican- and Latin-inspired food, and the cocktails. Look out for upcoming dates and snag tickets in advance.

Nestled right in the action of historic downtown Salem, this hip, industrial-style bistro not only serves up snacks, mains and creative cocktails, but also a generous portion of glam during their occasional Sunday drag shows. Mizery hits the stage with her crew by her side, while you and your friends throw back some drinks and order fun brunch items from the kitchen (get the Fruity Pebbles French Toast). Keep an eye on The Derby's Insta to see when the next event is going down—and be sure to land a reservation fast because it does sell out almost immediately!

At first glance, this intimate restaurant in Reading Center is simply a suburban go-to for enjoying Italian fare. But a couple of times each month, Venetian Moon amps up the big city vibe and turns into a raucous show of gorgeous queens winding their way table-side. STRUT! is hosted by Dee Dee de Ray and Destiny, with doors opening at 6pm and the two-hour show starting at 8pm. This recurring event is strictly 21+, and you must purchase tickets online ahead of time.