

Istanbul gay bars, gay clubs, discos, gay friendly cafe bars in Istanbul listed with up-to-date addresses, descriptions, visitor reviews, location maps and more





General Information:

Istanbul's gay night life is more visible around and after-midnight. Majority of the gay night clubs are not busy enough until 01:00 am, but there are a considerable number of gay bars open and vivid before midnight as well. In Istanbul, gay bars and clubs are busiest on Saturdays nights as everywhere else. Friday nights are also busy enough if not as much. Tuesday and Wednesday nights would be vivid in comparison to the other mid-week nights, but this also depends on special events organized in each venue. Mondays would be the least popular night of the week when most trendy gay night clubs would be closed. The gay bars and clubs would also be busier in winter compared to summer season., when many local people leaves the city for summer holidays. Hence, Istanbul's gay night life becomes more quiet especially in July and August when some venues may close their doors for a few weeks for renovation and restoration. There are no dark rooms in most gay bars and clubs and sexual intimacy is not allowed principally, but usually kissing, hugging etc is well received.



Prices:

Contrary to expectations, the gay bars are not cheap in Istanbul - unlike other items of the daily life. This is mainly because the taxes are high and drinking habits of Turkish people are low. So, do not automatically think that you are being overcharged because you are a tourist. The price of one drink roughly ranges between 5-7 US Dollars for local drinks, 10-15 US Dollars for "imported drinks" (such as Whiskey, Malibu, Safari, Gordon Gin, imported Vodka etc.). The venues accept cash payment in Euros and US Dollars but they apply unfavorable exchange rates. Most venues would accept payments with credit cards, but not all. So, it is will be convenient to have some cash in Turkish lira on you when you go out to gay bars and clubs..



Orientation:

You will notice that almost all gay bars and clubs are located in and around Taksim & Beyoglu. Do not get confused with Taksim and Beyoglu districts, when you see the venue addresses. The official municipality is called Beyoglu (historical Pera district). Taksim is the central neighborhood of Beyoglu, at the northern end of the town. Very famous pedestrianized avenue Istiklal Caddesi also starts from Taksim square, cutting Beyoglu town into two parts. The area starting from Taksim Square all the way down to the Golden Horn on the southern-end are all within Beyoglu municipality borders. That is, if the address contains Taksim, the place should be closer to the north of Beyoglu.



Useful tips for finding the venue addresses:

Cad. = Caddesi (read: Jad-de-see) = Main street/avenue

Sok. = Sokak= Side street or small lane/alley.

Ilkyaz Apt. = Ilkyaz Apartment, name of the building, if there is one.

Kat: 3 = On the 3rd Floor

No:23/4 = Here 23 Refers to the number of the building on that street. It follows as 2,4,6... , on one side, 1,3,5... on the other side of the street. 4 refers to the number of the flat / apartment / floor

Click here for up-to-date Gay Map of Istanbul

Click here for detailed information about public transportation in Istanbul.







Gay Café & Bars in Istanbul

These are the venues open and vivid before midnight as well. Most of these gay bars are open everyday and they are more crowded between 21:00-02:00 a.m, though this may differ for each venue and from day to day. The prices in these bars are slightly cheaper than gay night clubs (listed below), and they do not need entrance or cloakroom fees. Most of them organizes activities, shows, karaoke nights and live music performances on several nights off the week. It is advised to check their Facebook pages to find out when / what kind of shows they are offering



Mor Kedi Cafe & Bar (20:00- 02:00)

Address: Istiklal Cad. Imam Adnan Sok, No: 7 (3rd floor) Beyoglu, Istanbul

Web: IstanbulGay / Morkedi (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

More Kedi is one of the most senior gay cafe bars in Istanbul. It is a place that may get busy before all others gay bars. Usually there will be some people from 6 p.m until around midnight. Clients are mostly younger gays, but any ages are welcomed.

Pinokyo Bar (20:00- 02:00)

Address: Istiklal Cad. Buyukparmakkapi Sk No: 26 (1st floor), Beyoglu, Istanbul.

Web: IstanbulGay / Pinokyo (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

It is a late evening gay bar centrally located off the Istiklal avenue with live music shows almost everyday of the week. Busy on Saturday nights and during show nights. You can find guest reviews, location map, pictures, videos and event announcement on this page.. The venue was on the first floor for many years, but it moved to entrance floor of the same building in May 2018.



Rocinante Bar (20:00- 02:00)

Address: Ogut Sokak, No:6, Kat 2 (2nd floor), Beyoglu, Istanbul.

Web: IstanbulGay / Rocinante (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

Rocinante was a gathering point for Turkish lesbians in mid 2000's. It was later turned into a mostly male gay bar but then closed down for about a year. It was re-opened as a gay bar in early 2017 and seems to be getting very popular in a short time. They offer live music and other modest shows on different days of the week. More busy around 22:00-01:00 a.m.



