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GENERAL INFO:
 

Although they would be open for service at around 22:00 or 23:00 o'clock, almost all gay bars&clubs are busy after midnight and almost all perform loud music; usually Turkish pop; or western pop,  techno or underground music in turns. There are no dark rooms in any of them for action, but usually kissing, hugging etc is well tolerated.
 
Saturday nights are busiest nights everywhere. Friday nights are also busy if not as much. Tuesday or Wednesday would be the busier for mid-week nights usually. Monday would  be the least busy day and mostly upper scale gay-clubs would be closed.

The gay bars and clubs would be more busy in winter season. Because local people also go on holidays to resorts in Southern Turkey, it gets more quiet in July and August and some of them close for a few weeks for renovating their decorations.
 

Most gay bars/clubs in Istanbul would ask for entrance fee on Saturday nights and sometimes on Friday nights, but you can get one "local drink" with your ticket. Gay bars are in fact not very cheap in Istanbul, so do not think that they are overcharging you for being a tourist. The price of one drink ranges approximately between 5-8 Euros for local drinks, 10-15 Euros for "imported drinks" such as Whiskey, Malibu, Safari, some cocktails etc.

The bars would accept Euros or Dollars but would apply lower currency rates than the regular market. Do not take this personal, again, they would do the same to Turkish clients as well, if they try. Few venues would also accept payments with credit cards, but not all. So, have some Turkish lira with you when you go out, to make it easier. 

Typically, there would be a several security guys waiting at the entrance door of each gay bar/club. They look like mafia types, but do not be scared. They are there to stop some unsolicited visitors, definitely not gay tourists. You will be well respected in any gay venue, not only because you have money but because -if not all- majority of Turkish people have a kind of appreciation for western culture, which is something they have been trying to be a part of it for over 200 years.

Security guys (often called body-guards) also take care of the cloakrooms and would insist you to leave your bags, jackets and coats in winter season, for which you will have to pay  usually when you leave. Of course, they will give you a number for the cloakroom.

Useful tips for finding the addresses:
Cad. = Caddesi (read: Jad-de-see) = Main street/avenue
Sok. = Sokak= Side street or smaller street.
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

Do not get confused with Taksim and Beyoglu districts, when you examine the venue addresses. The official town/county is called Beyoglu (historcal name Pera) Taksim is just the central neighborhood of Beyoglu, at the northern end of the town and Istiklal Caddesi (famous pedestrian avenue). The area starting from Taksim Square all the way down to the Golden Horn (narrow bay locally called Halic "read=Hullich") on the southern-end is all part of Beyoglu town. That is, if the address contains Taksim, the place should be closer to the north of Beyoglu.


The bars and clubs can  be classified in three groups unofficially:

1-MODERN GAY BARS & CLUBS: These are like any gay bar club that you can see anywhere in Europe, usually patronized by more modern, educated or wealthier people. They are a little more expensive, but they provide better air-condition and have better music system. There can always be a few lesbians in these bars, because there is not any exclusively lesbian bar or club in Turkey yet.

16:00 - 02:00
ADDRESS:  Istiklal Caddesi, Yesilcam Sokak No: 25  (Yesilcam Sokak is a lane opposite of Sine Pop cinema, the venue is at the left end of the street)
A homely cafe-bar open from 4 pm till 2 am, but expected to be busier in the early evenings and around midnight. Recommended for those who avoid to wait for after midnight bars and clubs that plays loud techno/underground music , and do not want to stay up until  morning. The prices are much more reasonable in Shake'in than most after midnight clubs. Visit their website for more information,  location map and contact information:  Website: Gay Cafe Bar Istanbul

 CLUB PRIVE  23:00-04:00
Address: Tarlabasi Caddesi No: 28 Taksim, Istanbul.
It is very centrally located somewhere across the flower shops at Taksim square. Prive is the oldest of the present gay bars and clubs in Istanbul. It is a small venue usually busy  after midnight by 01:00 am, though the music starts at around 11:00 pm. It normally attracts a mixture of young and middle aged men, but the new managers who took over the place in late 2008 also welcomes bear men. The major music is Turkish pop in the club.  Prive  is not very busy recently which was once one of the most popular gay club in Istanbul, patronized by some famous figures of Turkey.
 

  BARBAHCE   23:00 - 06:00.  Open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Siraselviler Caddesi,  Soganci Sokak, No:7/1, Cihangir - Beyoglu. Closer to German (Alman) hospital, across from "Taksim Ilk Yardim" public hospital.
Very busy on Saturday nights as all other gay bars and clubs.  Recommended for those who would prefer to meet real gay people instead of rent boys. This is very much like a western gay club, almost with same attitudes, music, decoration etc and provides activities such as shows, dancing as well as concept nights at weekends. You may also see few lesbians.  Please note that anything you drink here whether a bottle of water or beer is priced the same. Export drinks are more expensive as in all other clubs.

