Gay and Gay Friendly Barcelona
Gay and Gay Friendly Barcelona Hotels
1 Axel Hotel | Aribau, 33 | 93 323 93 93 | http://www.axelhotels.com/barcelona/
This sleek, notoriously heterofriendly hotel is ground zero for gay life in Barcelona. If you like not being far from the scene, then this is your place half the time, you won't have to go any farther than the rooftop bar for fun.
2 Hotel Comte | Diputació 142-148 | 93.323.12.58 | http://www.hoteldelcomte.com/en/home
Hotel Comte is only a two-star, but it's modern, clean, friendly, and right in the gayborhood, so it's a top choice for budget travelers. They also have smoking rooms, which is a blessing for some of us.
3 Hotel Front Maritím | Passeig García i Faria, 69-71 | 933 03 44 40 | http://www.hotelfrontmaritim.com/en/hotel-front-maritim/
This hotel is popular with the Circuit Party crowd, and is across the street from the gayest beach, and they have a great gym, and some sea view rooms have balconies. Beach bums, book accordingly!
4 Hotel Inglaterra Barcelona | Pelai, 14 | 3 49 350 511 | http://www.hotel-inglaterra.com/en/
With blond wood and creamy walls, the light and airy rooms at this boutique hotel are delightful. Their AC really, actually works, American-style. And their rooftop pool and deck are fantastic. Add in the free wifi and excellent menu at their Red Cafe, and you've found your hotel.
5 Fashion House | Carrer Bruc, 13 Principal | 3 46 379 040 | http://www.bcnfashionhouse.com/
The living room of this B&B is cozy enough to take a nap in, and their outdoor terrace is a terracotta garden oasis. Only the studio suite has its own bathroom, but even when you're sharing it's only with one other room, which works out surprisingly well.
6 Beauty and the Beach | Passeig Taulat | 3 49 326 605 | http://www.bedandbreakfastrooms.com/Europe/Spain/Barcelona/755/
With a name like that, how can you resist? OK, then how about that it's one block from the nude gay beach? Or that Jose Maria and Matt, the owners, are a delight? Or that it has free wifi? Or that its four rooms are really nice? This B&B books fast, so get on it.
7 Hotel Jazz | Pelai 3 | 9 35 529 696 | http://www.hoteljazz.com/default-en.html
Despite its name, this is not a kitschy theme hotel it's serious, sexy, has big rooms, and the rooftop pool and deck is nothing short of stunning. And the hilariously large numbers on the room doors assures you can find your way home no matter how hard you've been partying.
8 Hotel Cram | Aribau 54 | 9 32 167 700 | http://www.hotelcram.com/
It's a sad irony that the rooms at Hotel Cram are a bit on the small side, but they use the space well, and you won't actually feel crammed in especially if you book a room with a balcony. Their rooftop breakfast room/bar has excellent views of the city as well as the sexy lap pool.
9 Hotel Granados 83 | Enric Granados 83 | 9 34 929 670 | http://www.derbyhotels.com/en/hotel-granados-83/
With exposed brick, dark woods and black as the predominant highlight color, you'd be forgiven for thinking you've woken up in a SoHo loft. Their rooftop pool is equally sleek/urban, and the whole hotel is a feast for the eyes both the architecture and the guests.
10 The Balmes Hotel | Carrer de Mallorca, 216 | 934 51 19 14 | http://www.derbyhotels.com/en/hotel-balmes/
After all the rooftop pools, the pool here, in a kind of atrium, can feel a little claustrophobic. But the rooms are well-appointed and the apartments are perfect for longer stays. Individual rooms are very small, though, and good only if you plan on spending little to no time in your room.
Gay and Gay Friendly Barcelona Bars
1 La Base | Casanova, 201 | no number | no website
This leather bar is a serious cruising spot, and the sex sling gets a lot of action throughout the course of the night. Fridays are underwear parties, while Saturday everybody's naked; both are the most popular, but you can always count on gettin' some.
