From clubs to restaurants to performance series, BLOUIN ARTINFO's global team reveals where queer culture-vultures party it up on the nightly
Since it was officially launched at the beginning of August in the heart of Sydney's Oxford Street drag, The Gay Bar has become one of the city's hottest queer nightspots, a three-floor high camp, high design wonderland, that includes a bar and restaurant by renowned chef Mark Proudfoot (formerly of Guillaume at Bennelong). The tricked out decor changes on each floor and ranges from Palace of Versailles to a cross between an '80s socialite loft pad and Dame Edna's lounge room. Entertainment-wise, The Gay Bar has every base covered with a tempting program of events ranging from Showtune Sundays to Tranny Bingo to super-hot weekend night dance parties, perfect after fueling up with a Drag Sunday Roast and a Shlong Island Ice Tea. Truth in naming: The Gay is here, it's queer, and cheekily camp. —Nicholas Forrest
231 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
Cover image: Courtesy of The Gay Bar
When it comes to the queer side of New York’s art scene things are either fabulous or funky. So while the latter is perfectly at home partying in Brooklyn, save for mixing with the former at few notable Tuesday affairs — Frankie Sharp’s Westgay at Westway and Susanne Bartsch’s On Top at the Standard’s Le Bain — the scenesters are more often found at the roving parties of master promoter Josh Wood, best known internationally for organizing major galas for amfAR and GLAAD. And his handsome high-end crowd is sure to flock to his newest venture, Atlas Social Club, a brand-new full-time gay bar in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan’s most recent mecca for all things gay. Wood teamed up with partners including Benjamin Maisani, an East Village nightlife veteran (Eastern Bloc, Bedlam), maybe best known as Mr. Anderson Cooper, to create a retro men’s lounge filled with vintage sports memorabilia, oversized leather furniture, and just the right amount downtown attitude (at least compared to the rest of HK's many gay bars.) With a grand opening September 20, DJ Sammy Jo kicks things off on a raucous note with a weekly Friday party and guests should expect only the prettiest boys and a random sampling of Maisani and Wood’s famous friends. Just don’t look for the ladies, who’ll can be spotted downtown at The Dalloway, fashion model Kim Stolz’s chic two-floor bar, which manages to balance film premiere parties with beer bong nights as only lesbians can. —Benjamin Solomon
753 Ninth Ave, Hell's Kitchen
212-262-8527
This out-of-the-way Rosemont-Petite Patrie local is for birds of a particular feather. Mile Enders seek it out as an alternative to the Plateau’s über-hipness and the Village’s muscle-bound cruising scene, and for out-of-towners, there's the chance to discover the emerging Mile-Ex neighborhood and intermingle with a mix of queers and straights. Run by queers for queers, this kitschy, appropriately retro bar is all no-fuss diner décor — think sea-foam green walls and linoleum floors — serving booze, late-night food, and perhaps most importantly, free duckpin bowling on two manually operated lanes until 3am. Recently named one of Montreal’s best queer bars by local alt-weekly Cult MTL, expect nineties DJ dance parties and a regular Sunday night karaoke party with a songbook that includes campy Quebecois pop. Be sure to order the popular Le Grease Truck, a sandwich as body-unconscious nouveau gay as you can get: fish and shrimp croquettes, bacon, a drizzle of coleslaw with a hint of maple syrup, and a house tartar sauce with a hint of lime and cilantro. —Rea McNamara
32 Beaubien East (near St-Laurent)
514-507-1313
Located on the first floor of a commercial building in Brigadeiro Luis Antônio Avenue, and decked out in a Baroque-like style (think taxidermy) — plus a beautiful view to the city center and Sé’s Cathedra — Lions is one of São Paulo's trendiest clubs and the best place to meet a sophisticated gay crowd. Just check the schedule for the right night: E.D.M. Ultralions nights attract queers plus the nightlife celebrities and fashion people who love 'em, but other nights such as the Groovelicious hip-hop parties are mostly straight. —Nathalia Nhan
277, Brigadeiro Luis Antônio Avenue, Bela Vista
1st Floor
+55 11 3104 7157
Opened this July, The Steady is Hogtown’s freshest Queer West hotspot, the affectionate nickname for the Church Street gay village’s northern creep first along Queen Street West and now even farther from the lake due to Parkdale’s condo developments and baby-stroller brunch brigades. Painted in the warmer climes-transporting pastels of South Beach, with a corresponding Miami-inspired menu for vegans and carnivores, this café/resto by day and queer hotspot by night’s vegan offerings are earning praises — such as a faux chorizo taco salad dish with avocado, tofu, black beans, pico, and daiya cheese — along with the decadent salted key lime pie doused with a dark chocolate sauce, and The UnSteady, an original cocktail with rye, grapefruit, tangerine juice, lemon, and cranberries. The nightlife options have so far ranged from a dinner-and-a-movie night to the Blood, Sweat, and Queers monthly dance party by local DJ John Caffery, a member of the Canadian punk-house queercore band Kids on TV. —Rea McNamara
