Gay Barcelona Guide

🌈 Index: Accommodation | Bars  | Wellness | Shopping | Arts | Nightclubs | Bookstores | Media | Restaurants | Saunas | Sex Shops | Travel | Beaches | Health | Associations | Events

Barcelona is famous for having a vibrant gay scene and a culture favoring freedom and diversity. The city has been a pioneer in fighting for the rights of the LGTBI community since the 1970’s. Same-sex marriages have been held in Barcelona since 2005.

The most famous gay neighborhood is called ‘Gaixample’. The rectangular area bordered by Carrer Balmes, Gran Via, Carrer Urgell and Carrer Aragó is within the Eixample district. Many popular gay bars, nightclubs, hotels, shops and restaurants are situated in Gaixample.

Accommodation

Axel Hotel Barcelona

Axel Hotel Barcelona Axel Hotel Barcelona opened in July 2003 and is part of the first chain in the world focused on the GLBT community.

Two Hotel Barcelona by Axel Our TWO Hotel Barcelona by Axel, located in the Gayxample Barcelona with its own parking in the same building, has 87 beautiful rooms fully soundproofed with the highest level of service and equipment, reflecting a comfortable and distinguished atmosphere.

Hotel Cram Hotel Centrally situated in the Eixample neighborhood, close to Passeig de Gràcia, Plaça de Catalunya and La Rambla.

Bars

Atame Funny musical bar with Spanish pop music and live shows.

Boys Bar BCN In the heart of Gaixample, BoysBar BCN has a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

Moeem Barcelona Lively bar in Eixample, open daily and has a terrace.

Night Barcelona A men only gay bar.

Punto BCN An authentic LGTBIQ + meeting place in the city. A very spacious, open, colorful and warm place.

Bacon Bear Popular with local and international bears.

El Cangrejo Situated in a gritty part of Raval, El Cangrejo (the crab) is famous for its for ’80s nights and drag shows.

La Chapelle Decorated with religious artifacts, the bar is small and welcoming.

Versailles A place to see and be seen. Famous for its opulent decor.

Zelig Raval based Zelig hosts a mixed crowd and offers music, food, cocktails and a terrace in the summer.

Berlin Dark  Situated in El Poble Sec, Berlin Dark is a hard and fetish bar with strict dress codes.

New Chaps Traditional leather & jeans bar attracting a mixed clientele.

Lesbian Bars

Aire Chicas From Grupo Arena, Aire is an emblematic name for lesbian nights in Barcelona.

La Rosa Situated outside the city center, in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi neighborhood, La Rosa is a favorite among Lesbian bars.

Beauty and Wellness

Homo Naturals Natural cosmetics and grooming products for men.

Les9fonts A center of therapies and natural products.

Mandala Beauty center and spa.

Shopping

Addicted / ES Collection Men’s swimwear, sportswear and more.

63  Bis Fashion shop with 9 years of history in Gaixample.

Arts and Culture

Fundació Setba Setba Foundation works with culture as a vehicle for integration, devising and coordinating artistic projects that enhance and raise awareness about the social value of culture. The foundation is situated in a flat where the artist and LGBTQ + Spanish activist José Pérez Ocaña (1947 – 1983) once lived.

NightClubs

Arena Madre Located at Balmes 32, DJ’s play best pop, dance and house music.

Arena Classic A very central, cozy place, with the most entertaining music and crowd.

Pervert Club A monthly session of the highest level programming starring the best partiers, promoters and international DJs.

Metro-Disco Gay disco only for nocturnal men. The gay album of Barcelona.

The Black Room Since 2011, the Black Room has been a top gay party in Barcelona. Every Sunday at City Hall Club.

Bookstores

Librería Cómplices CÓMPLICES is a historic LGTBQI library in the Gothic Quarter, fighting for the LGBTQ culture for 22 years.

Libreria Antinous Bookshop and cafe specialized in LGTBI themes, situated in Eixample.

