Buenos Aires Gay Nightlife

BA sports an active E GLBT nightlife that rivals that of the top nightlife cities around the globe. The options are friendly and open and are scattered throughout capital federal, from the center to the outer barrios.

Flux, M.T. de Alvear 980, Retiro (☎5252 0258; www.fluxbar.com.ar). S San Martín. New to the scene, this friendly, intimate bar draws small groups of 20- and 30-something gay men. The small tables and colorful, comfy couches are arranged to facilitate relaxed conversation. The extensive menu includes a huge variety of delicious mixed drinks (AR$12-22), though it has a limited beer selection. Happy hour 7-10pm, 2-for-1 mixed drinks. Open M-Sa 7pm-late. Cash only.

Clubs

Bach Bar, José Cabrera 4390, Palermo (☎5877 0919; www.bach-bar.com.ar), at the intersection with Julián Álvarez. S Scalabrini Ortiz. Get here too late on a weekend and be prepared to wait in line; this small bar and club is deservedly one of the most popular lesbian establishments in the city. Though some older women (and a few men) are regulars here, the crowd is mostly composed of hip 20-somethings pounding back drinks or dancing wherever they can find space to DJ-spun house and techno. Though entry is free, the way out is a little more interesting. Upon entry, you receive a chip, which you exchange, along with cash, for a drink and a ticket marked “salida.” The ticket is the only way out, so you can’t leave without spending at least AR$12 on drinks. This, of course, shouldn’t be a problem. Drinks AR$12-25. Su karaoke. Open W-Su 11am-7am.
Glam, José Cabrera 3046, Recoleta (☎4963 2521; www.glambsas.com.ar). S Agüero. For one of BA’s most popular gay clubs, Glam is surprisingly friendly and intimate. The dance floor draws a mixed crowd, but the majority of people are hip, young gay men (especially on Th and Sa) dancing to electronica. For those who need time away from the crowds, there is, of course, a semi-private room upstairs. Beer AR$10-12. Mixed drinks AR$10-25. Open Th-Sa 1-7am. Cover Th AR$25, F AR$15, Sa AR$30. Cash only.
Angels, Viamonte 2168, Balvanera (www.discoangels.com.ar). S Callao. Though this popular, two-story club includes a relaxed bar area, we don’t think anyone bothers to stay there. Instead, it seems that everyone heads straight for one of the two dance floors, where DJs spin house, techno, pop, and rap. Join the crowd of fashionable, mostly gay 20- to 30-something men (plus a few women and transsexuals) and dance the night away. Whether you head into the small, semi-private room just behind the bar is up to you. Drinks AR$10-20. Cover F AR$15, Sa AR$25. Sa includes one drink. Open Th 12:30am-5am, F 12:30am-6am, Sa 12:30am-7am. Cash only.
Amerika, Gascón 1040, Almagro (☎4865 4416; www.ameri-k.com.ar). S Medrano. One of the city’s most popular gay establishments, this massive club can get a bit crazy on weekends. Packed to the brim with a crowd of mostly young, gay men—though certainly welcoming of all others—the huge dance floor and numerous bars look both vaguely industrial and like a futuristic stage set. The music is mostly electronica, though the popular DJs do mix in some Latin pop and 80s music to shake things up. Mixed drinks AR$9-26. Open Th-Su midnight-7am. Cover Th and Su AR$25, F-Sa AR$40. Cash only.
Alsina, Adolfa Alsina 940, Monserrat (☎4331 3421; www.alsinabuenosaires.com.ar). S Piedras. This is one of the city’s most beautiful clubs. It used to be known as Palacio Alsina, and with reason. Look up from the large dance floor at story after story of balconies drawn with red velvet curtains and you just might be distracted from the body-builders in briefs dancing on raised platforms around the floor. This is, after all, one of the city’s hottest gay clubs, drawing a mixed, energetic, sometimes shirtless crowd with excellent electronica. If this is your scene, come on F or Su; Sa night, it hosts Big One , BA’s biggest electronica night, and the crowd is a bit different. Beer AR$12-14. Mixed drinks AR$15-25. Cover AR$30. Open F and Su 1am-late. AmEx/MC/V.