Gay Guide to BUENOS AIRES 2021

Roll-over Rio! Boys in the know fly three extra hours south to Buenos Aires where the mighty River Plate empties its load into the Atlantic Ocean and passions flare in a land of Polo and Tango!

Palacio del Congreso from Palacio Baralo in Buenos Aires

The city of Buenos Aires is characterised by long impressive boulevards and European inspired architecture!

Palermo

The parks of Palermo are a sight for the senses with hot guys working out and having fun! Macho bravado is always on display!

Our Insiders Guide to Gay Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires has a well-deserved reputation as a hot spot for gay travellers and is consistently described as one of the most gay-friendly in South America. The city has long been on the list of the top gay destinations because it doesn’t follow the ghetto model. Quite the opposite; it encourages integration. Gays and lesbians are estimated as being as high as 15% to 20% among international tourists, and many mainstream places stress their gay-friendliness. If you want to go dancing, you don’t need to go to the gay disco. You can go to any disco and you will find gay people there!

Leaving behind the repressed, conservative mores that prevailed under military rule, Argentina was the first Latin American country to recognize homosexual civil unions.

Many people refer to the city as the Paris of South America, but for us its more like Madrid, beautiful but with a rustic edge.  Buenos Aires combines the elegance of Europe and the soul of Latin America in a cosmopolitan metropolis, rich in architecture, history, film, theatre, arts, dance and music. Combine this with the city’s enormous collection of bars, dance clubs, restaurants, and tango halls catering to the community, no other city in Latin America rivals what Buenos Aires has to offer for visiting gays and lesbians.

Buenos Aires southern summer spans November to March, especially amidst humidity which bubbles up frequent refreshing thunder storms.

Porteños (Buenos Aires-born people) are open, warm and friendly, which adds to the city’s appeal. The 3 million inhabitants of central BA bustle about its American-style grid street system with wide avenues and tall Deco thirties scrapers. The people themselves, and much of the colonial architecture, are unmistakably European: essentially a heady mix of Spanish and indigenous, with a large scoop of Italian thrown in – as you’ll tell from the local district names, mamma-mia cadences and sizzling pizzerias. They also famously like their meat – with or without a pulse.  Dinner for two with mouth-watering beef (the country is justifiably famous for its meat), cocktails and some of the best wine on earth

BA can be described as a small-scale version of New York. There is a “Fifth Avenue” (Av. Santa Fe), a “Seventh Avenue” (Arenales street) full of designer shops, a “Broadway” (Av. Corrientes.) that’s full of theaters such as Sky-Opera, Gran Rex, Lola Membrives, Teatro General San Martín and the famous Luna Park area, a Greenwich Village-like neighborhood (Barrio Norte), and a mini “Central Park” (Bosques de Palermo).

  • Getting Around

    International flights arrive at Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini de Ezeiza, located about 29 miles west of downtown. There are shuttle buses and taxis waiting to whisk you downtown. The city’s subway, called the Subte, is quick and convenient. Single-ride tickets costing less than a Euro or Dollar will get you anywhere in the city. Taxis are always available and are surprisingly affordable.

  • When to party?

    A word of warning: Argentinians eat around 11pm, hit the bars around 1am and will rarely enter a club until after 2am. You will need your early evening ‘disco nap’ if you are to last the course.

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Buenos Aires Party Circuit

The Gay Scene

The queer quarter mainly spans the Recoleta, Barrio Norte and Palermo Chico districts just north east of the city centre, and falling into two distinct clusters where it’s easy to combine a couple of bars with going onto nearby clubs.  Barrio Norte has always been the traditional gay neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Avenida Santa Fe in Recoleta, and Palermo to the north with gay bars and nightclubs, are the gayest areas.

Recoleta and Palermo are have the most options. Each of the neighborhoods is walkable, or accessible by a short metro or cab ride. But take it from us, this unforgettable city should be walked to feel its vibration and soul.  And you will find plenty of places to relax and take it easy. With an enviable coffeehouse culture, a collection of lovely restaurants, and some surprisingly calm areas amid the bustle, there’s always time to refresh and renew among the hustle and bustle of the city.

For bars, visit Sitges, a large spot lit by a rainbow of colored lights, one of the most popular places for a mainly younger crowd to go before heading to a dance club.  Contramano is a popular Recoleta spot and hosts a popular Sunday “Bear and Admirers” night. Flux, in the Retiro neighborhood just north of downtown, offers a friendly (and English-speaking) staff, mixed age crowd, and comfy ambience. They also open at 7 P.M., a rarity in Buenos Aires. The city’s big dance club is Amerika, and has three dance floors holding almost two thousand people. It’s in the Almagro district, just off Palermo.

Crobar/Rheo, Av del Libertador 3886.  Rheo and Crobar are the same, just depends on the day that you choose to go.  Friday and Saturday nights are for dancing here. Very popular and great location! (Take a taxi)

For gay travelers, the city’s pride parade known as the Marcha del Orgullo Gay takes place on first Saturday of November in this district and is perfectly timed with the start of spring in South America.  Tourists will find warm temperatures, hot guys, and the jacaranda trees are in full bloom.

