Emergency measures in the wake of Covid-19: Brazilian Report, and Travel Bans/Brazil.

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In São Paulo, the carnival-like Gay Pride Parade draws nearly four million people who crowd onto the main boulevard of Paulista Avenue and the surrounding streets. The country’s love of festivals, its move to the left politically, and an explosion in awareness of gay issues paved the way for the June event that is so massive it is now noted in Guinness World Records as the largest of it's kind in the world. Other important annual gay events include November’s Mix Brazil Festival, of gay film and video.

Gay nightclubs feature a wide variety of shows, with drag, male strip-tease, singers, performances and some of the best DJs anywhere. There are plenty of bathhouses and sex clubs too, often with bars and show nights as well. Some allow escorts to circulate, others do not. In May 2011 Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court recognized same-sex partnerships in their unanimous vote of 10 (one abstention).

São Paulo is a fascinating city, with colonial-era buildings side-by-side with towering skyscrapers. It has some of the region’s most eye-catching modern architecture. With a population of 11 million, it’s the largest city in the Americas. There are the usual problems — traffic, pollution, crime — but city planners have been dealing with them effectively. Although this is the country’s business center, it also has dozens of museums, (the São Paulo Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art among them); also plenty of parks, and natural wonders just outside its borders. Teatro de Cultura Artística has classical music, dance recitals and theater performances; and for ballet, opera, music and popular international singers and performers, check out what's on at the Teatro Municipal.

 

Neighborhoods

The upscale Jardins district has many bars, clubs and restaurants ranking high in popularity with the Paulista gay community, along with expensive fashion brand name stores. The nearby Consolação, with its theaters, cinemas, restaurants, bars, clubs, saunas, shops, and gathering places such as the Frei Caneca mall, recently took off in popularity with gay men, lesbians and hip young straights. In Higienópolis/Consolação, the three-sided Praça Vilaboim is a pleasant tree-shaded square with several exceptional but inexpensive restaurants. Locals dine late by North American standards, but coming early will at least get you a table most anywhere in town, before the rush begins at 9:30 or 10pm.

Bela Vista, another attractive neighborhood for gay people, has several clubs and saunas, along with the Italian restaurants that recall the wave of immigrants during the 1800s. Pinheiros with cafés, antique shops and art galerias, also has saunas, clubs, restaurants and an open-air market, along with several social places for women. Among the old warehouses, Bara Funda is home to several of the city's biggest nightclubs, attracting some of the hottest gay circuit party nights in the world, often with afterhours extending well into the next day.

Be cautiously street-smart In the Arouche / Praça de Republica gay district, or have a local with you, and avoid being a target for thieves. The local hookers and hustlers may be less problematic, and the street life can be lively and full of the sounds of Samba music. Lower rents mean less expensive nights at bars and restaurants here, and there are saunas and porn cinemas too. Demographics of age, race and class are more mixed here as well. Check out the area around Largo do Arouche, where google map seaches are now a lot better than before -- but a local friend is still good to have along.

Parque Ibirapuera, the central park of the city, has a planetarium, museums, the Legislative Assembly building, bicycle/motorcycle routes, and the iconic Bandeirantes monument to the pioneers who first settled São Paulo.

 

Getting here

São Paulo has two airports: the São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport; and the Congonhas/São Paulo Airport, for domestic and regional flights - just 5 miles from the center of town. Buses depart from Guarulhos for Congonhas Airport, Republic Square, the Tietê Bus Terminal; and city districts of Barra Funda, Itaim Bibi, the Paulista / Augusta Hotels Circuit and Tatuapé Metro Station. See the airport websites for schedules and routes. Taxis can also take you to your hotel.

 

Getting around

You can get around the city on the metro system, which is modern and speedy, or by bus. The Metrô has 66 stations on 5 lines and a monorail, with another 43 stations under construction. The CPTM runs a suburban commuter rail system of another 6 lines. Around 17,000 buses and trollies are color-coded by destination, with (for example) light green for those going North West, and dark blue for Northern destinations. With many nearby towns and beaches worth seeing, you might also want to rent a car for day trips --but driving the streets of this giant city can be stressful.

For getting out even further, coaches go to all parts of Brazil and beyond to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay from the Tietê Bus Terminal. Other coastal cities have service out of the Jabaquara metro station, the last stop on the blue line.

