Gay Local Tips in Bogotá

Why Bogotá is lit!

Our very first mister-of-the-week from Bogotá reveals the wonders of Colombia. Elkin is a host for misterb&b and the perfect guide for your tour of the incredibly lit Colombian gay scene. His tips are full of nice addresses, not only to party and hang out, but to also savor the culinary tradition and really dip into Colombian culture. Explore Bogotà and experience your pride.

How gay-friendly is your city? What’s gay life like there?

Bogotá is a huge Latin American metropolis with a lot of possibilities for gay people. Bogotá is a reflection of what all of Colombia should be. A country that, at the end of several legal battles, has managed to give a broad guarantee of rights to the entire LGBTQ population. There is a wide and varied gay scene and in general, the city offers you anything you are looking for!

What are the best gay events that take place in your city each year?

In July there is always a Gay Pride Parade and every year, more and more people swarm to Bogotà for the event. However, pretty much throughout whole year you can find gay events in specific places for both serious and fun purposes.

We only have 48 hours in your city. What can’t we miss?

Plaza De Bolívar; it sums up the main history of the city. It is also the center of the entire local and national power, including the religious one. Museo del Oro or Gold Museum: the name says it all! And it explains why Spanish conquerors obsessively wanted to come to Colombia. Botero Museum, an impressive collection of the work of well-known Colombian artist Fernando Botero, including some pieces of his personal collection of world art. Monserrate Mountain from where you can see how huge Bogotá is. You can’t even see where it ends!

What’s your favorite gay place to grab a bite for lunch? A nice dinner?

There is a new restaurant called El Muro, which forms part of the big entertainment complex for gay people that Theatron has become. It is fun, delicious and its external walls were painted by local and international well-known graffiti artists like Pez Barcelona and Toxicómano.

Another great place for having lunch or dinner and partying is Gaira. Carlos Vives and his openly gay brother Guillermo are the frequently present owners. Live music makes this place unique! La Piel Roja is another cool place because it has become a reference point in the International Center of Bogota with its peculiar vibe of an old cantina for hipsters. You can have lunch, dinner and then finish by dancing and singing to a very unique playlist of old dance hits across different genres.

A gay place for brunch on weekends?

El Desayunadero de la 42 offers delicious Colombian food, and it is located in a very nice part of town. It is also said that the brunch you can get at the Click Clack Hotel on Sundays is marvelous and the venue is just lit... Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to experience this yet...

Best gay place and day for a cheap beer or happy hour?

Cavú on Wednesdays before 10pm is a cheap place for drinks. If you are in Bogotá on a Wednesday you can’t miss this spot. It offers a very cool piano bar, along with a midnight show featuring La Lupe (one of the most famous and legendary characters in the LGBTQ Community of Bogotá) and the best casting of boys in Bogotá.

We’re ready to party! What are the best gay clubs?

In Bogotá you can find the biggest gay club, at least of South America. Theatron is Disneyland for dancing kings and queens - gay or straight! For sure, there is not another place like this in the whole world. 15 different dance floors inside a huge building dominated by a big classic movie theater is where the party is every Saturday. It’s open from Thursday to Sunday, but on Saturdays it’s packed. There are other cool places like El Mozo, Sauna, Cavú and great gay-friendly clubs like Video Club, Baum, Armando Records, La Piel Roja.

What are the best alternative gay bars and clubs where you live?

There is one small alternative gay bar called Indie Cave in Chapinero that gets super-packed all the time!

Can you share a secret or little-known place to visit in your city?

In a huge city like this, the secrets and little-known places could be infinite. The Candelaria town itself is a colonial jewel in the middle of a giant metropolis. This is the place where Bogotá was born! La Puerta Falsa is small and rustic but it’s THE PLACE to try the authentic flavors of the local food: which means hot chocolate, tamal and the well-known ajiaco to say the least. There is also a G (Gourmet) Zone in Chapinero, the gay village of Bogota, with fancy restaurants and a marketplace where you can really dip into Colombian culture. You’ll be amazed with the smells, flavors, colors and of course the people!

Any beaches, parks or best other places to chill-out?

You will notice that Bogotá is a very green city full of parks all around: Simon Bolivar’s Park, The National Park, The Independence Park and the most fashionable Parque de la 93 or 93th Street Park, which is surrounded by fancy cafes and restaurants. There is also one called Parque de los Novios or Couple’s Park, and another one in Chapinero called Hippie Park which is basically where the gay village of Chapinero is settled, with a rainbow-colored billboard of Bogotá.●

Thinking of visiting Bogotà? Check out our Accommodations and Gay Guide!

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