  • Cafe Culture!

    Early birds should try bars like Sitges, Peuteo, and Flux Bar before hitting big clubs like Glam and Amerika. Restaurants are open until early morning, when you can grab a café con leche (coffee with milk) and medialunas (Argentina’s croissant, which is much denser and sweeter than the French one) before heading to sleep finally. For some of the best coffee, head to Café Tortoni, in the Microcentro (downtown) district, the oldest coffeehouse in Argentina. It’s a little touristy, but the black-coated waiters and classic atmosphere give it a unique charm.

Where to stay in BUENOS AIRES? TOP TRENDING HOTELS.

From luxurious five-star hotels to charming bed-and-breakfasts, we have stayed and reviewed many of the leading gay-friendly places to stay in Buenos Aires. Nearly all are located the three biggest gayborhoods of Palermo, Recoleta, and San Telmo.

Algodon Mansion, 5 Star

Great Rooftop Pool



Booking.com

Set in the upscale Recoleta neighbourhood, Algodon Mansion offers chic rooms with free Wi-Fi and complimentary wine. Guests can enjoy the rooftop swimming pool and sun deck. Algodon has air-conditioned rooms and suites featuring iPod docking stations, flat-screen cable TV and comfortable seating areas. All rooms include private bathrooms with bath tubs and free toiletries. Some rooms include spa baths. Check Rates Now

Faena Hotel, 5 Star

World Famous!



Booking.com

Set in an impressive building with spa facilities and a swimming pool, Faena Hotel Buenos Aires is a 5-star design hotel offering plush hotel in upscale Puerto Madero. WiFi access is available. Boasting stylish décor, rooms at Faena Hotel feature automatic velvet curtains and venetian blinds. All of them have home theatres and minibars. Check Rates Now

Home Hotel, 4 Star

Great Spa!



Booking.com

Boasting an outdoor swimming pool, spa facilities and a chic garden, Home hotel offers designer style décor in Buenos Aires. Home Hotel has air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen cable TV. Some of them feature spa baths, private terraces and city views. Check Rates Now

Where to party in BUENOS AIRES? Exploring the districts!

Buenos Aire’s gay scene is spread across the city’s different districts, each offering a unique taste of Argentinian gay life and culture, from the trendy cafes of Palermo to the bright lights of Palermo!

sitges bar buenos aires

Sitges Buenos Aires is the “local institution” on the gay scene in the city.

Flux bar opens early and attracts guys of all ages!

Amerika Buenos Aires

Amerika is the big weekend party venue with 2,000+ people!

Rheo Buenos Aires is a great place for weekend dancing!

Palermo

The Palermo district is quite large and is definitely the gayest part of Buenos Aires and is made up of pretty plazas and a vibrant cafe and bar nightlife. Plaza Serrano is the center of Palermo. The Palermo district is divided into two sections, Soho and Hollywood. Soho is where your will find most of the little cafés and bars. Hollywood is home to some of Buenos Aires’ best restaurants.

Buenos Aires scene is constantly evolving and there’s a wide array of weekly, monthly, and one-time-only parties so check out the posters and flyers in the bars to find out what´s happening during your stay. Alsina, Adolfo Alsina 940, is a monthly dance party (be sure to check dates) and definitely worth a visit.  More information here.

San Telmo

San Telmo is a gay haven, not so gentrified, retaining a unique charm.

Pride Cafe

Pride cafe makes the perfect pit-stop after a visit to the markets!

San Telmo

San Telmo is a mix of the hip and the gritty.  This historic neighborhood has become home to several small gay bars and restaurants. Narrow streets paved with original cobblestones create a special atmosphere in an area that’s home to antique stores, art galleries, street performers and tango clubs. Here you will find bell epoque buildings next to modern day apartment buildings. Pop into the Pride Cafe for a café con leche inside or have a sandwich or a fuller meal on the patio, shaded by large umbrellas.

Shopping lovers will adore the Mercado San Telmo, an indoor market that combines fruit and vegetable stands with antique stalls so that you never quite know whether you’re going to come across a bunch of bananas or a piece of Argentine history. Dont miss the Sunday Flea Market, a San Telmo event held on a pleasant plaza right outside the Mercado and covering the entire square and featuring a crafts market that stretches the length of Defensa, San Telmo’s main street.

The best thing about this area is that it is not overly gentrified. It still retains an edge, with stunning murals adorning some of the vacant and crumbling buildings. Its charming mix of antique markets, hip stores and great restaurants and coffee shops make it one of the more unique gay districts we have visited.

After getting lost in San Telmo, head east to the Puerto Madero and walk north.  Eventually, you will see the Faena Hotel on your right (definitely visit if you have never been).  Eventually, make your way to Palacio Duhau and relax in their bar and enjoy a whisky or two.  This walk will show you two very different worlds in Buenos Aires

La Recoleta Cemetery

A visit to a cemetery might seem morbid, but its a right of passage in Buenos Aires.

