TotallyOz

Gay Salvador Brazil Hotels Pousada Papaya Verde | Rua Engenheiro Milton Oliveira, 177 | 71 3267 1008 | http://www.pousadapapayaverde.com/ This pousada has a residential feel, with a garden that can be a relief to spend time in after cruising the beaches. The rooms are Brazilian-colorful, the staff is super gay-friendly, and it's within walking distance of the gayborhood.

Gay Salvador Brazil Hotels Casa do Amarelindo | Rua das Portas do Carmo, 6 | 71 3266 8550 | http://www.casadoamarelindo.com/en/artigo/index/id/100 If you're in town for Carnaval, book a street facing room at this four-star hotel to have a front-row seat to the action. (Book early; there are only 10 rooms!) And it helps that you're literally a five-minute walk from all the other action, too bars and saunas and boy toys, oh my! The rooms are impressively furnished, and the view from the rooftop terrace is to die for.

Gay Salvador Brazil Hotels Bahiacafé Hotel | Praça da Se, 22 | 71 3322 1266 | http://www.bahiacafehotel.com/ The Bahiacafé Hotel could not be more cozy and adorable if it tried from its sky-blue 18th-century exterior to its polished hardwood floors to its lovely rooms, it just doesn't get any cuter than this. There's also free wifi and a delicious full breakfast included in the room price.

Gay Salvador Brazil Hotels Hotel Solar do Carmo | Rua Direita de Santo Antonio, 108 | 71 3323 0644 | www.solardocarmo.com.br/ (website timed out when I tried it) This is not the finest place in Salvador, but it is housed in an 18th-century townhouse and the rooms are well-appointed and definitely serviceable, and their rooftop terrace hilariously combines a Jacuzzi and the breakfast buffet. Book a room with a sea view balcony, as they tend to be larger.

Gay Salvador Brazil Hotels Mar Brasil Hotel | Rua Flamengo, 44 | 71 3285 7339 | http://www.marbrasilhotel.com.br/ Another gay-friendly, beachfront property with pools galore. The style is a bit of a throwback to Miami 1987, but who cares when you're spending all of your time gazing at hard bodies frolicking on the beachfront terraces? There's free wifi and cable Internet, and free parking. Actual massages are available by appointment.

Gay Salvador Brazil Hotels Bahia Othon Palace | Avenida Oceânica, 2294 | 71 2103 7100 | http://www.hoteis-othon.com.br/us/hotel/bahia-othon-palace/o_hotel.aspx When they call it a palace, they're not kidding this massive , five-star beachfront property has a lobby you could get lost in, and the lower level pool area with more terraces than you've ever seen (although the rooftop bar is where the action is). Their rooms are beautiful, and each one has an ocean view and the view from the upper-floor dining room is amazing.

Gay Salvador Brazil Hotels Vila Galé Salvador | Rua Morro do Escravo Miguel, 320 | 71 3263 8888 | http://www.vilagale.co.uk/pages/hoteis/index.php?lang=2&hotel=16 The Salvador property of the Vila Galé hotel chain has everything you have come to expect from this brand. And it's on the beach (with direct access!), so make sure to book a room with a view. Their health club has a gym, jacuzzi and sauna. Wifi is BRL 20 per 24 hours, and parking is BRL 5 per day.

Gay Salvador Brazil Hotels Pousada Estrela do Mar | Rua Afonso Celso, 119 | 71 3022 4882 | http://www.estreladomarsalvador.com/ A small hotel with only nine rooms, they've kept a lot of the original architecture and enhanced the interior with mosaics, amazing art, comfy public areas, hammocks, and breezy, comfortable rooms. There's free wifi and they have a laundry service; note there is no parking. It's located in the middle of pretty much everything, so it's convenient.

Gay Salvador Brazil Activities Cine Tupy | Avenida José Joaquim Seabra 357 | 71 3242 4179 | no website Another mixed-porn cinema that is also a popular gay cruising joint, although less crowded than Astor, so there's a better chance for privacy. It's also open only in the afternoons, from 1pm to 7pm.

Gay Salvador Brazil Activities Cine Astor | Rua da Ajuda 5 | 71 3322 7228 | no website This has porn for both men and women, but don't be under any illusion this is as much of a gay cruising spot as anything else. Note that it's only open in the afternoons (1pm-7pm), so it can be the perfect place to get in out of the hot sun and beach scene.

Gay Salvador Brazil Activities Ritual Sex Shop | R. Ceará, 815 | 71 240-1073 | http://www.rituall.com.br/ This shop has everything from cock rings to lubes to novelty aprons, as well as an extensive collection of vibrating, rotating, and multi-colored dildos. Note that this is a shop for both sexes and all seual persuasions.