2 Bar Six | Muntaner, 6 | 934530075 | no website
Formerly Boy Bar, it reopened in early 2013 as a musical bar with some live acts along with shirtless bartenders and a pretty mellow vibe. As close to a locals-only joint as you can get in the gay scene, although they're always happy to see a friendly face. Skews a little older sometimes.
3 Bacon Bear Bar | C. de Casanova 64 | 934 51 00 00 | https://www.facebook.com/baconbearbar
This big space is for big men and the other big men who love them. The crowd is always up for a good time, and friendly as hell. They open a 4pm, a blessing in this late-starting town, and have great happy hour deals.
4 Woofy | C. Casanova 75 | https://www.facebook.com/pages/WOOFY-Bar-de-Osos-Admiradores/181649898567086
Woofy has arrived on the scene and stolen some of the bear thunder from Bacon, which means that it's chock full of bears enjoying hard rock theme nights, great drink specials and a place that's trying their best to impress.
5 Museum | Sepúlveda, 178 | 933 251 831 | http://www.yelp.com/biz/museum-barcelona-2
Lotsof R&B pop videos are played on the gilt-framed video screens, all the better for the various queens and divas to perfect their latest moves. A place this outrageously decorated brings the crowd to a new level of fabulous. Really fun.
6 Punto BCN | Muntaner, 63 | http://www.grupoarena.com/index.php?idioma=&sala=punto&cos=sala
Part of the Arena Group, Punto BCN is the place where everyone meets up before venturing out for the night, so chances are you'll find yourself here at some point. It's not a cruise bar per se, but nobody is shy about getting their cruise on, and neither should you.
7 Ground Bar | Aribau, 33 | 93 323 93 93 | http://www.axelhotels.com/barcelona/seccion/41/en/axel_barcelona_underground
Ground Bar is on the ground floor of the Axel, and is about as fabulous as you'd expect a bar in a heterofriendly hotel to be. Their outdoor terrace is THE seen in the gayborhood, and if you can't find anywhere else to settle for the night, this is always your backup plan.
8 Sky Bar | Aribau, 33 | 93 323 93 93 | http://www.axelhotels.com/barcelona/seccion/42/en/axel_barcelona_skybar
Again, this is in the Axel gay hotel, so it's fabulous made even more so by the fact that its view atop the roof of the hotel is great.
9 Bim Bam Bum Bar | C. de Casanova 71 | no number | http://www.bimbambum.es/
This bar bills itself as LGBT, but it's overwhelmingly G, with a little bit of T thrown in. Drag queens, beauty pagaents, strippers, and theme nights abound it's a rollicking good time, and never, ever a dull moment.
10 Nightberry | C. de la Diputació 161 | no number | http://www.nightberry.es/en
The stone walls and revolving local art give way to a small cruising area and even some cabins. But we wouldn't call it a cruising bar, really there are seemingly impromptu drag shows, a friendly crowd, and a definite actual bar scene.
Gay and Gay Friendly Barcelona Clubs
1 Metro | Carrer de Sepúlveda, 185 | http://www.metrodiscobcn.com/2/
This club is all things to all people as long as those people are male. You can chill while you play some pool, shake your groove thing to Spanish music, check out non-Spanish DJs, or cruise the darkroom and get lucky. Oh, and drag queens! The perfect place.
2 Atame | Carrer del Consell de Cent, 257 | 934 549 273 | no website
They're not baby gays at Atame, but they do skew young, and with the eclectic mix of music played, they have come to dance. Note, though, that earlier in the evening they have happy hour from 7-10 = it functions much more as a bar.
3 Discotheque | Carrer De Tarragona, 141 | 3 49 020 238 | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Discotheque-Barcelona/49986220748
A heaving dance floor makes it hard to do any significant chatting here, but their SaturGays are the place to be on a late Saturday night in Barcelona. And from fire fighters to the Wild West to porn star theme nights, there is always a silly, party-like vibe.
