Bogota gay travel guide: gay bars, clubs, hotels & awesome things to do

“Ever been to a club with 5,000 other gay boys with 13 rooms spread across 5 floors?“

Neither had we until we went to the huge Theatron gay club in Colombia's capital city, Bogota. The gay scene here is all about this infamous mega-club, which is the largest in Latin America. It's like no other place we've ever been to and is certainly the largest gay club we've visited.

There is of course more to this city than Theatron Club, with many different gay places to hang out as well as an exciting foodie scene and beautiful hotels. The historic Old Quarter is a delightful area to see the Spanish colonial influences and explore some of the most interesting museums.

We've put together our detailed guide to our favorite gay bars and clubs in Bogota, the best gay friendly places to stay or eat, as well as our favorite sightseeing things to do in this vibrant city.

Explore Colombia on a gay tour

Out Adventures' brand new Colombia tour is hotter than Maluma! Beginning in Bogotá, the carefree escape will have you shaking your arepa at the largest LGBTQ club in the Americas, hiking humid jungles in Tayrona National Park, and soaking up the country's sand, sun, and sea in coastal Cartagena. The optional gay salsa class, food tour, and snorkeling excursion make this adventure muy caliente!

Find out more

Is Bogota safe for gay travelers?

As gay travelers in Bogota, we felt safe and we found it to be a welcoming city. We didn't have any problems sleeping in double beds in the hotels we stayed at and never felt like we had to hide who we were. In terms of public displays of affection, we only felt comfortable walking hand in hand in some parts of Chapinero, where most of the gay scene is located. As with most big cities in the world, there are areas you need to be cautious of whether you're straight or gay, so keep an eye out on your belongings wherever you are.

When it comes to gay rights, Colombia is one of the most advanced and progressive countries in Latin America. A full range of anti-discrimination laws was passed in 2011, adoption is completely allowed by both single and married couples, gays are allowed to openly serve in the army, and in 2016, gay marriage was legalized. Colombia even has a law protecting your “right to express public affection in public”. Very few countries in the world we've come across have this! And if that wasn't enough, Bogota elected its first lesbian mayor in October 2019 – the fabulous Claudia Lopez!

In terms of transgender rights, Colombia is one of the most progressive. For example, the right to change legal gender has for years been allowed in Colombia, but since 2015, it has been possible without psychiatric or physical evaluations. Also in 2015, Colombia allowed a “neutral” or “blank space” section for gender in birth certificates, and in the same year, transgender people were allowed to openly serve in the army.

In light of such progressive LGBTQ laws, it is not surprising that Bogota has one of the best gay scenes in Latin America.

The gay neighborhood of Bogota

Chapinero is the gay neighborhood of Bogota. It is an affluent area of the city, around a 30-minute taxi ride (sometimes a lot longer!) north of the tourist downtown “Candelaria” area. There are more than 100 gay bars, clubs, and shops in Chapinero, including of course: Theatron! Chapinero is also home to Colombia's first LGBTQ community center.

Whenever we visit Bogota, we aim to be close to the city's gay scene, so we book a hotel or Airbnb in Chapinero. On our first visit to Bogota, we stayed in Candelaria, which as well as being the tourist area, is also very fun and hip due to the high student population. However, Candelaria is a long 30 minutes taxi ride to Chapinero, which can easily turn into a 1-hour drive during rush hour.

Gay-friendly hotels to stay in Bogota

We love a gay hotel! Not only do we feel more welcome as a couple, but it's also a great chance for us to get tips from the other guests on the best places in the city to check out. In Bogota, we were spoiled for choice!

These are the ones that we tried and felt welcomed as a gay couple. Alternatively, you can book very affordable accommodation with a local host through either AirBnB or MisterBnB.

01

Hotel Gay San Sebastian

Staying here feels more like you're staying with a gay family rather than being in a big hotel. It also has a nice sauna to relax in, as well as a hotel bar and restaurant. While the hotel is very affordable, everything is lovely and clean, perfect for relaxing after all your sightseeing and partying!

