Performances take center stage at this long-standing nightspot. Continue reading Il Tempo
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Hotels of Gay-Friendly Montevideo
Uruguay’s capital city, Montevideo, is surprisingly easy to navigate. The city shoulders the coastline of the Rio de la Plata, and a 14 mile long stretch of waterfront (known as La Rambla) connects six neighborhoods of interest to gay travelers: Ciudad Vieja, Centro, Palermo, Punta Carretas, Parque Rodo, and Playa Pocitos.
The following is a short list of gay-friendly places to stay with easy access to museums, restaurants, and nightlife. Contrary to the stereotype of homophobic machismo, Uruguay is famous for its live-and-let-live attitudes. Expect a warm welcome at the front desk of any of the places listed below.
Casa Di Volpe Boutique Hotel
Waterfront hotel with lovely views located in the Punta Carretas section (located between gay-friendly beach Playa Pocitos and Parque Rodo.)
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Casa Sarandi Guesthouse
Intimate guesthouse situated in a 1930s Art-deco building offers modern rooms and individual kitchens.
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Esplendor Hotel Montevideo
Editor’s Choice 2016
Stylish and spacious, The Esplendor is well designed with luxury amenities. (The Esplendor’s gorgeous rooftop view is shown at the photo above.) Using our Google Map of gay Montevideo, you will see the hotel is within walking distance of many nightspots and tourist attractions. Surprisingly, the rates are consistently low. Click below to view photos and get more info on the Esplendor.
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Hotel Urban Express
Great inexpensive option near many of the city’s museums that you could use as your base of operations as you explore Montevideo’s rich history. Try to snag one of the rooms with a view of Rio de la Plata for an extra-special stay!
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La Puerta Negra Gay Guest House
Simple gay owned-and-operated guest house. Staying at La Puerta is great for those on a budget who would like to stay with friendly helpful guests who are full of insider tips.
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MisterB&B
The gay alternative to AirBnB is now available in Latin America! Click below to browse gay-hosted apartments across Montevideo.
My Suites Boutique Hotel
Ranked as one of the top five hotels in Montevideo, My Suites is a jewel of a hotel located on gay-friendly Pocitos beach. The hotel’s bar is a destination for wine aficionados and is one of the main attractions of the hotel. Click below to view photos and learn more about My Suites.
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Radisson Montevideo
Five-star luxury in the heart of Montevideo. This is the place for wealthy visitors looking for a flawless stay within walking distance of many of Montevideo’s gay and cultural attractions.
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Sheraton Montevideo
Over in the Punta Carretas section, the other five-star option is the Sheraton Montevideo. Some travelers’ have reported that the neighboring Dazzler Montevideo is a close 2nd choice for a luxury stay in Punta Carretas.
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Splendido Hotel
Not to be confused with the stylishly modern Esplendor, the Splendido is a low-cost option in the old city center directly across the street. The Splendido is a cheap hotel, but its reviews are very good.
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Una Noche Más
Reviews are excellent for this bed-and-breakfast where guests really would like to spend “one more night.” They have a fireplace, a terrace, and many other charming amenities.
Restaurants & Cafes of Gay-Friendly Montevideo
Travelers visiting Montevideo as a side trip from Buenos Aires will find Uruguay’s food scene similar to Argentina’s. There is a huge Italian influence. Beef is plentiful. And the dinner hour starts at 8PM and extends well into the night.
This list of gay-friendly food destinations in Montevideo includes some of the city’s best fine dining establishments and simple places to grab a chivito, the big-and-tasty national sandwich of Uruguay. Check out the VamosGay Google Map of Montevideo to navigate one of the most gay-friendly cities in Latin America!
Cafe Baracay
Bacacay 1306
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Mon – Sat 10AM – 1AM
Views of the majestic Teatro Solis make Cafe Bacacay a popular destination. They have a full restaurant menu and their steak & fries are as popular as the coffee & pastries. Simple decor. Friendly service.