Chianti Bar (20:00-02:00)

Address: Balo Sokak No:31 / 2 (2nd floor), Beyoglu, Istanbul.

Web: IstanbulGay / Chianti (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

A friendly gay cafe bar open earlier in days time but it is more busy in the evenings and around midnight. It starts as a cafe-shop more quietly then the music gets louder after around 9 p.m. It is located towards the end of Balo street if you walk in from Istiklal avenue. Balo Sokak is not far from well-known Galatasaray High School.



Chaplin Cafe & Bar (20:00- 02:00)

Address: Istiklal Cad. Ipek Sokak 16, Kat 3, Daire 5 - Beyoglu, Istanbul

Web: IstanbulGay / Chaplin (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

Another gay cafe bar on the 3rd floor of the building, not far from Taksim Square. Mostly patronized by younger gay men and the prices are reasonable. It has a friendly atmosphere where you can talk to people unlike other gay bars, most of which which are usually too loud.



Durak Pub (19:00 - 02:00)

Address: Murat Pasa Sokak, No: 9, Yusufpasa, Aksaray, Istanbul

Web: IstanbulGay / Durak (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

Durak is farly different from the rest of gay bars & clubs in Istanbul. First of all it is located in a different district, Aksaray, unlike most other gay bars are located in Taksim / Beyoglu. Aksaray is a distinct known for its sleazy night life about 5 km away from Taksim. It also has a very traditional atmosphere intentionally. There is a live Turkish classical music performance everyday. The clients are also fairly different. Majority of the clients are middle aged, mature and straight acting, and many with mustache and beards. It can rather classified as a bear venue in that sense. If you have intention to visit this venue, it would be wise to locate it in day time. Murat Pasa street is near Yusufpasa trams station, on the right had side when you come from Sultanahmet direction. From Taksim there are many public buses passing by Yusufpasa, but not very frequent after 10 p.m. Taking yellow shared cabs (called dolmush) departing from side streets near Taksim square (across Cartoon Hotel) are more comfortable and cheap. Most of them pass by Yusufpasa.

PS: Durak bar is closed during Ramadan month for about 30 days every year. Click here for Ramadan calendar









Gay Night Clubs in Istanbul.

Majority of the gay clubs listed under this cathegory are busy after midnight. Although they open their doors by 22:00-23:00 o'clock, the action does not start before midnight. Without exception, the music is loud in all of these after-midnight clubs; playing a mixture of Turkish pop, western pop, techno and underground music in turns. Most these night clubs in Istanbul require entrance fee on Saturday nights and sometimes on Friday nights, but you can get one "local drink" with your ticket. Typically, there are several security guys waiting at the door of each gay bar/club. They are there to stop some unsolicited visitors and take care of the cloak-rooms. In winter season, the clients are expected to leave their large bags, jackets and coats at the cloak rooms and pay for it some kind of compulsory tip when they leave.



Tekyon Club (23:00-05:00)

Address: Siraselviler Caddesi, No: 63/1, Taksim, Beyoglu. Istanbul.

Web: IstanbulGay / Tekyon (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

Already very popular gay club (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more) of Istanbul has moved for a third time to a new and much bigger place on Siraselviler on May 26th 2009 and it is still the most popular gay club until then. The prices are average The venue is very big for the capacity of gay nightlife in Istanbul and consequently it is getting less crowded especially during the week-in days but it is almost always very very busy on Friday and Saturday nights, including its big back-garden which give an opportunity to smokers. Tekyon was originally a popular venue especially for local bears, but now it attracts a completely mixed crowd now. The waiters are very feminine and friendly in this bar, probably to entertain their loyal clients. Male belly dancer and simple drag shows performed by the bar staff can be fun to see, usually on Tuesday nights after 01:00 am, and there are various show on weekend nights including a go-go show (sometimes even a bear version of it). Tekyon is very flexible with cover charges and cloakroom rituals compared to other gay clubs in Taksim.



Super Fabric (23:00 - 05:00)

Address: Cumhuriyet Caddesi No: 42 Elmadag / Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey

Web: IstanbulGay / SuperFabric (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

Although it was opened recently in late October 2014, Super Fabric is not new to gay night clubbers living in Istanbul. The first manager of Super Fabric was the same person who was in charge of X-Large, the club which brought the professional shows to Istanbul's gay nightlife. Likewise, Super Fabric is taking its place with very professional concept shows in European standards. They usually charge entrance fee on Friday and Saturday nights, and although it is a little over average it might be worth when you consider the quality of the shows. It is located at some 10 minutes walking distance to the north of Taksim Square somewhere on Cumhuriyet Caddesi avenue that goes towards Harbiye / Sisli districts, roughly across from Konak Hotel. Please note that the entrance gate is not facing the main avenue. It is on a very small blind-street off the Cumhuriyet Caddesi. Super Fabric is not open on Mondays and Tuesdays.