If you're not into pink ballerinas, don't worry as not all the rooms are as bold as the one in the picture. The balcony bar is a gorgeous spot to have a cocktail and look out over the city before heading out for the evening. We took full advantage of this each evening, as the only way to get us to stop complaining about sore feet and how exhausted we are from walking all day, is to shove a tasty drink in our hands!

02

Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia

Even though you're close to so many great restaurants in Bogota you'll also not want to miss out on the Sofitel's in-house restaurant Basilic. We are suckers for Mediterranean cuisine. It also serves delicious French cuisine, meaning Seb felt right at home (he's never admitted to eating snails though…) Oh, and the decor is incredible too, with a huge skylight in the restaurant's ceiling.

Our favorite thing about the Sofitel is its beds! They're so comfortable that you feel like you're in a cloud and never want to leave. It was the best night's sleep we've ever had in a hotel. Bedrooms with romantic balconies overlooking the city are just the icing on the cake.

03

Graffiti Hostel

Growing up, neither of us was the rebellious kind, so you wouldn't catch us with a graffiti can in our hands. Yet, since our stay here, we are pining to become the next Banksy, as the incredible artwork dotted around the hotel has given us serious inspiration!

You can choose to stay in bunk beds in dorm rooms or in a double room for a bit more privacy. This hostel is even pet-friendly, as long as you organize to bring your furry friend ahead of your arrival (we're not talking about bears in this case!).

As well as foosball tables you'll be able to play board games in the common areas and socialize with other guests. Both of us are pretty sore losers, but we risked playing a game, and are proud to announce we are still together!

The staff are so friendly and helpful, especially the lovely lady who cooks your free breakfast each morning.

Gay bars in Bogota

Bogota has a really large gay scene, with many many gay bars. The majority are based around Carrera 9 Street between Calles 58 to 60 in the Chapinero neighborhood. There are far too many to list them all here, so we've highlighted the ones we visited and loved. You can also check out our complete guide to the best gay bars in Bogota for more.

Note that the awesome Color House Cafe Bar has closed down for good. We will miss it.

• El Recreo de Adan: one of the coolest gay bars we've been to, with a seating area where you can play the classic, albeit potentially risky to a relationship, game of Uno with your friends. We love the atmosphere here, made sweeter by the super cute charming waiters. It is located in the Zona Rosa neighborhood on Carrera 12A #79-45 and is open Tues-Sun from 5 pm till late.

• Leos Bar Mistica: a gay dive bar with a fun atmosphere. Leos hosts the best LGBTQ rumba in the city! On Friday evenings they have karaoke and ꜱtriþpers(!) and on Saturday nights they have a bear night. Leos Bar is located at Calle 59 N 9-36 and it is open daily until around 3 am.

Gay clubs in Bogota

Bogota is all about the massive Theatron Club; “the largest gay club in Latin America” – as every Colombian gay guy you'll meet will proudly remind you! It's in a former theatre hall turned into a gay boy's playground. On Saturday evenings, around 5,000 come here to party into the early hours. There are other gay clubs worth checking out as well though, such as Punto 59 and Disco Jaguar. Try and spend enough time in Bogota to check out a few.

• Theatron de Película! Theatron is split into 13 mini clubs, which are spread over 5 floors. Each one has its theme, for example, one room is devoted to 1980s hits, another to salsa music, there's one which is men only and more. We went on a Saturday night and only managed to see a fraction of this mega-club. We would return to Bogota simply to come here again, it's one of our favorite clubbing experiences. Theatron is located at Calle 58 10-18 and is open on Friday and Saturday evenings until 5 am.

• Punto 59: Puntro 59 is an institution in Bogota, a long-running gay bar and club that is almost as popular as Theatron. The dance floor gets crowded with hot, sweaty gay men dancing the night away and the vibe is very fun. Drinks are also cheap and they have regular karaoke nights. Located at Cra 13 # 59 24 Int 6 Chapinero, Punto 59 is open daily until around 3 am (later on weekends).

