Gay/Lesbian entertainment in South America
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La Cotorra
One of the city's first gay bars, La Cotorra is a dark, old-school pub with a barricaded door and a conspiratorial air, appealing to a mature crowd who'd rather hear Wham! or Gloria Gaynor than electronic beats. To find it, take the escalator one level up from the cinema, turn into the parking garage, then left along the perimeter. Afterward, you could head over to the other end for the more youthful Royal Club.
Caracas has by far the most open gay community in what is still a relatively conservative country. When looking for gay-oriented venues, the code phrase to watch for is 'en ambiente.' For additional options, check the websites www.vengay.com and www.rumbacaracas.c…
reviewed
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Royal Club
Entrance to this vanguard club is from the parking garage, up the ramp from the cinema level. Beyond an acclimatization zone with three bars, you cross a curtained threshold to reach the main attraction - a cavernous, strobe-lit dance space.
Caracas has by far the most open gay community in what is still a relatively conservative country. When looking for gay-oriented venues, the code phrase to watch for is 'en ambiente.' For additional options, check the websites www.vengay.com and www.rumbacaracas.com (in Spanish).
reviewed
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Alsina
Second only to Amerika as the capital’s biggest gay magnet, Alsina’s popular queer nights are Friday and Sunday (when a tea dance starts at 11pm to end the weekend). DJs crank up the house with dance, hip-hop and techno riffs, but on Saturday night – known as the ‘Big One’ – electronica entertains the mostly straight crowd. All nights are blessed with three floors of open balconies, chandeliers and thick drapes – along with plenty of pretty people.
reviewed
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Chueca
An exclusively gay restaurant-bar, Chueca offers an upscale experience in the stylish atmosphere of an old refurbished house. There are drag shows nearly every night, and on weekends ‘pre-dance’ events keep things lively up until 2am, when the clientele start thinking about hitting those nightclubs. Wednesday is Chicas Chuecas – for lesbians. There’s a great little terrace upstairs; come early if you want dinner.
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El Olmo
One traditional cruising area is at the intersection of Avs Santa Fe and Pueyrredón, where after midnight discount admission coupons get handed out on street corners (or check venues’ websites). If you need to load yourself up on caffeine for the night to come, settle in at El Olmo, right at the intersection; it’s a spot traditionally patronized by older gays, but everyone is welcome.
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Contramano
Still packing them in after nearly two dozen years is this old Recoleta venue. It’s for a more mature gay clientele; women aren’t allowed in, and why would they want to be? It’s mostly a bunch of older men checking each other out, with a few young guys escorting them around. Friday is best here, though drag and stripper shows, along with a raffle, run on Sunday.
reviewed
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Bar Beirute
This Brasília institution has a massive outdoor patio packed with an edgier crowd than most spots. It’s a GLS point – the clever Brazilian acronym for gays, lesbians and sympathetics – but it’s really a free-for-all. There’s no better spot for a cold Antarctica – except maybe the South Pole! You can get Middle Eastern food here as well (dishes R$5 to R$24).
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S69
Boa Vista’s most prominent gay club makes the most of its once-weekly schedule, with dancing and drinking until dawn. This is actually a GLS spot – gay, lesbiana, e simpatizante (gay, lesbian, and down straight people) – and foreigners are welcome.
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Week
Both luxurious and cavernous, this club is the place to go if you like sweaty, shirtless, gym-hardened bodies. With two dance floors, three lounges, six bars, state-of-the-art light and sound, and an outdoor pool, it is like a big gay world unto itself.
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Turma OK
The oldest club in South America has lots of trashy music (and we mean that in the kindest way) and attracts people from all over Rio – and the rest of the world. Not surprisingly, it gets very animated around Carnaval time.
reviewed
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Bokhara
Although local connoisseurs think it slightly passé, Bokhara is still the automatic choice for midweek clubbing. House and techno are the main beats on its two floors; there are rather tired live shows on weekends.
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Unna
This is one of BA's oldest girl-only lesbian clubs and its devoted fans think it's the best. The womblike basement venue gets hot and sweaty and the dance music is eclectic, ranging from electrónica to salsa.
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Tasca Pullman
One of the most frequented en ambiente bars in Sabana Grande, the cozy Pullman has an egalitarian vibe. Though primarily a place to meet and chat, spontaneous dancing is not uncommon.
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Farol Madalena
One of the city’s top lesbian clubs, this smallish place packs in the young ladies for dinner (mains R$20 to R$30) as well as both live music and DJs as the evening progresses.
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Star Club
This wicked place has entertained people for over 12 years. You’ll find glamorous and trashy visitors, bizarre drag shows, karaoke, a dark room and other attractions.
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Bar Bofetada
This place is frequented by gay guys enjoying a glass of beer after the beach. It’s a good place to watch the boys doing the catwalk up and down Rua Farme de Amoedo.
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Lov.e Club & Lounge
Yet another temple to electronic music, with a superb sound system, a mixed gay-straight clientele, and a varied line-up, including drum-and-bass and Rio-style funk
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D-Edge
With one of the city's most remarkable sound systems and a roster of world-famous DJs, this mixed gay-straight club is a 'don't miss' for fans of electronica.
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Concorde Club
Two dance floors pulse to a heavy bass, while swirling bodies lose themselves in the flashing lights. Three bars ensure that dancers do not get dehydrated.
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Quixabeira
A mixed crowd frequents this gay-friendly bar to enjoy drinks and small bites in a charming old house; there's often live music in the pleasant back patio.
reviewed
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Cool Café & Pub
There’s usually some performance event going on at this relaxed lounge for a mixed crowd, though the transexual cabaret acts are the biggest draw.
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Via Libre
Only open one night a week, this gay-and-lesbian-friendly discotheque also plays loud thumping music, but is more casual than Lincoln Road.
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La Cueva
This small club caters mostly for bear crowds and the more mature on weekends, but throws great parties on weekdays, especially Tuesday.
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Copa
The Copa, a restaurant, bar and dance club, is a relaxed hangout, attracting an ‘intellectual’ crowd of guys and girls aged 30 and up.
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Le Boy
The most extravagant gay balls are found at Le Boy. To help get in the mood, this is a good place to don a costume.
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