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Barcelona is one of these destinations where even though you are inside a metropolis, there are plenty of beaches and nature around. The nightlife is legendary and the wonderful climate will make any time of the day unforgettable. You should feel quite comfortable if you’re part of the LGBTQ community but you might want to avoid exposing it too much just to avoid unpleasantries.
Eixample is a district in Barcelona designed in a grid with straight roads which makes this part of the city easy to navigate. You will find most of Barcelona’s art nouveau here as well as upper-scale shopping and residential areas. Passeig de Gràcia is the centre of Eixample with the most famous international designer shops, art galleries (including Antoni Tapies) and two of Gaudi’s buildings called La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. Eixample is also known for its gay scene and you may sometimes hear that it’s referred to as “Gayxample” or “Gay-Eixample”. Most of the gay bars, hotels, restaurants and shops are here but there aren’t many that would be gay exclusive.
You might also want to check out Sitges, a small city 40 minutes away from Barcelona but it is widely known as a gay beach town.
Annual events in Barcelona - New Years Eve, BEARcelona during Easter, Gay Pride in June, Circuit Festival week in August and the Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in October.
Gay beaches Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta, Platja de la Mar Bella (described in another post).
Watch out for pickpockets as some are specialized in gay tourists. Try not to look like a tourist (holding maps or big cameras) and don’t show where you put your wallet. If someone initiates any physical contact, it’s probably a thief.
El Raval is a neighbourhood in Barcelona known for its nightlife and prostitution but it has changed over the years and even though it may not be the safest place in Barcelona (you should be cautious of pickpockets and never walk alone into dark alleyways), the area is still worth visiting. It radiates with authenticity, personality, multiculturalism, history and attracts visitors with unconventional cafes, restaurants and bars. The area has also become popular with art. You’ll find plenty of art galleries, studios, book stores, museums and the exhibition centre there. There are many unique clothing stores which are the opposite of luxurious Eixample. At the south-western and north-eastern parts of El Raval, you’ll find fresh food markets with a variety of fruit, traditional chorizos and Jamon Serrano and much more.
You will find plenty of bikes everywhere as Barcelona has a bike-share program. Rent a bike from place A to B and get there quickly and without any fumes!
Gracia is a charming narrow-street neighbourhood with plenty of small shops and libraries. You’ll find local handmade products here as well as shops focused on being eco-friendly, retro clothing stores and many artistic places. There are many cafés and bars, but Heliogabal, which hosts evening concerts, is one of the best.
Maybe you should watch Woody Allen’s Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona before you go?
Tue-Thu 18:00 - 02:00; Fri, Sat 19:00 - 03:00 Stylish, arty cocktail bar with small street terrace. Mixed clientele.
Barcelona, Spain. Carrer de Cervantes, 2 . phone: 934127283 |
From Monday to Friday from 10:30h to 20:00h, and Saturdays from 12:00h to 20:00h. The first gay and lesbian library of Barcelona. Here you can find any type of books with homosexuality as a theme, and specialized books and magazines. Our library is exclusively gay and lesbian, and you can find all the books that it exists in the spain (novels, essay, biografy, photografs's books, etc...) Books in English and French languages, and a big variety of videos and DVD.
Barcelona, Spain. Josep Anselm Clavé, 6 . phone: 00 34 93 301 90 70 |
From 9am to 8pm. Antinous is a very well known Gay and Lesbian library down the Ramblas. With books, presents and DVD?s and even a little bar. We can find "Nois Magazine", a publication with all about the gay info in Barcelona.
Barcelona, Spain. Carrer dels Assaonadors 25, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. www: visit
A fun gay bar in the El Born neighborhood.
Barcelona, Spain. C. del Consell de Cent 257. phone: +34 934549273 |
Daily 19:00 - 02:30/03:00 Gay & lesbian bar in the Eixample quarter. With drag shows and Spanish pop music.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Casanova 64. phone: +34 934 51 00 00 |
Daily 18:00 - 02:30/03:00 Large gay bar for bears & friends. Bacon Bears bar attracts bear and there admires from all over the world.
Barcelona, Spain. Aragón 129 / Urgel y comte borell . phone: +34 659461999 | email: bimbambum.bcn@gmail.com | www: visit
Bim Bam Bum has become one of the most popular gay bars with the young and trendy.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Muntaner 64. phone: +34 934515104 |
Daily 19:00 - 02:30; Fri, Sat till 03:00 This venue stands where the old Black Bull once was. What makes it different from other locales in the island that is the Eixample is its ample patio full of greenery. Breathe it in!