1051 Bloor Street West
416-727-4825
Don't be fooled by the name, despite gay sex between men still being illegal in Singapore, there's nothing forbidden about Taboo — fabulous and camp, on the other hand, there's plenty of that. Set up by businessman Addie Low more than 15 years ago in the heart of Tanjong Pagar, the undisputed pink district of Singapore, his outfit has grown to be a mainstay in the gay club circuit and welcomes both men and women, though gay men form most of the tight-shirted clientele. Watch out for monthly BodWatch events, where hunks showcase their wares, as well as drag performances. If you tired of jostling on the dance floor to Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, head to the second story bar area to watch the action below. —Adeline Chia
65 Neil Road, Tanjong Pagar
+65 6225 6256
Italy isn't known for its gay scenes — most of the dedicated bars are rather dire — so instead join a more creative, mixed set at Blanco, a bar that transports the laid-back yet glamorous style of its sister location in the Balearic Islands to the very central Porta Venezia neighborhood of Milan, along with added urban touches like laser-cut floral panels. Art directors, stylists, and designers all come here to call the day off and turn the gossip on thanks to its classy yet vibrant atmosphere fueled by green tea vodka gimlets. Keep a lookout for when Greta La Medica is on the decks. Stylist, model, and recognized local gay icon, she'll transport you to Studio 54 and back with a playfully nostalgic selection of tunes. —Sara Schifano
Via Morgagni 2
Angolo Piazzale Lavater
+39 2 29 405 284
With Berlin being arguably one of the most gay friendly cities on the planet, its gay-exclusive joints are more or less confined to the dark room variety. The Liberate’s gilded banquettes, excellent service, and signature cocktails such as the Lib Gold — champagne, Tanqueray, and St. Germain — have made it popular of late among the cocktail-toting upper cut of Berlin’s startup and creative scene. Standbys like Roses, Möbel Olfe, and the weekly Pork party still reign for those looking for a grittier atmosphere or rather higher gay to straight ratio. But, the Liberate still finds itself on the former side of that equation in comparison to neighbor, Pauly Saal, and is can’t-miss for those who prefer Hendricks to Becks regardless of post-nightcap persuasion. —Alexander Forbes
Kleine Präsidentenstrasse 4, Mitte
+49 30 886 7777 8
Located on the Santa Monica strip running through the heart of Boystown in West Hollywood, with a funky-chic atmosphere, reminiscent of NYC's East Village, St. Felix feels less a gay bar than a post-gay anything-goes neighborhood joint with a gastro-pub menu that's served past midnight. While the food transcends the usual bar fare — Cubano tacos, Kobe beef sliders, skewers, fries and dip — the libation list is the reason enough to stop by. If premium cocktails like the Chocolate Roux (three olive chocolate vodka, white chocolate liqueur, butterscotch, banana and chocolate swirls, plus chocolate shavings), or the Desperado (crushed red bell pepper, fresh mint, and orange bitters shaken with Coralejo tequila), sound a little too exotic, or rich, there’s always Grandma Dolores’ red sangria served in Mason jars or a Colt 45 in a 40-ounce bottle. Pricey, but a great mix of local guys and rockers stopping in from the Troubadour a few doors down, St. Felix is a gas, whether you're gay, straight, or whatever. —Jordan Riefe
8945 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
310-275-4428
In the quaint Noho district amidst the antiques and ink paintings north of Hollywood Road, this classy little bar and restaurant is where Hong Kong's small but intense gay nightlife scene typically begins the night, especially on Friday when the first drink before 8pm is free. (Benefits everyone loves; the venue is gay-owned and operated, with it's own in-house dance music label, but the crowd is mixed.) Men will have no trouble meeting other men here, but queer women might want to plan their visit for when social group Les Peche holds court. The best part about the bar is the old staircase just outside where you can escape the music and have a real conversation with whomever you just met. A Southeast Asia-inspired menu (try the Hanoi fish cakes) keeps everyone fueled up for when crowds migrate to sister venue Volume: BEAT (62 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan), a higher octane party venue not too far away. —Zoe Li
83-85 Hollywood Rd, Central District
+852 2857 7683
Because of the recent slew of homophobic demonstrations and legislation in the country, Russia’s LGBT-community has been divided into roughly two parts: some insist on maintaining a very distinct queer-identity, easily identifiable by the outsiders, and on keeping themselves to themselves in more ghettoized (critics might say, claustrophobic) environments, while others choose to shun all the external attributes of this identity and socialize freely both within and outside of the LGBT-community. Shop & Bar Denis Simachev is definitely the place to find the the latter here: hip gays, lesbians, and bisexuals drawn to its liberal, inviting atmosphere.
