Gay Venues in Porto

Gay venues in Porto

Porto remains a conservative and closeted city, with its very first Pride Week having only taken place for the first time in 2001 and the annual pride march only in 2006. But the march does have the honor to go down the main avenue, Avenida dos Aliados, indicating that the city is slowly opening itself up to gay life.

Unlike Lisbon however, there is no traditionally gay neighborhood. There are a few gay bars, but no gay hotels.
The bars are known to have a typically laid-back and party atmosphere. There are also a few gay-friendly spots such as "Aniki Bobo" where gays discreetly go to see and be seen, and to simply enjoy the night.

For more details about gay nightlife options in Oporto, see the list below.

* BOYS 'R US
Rua Dr. Barbosa de Castro, 63
Phone: 91 754 9988
boysrusclub.blogspot.com
Boys R Us is Oporto's best-known gay club located for over a decade right in the center of the city (it's close to Clerigos Tower). It is open on weekends until 2h30AM but the dancing goes on until 4. Expect plenty of flashing lights, loud music, and dancing queens (and the occasional drag show). Despite the name, girls (read: lesbians) are also often part of the crowd.

* LABIRINTO
Rua Nossa Senhora de Fatima, 334
Phone: 22 606 3665
Classifying this as a gay-friendly straight bar or as a straight-friendly gay bar depends on who you ask. It's perhaps both, depending on the night. It's both a bar and an art gallery so any given night may be straight, gay, mixed, or whatever.
It's a couple of minutes walk from Casa da Musica, so it's a nice destination after a concert there. Admire the current exhibition and then head for the garden or one of the bars. It opens at 9PM and often stays open until sunrise on weekends.

* PRIDE
www.pride-bar.com
91 836 9861
Rua do Bonjardim, 1121
This bar proudly shows the rainbow flag at the door, and inside, gay, lesbian, or curious dance the night away to house music. It is also known for its flamboyant drag shows.

* ZOOM
Beco Passos Manuel
91 835 3282
This is the gay hotspot of the moment, especially crowded on Saturdays (it only opens on Fridays, Saturdays, and the eve of a holiday). It's located in a former warehouse, has a welcoming atmosphere, and the music is mostly house.

Source: Turismo de Portugal
www.visitportugal.com