Barcelona, Spain. C. del Comte d'Urgell 106. phone: +34 651 680 643 | www: visit
Tues-Sat: 9:30pm-3:00am Gay music bar.
Fri, Sat 23:00 - 03:30 Bar with dance floor and international and Spanish Pop music from the last decades. Usually very well visited and with a fun atmosphere.
Barcelona, Spain. Passatge Valeri Serra 23. phone: 934 534 125 | email: cgb@colectiugai.org | www: visit
Tue-Sat 19:00 - 21:30 and Fri, Sat 23:00 - 03:00 Irreductibles gais i lesbianes i bisexuals i persones trans! Associació sense ?nim de lucre (ONL)
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Muntaner 67. phone: 93 453 3076 |
Daily 4pm-2am Small gay bar, decorated with old religious devotional objects. By day a relaxed cafe-bar with a 30+ clientele, at night very popular with a more mature crowd.
Barcelona, Spain. Rambla de Catalunya 11, 08007. phone: 958466220 | email: info@lacuevade1900.es | www: visit
Barcelona, Spain. C. del Consell de Cent 245 B. phone: +34 934537722 | www: visit
Tue-Thu 18:00 - 03:00; Fri, Sat 18:00 - 03:30; Sun 18:00 - 24:00 Large gay bar for mature guys and their admirers.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Muntaner 11. phone: +34 931275399 | email: moeem@moeembarcelona.com | www: visit
Daily 18:00 - 03:00 Gay & lesbian bar, mainly young and middle-aged clientele.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Sepúlveda 178.
Fri, Sat 23:00 - 03:00 Popular music video bar with dancefloor and interesting décor. Best after 01:00.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Villarroel 71. phone: +34 935327743 |
Daily 20:00 - 03:00 Gay bar in the Eixample with music and interior from past decades. Mixed ages, rather well-groomed style. A smooth and relaxing atmosphere, window posters from some of the great plays and musicals from Broadway adorned the walls with subdued lighting comfortable sofas and bar stools. friendly staff, internet, smoking area The music ranging from jazz and blues to all-time favourites from the 50s 60s and 70s.
Barcelona, Spain. C. Consell de Cent 233. phone: +34 934524636 |
Wed-Sat 18:00 - 02:30 (closed 1 February - 5 March 2015) Small gay cafe-bar in the Eixample district, usually well frequented. Drinks, cocktails and tapas.
Barcelona, Spain. Muntaner 63, 08007. phone: +34 934 87 83 42 | email: grupoarena@arenadisco.com | www: visit
Coffee and Drinks Popular place to have a drink and a chat. Has served the gay scene for many years.
Barcelona, Spain. Axel Hotel, C. d'Aribau 33. phone: +34 933239393 |
Trendy gay cocktail bar on the roof terrace and swimming pool of Hotel Axel, the excellent gay design hotel right in the heart of Gayxample in Barcelona. Wednesday open for non guests. Happy Hour on Friday. Open to the public in the evening from 21:00 (in summer till approx. 01:00).
Daily from 20:00 Gay bar at the edge of the Gayxample quarter.
Barcelona, Spain. C. Aribau 37. phone: +34 931052982 |
Mon-Sat 22:00 - 02:00 Small bar for coffees, cocktails and drinks. Famous for its muscular barmen.
Barcelona, Spain. Passatge de Valeri Serra 3. phone: +34 934546172 | www: visit
Tue-Sun 17:00/19:00 ? 02:30 The entire bar is decorated in the posh style of ol' Louis. Modern lounge atmosphere, though.
Barcelona, Spain. Passatge de Prunera 18. email: http://www.berlindark.com/cast/contacto.php | www: visit
Tue-Thu 22:30 - 02:30; Fri, Sat 22:30 - 03:30/05:00; Sun 21:30 (entry till 23:00) - 01:30 Good mix of guys up for fun. Respectful and easy-going atmosphere. Fair prices. Berlin dark is a gay cruise bar for men who like to meet other men freely and without any other barriers than those of respect for others. A strict dress code will only be required for specific party nights. However, on the rest of occasions we advise you to come along wearing no-frills dress code attire to "ease" the admission process; you know: jeans, plain t-shirts, military, industrial, boots, trainers... you don't be too groomed and cologned or in fashionable outfits either; it can be "counterproductive". Admission: 10 euro, incl. 1 drink
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Casanova 201, Bajos. email: info@labase-bcn.com | www: visit
Tue-Thu 22:00 - 02:30; Fri, Sat 23:00 - 03:30; Sun 20:00 - 01:00 Small gay cruise bar. Completely renovated and newly equipped in 2014. For (un)dresscodes see the weekly program on the website of La Base. Admission: 10 euro, incl. 1 drink
Daily 21:00 - 03:00; Fri, Sat till 03:30 Popular with men between 30 and 50. Bar with a small cruising area in the basement. Called a Jeans & Leather Bar, but don't expect much fetish. Sunday evening very popular 2x1 beer bust (best between 21:00 and 22:30).