Visit the Avenida Alvear with its high end shopping and 5 star hotels.

Recoleta

Recoleta, is an upmarket district that is home to some of the city’s best hotels and shops. The most famous landmark is the Cementerio de Recoleta (Recoleta Cemetery). One of the world’s great cemeteries, this above-ground burial is place filled with monuments to the very wealthy. Eva Perón is buried here, in a simple mausoleum for her family, the Duartes.

At one end of Avenida Alvear is the gracious Alvear Palace, and if you’re into old, grand hotels, this is the spot for you. The lobby has marble floors, plush couches, and oriental rugs. The rooms are spacious and gorgeous, and such added attractions as a top-notch spa and afternoon tea in the stylish L’Orangerie, make this an urbane belle époque favorite. It anchors this end of Avenida Alvear as luxuriously as the Four Seasons does on the other end, with its leather/mahogany-accented or French country-style rooms, outdoor pool, cityscape views, and the customary Four Seasons service.

Pink House Buenos Aires

The Pink House is at the heart of the centre of downtown.

Buenos Aires Streets

The city is famous for its wide boulevards and stunning architecture!

Microcentro (downtown) district

At the heart of Buenos Aires you will find Plaza de Mayo. At one end of the plaza is the Casa Rosada or Pink House, the home of Argentina’s presidential offices. Look at the elaborate balconies. You can just imagine Eva Perón on one of those balconies. You can take a tour and enjoy the architecture.

What to See & Do in BUENOS AIRES?

If you see only one tourist site in Buenos Aires, make sure it’s Museo Evita in the Palermo district. It’s loaded with her dresses, shoes and hats. She was one of Argentina’s biggest fag hags — surprise, surprise — and here you’ll find out more about those gay designers and hairdressers who gave her that touch of star quality.

Evita Museum

You can’t escape the city without seeing her! And the museum is beautifully designed.

Mar del Plata

Buenos Aires may not have a beach, but its parks are full of hot guys during Summer!

Sights worth seeing!

Palermo is home to, the Museum of Latin American Art (Museo de Arte Latinoamericano Buenos Aires or MALBA) and the Museum of Decorative Arts, one of our favourites, which is housed in an early 20th-century mansion that was built in the French style and is furnished lavishly with antiques and other collectibles.

Unlike Rio, Buenos Aires itself doesn’t really have beaches. Still, in February and March there’s no shortage of men and women skimpily sunning themselves in the parks of Recoleta and Palermo. Beachgoers head to Mar del Plata, a few hours south of Buenos Aires.

In February, gay men in the know head to the nearby Province of Entre Rios for Argentina’s little-known Carnaval de Gualeguaychú. It’s got all the hot bodies of Rio, and the spectacle runs every weekend in February.

Dining out in BUENOS AIRES

Visitors relish the abundance of outdoor cafés, the quality of the pastry, coffee, and wine — try some of the award-winning Malbecs — and the idiosyncratic pronunciation of Spanish with its soft, almost silent “s” and “zh” sound substituting for “ll.”

Brandon Restaurant Buenos Aires

Brandon continues to inspire with delicious food served all day.

La Carniceria Parrilla y Ahumados

La Carniceria Parrilla y Ahumados offers superb meals in an intimate setting.

A meat lovers dream!

even if gastronomy is not your priority, be sure to visit one of the restaurants on Corrientes or Lavalle for a bife de chorizo (famous Argentine beefsteak cut) and a parrilla (grilled meats). They are absolute musts!

Brandon, located at Fitz Roy 1722, is a gorgeous place to hang out and have a coffee, food or a strong Gante, artsenal Belgian beer.  The best part is this:  it is open all day long unlike most cafes.  If you are hungry, want a beer, coffee or anything, this is your signature spot.

La Carniceria Parrilla and Ahumados.  Make a reservation!  I repeat, make a reservation.  Do not miss this opportunity to eat well in Buenos Aires. Trust me.  This is a small intimate venue with amazing food; then, go dance it all off at 2 AM somewhere.

Recommended Hotels in Buenos Aires

From luxurious five-star hotels to charming bed-and-breakfasts, Buenos Aires has some amazing places to stay. Nearly all are located the three biggest gayborhoods of Palermo, Recoleta, and San Telmo.

Nuss Buenos Aires
5 Star, Luxury

Nuss Buenos Aires Soho



Booking.com

Nuss Buenos Aires Soho provides modern, boutique accommodation in the stylish neighbourhood of Palermo Soho, with Spanish décor.

Faena Hotel, 5 Star
Luxury, Designer

Faena Hotel



Booking.com

Set in an impressive building with spa facilities and a swimming pool, offering plush accommodation in upscale Puerto Madero

Legado Mitico
4 Star, Readers Choice

Legado Mitico



Booking.com

A stylish boutique hotel featuring spacious rooms with thematic décor inspired by the Argentinean culture and history.

Ilum Experience
4 Star, Great Breakfast

Ilum Experience Home



Booking.com

Conveniently located in the Palermo Hollywood district of Buenos Aires, Ilum Experience Home offers contemporary rooms.

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