4 El Cangrejo Eixample | Villarroel, 81 | https://www.facebook.com/elcangrejoeixample
This is the go-to gayborhood club is campy as hell, and chances are you'll laugh as much as you dance. There's a healthy mix of Spanish and international hits, which makes a refreshing change from the Rihanna/Beyonce/Madonna you usually hear.
5 Arena Madre | Carrer de Balmes, 32 | http://www.arenadisco.com/
After pre-gaming at Arena-owned Punto BCN, head to the mothership, Arena Madre. Its deliciously young crowd flocks to the dance floor and tries to pick up each other, and it's like watching a fawn take its first steps. Between them, the strippers and the fun theme nights, there's enough eye candy to last you the whole night long.
6 Dietrich | Consell de Cent, 255 | 93 451 77 07 | no website
Located just a block away from the Axel Hotel, Dietrich is technically a bar but later at night it's all about the dancing, so we'd go here for a small club vibe rather than a bar vibe. Note on Saturdays it looks like a Spanish version of the L Word, so you might want to avoid it. But during the week it's fun, draggy, and a decent night out.
Gay and Gay Friendly Barcelona Saunas
1 Thermas Barcelona | Diputació, 46 | 933 259 346 | http://www.pases.es/en/sauna_thermas/
This big sauna is rent boy central! Lots of South American types to choose from as well. They tend to run a bit muscle-y, but it's large enough that all kinds are represented. The huge video screen in the pool area is a cool feature. The have theme mornings and nights, and their underwear parties are a must.
2 Buenos Aires | Urgell, 114 | 933238199 | http://www.saunabuenosairesbcn.com/saunabuenosairesbcn.com/English_Services.html
Come anytime literally! This 24/7/365 sauna gets points for convenience. But they actively discourage business transactions, so to speak, so be careful about how you approach guys. That being said, their 20 cabins are perfect for a tryst and their massage services are tops.
3 Corinto | Pelai, 62 | 933186422 | http://www.pases.es/en/sauna_corinto/
The big draw here is the Jacuzzi, which has a view of Plaza Catalunya a rarity if we ever saw one! It's open 24 hours/day on the weekends, and their '80s nights have a twist if you were BORN in the '80s, you get a discount. Note that the sauna is inside Hotel Monegal on the first floor.
4 Nova Bruc | Pau Claris, 87 | 934874814 | http://www.saunabruc.com/
This renovated spa has a pool and sauna facilities as well as a dark room and video room. It's popular with bears, and skews a bit mature but the younger crowd that likes them comes here as well, so it's worth a visit. Their bar is decent for both food and drinks. Open from 11am to 10pm.
5 Casanova | Casanova, 57 | 933237860 | http://www.pases.es/en/sauna_casanova/
This 24/7 sauna skews young, and there are cubs as well as hot hairless bodies a-go-go in addition to various other ages and physical types. Their morning parties bring in the guys earlier in the day after a long night out. There's a cruising area as well as a dark room. And the view of the open showers from the Jacuzzi is delightful!
6 Condal | Espolsasacs, 1 | 933176817 | http://www.pases.es/en/sauna_condal/
This is a large sauna that skews a bit older, but all ages who come for fun and with a labyrinth, dark rooms, cruising areas, private cabins, and a sex sling room, there is a lot of fun to be had. So, yes, while it is a sauna, it's pretty cruise-y. They also have leather nights, which is weird for a place that should see people in towels, but gives you an idea of the vibe here.
Gay and Gay Friendly Barcelona Restaurants
1 dDivine | Blames, 24 | 93 317 22 48 | https://www.facebook.com/divinebarcelona
This is more of an evening out than a place to grab a bite it's a mix of dinner theater, a Spanish Lucky Cheng's, and RuPaul's Drag Race come to life. There are lots of heteros and hen nights here, but the food is actually good, and it's really is a good time.