Love Dance Point - 23:00 - 05:00 (Friday-Saturday)

Address: Cumhuriyet Caddesi, No: 349 Harbiye, Sisli, Istanbul

Web: IstanbulGay / Love (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

This night club is located in Harbiye quarter, on the main avenue about 20 minutes walking distance to Taksim Square. It is open on Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday is the most busy night and there are some good shows usually. They are rigid about the admission fee on Saturday nights. If it is the first time you are going there it is hard to notice the venue at first sight. Visit club's webpage for detailed location info and the map.



Haspa Club (22:00- 04:00)

Address: Tarlabasi Bulvari, 28/A, Taksim, Istanbul.

Web: IstanbulGay / Haspa (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

Haspa is among the popular evening gay bars since it was opened in April 2011. It was an late evening bar until it moved to a new address in September 2018, very close to Taksim square, where there were Prive and Noname Clubs before. It has become more busy after midnight since then.



Club 17 - 23:00-05:00

Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Zambak Sokak No: 9, Taksim, Istanbul

Web: IstanbulGay / Club17 (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

Meeting point of mainly cheap young hustlers & amateur escort boys and some gay men who would be interested in them. There are also several drag queens and transvestites in the place most of the time. They play loud techno & underground music from their lousy music system but it is a busy place usually full of these hustlers. Beware of the boys you pick up from here. As long as you are aware of these facts, it may be fun to go there to observe the underground gay-culture of the city for some people.



Club Cheeky - 01:00-07:00

Address: Tarlabasi Bulvari No: 32 Taksim, Istanbul.

Web: IstanbulGay / Cheeky (Click for guest reviews, videos, pictures and more)

This is an exceptional after-hours night club open on Fridays and Saturday nights. It is usually not busy before 02:00- or even 03:00 am, attracting LGBT people after all other gay bars and clubs closes down. They are very strict about entrance charge which is a over average (apprx 15 Euro), but still it is usually very busy on weekend days. You can see a mixture of gays, bears, few rent-boys and sometimes transvestites in the club. It is located very close to Taksim Square, next to Cartoon Hotel. Cheeky has moved to new address in mid 2014. It had a small darkroom in the previous venue which was the main reason of its popularity. The upper floor of the new venue is said to be functioning like that sometimes.



X Large Club - 23:00-05:00

Address: Ataturk Oto Sanayi Sit. 52.Sok. No:12/1, Maslak, Sariyer / Istanbul

Web: IstanbulGay / X Large

When X Large Club was first opened in Beyoglu, Kallavi Sok in late 2000's and it is was overwhelmingly gay. What made the club very popular was the quality of the shows. Around 2013 X Large moved to a bigger venue somewhat 15 km outside city center. It is still a gay friendly venue and attracts many LGBT people, but majority of the clientele are straight people including many women. Famous Turkish singers and popular Turkish DJ's offer performances in the venue.





Gay Friendly Bars and Clubs

The venues in below section have little or no visible gay scene, but gay people can feel more comfortable then other straight venues..

Asmalıpera Pub (12:00 - 05:00)

Address: Asmali Mescit Cad. Sofyali Sok No:1, Beyoglu , Istanbul

Web: Facebook.com / AsmaliPera

Located in popular nightlife street in Asmali Mescit quarter, it was confirmed as LGBT friendly venue by the owners. You can see few gay men and even sometimes local transgender people in this bar..





The venues which no longer exist / cahnged concept

Following venues has been closed-down completely for various reasons. We are listing them just to let people know because some of them are still being listed on many other internet websites and gay guide books, including Spartacus and Google maps. Please note that Istanbulgay.Com is published by local gay people living in Istanbul and updated instantly with the latest information about the gay venues in Istanbul which you can not find anywhere else.



Pinokyo Bar - Closed in August 2018

Prive / NoName Club - Closed in September 2018.

Kappak Club - After being run as gay club since 2014, it was turned to regular club by mid 2017.

Neo Club - Closed down since 01 Jan 2015

Sugar Cafe - Closed down since 24 Jan 2015

Elysion - Opened and closed in a short time in early 2015.

Ekoo Club - Closed down in late 2014

Frappe Bar (Taksim) - Closed down in early 2014

Club Prive- Changed name as No-name. Same owners but now a trans club

Other Side- Changed name as Penthouse Club, then closed for good





Following gay venues has been closed-down at least 5 years ago some of which may still be listed on some international gay websites:



Yesil Bizans, Queen, Dejavu, Barbahce, Kutu Bar, Club 14 (Ceylan's), Machine, Club 12, Shake-in Bar, Degirmen Pub, Ajda Club, Secret Club, Exit Club, Purple Club, Gabile Club, Hot Point (TT'S) Cafe, B Club, Bubble, Pincur's Cafe, Tantana Bar, Altenatif Club, Oz Club, Club 99, Hans Bar, Telve, Club Barisik. Rouge Bar, Inside Cafe



