General Information

Almost all gay bars get busy after midnight. The venues listed under cafeteria section is more busy in day time.

The busiest night is Saturday in all bars and clubs. The second busiest night is Friday. Wednesday night is usually more lively then the other week-days.

Most of the bars request entrance fee on Saturday and sometimes on Friday nights. (10 to 15 Euro, approximately)

Weekend fees are usually a little more expensive than the usual price, you can have one "local drink" with the entrance ticket.

In winter you have to leave your coats or jackets at the cloakrooms  and pay for it when you leave in most of the gay night clubs.

There is not any place with a dark-room. No bars or clubs that provide sex-partner or sex place as a part of the service. You have to find your own partner, place and take your own responsibility.

Most of the bars request cash payment, only a few accept credit card.

The price for one drink approximately varies from 5-7 Euro for local drinks (beer, gin, vodka etc); and from 10-15 Euro for "export" drinks (such as whiskey, safari, Malibu etc)

The Turkish baths (Hamam) and cinemas here are not accepted as gay venues by their administrations and any action is usually performed secretly, where possible.
 

Gay Bars and Clubs

The venues listed in the category are all gay-exclusive. We have made a selection of best samples of various types of gay bars and clubs of Istanbul and deliberately omitted several ones in irrelevant locations or of minor importance, to avoid waste of time for short time travelers.

SHAKE IN CAFE BAR 13:00-01:00
Website: Gay Cafe Bar Istanbul
An exceptional gay bar in Istanbul where you can go early in the evenings. It is also different than most other gay bars and clubs of Istanbul with reasonable sound level and it's relaxed atmosphere, Recommended as best starting point

TEKYON CLUB 23:00-04:00
Address: It moved to its new place, now located on a small street across the Tarbalasi Caddesi (boulevard) with respect to the Beyoglu Police Headquarter. In most websites or guide books it's address is still Mesritiyet street, which is wrong. The most busy gay night club of the recent years, packed up on Friday and Saturday nights. It is also a favorite place for middle-aged gay men and bears, but it is also populated by a mixture of various styles/ages of local gay and bisexual men as well as many gay tourists.

BARBAHCE CLUB - 23:00 - 02:00  (Open Wednesday Friday Saturday)
Address: Siraselviler Caddesi, Soganci Sokak, No:7 / 1, Cihangir - Beyoglu.
Located on the small street across the state hospital called Taksim Ilk Yardim Hastanesi.
One of the most senior of gay clubs of Istanbul, Barbahce is still the first choice of trendy local gay men of usually younger ages. The decoration (including its bathroom) and the music competes with its European counterparts. It is sometimes possible to see the well-known figures of Istanbul's high-society in the club. Occasionally some famous local singers also invited to the club as guest DJ's

Address: Istiklal Caddesi Zambak Sokak. NO:23 Taksim
Website:. Gay Night Club Istanbul
A small but very friendly gay bar and night club located very centrally - only a few hundred meters away from Taksim Square. It is visited by local gay men of various ages, as well as few selected good looking and young escort boys.

EKOO BAR ( 23:30:00-04:00)
Address: Tarlabasi Bulvari No: 248 Beyoglu.
It is on the other side of the Tarlabasi Bulvari (Tarlabasi Avenue) with respect to the nightlife part of the town, across from British Consulate more or less, closer to Euro Plaza Hotel on the same side of the street. The entrance is behind the public bus station at the pavement below the street level, but its sign-board is visible from the street. A friendly night club, usually busy after midnight and more popular for bears and older men. It is busier on Saturday nights especially, like most other gay clubs would be.

PRIVE CLUB ( 23:00-04:00)
Address: Tarlabasi Bulvari, No: 28/A Taksim / Istanbul
Located somewhere across the flower shops at Taksim Square, right on Tarlabasi avenue.
Prive is the most senior of presently open gay clubs of Istanbul. It is a small venue but usually very busy especially after 01:00 am. A mixture of English and Turkish pop music is fairly entertaining here. You may sometimes come across to some rent boys and curious straight groups.

OTHERSIDE BAR - 15:00 - 02:00
Address: Lamartine Caddesi 11/4 Beyoglu.
Lamartin street is across from McDonald's near Taksim Square. A quiet place that can get busier before midnight also on the 4th floor of the building, but turns into a loud club on weekend days, until 04:00 am

DÉJÀ VU CLUB 23:00-04:00
Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Sadri Alisik Sokak, Beyoglu. No:26/1
Gay men of various ages are lost in the middle of tens of mainly amateur rent boys and escorts, some of whom can be nice and really good looking but still be very selective. Few transvestites be seen once in a while. Music is mainly loud, mainly techno/underground of latest days for the sake of these young hustlers.