2 Miranda | Casanova, 30 | 93 453 52 49 | http://www.elperroqueladra.com/miranda/home_esp.htm
We swear we will get to actual Barcelona restaurants eventually, but no BCN gay listings would be compelte without a mention of Miranda. It's part restaurant, part cabaret, often naughty, and a fun time in an intimate setting that makes you feel like a member of the club. And the food is decent, too.
3 El Berro | C. de la Diputació 180 | 933236956 | http://www.elberro.com/
This is a typical place for Barcelona you're not sure if it's a bar or a restaurant, most of their food is displayed in a deli case, and the seating is cafeteria style and includes bar stools. But they also serve large plates in addition to tapas, and it's gay-friendly, and their terrace can be a real boon on a nice day. Great for budget travelers.
4 Cerveceria Catalana | Mallorca, 236 | 932 160 368 | http://www.yelp.com/biz/cervecer%C3%ADa-catalana-barcelona-2
You'll get a lot of heteros, a lot of tourists, and a long wait for a table at peak hours. The service cn be a little spotty as well. But if you're staying in the Eixample gayborhood and want one fo the best tapas experiences in Barcelona, then this is your place. Check it out during the day and at off hours to sneak in when it's not super-packed.
5 Bench Restaurant | Aribau 33 | 93 933 239393 | http://www.axelhotels.com/barcelona/seccion/40/en/axel_barcelona_kitchen
Yep, this is the third category with an Axel Hotel listing. We weren't kidding when we said this is ground zero for gay life in BCN. Bench serves brekfast, lunch and dinner to guests and outside patrons alike, and its high-end, clubby feel reflects the slick menu of delicious dishes.
6 Ciudad Condal | Rambla de Catalunya, 18 | 933181997 | http://www.yelp.com/biz/ciudad-condal-barcelona
Yes, we are actually recommending a tapas bar on Las Ramblas. But among the beer-guzzling Brits and crappy tourist traps is this gem of a joint that serves the tapas you came to Barcelona to try. Like Cerveceria Catalana, it's best visited at off hours. The meats are better than the seafood, but it's all satisfying and cheap to boot!
7 Ménage à Trois | Carrer d'en Bot, 3 | 933 015 542 | http://www.menageatrois.es/
You'd be mistaken for thinking you walked into a preschool, as the interior is brightly colored with childlike murals and such. But the cuisine is sophisticated, with plates, wok dishes and crepes on the menu, all of them fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Save room for a crepe dessert!
8 Restaurante Caelis | Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 668 | 935 10 12 05 | http://hotelpalacebarcelona.com/en/gastronomy/caelis-restaurant-88.html
We don't usually put Michelin-star restaurants on our listings, but this is the gorgeous exception to the rule. The exquisite food is a seamless reflection of this old-world jewelbox setting. It's a welcome change from the forced casualness of the BCN tapas culture and the campy gay scene, and it worth every pretty penny you'll pay.
9 Apat! | Carrer Aribau, 137 | 93 439 64 14 | http://www.apat.es/
With reasonable prix-fixe menus and an interesting a la carte selection, this is where you want to go when you want a grown-up meal of tapas one where the chef has some imagination, and you're not elbowing tourists out of the way. Our top pick for BCN.
10 Restaurante Barceloneta | Carrer de l'Escar, 22 | 932 212 111 | http://www.restaurantbarceloneta.com/en/
The have meat on the menu, but come on you're on the sea in Barceloneta, the beach 'hood of the city you're going to order the seafood, right? And so you should. While it's not the cheapest place ever, it is most likely the freshest, and with their outdoor seating and friendly service, you'll quickly realize that you've found your favorite place.
Gay and Gay Friendly Berlin Hotels Schall & Rauch | Gleimstraße 23 | 30 443397 | http://schall-und-rauch.de/hotel-pension/ It's a restaurant, it's a bar, it's a guesthouse! A cool urban feel with exposed brick in the rooms, which are spacious and airy. Rates depend on full, half and no meal services, which makes it a good deal if you just need a place to crash.