• Disco Jaguar: This is a fun and kitschy disco club, which even has a gay shop attached! Like the animal, the bar is cunning, striking, and domineering. There are two main dance rooms, one playing electronica and the other a mix of Latino music and gay anthems. Disco Jaguar is very popular so gets quite crowded here on weekends. It is located at Carrera 7 # 59-30 and is only open Thursday-Saturday until 2.30 am.

• El Mozo Club: This is the fanciest gay club in town, with a beautiful terrace bar open from 5 pm. El Mozo hosts regular drag shows, dancers, top Colombian DJs, and international guest DJs. There's even a sister lesbian club called La Moza, so the girls are not left out. Located at 85 Street No 12-51, El Mozo is open Wednesday-Saturday from 5 pm until 3 am.

Gay cafes in Bogota

Aside from all the bars and restaurants, Bogota has some nice gay cafes that offer up both food and drinks. These were our favorite gay cafes in Bogota:

• Village Cafe: this is such a quirky, colorful gay cafe/bar, with pink lighting, stained glass windows, and a lot of fabulous purple! Village Cafe opens at 4 pm and is a great place to come for a quiet cocktail, a delicious light meal, and to listen to music that isn't too loud to hear yourself think. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. It's located at Career 8 No. 64 – 29.

• Estacion Cafe: this is a more intimate gay bar in Bogota and ideal to come for a few cocktails before heading to the almighty Theatron! You can also have a meal of delicious filet mignon or cordon bleu before going out to party. Estacion has a cover charge of 6,000 pesos ($2) and is open every day from midday (from 4 pm on Saturday/Sunday) until 3 am. It is located at Calle 62 #7-13.

Gay events in Bogota

Bogota has a fantastic Pride, alongside other events gay travelers will love. These are our favorite gay and gay-friendly events in Bogota.

• Gay Pride Weekend (June): Bogota's gay pride festival and parade take place every June. The annual march starts at Parque Nacional and makes its way down Carrera Séptima before arriving at Plaza de Bolívar. There are lots of parties happening in the gay clubs of Chapinero during Pride, making this a fun time to visit Bogota!
  
• Festival Internacional de Cine Diverso LGBT+ Bogota (June): The Diverso Cinema Festival is a film festival dedicated to showcasing both short films and feature films that tell stories of a diverse community. This is the first and (so far) only International LGBTQ Film Festival in Colombia.

• Feria Internacional del Libro de Bogota (May): since 1988, Bogota has hosted an international book festival as a way of promoting reading as a fun and informative pastime. During the festival, there are more than 500 exhibitors including publishers, distributors, booksellers, and of course, authors. This is a gay-friendly festival that’s perfect for the bookworms out there.

• FIT – Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogota (March/April): This 17-day performing arts festival takes place every two years (on even-numbered years) in Bogota. The world's most important theatre companies from five continents participate. Events take place at various venues around the city and include street theatre, international concerts, classical dance, storytelling, and children’s theatre.

Gay saunas in Bogota

These are some of the best gay saunas in Bogota to check out:

• Baño Turco Saint Moritz: Saint Moritz is one of the biggest and oldest gay saunas in Bogota, which has recently been renovated. They offer massages and have regular shows featuring ꜱtriþpers or drag acts. You can find Saint Moritz at Calle 65 #13-30 Piso 2 and it is every day from 2-10 pm.

• Cómplices Spa: Cómplices is another fun place, that's a mix of a gay sauna, bar, health club, and entertainment complex. There's a beautiful Roman-style pool, Turkish baths, a sauna, 2 Jacuzzis, a bar area, and private relaxation rooms. They also host regular ꜱtriþ shows and themed parties, so make sure you check their Facebook page to see what's coming up. Located at Carrera 13A # 38-60, Cómplices is open every day from 2-9 pm.

• Dagoas Spa: if you're looking for a sauna that's open late then Dagoas is perfect because it's the only 24-hour sauna in Bogota. This is a gay hostel that also has a large Jacuzzi/pool with a pretty fountain, a Turkish bath, sauna, showers, a small bar, and masseur services. Dagoas is open all day every day and is located at Calle 59 #9-34.