Though Moscow-based fashion designer Denis Simachev didn't set out to specifically gear his club towards the gay crowd — instead he just masterminded one of the trendiest watering holes in the city now, one notorious for its merciless face-control, so arrive presentable, or lucky — it's since become a hay hotspot largely thanks to parties thrown by DJ Vitaly Kozak and the ever beautiful and sophisticated Moscow professionals, students, freelancers, and other members of the creative class that follow him. Fridays and Saturdays, expect to find the place packed to the brim, strong cocktails on offer hand, and pretty young things dancing on the tables. —Anastasia Barysheva
Stoleshnikov 12/2
+7495 629 80 85
While gay clubs in Paris come and go, Le Tango-La Boite à Frissons (“The Thrills Box”) has incredibly outlived passing trends and crisis, remaining ever as popular and plugged in since moving to the Haut-Marais 15 years ago. Lately, French hipsters love its old-fashioned look and international mixed clientele, the creaking wooden dance floor packed with gay men, lesbians, drags, trans, and straights, of all ages. Come early on Friday and Saturday evenings, for the Ballroom, and you will take part in the Tango class (couple dancing only). Then, at 12:30am, everyone in the same line for The Madison dance. If you're shy or not eager enough, you can just grab a drink at the bar and sit at the cosy tables around, waiting for the disco-pop music to start (anything expect techno, until 5am). Fridays also feature regular themed parties, such as a singles night or famous transvestite shows. Ignore the off-putting front door and square design of the website; this tiny unpretentious popular club, with its red decor and mirrored disco ball, is among the best actual gay spot in the French capital. —Céline Piettre
13, rue Au Maire, Le Marais
+33 1 42 72 17 78
Peppers used to be Pegs n Pints, a little hole-in-the-wall club in Delhi’s diplomatic neighborhood, which never saw as much action all week as it did its Tuesday gay nights. Even now, renamed Peppers, the bar continues the tradition. Expect lots of the Top 40 hits meets Bollywood music and many gay men gyrating on the floor. (Straight people sometimes come as well, so if you're a single lady, don't assume every guy is gay.) Until very recently, homosexuality was illegal in India, so the underground atmosphere of Peppers might harken back to a different age: the décor is inoffensive but not fantastic, the drinks are reasonably priced, and the only reason to go seems to be to mingle with other gay and lesbian people across the city as well as expats. Once there, it might be easier to cadge an invite to one of Delhi’s fabled house parties, and the real place for people of all sorts to mingle. —Meenakshi Madhavan
Forte Grande, Chanakya Lane
Akbar Bhavan Annexe, Chanakyapuri
+91 11 2687 8320
It is with no small amount of irony that Mexico City's hottest LGBT night out happens at a place called Guilt, a Saturday night Electro-Pop extravaganza situated in the affluent Polanco, in the midst of the boutique shops and restaurants that make Presidente Masaryk Avenue the city's most expensive shopping district. It has a strict hipster chic dress code followed religiously by its beautiful attendees and its success mirrors that of its older brother, Envy, another must in Mexico's gay nightlife. Recently remodeled, the club now showcases futuristic murals by artist Manuel Larrea Graham, giving the parties a decadent feel, like of something out of a Philip K. Dick story, and music ranges from necessary chart pop hits to wildly popular moments of Mexican eighties nostalgia that keeps the dance floor packed (and we mean packed). Arrive early before the queue gets out of control, or better yet, make a reservation; the bar is difficult to reach so ordering a bottle is probably your most comfortable option. Doors open at 11pm. —Aline Cerdan
Anatole France 120, Col. Polanco Chapultepec
+52 55 1378 0992
Seoul’s gay night life is largely divided between two downtown districts: dignified local gentlemen can converse over cocktails at one of the hundred-odd bars dotting Jongno, the city’s oldest gay enclave, while younger Dorian Gray types and out-of-towners can club-hop all night along Itaewon’s far-from-subtly-named “Homo Hill.”