 

Currency and Money

The Brazillian real (meaning “royal”) is the local currency. The coins are divided into the same denominations as most currencies, so getting to know the local money is easy. Before leaving home notify your local bank so that credit card transactions move smoothly. Also ask if your bank has a local partner to save on ATM withdrawal charges, and for 24-hour bank phone numbers -- just in case.

 

Local media & resources

GuiaGay Sao Paulo has an online guide to LGBT bars, clubs, saunas, sex clubs, parties and events; also restaurants, shops, entertainment and other places of interest around town.

Revista Junior, Mais Jr, and Mais Hot magazines offer gay gossip and sensual photography online in Portuguese and English. The Festival Mix Brazil site covers the LGBT theater, cinema and music scene.

ABRAT, the gay tourist association of Brazil, also has website listings, along with pdf maps.

VamosGay has an up to date guide to gay Sao Paulo, along with other destinations in Latin American.

Projeto Dois Terços LGBTQ social/political activist group promotes social campaigns, and volunteer work, sponsoring interviews, debates and meetings concerning issues of homosexuality in Brazilian society today.

TripAdvisor has good and extensive suggestions of Things to Do in Sao Paulo, plus listings of restaurants, and hotels.

For popular culture try the Terra website, or the mainline national news source, O Globo. The Guia São Paulo, in the Friday edition of the newspaper Folha de São Paulo, has good listings, especially for the many restaurants in the city.

Getting around the city with only English? See the website AngloInfo-Sao Paulo, written by and for local expats. The Rio Times is an English language newspaper published in Rio de Janeiro. The New York Times and USA Today, along with some British newspapers, can be found at hotels and kiosks at the center.

The City of Sao Paulo English language version website also provides an overview of the city.

Most popular culture websites are in Portuguese only, but google can translate. For the most fun in a trip to Brazil a bit of local lingo goes a long way, as the use of English, or even Spanish, will elicit blank expressions beyond the tourist areas. 

Frei Caneca is a gay-popular budget shopping mall with inexpensive options at the food court, in the Consolação district, at Rua Frei Caneca, 569.

See some places to go out on the town below. For more bars and clus, plus museums, theaters, restaurants, hotels and other businesses in Sao Paulo, see our map & listings tab.

 

Bars and Clubs
We list around 60 of the most accessible bars, clubs and saunas below, and on our map pages, along with some 50 restaurants. From upscale Jardins neighborhood boutique bars and restaurants, to the mix of bathhouses, dance clubs and tiny dive bars around República Metro station, these are only a fraction of all the city has to offer. Local guides list additional gay/popular establishments, and locals can help you find still more.

Aloka Club (Rua Frei Caneca 916), long-time nightly party club, two dance floors, mixed ages, casual men/women mix; holiday and Pride special events. Formerly known as A Lôca.

ABC Bailão (Rua Marquês de Itu 182, Vila Buarque), older gay men and their admirers, buffet spreads; dancing to pop, sertanejo, axé, and retro music.

Bar da Lôca (Rua Peixoto Gomide, 106, Consolação), neighbourhood gay/mixed pre-clubbing party bar, casual mix, mostly younger men/women.

Bar Fama (Rua Frederico Abranches, 29, Santa Cecília), small gay dive bar, pool table, drag shows, male revues, erotic shower shows, go-go dancers, dark room rent boys.

Bar Queen (Rua Vitória, 826, República), Largo do Arouche gay party bar, drag cabaret shows, theme parties, nightly male strippers, erotic shower shows, full monty on Wednesdays.

Bar Verde (Rua Peixoto Gomide, 145, Consolação), funky gay/alternative mixed dance club, young hi-energy crowd, inexpensive drinks, cocktails named for diva stars.

Blue Space Sao Paulo (Rua Brigadeiro Galvão, 723), Barra Funda nightclub, musical and drag Vegas-style shows, beefy male strippers, comedy routines.

Bofetada Club (Rua Peixoto Gomide, 131, Consolação), lively young gay/mixed bar/dance club, patio seating, pop music, karaoke.

Bubu Disco Lounge (Rua dos Pinheiros, 791), big gay dance club and lounge in Pinheiros; mostly men, shows, sexy go-go dancers.

Café Piu Piu (Rua Treze de Maio, 134), long-time Bela Vista live music performance club, rock classics, mixed crowd.

