Gay south africa cape town
Vibrant beach clubs, bars and restaurants – this is gay-friendly Cape Town
BBy day, play and sunbathe on some of the world’s finest beaches and then when the sun sets, put on your party shoes and enjoy a variety of nightlife experiences. When it comes to welcoming and inclusive destinations no matter your preferences head to Cape Town, rivalling same-sex attracted capitals like London, San Francisco and Sydney.
The Mother City will welcome you and take you in her arms, as she shows off, day and night. Stay in one of the boutique hotels in De Waterkant, well-known for being a gay-friendly area in the heart of the city. By day, relax and soak up the sun on the city’s best beaches. Clifton’s 3rd beach is a favourite and is also the busiest gay-friendly beach where the locals hang out. Or strive Sandy Bay, the “de facto gay nude beach”. Camps Bay is another favourite and also suggestions a number of trendy restaurants and bars for lunch or sundowners.
First Impressions: Cape Town’s Queer Scene
I always knew Cape Town was the gayest city on the continent of Africa and the country of South Africa, but I hadn't actually formed any expectations.
Prior to our arrival, my ally forwarded me a calendar exploding with events for Pride month, which happened to overlap perfectly with our stay in Cape Town; our last weekend would even be the Pride parade and associated parties. We went in with a relatively start mind and would just see how it went.
This post is more about our personal experience with gay life in Cape Town. If you need to plan your trip to Cape Town further, open our Gay Cape Town Guide in a new tab for later!
First Taste of Gay Cape Town Nightlife at Pink Candy
Our first taste of gay nightlife was in the form of a club called Pink Candy, located at the edge of the Central Business District (CBD). It was unfamiliar in every meaning, from the over-the-top decorations, to the super camp music, to the cleaners immediately mopping the floor next to you if even a drop of your drink fell to the floor while you danced.
The
LGBTQ+ Travel Guide to South Africa
Interesting Cities to Visit in South Africa
CAPE TOWN
Cape Town has probably the largest and most diverse Queer 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 Homosexual nightlife in Cape Town, from smaller bars, where locals meet for a casual drink, to the two accepted 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 beautiful 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 Gay community being very well represented.
JOHANNESBURG
Johannesburg is the largest capital in South Africa, and has a large LGBTQ+ group. While Cape Town takes the crown as the ‘gay-capital&
Cape Town may be a lot smaller than other cities in South Africa, like Johannesburg, but when it comes to male lover clubs and gay bars, Cape Town is a winner!
You might immediately Google ‘Best Gay Bars in Cape Town’ when you arrive, but what you should also know is that Cape Town as a whole is very gay friendly – something which we found very correct during Cape Town Pride.
This means that a lot of bars that aren’t ‘officially gay bars’ in Cape Town will still have a very mixed and diverse crowd. This is especially true if you head to the touristy bars on Prolonged Street.
That being said, when it comes to gay clubs and gay bars in Cape Town, you will be pleased to know that there is a good selection of options! Grab a look at our up to date list below and let us know where you end up!
Gay Bars in Cape Town
If you are looking for the gay area in Cape Town, the majority of the gay scene is focused around the De Waterkant area. We’ve included addresses for each exclude so you can see which fall into this area and which are a little more further afie