As a port city, Barcelona has always been open to all kinds, and when it comes to the gay scene, the Catalan capital, with its endless nightlife options, is second to none. Many of the firm favourites with the LGTBI community in Barcelona are some of the liveliest spots in the city. We’ve put together this Gay Guide with the top clubs and bars in Barcelona.
Most of the top places are to be found in the area of the Eixample district known as the Gayxample, bounded by four streets: Muntaner, Balmes, Gran Via and Aragó. Here you’ll find a whole host of bars, discos and fancy shops tailored for the LGTBI market in Barcelona.
Check out our Gay Guide to Barcelona for the best parties and an irrepressible urge to party.
LGTBI hotspots in Barcelona
EL CANGREJO
This small pub in the Raval neighbourhood is famed for its drag and cross-dressing shows. Great atmosphere. After the show you can dance to cheesy classics from Spain and 1980s hits.
Where: Raval, C/Montserrat 9. Opening hours: open Friday and Saturday 11 pm to 3 am
CARITA BONITA
The good times never stop in this bar. You’ll feel right at home. This disco bar attracts mainly girls, but everyone’s welcome.
Where: Eixample. C/Balmes 69. Opening hours: open Thursday 8 pm to 3 am and weekends 9 pm to 3.30 am
LA FEDERICA
This gay-friendly bar simply oozes glamour and pop. A must if you’re in Poble Sec. On weeknights it’s a fun option for a drink and a bite to eat; at weekends its more eccentric side comes out to play.
Where: Poble Sec. C/Salvà 3. Opening hours: open Tuesday to Thursday 7 pm to 2 am and weekends 7 pm to 3 am
CANDY DARLING
Spectacular nights await at Candy Darling, named after the American actress. A queer bar that makes quite an impression. The decor and atmosphere are worthy of a Warhol film.
Where: Eixample. Gran Via 586. Opening hours: open every day 7 pm to 3 am
MUSEUM BAR
An off-the-wall, very gay-friendly, old-school video bar. Ideal for the first drink of the night and to warm up before heading off to one of the bars in the Eixample.
Where: Sant Antoni. C/Sepúlveda 178. Opening hours: open weekends midnight to 3 am
BAR PUNTO-BCN
No Gay Guide to Barcelona would be complete without this LGTBIQ+ classic. This very popular central bar is ideal for meeting up for an afternoon chat or for the first drink of the night.
Where: Gaixample, Muntaner 63. Opening hours: open every day 6 pm to 2.30 am, weekends and public holidays 6 pm to 3 am
PLATA BAR
Gay bar famed for its cocktails and impressive terrace. Great for trying some original drinks with friends in a warm, relaxed atmosphere.
Where: Gaixample. C/ Consell de Cent 233. Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday 8 pm to 2 am, Friday and Saturday 8 pm to 3 am
MOEEM BARCELONA
Right in the heart of the Eixample, this mixed gay bar is ideal for a drink. After nine years, it’s made a name for itself among the gay hotspots in Barcelona. Pop, dance and R&B music.
Where: Gaixample. C/ Muntaner 11. Opening hours: open every day 6 pm to 3 am
AIRE SALA DIANA
A lesbian disco where girls can start the night in style with a pop soundtrack. The same entrance ticket also grants admission to Sala Arena, the next-door disco that belongs to the same chain.
Where: Lesbixample. C/ Diputación 233. Opening hours: open from Thursday to Saturday 11 pm to 3 am
GIN GIN GAY BAR
Inspired by the Hergé comics hero, but with a gay twist. This gay bar’s speciality is its Gintonic. A young, welcoming and enticing place for a drink.
Where: Gaixample. C/ Aribau 40. Opening hours: open every day 6 pm to 3 am
Churros con chocolate at SALA APOLO
We couldn’t finish this LGBTI Guide to Barcelona without mentioning the legendary Sala Apolo, which has been running a fabulous gay and lesbian night called Churros con Chocolate since 2012. Get your Sunday glitter and join the party!
Where: Poble Sec. C/ Nou de la Rambla, 113. Opening hours: certain Sundays 4 pm to 5 am
Left wanting more? Book your apartment in Barcelona for Pride BCN, held every year in late June, and discover the city at its most colourful. And if Pride isn’t enough, top off your gay programme with Circuit Festival inAugust. Or take a trip down the coast to Sitges, with great beaches and plenty of gay and lesbian clubs and bars.