Caneca de Prata (Av. Dr Vieira de Carvalho, 45), sociable bear and older crowd bar, República sidewalk cruising since the 1940s.

Cantho Dance Club (Largo do Arouche, 32), Central nightclub, gay mixed crowd, weekend dancing, stage shows, male go-go dancers, afterhours.

Cine Joia (Praça Carlos Gomes 82, Centro), big gay-friendly mixed crowd dance parties, events, DJ sets, live bands, 3-7 times a month; see O Joia.

Danger Dance Club (Rua Rego Freitas, 470, República), gay dance club, Sunday sexy muscular go-go dancers/ erotic strippers, Friday/Saturday drag shows, singers/entertainment, diva MCs.

D-Edge (Alameda Olga, 170, Barra Funda), gay-friendly high-tech dance club, 3 dance floors, mixed crowd, rooftop deck; gayest on Fridays.

Eagle Sao Paulo (Rua São Miguel, 57, Bela Vista), new men's leather/bear cruise bar on two floors; underwear and naked nights, rock and disco music/dancing, cruise area dark room, cinema and cabins, karaoke nights.

Flexx Club (Av. Marques de São Vicente, 1767), midnight Saturday night until 8am Sunday big-event house music dances in Barra Funda; top DJs, singers, live entertainment, sexy male go-gos, mostly guys, all types, many shirtless, ages 18-30.

Freedom Club (Largo do Arouche, 6, Republica), gay/mixed dance club, male strippers/go-go boys, drag shows, young crowd.

Glass Bar (Rua Haddock Lobo, 885, Jardins), LGBT/mixed music.dance bar/lounge with terrace, bear and daddy nights. Formerly Boteco do Massay.

Igrejinha Bar & Café (Rua Fernando de Albuquerque 302, Consolação), gay/mixed cocktails and music tapas bar, live jazz/ indie rock; gayest on Thursdays.

Lekitsch Bar (Praça Franklin Roosevelt 142), and Up Cozinha & Bar (Rua Antonio Carlos, 395A), are two small gay and mixed/everyone-friendly Consolação neighborhood cafe/bar holes in the wall from the same folks, with drinks, coffees, light meals, and relaxed socializing.

Le Rêve (Rua Marquês de Paranaguá, 329, Consolação), upscale weekend cocktail lounge with dancing, good sound and lights, mixed gay-friendly crowd.

Lions Night Club (Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio 277, upstairs), opulent gay/mixed party bar and trendy eletrônica, hip hop, future beats dance club at city center; men/women, great city vistas.

Selva Club (Rua Augusta, 501, Consolação), gay/mixed dance club, young crowd; DJs play funk/pop/rock/Brazilian music.

Soda Pop Bar (Av. Dr. Vieira de Carvalho, 43, República), bear-popular pop music bar, sidewalk crowd.

Terraço Club (Rua Frei Caneca, 914, Consolação), weekday Terraço do Leo terrace bar/restaurant sushi and Japanese meals, karaoke; Friday and Saturday night dance club with young, energetic queer/mixed crowd.

Trash 80s (Rua Álvaro de Carvalho, 40, Bela Vista), Friday/Saturday nights mixed dance parties, still going strong after a dozen years; Brazilian/International hits of yesteryear.

Tunnel (Rue dos Ingleses 355), longtime Bela Vista gay-friendly nightclub, camp drag shows, DJ sets, go-go boys, young mixed men/women crowd.

Ursound (Rua João Adolfo, 126, República), Saturday night bear dance nights at Club Hotel Cambridge; varied music from deep-house/ techno, to rock, indie, soul, RnB/ hiphop.

Vermont Itaim Bar & Restaurant (Rua Pedroso Alvarenga, 1192, Itaim Bibi/Pinheiros), restaurant and cocktail bar, shows, DJ sets, Samba music; gayest on Sundays.

Vermont República Café, Bar & Restaurante (Av Doutor Viêira de Carvalho, 10, República), LGBT-popular early breakfast, lunch; evening cocktails, live music.

Week SP (Rua Guaicurus, 324, Lapa), hottest gay dance and show club in town, 2 dance floors, shows, performers, go-gos, garden, pool, cafe.

Yacht Club (Rua Treze de Maio, 703, Bela Vista), gay dance club, young mostly male crowd, more mixed on Saturdays and for special monthly parties.