Lesbian Bars & Clubs in Istanbul

Click Here for more detailed and update lesbian guide of Istanbul.

BACKBAHCE  23:00-05:00, Friday and Saturday only
Address: Siraselviler Caddesi, Soganci Sokak, No:7/1, Cihangir - Beyoglu.
Walking from Taksim, pass Alman Hastanesi (private German Hospital) on Siraselviler street, and turn into the second street on your left. Located on this small street (Soganci sokak) opposite of "Taksim Ilk Yardim" public hospital. After opening party on April 13th, 2007 the back room of the senior Barbahce gay club will serve to lesbians only on Friday and Saturday nights.

BIGUDI  23:00-04:00, Friday, Saturday only.
Address: Atif Yılmaz Caddesi, Bayram Sokak (Atif Yilmaz Caddesi is the narrow street next to the small mosque (Huseyin Aga Camii) on Istiklal Caddesi. The club is just round the corner on the left, when you turn left to the lane (Bayram Sokak) on your fisrt left.
The first lesbian-exclusive club of Istanbul has moved back to the original address it was first opened 2 years ago, in March 2008. The unique only-lesbian club&bar of Istanbul, in fact in whole of Turkey. All staff including security girls and administration are also lesbians naturally.

ROCINANTE  11:00-02:00
Address: Sakiz Agaci Caddesi, Ogut Sokak No:6/2 (2nd floor) Beyoglu/Istanbul.
Web: www.rocinantebar.com
This cafe bar is officially not a lesbian venue but almost all regular clients and even the staff are lesbians. Attended by more butch types. The prices are much lower than most gay clubs here. Busier in the evenings and late afternoons

CLUB 8 14:00-02:00 ? (former Cilek cafe & bar)
Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Balo Sokak. No:20 Kat:3 (3rd floor) Beyoglu.
Former Cilek cafe&&bar has changed its name, aiming to be a Lesbian exclusive night club on weekends (Friday and Saturday)
Expected to be busy after 11:00 pm on the lesbian nights. They want to continue to be a gay & lesbian mix cafe bar the rest of the week in earlier times. Cilek had been a popular meeting point for Istanbul's lesbians as well as lesbian friendly gay men until recently It has a very comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Gay and Lesbian Cafe and Restaurants

The venues listed under this category is recommended who do not like loud night clubs and do not want to stay up after mid-night.  The prices of these venues are also more reasonable with respect to after midnight gay clubs.

SHAKE IN CAFE BAR 13:00-01:00
Website: Gay Cafe Bar Istanbul
An exceptional gay bar in Istanbul where you can go early in the evenings. It is also different than most other gay bars and clubs of Istanbul with reasonable sound level and it's relaxed atmosphere, Recommended as best starting point.

SUGAR CAFE  12:00-01:00
ADDRESS: Istiklal Caddesi Saka Salim Cikmazi no: 3/A Beyoglu Istanbul.
This small lovely gay cafe & restaurant is located on a narrow lane on Istiklal Avenue, somewhere opposite of St. Antoine Church. In warm summer days, they also put tables outside and it gets really busy. There is free wireless internet connection in the whole area for laptop users. The prices are very reasonable and various foods are available from 13:00 till 22:00 o'clock. Populated by nice, trendy gay-men; besides, there are no gay-hustlers or rent boys around.

COOKING ALATURKA
Address: Akbiyik Caddesi 72A, Sultanahmet, Istanbul. Phone: + (90) (212) 458 5919
A very gay-friendly restaurant on a lovely street in Sultanahmet. The owner is Dutch lady who has been living in Istanbul for many years, who was also former manager-owner of gay friendly Sarnich Hotel. The concept is basically to offer a miscellaneous menu of all authentic Turkish dishes, some Ottoman classics, some home-cooking and some regional specialties. Open only for lunch.
In addition to the restaurant, popular cooking classes of the owner have attracted world wide attention and have been covered by the printed media including New York Times. Please visit their home page for more information about the cooking classes: http://www.cookingalaturka.com .

BESINCI KAT RESTAURANT  12:00-01:00
Address: Siraselviler Caddesi, Soganci Sokak, No:7/1, Cihangir-Beyoglu
Located on top of the building (Besinci Kat means 5th floor) housing also Club Barbahce. This is a very gay friendly restaurant, where you can eat your dinner with your friends on special days, or sip you drink at its reasonably priced bar, watching great panorama of Istanbul, including the Bosphorus straight and Asian part.