Candy Bar Palermo
Durazno 1402
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Sun 12PM – 8PM
Tue – Fri 11AM – 1AM
Sat 12PM – 3AM
Ranked as the #1 destination for desserts in Montevideo, Candy Bar Palermo has much more than sweets. It is also one of the city’s best restopubs with great food and well-crafted cocktails. Sunday brunch from 12 to 4 is highly recommended, but beware the space is small and may be crowded.
El Tinkal
Luis de la Torre 502
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Mon – Sat 9AM – 12AM
Not really gay or straight … just a great restaurant at the top of the list of the places to try a chivito, the national sandwich of Uruguay, which consists primarily of a thin slice of filet mignon, with mozzarella, tomatoes, mayonnaise, black or green olives, and may often include bacon, fried or hard-boiled eggs and ham.” El Tinkal is located near the Rambla (Montevideo’s waterfront) and is a good place to fuel up for a long walk.
Francis
Luis de la Torre 502
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Sun – Sat 8PM – 12AM
Fine dining at one of the best restaurants in Montevideo! Browse the Francis website and work up an appetite for seafood, salads, and their parrilla menu of grilled steaks, ribs, barbecued chicken and lamb.
La Fonda
Perez Castellano 1442
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Tue – Sun 12PM – 4PM
Thu – Sat 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
One of the top 10 places to eat in Montevideo is also gay-friendly … and an excellent option for vegetarians and vegans in a city full of carnivores. (But, don’t worry, La Fonda’s menu includes a few options of chicken, fish, and red meat to keep everyone happy.) Make a note of the restaurant’s hours for lunch and dinner above. La Fonda has a tendency to open a bit later and close a bit earlier than advertised.
La Pasionaria
Reconquista 587
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
With a small menu of salads, sandwiches, and sweet treats similar to what one might find at the cafe of a museum, La Pasionaria is a charming place to have a snack and browse its boutique of items from Uruguayan artists.
La Pasiva
Avenida 18 de Julio 1350
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
This traditional diner with a full menu is famous for its hot dogs. Gay travelers can’t resist taking selfies in front of the restaurant’s logo La Pasiva (Spanish slang for “the bottom role in gay sex.”) The restaurant’s logo also includes a cartoonish boy ready to swallow a gigantic sausage! The restaurant chain has several locations. La Pasiva on Avenida 18 de Julio is the most iconic and sits at the center of gay Montevideo.
La Cocina de Pedro
Av. Gonzalo Ramírez 1483
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Mon – Fri 12PM – 3:30PM & 8PM – 12AM
Sat 12PM – 4PM & 8PM – 1AM
Sun 12PM – 4PM
One of Montevideo’s best parrilla restaurants with great grilled meats and Italian dishes is also one of the city’s longtime gay-friendly dining destinations. La Cocina de Pedro stellar menu is matched with exceptional service.
Philomene Cafe
Solano Garcia 2455
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Mon – Sat 12PM – 4PM
Lunchtime delicacies and pastries. Philomene Cafe is the place to enjoy tea-for-two with your pinky finger extended.
Theo
Canelones 1985
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
⛔ Update 3/3/2016 Currently closed with no status on when it will re-open. We will update this listing if more info becomes available.
Theo is a gastropub with solid menu featuring creative daily specials. Aside from the food, Theo has cultivated a crowd of attractive young gay guys. (Is the masculine bearded logo of Theo trying to tell us something?) Check the Theo Facebook page for events like live music on Thursdays.
Montevideo Guide to Gay Saunas, Cinemas, and Sex Shops
As early as 1934, same-sex activity was decriminalized in Uruguay, and the country has maintained its liberal stance towards sexuality ever since. The nation’s largest city, Montevideo, offers many safe venues for sex (although, common sense rules still apply.) Here’s a list of what a gay traveler can find in 2019.
Toronto Sauna
Tacurembo 1531
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Spacious, clean, and rarely empty. Toronto Sauna is the biggest and best option in Montevideo. There are group spaces and private rooms. The cover fee is 300 Uruguayan Pesos (roughly 9.25 USD.)