ZIG Club (Alvaro de Carvalho 190, Consolação), LGBTQ+ techno/house dance/nightclub; theme nights, erotic gogos, darkroom, clothing-optional dancing.

ZIG Duplex (Rua Araújo, 155, República), gay/ alternative men's party bar; drag show, theme nights, bears' and fetish events.

CLOSED: 00 Zero Zero (Alameda Itú, 1466); Bar da Dida (Dr Melo Alves 98, Jardins); Barão da Itararé (Peixoto Gomide 155, Bela Vista); Boteco do Massay (Rua Haddock Lobo, 885, Jardins); Director's Gourmet (Alameda Franca 1552, Jardins); Hot Hot Club (Santo Antônio, 570), became Club Zero; Playground Bar (Augusta 765); Planet G Club (Rego Freitas, 56, Republica).

 

Sex Clubs & Cinemas

Cabines Bar (Rua da Consolação, 2504, Consolação), bar, go-go boys, interactive sex shows, cabins, dark room, g-holes, DJ sets.

Cine Arouche (Largo do Arouche 426; República), 24-hour every day straight porn cinema, m2m sex in the seats.

Clube dos Pauzudos at Wild Thermas Club (Rua Dr Veiga Filho, 802, Higienópolis), 2-11pm daily Big Cock Club naked group sex orgies and erotic shows; sauna/spa, Shiatsu massage, aroma therapy; Friday late hours through 5am Saturday.

Clube dos Putos (Rua Marquês de Paranaguá, 363, Higienópolis), sex/orgy gang bang parties, sex shows, gogos; bar, sauna/Jacuzzi, porn videos.

JN Sex Shop (Rua Nossa Senhora da Lapa 153, Lapa), straight/gay sex shop, videos, toys, gay erotic cabins and g-holes.

Pub Gøy (Largo do Arouche, 205; República), 18+ pansexual playground/bar/lounge, games, WiFi, mini-spa, massage, playzone; primarily straight, voyeuristic and includes men2men action. Formerly Black Out Sex Club.

RG Bar (Rua Rio Grande 33; Vila Mariana), naturalist/naked "masculine" men's sex club/bar, massage services. Cannot be confirmed still open.

Seven Cruising Bar (Rua Rego Freitas 529, República), 2-floor club/bar, porn cabins, g-holes, live sex shows, naked and leather/fetish parties.

UpGrade (Rua Santa Isabel, 198; República), 2-level cruise/sex bar/club, naked/underwear nights, nude barman, sex shows, porn videos, internet access.

CLOSED: Gladiators Club (Bela Vista), Peep Lounge (República), and Station (Pinheiros).

 

Saunas

Champion Club (Largo do Arouche, 336; República), dry/steam saunas, cabins, pool, bar, video lounge, bar; popular with bears. 

Chilli Pepper Single Hotel (Largo do Arouche 610; República),  area, 24/7 men's bathhouse and hotel rooms/suites, 6,12 or 24-hour rentals; dry and steam saunas, hot tub.

Labirinttu's Club (Rua Frei Caneca, 328; Higienopolis), 24-hour sauna never closes, American bar, porn video lounge, private cabins.

Sauna Men's Club (Rua Aurora, 710, República), 24-hour dry/steam sauna complex, pool, private cabins, orgy bed, dark room, maze, porn cinema, TV lounge, bar, WiFi.

Sauna Penha (Rua Guaiaúna 308, Guaiauna), East Side men's sauna/steam on two floors, private rooms, maze, orgy bed, massage services, porn videos, solarium, smoking room, cafe/bar.

Sauna Ricardo Jafet (Av Dr. Ricardo Jafet 493, Ipiranga), modern dry and steam saunas, Jacuzzi, gym, rooms, darkroom, cafe/bar.

Sauna Xingu (Rua Dr João Batista de Lacerda, 229; Moóca), mixed sauna, pools, solarium, TV lounge, snacks/ drinks bar, massage; top floor cruising. Phone before going to confirm open.

Thermas 484 (Rua Jaguaribe, 484, Santa Cecília), dry/steam saunas, massage, pool, dark room; sex parties include BBK/Leche.

Termas Fragata (Rua Francisco Leitao 71; Pinheiros), popular men's sauna, cabaret shows, events/parties, free buffets, erotic strippers, shower shows, rent boys. See their FB for special events.