Our favorite things to do in Bogota

Candelaria is Bogota's downtown neighborhood, which is around a 30-minute taxi ride away from Chapinero. The city's best tourist sites can be found here. If you head outside of the big city you will also find many small pretty towns and villages, which you can visit as part of a day trip. Here are our favorite things to do and see in/around Bogota!

For more inspiration, especially if you're traveling as a couple, check out our 5 romantic things to do in Bogota as well.

Experience Bogota's gay nightlife!

As we've mentioned, Bogota has an amazing gay scene, particularly if you're into partying and nightlife!

You absolutely must experience Theatron at least once, as well as some of the many other fun gay bars. If you're traveling to Bogota by yourself you will quickly make friends here. The Rolos (local slang word for the people of Bogota) are super friendly, especially towards foreigners.

Cable car to Monserrate Mountain

Monserrate Hill is a famous landmark of Bogota, which should be visited simply for the incredible views. It's also considered very sacred by locals who visit it as a sort of pilgrimage, particularly the white 17th-century monastery at the top which features a shrine devoted to El Señor Caído (“The Fallen Lord”). Located at an altitude of 3,172m (10,407 ft) there are a variety of restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops to visit as well as the church. You can travel up the hill by cable car, funicular or, if you're up for it, hike up the whole way!

Go cycling in the city

Getting around the city by bike is a really fun way to experience Bogota and the bicycle infrastructure here is excellent! There are over 300km of specially designated bicycle lanes. On Sundays between 7 am and 2 pm, lots of main roads in the city are closed for an event called “Ciclovía”, which aims to encourage more locals to cycle in the city. There are plenty of bike rental companies in Bogota if you want to explore the city on two wheels. We recommend checking if your hotel offers bike rentals or consider joining a guided bike tour to see the sights with a local guide.

Awe at all the gold in the Museo del Oro

Bogota's Gold Museum has the largest collection of gold in the world and is the most visited attraction in the country. A trip here is like a cultural adventure through Colombia's indigenous past as you learn how gold was used in day-to-day life and marvel at the beautifully crafted displays. One of the most famous pieces to be seen is the Muisca Raft piece, which started the legend of El Dorado and has never left Colombia! There's also a cafe, restaurant, and gift shop to enjoy after you explore the museum. Museo del Oro is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am-6 pm and Sundays 10 am-4 pm.

Explore Candelaria

This neighbourhood has many cute small cobblestoned streets and is famous for its street art, thanks to Justin Bieber. In fact, Bogota is one of the top 20 cities in the world for seeing gorgeous street art. We really enjoyed exploring this area filled with colonial architecture and colourful murals. Just take care to only bring with you what you need and leave as many of your valuables as possible in your hotel's safe as Candelaria is a bit unsafe; Stefan's bag was stolen from a cafe here. If you'd rather visit the area with a group then you might like to join a tour to see the street art and meet some of the local artists.

Visit the Salt Cathedral

Located in Zipaquirá, around 1 hour away from Bogota, this underground cathedral was carved out of salt and is only one of three such structures in the world; the other two are both in Poland. It is simply stunning and was voted #1 of the 7 Wonders of Colombia in a poll in 2007. The Salt Cathedral and mine is a great spot to visit on a day trip from Bogota. Once there, entry is 50,000 pesos (around $17) per person, which includes an audioguide in English. You can also book a tour to visit the town and cathedral from Bogota, which includes transport there and back.

Trekking, rappelling and rafting

Tobia is a small agricultural town, around 2 hours away from Bogota, known for its stunning scenery and extreme sports. We came here as part of a big adventure day trip, which included trekking in the Tiger Creek Mountain, rappelling down the 75m (246ft) Barandillas waterfall, zip-lining over the Rio Negro valley and rafting down the wild rapids of the Rio Negro. Afterwards, we relaxed with lunch then splashed around in the swimming pool at ‘base camp'. This was definitely one of our favourite things we did while in Bogota.