For more, on Facebook Facebook. Nothing new on the Toronto Sauna website or Twitter account.
Sauna Horus
Julio Herrera y Obes 1240
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Sun – Thur 3pm – 12am
Fri and Sat 3pm – 1am
Housed in a multi-story building that looks, feels, and smells old. A hot time can be had at Horus depending on who shows up when. A masseur is also available, but be aware, like the customers he may be gone long before the midnight closing time.
Cine Private
Convencion 1290
Montevideo, Uruguay Google Map »
Mon – Thur 11AM – 3AM
Fri and Sat 11AM – 5AM
Closed Sundays
New, and well located two blocks away from Chains Pub. This cinema has two screening rooms, one gay and one straight (where you may see an actual hetero couple.) In addition, there’s a bar and two dark areas. Downstairs are cabins and gloryholes. But, why explain, when there’s a video tour with the owner of Cine Private on YouTube!
Restaurants and Cafes of Gay Friendly Santiago Chile
Like most big cities, Santiago offers a wide spectrum of options from high-end restaurants to late-night fast food joints. For gay travelers the cluster of restaurants, bars, and clubs in Bellavista are extremely popular. The “restaurant row” of the neighborhood is Pio Nono street which is easily walkable from the string of gay bars on Bombero Núñez.
Aside from restaurants, a decent percentage of Santiago’s gay bars offer tapas-style menus. (Use the VamosGay Google Map of Santiago to plan your trip, or navigate the city on your mobile phone.)
Bocanariz
José Victorino Lastarria 276
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
Winner of the TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice Award, Bocanariz is the place to try Chilean wines. The accompanying food menu is equally phenomenal. Bocanariz is located in the Lastarria district, home to the Museo de Bellas Artes, and adjacent to the gay neighborhood Bellavista.
Cazaluz
Avenida Italia 805
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
Excellent cuisine from Spain in a stylish setting. Cazaluz is located in Santiago’s Italian district within a 25 minute walk, or a short cab ride to Bellavista.
Ciudadano Restaurant
Seminario 400
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
Great Italian food with a trendy crowd. Ciudadano attracts mostly hip young heteros, but gay guys often stop by for beer and pizza.
El Caramaño
Purisima 257
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
Very authentic Chilean food. Family-style dining where you can try the classics of Chilean cuisine. No hipsters, just great food.
El Toro
Loreto 33
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
Very gay-friendly restaurant celebrating the flavors of Spain. The waiters keep things lively.
Fuente Alemana
Avenida Libertador Bernardo O´Higgins 58
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
Fans of gigantic tasty sandwiches adore this neighborhood restaurant.
Galindo
Dardignac 98
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
Traditional dining spot with Chilean dishes that even the young and trendy can’t resist. One of the best places to try chorrillana, Chile’s most iconic (and heavy) fast food.
Los Miserables
Calle Antonia Lopez de Bello 14
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
No, that’s not a typo for a French restaurant. The name really is Los Miserables and it’s popular Bellavista Mexican joint. Fans of San Francisco taquerias will feel right at home with tasty burritos and tacos.
Patio Bellavista
Pio Nono 73
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
Located in the heart of the neighborhood, Patio Bellavista is home to over a twenty restaurants, food stands, and gift shops.
White Rabbit
Antonia López de Bello 118
Santiago, Chile Google Map »
Weekend brunch with friends is not as popular in Chile as it is in Europe and the US. However, Bellavista bistro White Rabbit may change that with their phenomenal brunch menu. See for yourself at the White Rabbit website.
Lobo
Wednesday night party at the W Santiago Continue reading Lobo
Gay-Friendly Hotels and Places to Stay in Rio de Janeiro
Brazil’s hotel industry is very aware of the power of the “pink” dollar and hotels in large tourist destinations are gay-friendly. The list below are the best, and most popular, places to stay. Most of them are near clusters of Rio’s gay nightlife and popular beaches “where the boys are.”