Though located a slight distance away from the drama and noise of the latter, Pulse continues to thrive as one of the iconic stopovers in Itaewon for the party-going crowd. It attracts mostly young Koreans in their early 20s but also those new to town and the occasional batch of curious females checking out the good-looking men that won’t try to make awkward passes at them (entrance fees are double for women however). Make sure you go there well past 2am On Fridays or Saturdays after enjoying a drink or two at Always Homme or getting your dancing feet warmed up at Queen. Unlike most of the cozier bars and clubs dotting the neighborhood, Pulse is a spacious underground venue, though it almost always gets crowded into the wee hours of the morning as the techno, electro-house, and K-pop jams pump strong and the extensive offerings at the bar keep flowing. Equipped with wall-to-wall lasers, stripper poles, and glowing bar tops, its upscale appeal makes it a popular option for private launching parties and celebrity-spotting is quite common during regular weekends as well. —Hyo-won Lee
127-3 Itaewon, Yongsan-gu
+82 2 2792 6662
Unlike the mega-sized gay clubs that one finds in major Western cities, Tokyo’s gay scene, centered on Shinjuku Ni-chome (or just Ni-chome for short), is sprawling, profuse, and meticulously segmented: over 300 bars, clubs, watering holes, sex clubs, bookstores, and video stores stacked up over an area not much larger than three or four blocks. The panoply of brightly-lit small square signage each represent a bar. Most of these establishments are intimate, bordering on claustrophobic, where an invariably affable mama-san caters to regulars who tend to identify closely with a particular “scene” — and for the most part, gaijins who don't speak Japanese fluently won't be un-welcome per se, as much as way out of their element.
For out-of-town visitors in search of a more cosmopolitan, diverse crowd and space to relax, try the Southwestern décor-inspired Arty Farty (2F, No. 33 Kyutei Building, Shinjuku 2-11-7), where the typical gay house hits help you get your groove on (somewhat dampened, however, by an inexplicable government ordinance banning dancing that was passed in August 2012), and then drop into The Annex (1F, Futami Building, Shinjuku 2-14-11), its less frenetic sister venue down the street that boasts a mezzanine floor, exposed brick walls paired with chandeliers and even a fountain in the middle of the dance floor. Those in search of a party-friendly and foreigners-welcome lesbian scene should head for Adezakura (2-15-11 Shinjuku), hard to miss with its double red doors which welcome women only until 2am (men are admitted up until closing time at 7am). In warmer weather, though, just strolling the narrow alleyways and streets of this densely packed neighborhood ought to ensure that you stumble upon more than a few interesting spots — and possibly encounters. —Darryl Jingwen Wee
London has a reputation for being a great city for partying (see: Soho, Shoreditch) but it’s also known for its fantastic literary scene. Writer Paul Burston’s Polari has capitalized on both, marrying a LGBT literary salon with DJs and live entertainment. The monthly event takes place in the picturesque Southbank Centre and features both established and emerging writers in queer fiction, poetry, and performance. Previous guests include Marco Mancassola, author of “Erotic Lives of The Superheroes,” James Wharton, UK’s best-known gay solider, who read excerpts from his autobiography “Out in the Army,” acclaimed playwright and novelist Deborah Levy, and singer-songwriter and comedian Clare Summerskill. Next up on September 28 and October 22; £5 entry. —Samantha Tse
As Beijing’s most popular gay club, every weekend night Destination draws nearly 800 people — mostly men — into the four-story, neon-lit venue with famous foreign DJs spinning classic dance grooves, house, and other types of electronic music. The first floor space has a lot of twists and turns, including a bouncing dance floor and noisy bars. For those who want to have calm conversations, the second floor has a set of quieter bars and comfortable grey sofas. The bar’s signature cocktail is Blue Destination (RMB 50), a mixture of gin, vodka, tequila, rum, Triple sec, lime juice, Sprite, soda water, and Blue Curacao (think a Long Island Iced Tea, if not stronger). On the floors above the bars, there are cultural and community spaces, and a café. —Belle Zhao
7 Gongti West Road, Chaoyang District
＋86 10 6552 8180
