Latin America Men and Destinations

Porto Alegre Hotels 1 Ornatus Palace Hotel | Rua General Vitorino, 146 | (51) 3221 4555 | http://www.hotelornatus.com.br/ This gay-friendly hotel is in a good location, has a decent continental breakfast spread, and offers laundry services. The interior may not be the most modern you've ever stepped foot in, but the rooms are clean, comfortable and spacious. Wifi is available. 2 Blue Tree Millennium Porto Alegre (note that it is more often than not found online spelled Millenium; not sure which one you would prefer to use) | Av. Borges de Medeiros, 3120 | 51 3026-2200 | http://www.bluetree.com.br/hoteis-e-resorts/millenium-porto-alegre.jsp?language=en Upgrade to…

After three million souls took to shore of Copacabana, the peregrinos/peregrines are now flying away to almost all countries of the world carrying their message. I had no clue why the travelling worshipers were called peregrines. But I find it all quite interesting. http://www.kaikoraichurch.co.nz/trinity/2011/10/being-peregrine At least more interesting and less stressful than the shuttered metro and filled buses. Basically, Rio just survived a Reveillon x 4. Massive tie-ups in and out of Copa for four days.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Businesses/Organizations Parque Farroupilha | Av. Osvaldo Aranha | http://www.aredencao.com.br/ (website is down) If you like your rent boys al fresco, this is the park after dark for you. Cruise around, and find a boy to take you into the bushes for a reasonable fee. Not the safest thing to do in Brazil, but the cruising scene is populated enough that it should be OK if you're street savvy.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Businesses/Organizations Rua da Praia Shopping | R. dos Andradas, 1001 | 51 3211-6600 | http://www.ruadapraiashopping.com.br/ What is it with Brazilians and shopping mall cruising areas? Don't ask – just multi-task. The scene here is as follows" cruise inside, then head to the park outside to get it on.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Businesses/Organizations Bourbon Assis Brasi | Av. Assis Brasil, 164 | 51 3072-1111 | http://www.bourbonshopping.com.br/site/index.jsp?shopping=assis-brasil You can definitely do your shopping here, but build in some extra time for all of the cruising that you are definitely going to want to take part in. The bathrooms are the only spot for action, but come on – you've seen worse