Altos de Santa Teresa
This chic, yet informal, guesthouse built in the heights (altos) of the Santa Teresa neighborhood. Spectacular panoramic views include the Christ the Redeemer statue and the Sugarloaf mountain range. Friendly staff and great amenities make all 9 spacious rooms in high demand.
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Hotel Atlântico Copacabana
Great option in Copacabana near the Siquero Campos Metro station. Located a few blocks further from the beach makes the prices consistently lower. Relaxed guest policy has made this a favorite with gay travelers since the 1990s.
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Arpoador Inn Hotel
A long-time favorite for the following reasons: friendly front desk, amazing breakfast with a boardwalk view of Arpoador Beach (the small beach between Copacabana and Ipanema.) The Arpoador Inn is within a ten minute walk of gay Ipanema and about fifteen minutes from Copacabana nightspots like Le Boy.
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Casa Cool Beans B&B
Gay owned and operated guesthouse. Informative hosts are full of tips on gay Rio. Many downtown and Lapa attractions are within a 20 minute walk. Use the VamosGay Google map to Rio de Janeiro to view all of the nearby bars, restaurant, clubs, and saunas.
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Casa Mosquito
This beachside boutique hotel features a restaurant, a spa and luxurious personalized services. Within walking distance to attractions in both Ipanema and Copacabana. Guests rave about the interior design, service, and outstanding breakfast.
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Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro
One of the best hotels in Brazil, the Fasano brings world class luxury to gay Ipanema. Click below for photos and more information. The Fasano is expensive but worth every penny.
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Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza
Very popular high-end hotel is often booked to capacity during high season. However, booking a room at the Golden Tulip not only give you a hotel room; it gives you access to guests-only rooftop and much coveted beach chairs and towels on the prime real estate of Ipanema Beach gayest section Praia da Farme.
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La Maison by Dussol
Like spending your vacation in a high-fashion photo shoot, his luxurious guesthouse sits within a green area in Rio de Janeiro. It offers a contemporary, neo-classic décor and daily in-suite breakfast. La Maison is in the Gavea neighborhood which is removed from the madness of the touristy section of Rio, but only a 10 minute taxi ride to Ipanema.
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Mar Ipanema Hotel
Great option in Ipanema with a number of shops on the trendy streets opposite the beach. Rooms during New Years and Carnival are in high demand. Get more Mar Ipanema info and options to book it below.
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MisterB&B
The gay alternative to AirBnB is now available in Latin America! Click below to browse gay-hosted apartments across Rio de Janeiro.
Pestana Rio Atlântica
Five-star beachfront hotel in Copacabana welcomes gay travelers to stay in the lap of luxury. The rooftop bar is an excellent place to catch the sunset while enjoying a cocktail. (One sad update, the Top of the Pestana gay party has been discontinued. Anyone who attended it during Carnival 2015 knows how much it will be missed.)
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Praia Ipanema Hotel
The most serene of the Ipanema Beach hotels, the Praia Ipanema has a quiet rooftop with some of the best views in Rio’s zona sul.
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Sol Ipanema
Superb location on the Ipanema Beach seafront, within a vibrant area of bars and restaurants. It features a sunny terrace with breathtaking coast views.
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Sofitel Rio de Janeiro
Luxury hotel in the heart of Copacabana. Click below for photos and more info about this five-star hotel.
Restaurants and Cafes of Gay Friendly Rio
The “gayborhoods” of Rio de Janeiro are blessed with a multitude of places grab a quick bite, sit down for a full meal, or recharge your battery with something caffeinated. The following is a shortlist of gay and gay-friendly spots in Copacabana, Ipanema, and Lapa. After you fuel up, continue the night at any of the many gay bars and clubs of Rio de Janiero. Continue reading Restaurants and Cafes of Gay Friendly Rio
Termas Fragata
The customer is always right at this Pinheiros sauna. Continue reading Termas Fragata
D-Edge
The best electronica club in Brazil goes queer every Friday Continue reading D-Edge