Thermas Lagoa (Rua Borges Lagoa, 287), dry/steam sauna, heated whirlpool, professional masseurs, young guy mix, erotic stripper shows, party events, videoke.

Thermas Le Rouge 80 (Rua Arruda Alvim 175, Jardim América), two dry and two steam saunas, two heated pools, two dark rooms, bar, massage, hustler-free play area, two video lounges, TV + WiFi; Thursday 6:30pm free dinner.

Wild Thermas Club (Rua Dr Veiga Filho, 802; Higienópolis), dry/steam saunas, pool, dark rooms, cabins, massage and waxing, porn video lounge, naked-optional night, bar, Big Cock naked orgy parties.

Now in Campinas, north of Sao Paulo, Sauna Très Chic (Rua Proença, 290), formerly with a location in Ipiranga, has men's steam and dry saunas, private cabins, darkroom, video lounge, solarium, and a bar.

CLOSED: 321 Downtown Club (Largo do Arouche, 321, República).

 

Restaurants

Athenas Restaurant (Rua Augusta 1449, Consolaçao), Greek cafe/lounge, breakfast, frozen Mojitos & Margaritas.

Banana Verde (Rua Harmonia 278, Vila Madalena), veggie/vegan natural foods, fast food lunch and dinner, salads, bugers/wraps, desserts.

Boteco Ouzar (Rua Visconde de Pirajá 4, Ipiranga), Wednesday-Sunday veggie/vegan dining, meals, wraps, salads.

Canetto Restaurante & Pizza Bar (Rua Antônio Carlos, 328, Consolação), Tuesday-Saturday noon-midnight, Sunday 1-11pm LGBT-popular artisan pizzeria, Italian restaurant and bar.

Castro Burger (Rua Joaquim Távora, 1517, Vila Mariana), LGBT icon homages, meat and veggie burgers, desserts, shakes, juices and cocktails.

Fran's Café Haddock Lobo (Rua Haddock Lobo, 586 Consolação), desserts, coffees, sandwiches, ice creams, gay-popular late nights/early mornings.

Frey Café & Coisinhas (Rua Frei Caneca 703, Consolação), soups and caldos, grilled meat skewers, caipirinhas and cocktails, live music and comedy shows.

Gulab Hari (Rua Antônio Carlos 429, Consolação), Indian lacto-vegetarian food, combination plates, Brazilian influences.

La Tartine Bistrot (Rua Fernando de Albuquerque, 267, Consolação), French cafe/bistro steaks/frites, quiches, wines and cocktails.

Lar Vegetariano Vegan (Rua Clélia, 278. Perdizes), 8am-6pm, organic vegan pizzas, pastas, lunch buffet; Fri/Sat until 10:30pm with live music, Sunday festivals.

Mestiço (Rua Fernando de Albuquerque 277, Consolação), market fresh, chef's-choice cuisine with Bahian/Thai/Asian-influences.

O Gato que Ri (Largo do Arouche 37/41, Santa Efigenia), well-established Italian restaurant near República gay bars, lunch and dinner, Wed/Thu buffets.

Paris 6 (Rua Haddock Lobo 1240, Jardins), 24/7 French Bistro/Brassérie, over 200 appetizers and entrées, desserts; beers, wines, cocktails and liqueurs.

Piola Jardins (Alameda Lorena, 1765, Jardins), gay-popular Italian restaurant/ pizzeria chain branch, wines and cocktails.

Ritz (Alameda Franca 1088, Jardim Paulista), art, sculpture and photography gallery; salads, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, beers, wines and sodas.

Spot (Alameda Ministro Rocha Azevedo 72, Bela Vista/Consolação), international lunch and dinner; steaks/ribs, fish, pastas, veggie roasts; beer, whiskey, vodka cocktails.

Up Cozinha & Bar (Rua Antônio Carlos 395A, Consolação), comfort foods, veggie options, bakery, terrace seatings; evening gay bar.

Urbe Café/Bar (Rua Antonio Carlos 404, Consolação), gay coffeehouse/bar, patio seatings, breakfast, lunch/dinner sandwiches, soups, salads, cakes, waffles, pastries, cookies.

Zeffiro Restaurante Rotisseria (Rua Frei Caneca 669, Consolação), Italian seafood/meat, soups, pastas/risotos/polenta; bar drinks.