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Restaurants Bar Ocidente | Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 960 | 51 3312-1347 | http://www.barocidente.com.br/ We included this in the bar section because at night it is definitely a hot spot, but don't discount it for a lunchtime spot, either. Most notably, they're big on vegetarian dishes – which can be a welcome respite from the heavier meat dishes that tend to weigh you down in Brazil.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Restaurants Panápaná Pub Bistrô | Rua da República, 174 | 51 3024-3559 | www.pier174.com.br/pana/ This is the restaurant that is connected to Pier 174, so you can make a whole night of it without worrying about leaving to grab a bite. It's good in its own right, especially being that the bar is what makes this location so popular. And, it's still quite the scene.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Restaurants Lancheria do Parque | Avenida Osvaldo Aranha 1086 | 51 3311-8321 | http://www.revistainternet.com.br/2009/02/06/a-lancheria-do-parque-em-porto-alegre/ This high-ceilinged eatery with not the most flattering lighting on the planet attracts everyone from crotchety seniors to emo rockers to hipsters to, yes, the gays. Laugh all you want, but it will quickly become your go-to place for a down-home lunch in a give-no-fucks environment. It turns into more of a bar at night, with an equally mixed crowd.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Restaurants Polska | Rua Joao Guimaraes, 377 | XX | http://www.polskarestaurante.com.br/localizacao.htm OK. No one is going to Porto Alegre for Polish food. But if you're looking to eat something that doesn’t even remotely resemble Brazilian cuisine, this is your place. It's delicious, real Polish food that is ultimately satisfying. The buffet is a great deal.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Restaurants Koh Pee Pee | Rua schiller 83 | (51) 3333 5150 | http://www.kohpeepee.com.br/koh_pee_pee_restaurante_tailandes/index.php Missing Thailand? Head to Koh Pee Pee for excellent food in a Thai-inspired ambience that may have you hopping on the next flight to Bangkok. It has a full menu of all the Thai favorites, authentically made, and also has a great wine list.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Sauna/Massage Thermas Mezzaninu | Rua São Salvador 108 | 51 32737776 | http://www.mezzaninu.net/ Where the boys are – beautiful, beautiful boys, every color of the rainbow. The big scene here is the bar area, which I comfortable and big enough that some serious scoping and flirting can happen. The video room isn't the most comfortable – but who's here to watch a movie? Decent theme parties as well.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Sauna/Massage Thermas Hera | Rua Buarque de Macedo, 54 | 51 3312-1471| no website Here you are going to have your pick among a huge selection of working boys. Because of the boy/client ratio, though, they can kind of go in for the hard sell, but stay firm (so to speak) and don't feel bad about saying no.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Sauna/Massage Convés Sauna Clube | Avenida Maua 1897 | 51 3287 7820 | http://www.convessaunaclube.com/convasauna/ This sauna is convenient, right in the city center, so depending on where you stay you won't have to worry about a taxi. It has a dark room as well as video rooms, private cabins, and lounge areas. It may not be the sleekest, chicest place you've ever looked to get laid, but it gets the job done.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Sauna/Massage Sauna Arpoador | Rua Prof. Ivo Corseuil, 210 | 51 3338 4306 | http://saunaarpoador.blogspot.com This sauna, tucked away in a residential section, is a pretty big facility, laid out on six levels. There's porn, private rooms, a steam room and dry sauna, and comfy changing rooms. Note that you probably won't find super young guys here, but they're hot nonetheless.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Sauna/Massage Thermas Point Sul | Rua Cabral, 468 | 51 3331-6324 | http://www.thermaspointsul.com.br/ Point Sul's facilities are super clean, and their lounge areas are fantastic for cruising. Many rate their massages among the best in Porto Alegre. Their garden is a relaxing outdoor space to chill out before hitting the nightlife scene.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Sauna/Massage Termas Plataforma | Av. Pernambuco, 2765 | 51 3395-1633 | http://termasplataforma.blogspot.com This is a sauna, and you can get laid here. There are 40 masseurs on staff, and a video room, and private cabins and even decent food service. But the focus is on their nightly parties, which run the gamut of themes, from drag to strippers to cabaret acts. That being said, the boys are gorgeous.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Clubs/Discos Cine Theatro Ypiranga | Av. Cristóvão Colombo, 772 | 51 3286-2408 | http://www.cinetheatro.com.br/ (doesn't work) This place does have legit club nights, but it's more of a concert venue, so check in advance so you're not stuck having to watch the stage instead of the talent, so to speak. But regardless, it is gay, friendly, and there are plenty of cuties to chat up. And its massive space can get seriously heaving when the DJ is burning through those records.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Clubs/Discos Casa do Lado | R. da República, 546 | 51-9143 1401 | http://www.casadolado.com.br/ With theme nights like Sex on the Beat and Party Hard, this scene hits the ground running. Get your groove on, laugh and chat with locals, and make your mark by writing on the chalkboard before you head home.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Clubs/Discos Astro Club | Av. Goethe, 141 | 51 3062-9166 | http://astroclub.com.br/ Young, adorable gay hipsters are a-plenty at Astro, and they range from twinks to otters and everything in between. Baby lezzies are dancing here, too, under the laser lights and pounding bass. If you like 'em young (but legal), this is the place to do some leering.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Clubs/Discos CABARET! | Av. Independência, 590 | 51 3227-8998 | http://www.cabaretpoa.com.br/ Lesbians! Bears! Theme nights with names like Amnesia and CRAZY and Dirty Job! And a young, gorgeous crowd that will make you feel tingly. This is a fun, raucous place where you can see what the kinds are into today. Who knows? They might be into you!

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Clubs/Discos Refugius Megadanceteria | Rua Marcílio Dias, 290 | 51 3231-3158 | http://refugius.com/nova/ This is a club, and it is a gay club. But there's a mixed crowd, and sometimes there are acoustic sets, and sometimes the action stops dead for a drag show. Just go with the flow, because it's a great night out – and without the constant thumping bass, you can actually get your flirt on.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Clubs/Discos Vitraux Club | Rua Conceição, 492 | (51) 3221-7799 | www.vitraux.com.br As is the norm in Brazil, there is a mixed crowd here despite the overall vibe being gay, gay, gay. Stay on one level to enjoy their legendary drag shows, or head to the second level for dancing. You never know who's going to show up on the weekends, from top DJs to famous live acts. Strangely, they have a coffee bar as well, if you need to have your wits about you.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Bars Hangar Bar | R. da República, 191 | 51 8136-9664 | no website Despite the name, this is an intimate space on the bar-packed Rua da República. It's not a huge scene, per se, but they have a decent selection behid the bar and it's a great place to canoodle. Grab a seat outside so the acoustic guitar plaer isn't sitting on your lap – unless that's what you're into.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Bars Bar Ocidente | Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 960 | 51 3312-1347 | http://www.barocidente.com.br/ A popular bar all week long, its gay nights are on the weekends. Dress light, becuase it gets hot and packed in there – but the beers are nice and cold. They play a fun mix of old and new music, so there's something for everyone.

Porto Alegre Gay and Gay Friendly Bars Cia de Arte Pub Café | Rua dos Andradas, 1780 | (51) 3228-3789 | no website They serve a nice lunch buffet (and excellent coffee), and at night it has a pretty chill ambience, with a mixed, artistic-leaning crowd that considers karaoke "letting loose." There's live music on the weekends. Very West Village by way of Brazil.