Barcelona, Spain. C. Diputació 161. phone: +34 935031701 | email: info@nightbarcelona.net | www: visit
Daily 18:00 - 02:30; Fri, Sat till 03:00 Friendly gay bar in the Eixample district. Quite popular. Mixed ages. At the back with a small cruise area and a few cubicles. On Thursday 2x1 Happy Hour until 21:00.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de la Diputació 174.
Daily 18:00 - 02:30/03:00 Men-only video bar in the Eixample, with small cruise area. Rather quiet. Admission: 5 euro, incl. 1 drink
Mon-Fri 12:00 - 23:00; Sat, Sun 15:00 - 23:00 Gay sex shop with cruising labyrinth. Rather young clientele.
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 24:00; Sun 14:00 - 23:00 Mixed sex shop, upstairs with a small cruising labyrinth with gloryhole video booths. Rather quiet and with a mainly mature clientele. Admission: approx. 7 euro
Barcelona, Spain. C. de la Diputació 208. phone: +34 934513323 |
Mon-Fri 11:30 - 22:00; Sat, Sun 15:00 - 22:00 Small gay sex shop in the Eixample district. In the evening some cruising in the backroom (7 euro).
Wed (June-September), Thu 23:00 - 04:00; Fri, Sat 23:00 - 07:00; Sun 23:00 - 03:00/04:00 Gay cruising club. Dress-code: naked, sportswear, leather, rubber, uniform - check their website for the agenda. Rather mature crowd ready for action. Private club - registration with identity card or passport required. Admission: 19 euro, incl. 1 drink
Thu 22:00 - 03:00; Fri, Sat 23:00 - 05:00; Sun 19:00 - 01:00 Gay cruise club and playground with industrial ambience. Bears-friendly. Dresscode: naughty, willingly. Admission: 5 - 15 euro + membership fee
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Balmes 32. phone: +34 934878342 | email: http://www.grupoarena.com/contactar.php?idioma= | www: visit
Tue-Sun 00:30 - 05:00 (in August also Mon) Mainstream dance club for gays, lesbians and friends. Rather young clientele. Best after 02:00 (on Saturdays with long queue). Admission: 6 euro, Saturday 12 euro Arena Madre is one of several older clubs of the Grupo Arena. The other clubs nowadays attract a more mixed clientele, open Friday and Saturday night and are all located very close by: Arena Classic and Arena Diana (Aire) around the corner at C. Diputació 233, and Arena VIP and Arena Dandy 300 metres away at Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 593.
Daily 00:30 - 05:00; Fri, Sat till 06:30 Popular daily gay disco and mainstream club, since many years. Best after 03:00. Admission: 19 euro, incl. 1 drink
Barcelona, Spain. Bloc, Ronda Sant Pere 19-21. phone: +34 934530582 | www: visit
Saturday 24:00 - 06:00 (not at 7 March 2015) The weekly gay party by Matinée Group in the center of Barcelona. With international guest DJs, House music, shows and quite a few gym bunnies. (Note that this is not a fetish or SM party as the name might suggest.) Admission: 15 euro (3 euro less with flyer), incl. 1 drink
Barcelona, Spain. Club City Hall, Rambla de Catalunya 2-4. phone: 932 38 07 22 | www: visit
Sunday 24:00 - 05:00 Gay Sunday night with House DJs, in the very center of Barcelona. Not busy before 02:00. Admission: 15 euro(3 euro less with flyer for current month), incl. 1 drink
Barcelona, Spain. Espolsasacs, 1 08002 BARCELONA. phone: 93 317 68 17 | email: info@grupopases.com | www: visit
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Pau Claris 87. phone: +34 934874814 | www: visit
Barcelona, Spain. C. de la Diputació 46. phone: +34 933259346 | www: visit
Barcelona, Spain. C. del Comte d'Urgell 114. phone: +34 933238199 |
Barcelona, Spain. C/ Aribau, 31. phone: 93 2687691 |
from 10:30 to 21:00 exclusive shoes of Italian design, complements, glasses. The sexiest clothes for people without complexes. There's also a cafe.
