Gay places in johannesburg
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If you’re gay and currently travelling in South Africa, then you’re in for a treat! The Rainbow Nation has great gay clubs for you to party it up and meet like-minded (party-loving) folks.
From gyrate clubs to bars, Johannesburg’s gay club scene is one of the top in the entire country. We’ve picked the best homosexual clubs in the city where you can hang out and enjoy a night of drinking and partying with friends!
1. Babylon
Address: 198 Oxford Rd, Illovo, Sandton, 2196, South Africa
Website: https://babylonbar.co.za/
Contact Number: +27 73 030 6398
Operating Hours:
- Friday to Sunday, 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM
- Closed from Monday to Thursday
The Babylon Exclude is a homosexual club that you will want to spend a evening partying in thanks to its contemporary and chic appeal. The interiors of this place are phenomenal with glowing lights across the walls and ceiling, a large gyrate floor for guests, and a pole dancing area!
On uppermost of the commanding interiors, there are also private booths that you can rent here for some privacy with your partner or loved one. Accept the scene and the revelry all in as you enjoy the club’s signature cocktails and mixers
Queer Spaces in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest capital and its economic hub. One would think such a city, in the continent’s most steady country, would be home to at least a sizeable amount of homosexual businesses, but that’s sadly not the case. Still, the city is place to a not many queer friendly spaces and LGBTQI-specific events that are worth both your hour and dime.
Curating this list is rapper, Mx Blouse, whose boundless music has set them as a mainstay on the music scene in Jo'Burg. For the best queer-safe spaces in the city see below.
In this Guide
The Tennis Club
“Johannesburg has a serious lack of establishments that cater particularly to the LGBTQIA+ community, but Tennis Club is one of the venues that are not just paying lip service to “queer friendly” – they really are. It’s one of the few places I feel pleasant rocking up at in a crop top and loads of eyeliner without a worry in the world. In addition to that, they often host gay-themed parties and dress-up parties in general, which are always fun and go right into the early hours of the morning. Tennis Club has often played host to LE GRAND BALL.”
More InfSSouth Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world: homosexuality is legal; homosexual adoptions were legalised in 2003; and, only two years later in 2005, gay civil marriages became legal.
Johannesburg epitomises this forward-thinking approach, and although it just lost out by a whisker to Cologne for the 2010 Gay Games, it hosts The Out in Africa International Lgbtq+ and Lesbian Film Festival held yearly, whilst its annual Joburg Pride March first hit the Joburg streets in 1990, before the current constitution came into force.
Today, the Joburg Pride event has grown into Africa’s oldest and biggest celebration of same-sex attracted and lesbian pride and attracts thousands of people, not only from South Africa but from all over the world. It takes place in Melrose Arch and is a fun, vibrant day out.
Gay and lesbian communities happily live in all of South Africa’s major cities, including Johannesburg, but what you’ll locate is that Joburg is an integrated city with little or no discrimination against gay people who frequent most restaurants, bars and clubs. You’ll be welcome most places you go.
There’s no shortage of nightlife that brims with cinemas, theatres, bars, nightc
LGBTQ+ Travel Guide to South Africa
Interesting Cities to Go to in South Africa
CAPE TOWN
Cape Town has probably the largest and most diverse LGBTQ+ scene found in South Africa, albeit still small compared to other capital cities. The uppermost concentration of nightlife is found in the Waterkant area. There is a mixture of LGBTQ+ nightlife in Cape Town, from smaller bars, where locals meet for a casual drink, to the two popular dance clubs, Pink Panther and Crew Bar.
Cape Town’s most popular tourist attractions include the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, a large shopping and dining venue; the iconic Table Mountain—the top of which can be reached either by hiking or cable car; and the stunning Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Cape Town also has an annual Pride, which takes place around the end of February. This is a very diverse event, with all subsections of the LGBTQ+ community being very well represented.
JOHANNESBURG
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa, and has a large LGBTQ+ community. While Cape Town takes the crown as the ‘gay-capital’ of South Africa, Johannesburg does still offer a vibrant and diverse Diverse scene. The scene