Watch a football match at the El Campín Stadium

The Estadio Nemesio Camacho, commonly known as El Campín, is the main football stadium in Bogota and the home ground of the teams Independiente Santa Fe and Millonarios. Even if you're not a big football fan (like our Seby!) it's still worth coming just to feel the huge energy of the local supporters. Football is life for Latin Americans and they get super passionate about it! The stadium is also a popular venue for international musical acts as it can hold up to 36,343 spectators. Big artists such as Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Shakira, U2, The Rolling Stones and One Direction have all performed here.

Marvel at the Botero Museum

Visit a traditional coffee Hacienda

90 minutes from Bogota is the Hacienda Coloma, a beautiful coffee plantation in a stunning location. If like us you're super passionate about your morning brew, then exploring a coffee plantation is a must! At this Hacienda you get to learn all about the process of making coffee, from growing the chupola to the washing, pulping, drying and roasting of the beans. The gardens at Hacienda Coloma are so gorgeous that we definitely recommend having lunch here. If you don't have your own transport you can join a tour of this lovely hacienda.

Gay-friendly restaurants in Bogota

Bogota boasts some of the best restaurants and most creative chefs in the country. These were our personal favourite gay-friendly restaurants we enjoyed during our time here:

Andrés Carne de Res

This amazing restaurant has a few locations but the easiest to get to in Bogota is Andrés DC. The crazy decor, live shows, and dancing are reason enough to visit, while the food is just the icing on the cake. The menu is 40 pages long and features delicious dishes from grilled octopus to steak, as well as vegetarian options and lots of yummy cocktails. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, which is no mean feat since this place gets packed. It's quite difficult to describe Andrés Carne de Res, you'll just have to experience it yourself!

Capital Cocina y Cafe

Serving up traditional Colombian dishes and tapas, Capital Cocina y Cafe is a very cozy little restaurant in the old town area of Candelaria. It's small and the tables fill up fast because the food is so good! They do yummy Colombian comfort-style food, like pork chops, steak, and grilled chicken, although they also have vegan options. The English-speaking staff is so lovely and while the prices are low, the portions are massive. For about $6 you can get a delicious three-course meal.

Agadon

Agadon was our favourite place to come after a night on the town, their burgers are the best thing to cure a crazy night out with too many drinks! Aside from the biggest, juiciest burgers we've ever seen, they also serve “freakshakes”, big salads, sandwiches, soup, nachos, ribs and chicken drumsticks (and oh em geee, the pancakes!) They're open on Sundays from 9 am for brunch but only after 12 pm the rest of the week. They're also open til late so you can have dinner as well as some craft beers before heading out for the night.

Capitalino Restaurant

Inside the Grand Hyatt Bogota is the charming Capitalino Restaurant, which serves plenty of Colombian specialties as well as more international dishes. Along with delicious food, the service here is amazing and there's also an outdoor terrace if you want to eat al fresco. We had a divine soup of prawn, achiote, avocado, puffed rice and coriander oil, while there are also juicy burgers or steak for those who prefer more classic food. Make sure you save room for some of their delectable desserts!

Before you go

We've put together some handy hints and tips to help you plan your own trip to Bogota. Read on to find out everything the gay traveller should know before they go.

Gay map of Bogota

We've put together a gay map of Bogota for you, which shows where all our favourite gay bars and clubs are, as well as all the other places or things to do that we've mentioned here. Use it to help plan your own fabulous trip to Bogota!

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.

We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

Click on the book to order:

For more inspiration:

• check out our full gay guide to the city of Cartagena 
• we also have a gay city guide for Medellin
• read about the awesome colourful flower festival of Medellin
• learn more from our interesting facts about Colombia here
• Find out what the famous foods of Colombia are
• read what it's like growing up gay in Colombia
• check out our romantic guide for Bogota 
• as well as our favourite romantic things to do in Cartagena
• if you're travelling to Bogota for Pride, you might also like to read about our favourite Prides events in Latin America

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