Mon-Fri 12:00 - 23:00; Sat, Sun 15:00 - 23:00 Gay sex shop with cruising labyrinth. Rather young clientele.
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 24:00; Sun 14:00 - 23:00 Mixed sex shop, upstairs with a small cruising labyrinth with gloryhole video booths. Rather quiet and with a mainly mature clientele. Admission: approx. 7 euro
Mon-Sat 11:00 - 14:00 + 17:00 - 21:00 Small men's fashion shop. T-shirts, shirts, trousers, jackets and underwear.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de la Diputació 167. phone: +34 933234353 |
Mon-Sat 11:00 - 21:00 Famous Spanish shop for fetish clothing, accessories and toys.
Fashionable beachwear, sportswear, shirts and shoes.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Casanova 56. phone: +34 934544856 |
Mon-Sat 10:30 - 21:00 Outlet stores of the fashion labels ES Collection and Addicted: beachwear, underwear and shirts.
Barcelona, Spain. C. Josep Anselm Clavé 6. phone: +34 933019070 |
Mon-Fri 10:30 - 14:00/17:00 - 20:30; Sat 12:00 - 14:00/17:00 - 20:30 Large gay and lesbian bookshop between La Rambla and the sea front. Fiction, comic books, photo books, international film DVDs, and some books in English and French.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Cervantes 4. phone: +34 934127283 | www: visit
Mon-Fri 10:30 - 20:00; Sat 12:00 - 20:00 Lesbian and gay bookstore in the Barri G?tic quarter. Books, comics, magazines, film DVDs, and some books in English.
Barcelona, Spain. C. del Consell de Cent 253. phone: +34 934524590 | www: visit
Tue-Sat 17:00 - 21:00 Shop (tickets, T-shirts, CDs etc.) and meeting point.
Barcelona, Spain. C. del Consell de Cent 233. phone: +34 627537966 | www: visit
Mon-Sat 11:00 - 14:00 and 17:00 - 20:30 (in summer till 22:00) Underwear and beachwear for men. Official store.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de la Diputació 208. phone: +34 934513323 |
Mon-Fri 11:30 - 22:00; Sat, Sun 15:00 - 22:00 Small gay sex shop in the Eixample district. In the evening some cruising in the backroom (7 euro).
Barcelona, Spain. C. Muntaner 58. phone: +34 934519168 |
Tue-Sat 11:00 - 14:00; Mon-Sat 17:00 - 20:30 Men's fashion.
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 21:00 Oldest gay sex shop in Spain (since 1981).
Barcelona, Spain. C. de la Riera Alta 20. phone: +34 934429795 |
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 21:30 Small gay sex shop in the Raval quarter: DVDs, toys, fetish accessories, lubes etc.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de la Riera Alta 40. phone: +34 672 12 77 69 | www: visit
Daily from 19:00 Gay-friendly. Trendy small bar in the up-and-coming quarter Raval. Busiest after 23:30, particularly on Saturdays. Mixed clientele.
Mon-Fri 13:30 - 16:00 + Mon-Sat 20:30 - 24:00 (in August only Mon-Sat 20:00 - 01:00) Gay-friendly Italian restaurant. Lunch menu of the day 11-12 euro.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Casanova 54.
Daily 06:00 - 03:00 Gay-friendly snack-bar next to the El Berro, also with street terrace. Menu of the day approx. 10 euro.
Barcelona, Spain. C. de Casanova 85. phone: +34 933236784 |
Tue-Fri 13:30 - 16:00 + daily 20:30 - 24:00 Gay-friendly. Good food, friendly staff. Lunch menu of the day approx. 10-12 euro.
Tuesday to Sunday from 9pm Heliogabal is a very well-known bar, where since 1995 they promote artistic and cultural activities. Nowadays, they do it through live concerts, painting exhibitions, books presentations, audiovisual showings
Hip restaurant & bar hidden behind dry-cleaner?s doors! The food is quite good but it is the sneaking that?s worth experiencing.
Barcelona, Spain. Paseo Joan de Borbo 30. phone: +34 932 215 310 | email: hello@eyescreamandfriends.com | www: visit
The design looks beautiful and from what I can tell, the prices aren?t really that high!
Barcelona, Spain. Carrer de Val?ncia, 236. phone: +34 934 87 83 42 | www: visit
Aire - Sala Diana is one of Barcelona's most popular lesbian night clubs. Here you can enjoy a drink and dance to the best hits of the 70, 80, 90 and the latest music from the pop charts.