Gay Salvador Brazil Activities The Hell & Heaven is a dance party that happens over a three-day weekend in November but if you can't make it then, don't fret, because there are "warm-up" parties throughout the year leading up to the big event that are staged all over the world, from Miami to Sao Paolo. http://www.hhsauipe.com/

Gay Salvador Brazil Activities Grupo Gay da Bahia GGB | Rua Frei Vicente, 24 | 71 3322-2552 | http://www.ggb.org.br/ This is an LGBT organization based in Salvador - and the first in Brazil. Their website is only in Portuguese, but is easily translatable with an online tool. On it they list the LGBT events in the city, from lectures to parades, and important people of the moment.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Panela da Bahia | Ladeira de São Miguel, 7 | 71 3321 7236 | no website With about 80 percent of Brazilian in Bahia being of African descent, it's no surprise to find African-influenced cuisine at every turn. But few do it better than Panela de Bahia, which incorporates African tastes into Brazilian dishes and is that a hint of Jamaican spices in there too? Definitely try the Moqueca, the traditional seafood stew.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Cocoon Restaurante | Rua Haeckel Jose de Almeida, 348 | 071 3368 8101 | no website Another fantastic Italian restaurant in Salvador who knew? Book a table outside, and make sure to order the pasta with whatever seafood t hey have fresh that day. The ambience is laid back, and they have live music on some nights.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Pelo Bistro | Rua das Portas do Carmo, 06 | 71 3266 8550 | no website This restaurant, located inside the Hotel Casa do Amarelindo, serves from breakfast through late night, and has excellent Brazilian cuisine. It's not the cheapest place you'll ever eat, but the quality of the food as well as the friendly service make up for the extra pennies you're spending.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Yemanjá | Av. Otávio Mangabeira, 4655 | 71 3461-9010 | http://www.restauranteyemanja.com.br/ An absolutely stunning beachfront restaurant serving absolutely delicious seafood. And yet the portions are huge, the prices are lower than you'd expect from such a setting, and the service is consistently friendly and helpful.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Trapiche Adelaide | Av. Contorno, 2 | 71 3241-4761 | no website This is your Salvador splurge. Set upon pilings in the sea, this seafood-heavy, French/Italian fusion menu in inventive, expensive, and worth every penny. People watching mostly consists of seeing foodies swoon, but it's still worth it.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Cantina da Lua | Largo Terreiro de Jesus, 2 | 71 3241 7383 | http://www.cantinadalua.com.br/cantina/ This restaurant has an actual bar meaning, you can have a quiet drink before sitting down to eat and hearty Brazilian dishes that will fill you up for whatever adventures the night may bring. Grab a seat on the outdoor terrace to get a preview of coming attractions, so to speak and to get away from the sometimes-loud live music that comes on a bit later.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Maria Mata Moura | Rua da Ordem Terceira, 8 | 71 3321 3929 | http://www.mariamatamouro.com.br/Default.aspx This restaurant serves Brazilian dishes with some Mediterranean twists thrown in for good measure, and some fully Italian recipes like porcini mushroom risotto and penne with pesto. The enclosed garden provides a civilized setting for a quiet meal.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Al Carmo | Rua do Carmo, 66 | 71 3242 0283 | http://www.alcarmo.com.br/ A true Italian restaurant that's a cut above the casual fare you find in Salvador. Try the carbonara, and make sure to ask for a rooftop table the view is delightful. Also, save room for the homemade desserts.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Barbacoa Restaurante | Av Tancredo Neves, 909 | 71 3342 4666 | http://www.barbacoa.com.br/home.php Part of a chain of restaurants located throughout both Brazil and Japan, Barbacoa is a classic steak house where you can most definitely get your meat on. They also ahve an impressive wine list if you're sick of sugary cocktails and beer out of plastic cups.

Gay Salvador Brazil Restaurants Touche Bar Café e Creperia | Rua Belo Horizonte | 71 9121-9084 | no website Touché does in fact serve crepes but it's not a French-themed place. For example, Wednesday night is Mexican night! And even throughout the week, they serve probably the best margaritas in Salvador to wash it all down. It's perfect for a quick meal and some people watching, as it's primarily an outdoor cafe.

Gay Rome Activities Fitness First | Via Giolitti 44 | (396) 478-2630 | http://www.fitnessfirst.com/ This is a gym a real, actual gym that is frequented by both men and women, but for some reason it is also the secret cruising spot for gay men who like to work out. So don't be obvious, but yes, that dude on the treadmill IS checking you out.

Gay Rome Activities Leather Club Roma | http://www.lcroma.com This club is exactly what you think it is, and can direct you to leather events throughout Rome (as it has no set party night or club). Their big event is in December, hosted in the Roman Catacombs.