Sauna and Baths

There are no gay exclusive gay baths in Istanbul, probably because any sexual action is legally forbidden in them, since they are regarded as public venues. They may be closed by local authorities once in a while for this reason. Consequently, the owners/managers of them do not want to be listed on gay websites and guide books as gay venues, with a few exception.

Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Sadri Alisik Sokak, No: 29/1 Beyoglu Istanbul
A very gay friendly male sauna open for 24 hours also providing activities such as jacuzzi, swimming pool, gym, fitness, bath, chill out café bar and massage by male masseurs. There are many rent-boys but you do not have to get involved with them. Visit their website for more details: http://www.aquariussauna.com 

SULTAN HAMAM: 15:00-21:00
Islambey Caddesi, Eyup (near the end of the central street)

KOSK HAMAMI:
Yerebatan Caddesi, Kucukcesme Sokak, Sultanahmet
Not very clean & small..

CESME HAMAMI:
Persembe Pazari Voyvoda Caddesi, Yeni Cesme Sokak, Karakoy
Not very clean. Mostly middle aged/older men or bears.

CUKURCUMA HAMAMI: (Closed down)
Cukurcuma caddesi No:57, Beyoglu Istanbul
Once the most popular of the Tukish baths for gay people, has been sold, and closed down for over a year. There is no a reliable information about when or if ever it will re-open again

Cinema and Blue Movies

Just like baths and saunas, cinemas are also not regarded as gay venues by their owners/managers. Although not very frequent, beware of pick pockets when you get involved with anyone. Limited action is possible if you are lucky.

RUYA SINEMASI : (12:00-21:00)
Istiklal Caddesi No:128, Taksim/Beyoglu. Just on the main avenue Istiklal closed to traffic, somewhere in the middle on the right-hand side when you enter from Taksim square

GUNES SINEMASI : (12:00-21:00)
Cakiraga Mahallesi, Kurkcubasi Kulhani Sokak, No:5, Aksaray. Walking from Aksaray to Yenikapi (A sea-side town along Marmara Sea) take the right turning from street next to Police Headquarter. After walking about 300 meters climb up the steps. It's at the entrance floor of a 4-5 floor building on the left of the street ahead of you.

Cruising Areas & Beaches

Like in many big cities cruising areas and especially parks are where gay people should be very careful and selective with the people they might meet. These places are discovered by some bad guys and pick-pockets who are always around in such places for robbing gay men rather than having sex with them. Especially be careful if the person you meet proposes you to have sex in isolated outside places. We recommend you not to carry your valuable things a a lot of money with you when you go to such places for crusing, just in case.

Istiklal Caddesi and Taksim Square
Two-kilometer long pedestrian street/avenue starting from Taksim square and ending in Tunel (the beginning of short historical metro), which is always busy with people day and nights. The street also connects Taksim square to the most of the gay venues located on the smaller streets crossing it, and you can see many gay men and related people on your way. 

Taksim Park
The park at the upper part of Taksim Mc Donald's, near Taksim Square. The part of the park closer to the sea-side is more cruisy especially in the summer evenings. It is busier on Sundays and Saturday evenings. It is not actually very much recommended to foreigners and new-comers for safety reasons. 

Ortakoy Coast.
Once a small fishing town, Ortakoy became popular with bars, restaurants, cafeterias creating a summer resort atmosphere within the city. It is near major Besiktas town along the Bosporus Straight. The coastal area around the Ortakoy Mosque is very busy and there's a vibrant night life in summer, especially busy during the day on Sundays. Some 15 minutes ride away from Taksim with a taxi but it naturally takes longer during rush hours.

Sultanahmet Park.
Especially the small park behind the Sultanahmet tramcar station in the evenings. Sultanahmet is the famous tourist town of Istanbul and the parks are also comparatively safer, but there is not a very visible gay scene

Princess Islands (Adalar) beaches
A group of islands close to the main land on the Asian side in Marmara sea. They consist of 9 islands, 4 of which are considerably popular and inhabited. (Buyukada, Heybeliada, Burgaz and Kinaliada) The native inhabitants of these islands are mostly non-Muslim minorities. The biggest one (Buyuk Ada) is the most vibrant one. There are regular ferryboats from Kabatas and Sirkeci ports on the European side and Kadikoy port on the Asian side. It takes 30-45 minutes by boat. Beaches at Kinaliada and Buyukada is more cruisy

Istanbul Gay Travel and Accommodation

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