Media

Gayles.tv Free online television for the LGTBI community.

Revista GB Travel and male lifestyle magazine, published since 2005: a leading gay publication in Barcelona.

Revista Shangai Leaders in information, leisure, fashion and lifestyle for the Gay and Lesbian collective.

Bakala.org Free gay hispanic and latino dating chat app made in Spain.

Restaurants

Accés Mediterranean cuisine with Catalan influences.

Casa Jaime Authentic Catalan and Spanish cuisine, close to Plaça de la Universitat.

Hawker45 Street food, redefined.

Gut Restaurant Gut was launched in 2010 by a group of friends who wanted to create something together.

Saunas

Sauna Bruc Steam sauna and dry sauna, video, TV, bar service, professional masseur.

Casanova Party sauna open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Condal Distributed across three floors with a varied clientele.

Galilea Urban gay sauna in the center of Barcelona. Four floors where you can have fun and relax.

Thermas Over 900m2 of space including a jacuzzi and pool, open 24/7.

Sex Shops

Amantis Erotic shop situated in Gràcia.

Only is Love An innovative concept that unites fashion with eroticism.

Sestienda Gothic Quarter erotic shop, in business since 1981.

Zeus X shop.

Travel and Tours

AmbienTravel Gay friendly cruises.

Beaches

Sant Sebastià One of Barcelona’s oldest and most traditional beaches, situated in Barceloneta.

Mar Bella This beach has an area for naturists and attracts a diverse crowd.

Health

Keith Haring mural Barcelona

Reproduction of Keith Haring’s Mural 

BCN Checkpoint A community based center for the detection of HIV and other STI’s, which caters to gay men, bisexuals and transgender women.

Gais Positius An association of gay and bisexual men with HIV who work to respond to HIV and AIDS since 1994 for the LGBT community with a rights-based approach.

Stop Sida Stop Sida promotes sexual rights and empowerment in the care of sexual health and HIV prevention from and for the LGBT + community.

Unitat de Malalties de Transmissio Sexual – Centre d’Atenció Primària Drassanes Primary Care Center Drassanes.

Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona The Public Health Agency of Barcelona directs and manages the public health centers of the city.

Associations

ACATHI ACATHI is an association established for persons of different origins, migrants and refugees from the LGBT community. They represent a diverse collection of identities that are the essence of a project that aims to influence and raise awareness of the reality of LGBT asylum seekers, with focuses on justice and human rights.

ACEGAL The Catalan Association of Companies for Gays and Lesbians, organizer of PRIDE Barcelona and promoter of the commercial axis of the Gaixample.

Casal Lambda Casal Lambda is a non-profit organization that works for the recognition of the rights and freedoms of the LGBT community.

Colors Sitges Link LGBT Association in Sitges.

GAYLESPOL Association of Gay and Lesbian Police.

Grup d’Amics Gais Non-profit association that works in defense of LGBTIQ rights.

Generem Association composed of Barcelona residents who are in different stages of gender transition. Generem aims to publicize the realities of different gender identities and expressions.

Panteres Grogues  Panteras Grogues Sports Club is a non-profit association offering a space where gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals can enjoy sporting activity in a free and relaxed way.

Associació LGTB TALCOMSOM The LGBT Association TALCOMSOM is the gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual association of Berguedà, Garrotxa, Moianès, Osona and Ripollès, headquartered in Vic.

Events

Pride Barcelona Welcome to the celebration of diversity. Welcome to the fight for freedom, dignity, respect and acceptance for the LGBTQ rights.

Circuit Festival Barcelona Circuit Festival is organised by Barcelona nightlife promoter Matinée Group. The 11 day festival includes parties, world class DJs and thousands of people from all over the world.

Girlie Circuit Festival Thousands of women meet annually at Girlie Circuit Festival to have a week of vacation, leisure, culture and parties, turning Barcelona into the lesbian capital of Europe.

Panteresports Panteresports is the multi-sport LGTBI + tournament of Panteres Grogues.