 CLUB MAGMA   23:00-05:00
Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Sadri Alisik Sokak No:15
Opened in October 2008, a completely renovated venue located in a basement floor near Istiklal Caddesi on a side-street (Sadri Alisik). It is spacious with respect to average gay clubs in Istanbul.  Decoration and music system is good. The major concept of the club is DJ nights and dance shows. It is welcoming a mixture of gay and straight clients.

 OTHERSIDE   22:00 - 04:00
ADDRESS: Lamartine Caddesi 11/4  Beyoglu.
A trendy bar that can sometime get busier before midnight in midweek days. It had a cafe & bar atmosphere originally but  recently it was transformed into a typical loud after-midnight club especially on Fridays and Saturdays strangely located on the 4th floor.

 EXIT CLUB   23:00 - 04:00
ADDRESS:  Istiklal Caddesi, Saka Salim Cıkmazı NO:1/1 Beyoglu-Istanbul
A new gay bar  with a European gay club concept opened in March 2007.  They organize activities such as dancing, DJ shows, go go boys, drag-queen shows mainly on weekend nights.  It is located on Saka  Salim Cikmazi, a very small lane on Istiklal Caddesi somewhere across St Antoine Church.  There is a gay cafe called Sugar Club Cafe on the same lane.

 TEK YON  (22:30-05:00)
Address:  Ekrem Tur Sokak, No: 14 Beyoglu, Istanbul
How to go: Enter Balo Sokak (lane) from Istiklal Avenue. Turn left to the lane before the end of the street, and than turn to right  to Ekrem Tur  Sokak.
Once popular venue for local bears, it attracts a completely mixed crowd now. The most popular (busy) gay night club of recent 5 years.  It  moved to its new more capacious place in 2007.  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.
 

2-BOY CLUBS. The bars and clubs listed below are comparatively cheaper places, and they are mainly rent boy hang-outs, although they are literally defined as gay bar/club by their administrations.  They are attended by many bisexual/straight boys or some younger queens 'trying' to make prostitution, so they can be recommended for those who are interested with Istanbul's gay escorts or rent boys.
 

Open from 23:00-05:00
Address: Istiklal Caddesi Zambak Sok. NO:15 Taksim. 
Queen is a small bar & dancing club with very friendly staff and manager, located very centrally minutes walk from Taksim square. The music is  very good and entertaining. There may be amateur rent-boys in this club also, but are usually selected ones.  For for info visit their website

 DEJA VU  2:00-04:00
Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Sadri Alisik Sokak, No:26, Beyoglu.
Mainly amateur rent boys and hustlers and those who are interested in them. Very loud techno/underground music. The most senior of this kind of clubs.

Visitor Feedbacks:
No other one buy a drink there but I did. Pay 10 Lira for entrance, 10 Lira for the drink. After 10 minutes - I finished with the first drink the owner came directly and said to me "What do you want?" I said "pardon" Next from the owner "What you want to drink next - first drink is empty" He came very near to me and cried this. So I had to buy a new drink for another 10 Lira - I decided to go quickly after this "conversation". Date: 21/12/2008

 CLUB 17  : 23:00-05:00
Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Zambak Sokak No:17 (Closer to French Consulate)
Meeting point of mainly cheap young hustlers and escort boys and some gay men who would be interested in them. There are also sevral drag queens and transvestites in the place most of the time. They play loud techno music from their bad music system but it is a busy place usually full of these hustlers. Beware of the boys you pick up from here.

Visitor Feedbacks:
It was a mid week day and they asked me to pay twice the bar price on entrance, which I found out they do this to the tourists only. I was also told that it was not the fault of the managers but the door-men did it secretly, but I am still not sure.  Inside, there were a number of trannies and many hustlers which did not look very honest to me". Date: 21/12/2008
 

3-MORE LOCAL OR PECULIAR BARS AND CLUBS

 EKOO BAR  ( 22:00-04:00) (Ex Hans Bar, more busy between 23:30-04:00)
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.

Do not miss this place if you want to see something more local, a relaxed atmosphere with less attitudes. Mix ages and various types of gay men, bears, bear lovers and few queens as well as gay tourists are regular attendants. Mainly Western dance and  house music as well as some Turkish dance and pop selections.

 DEGIRMEN BIRAHANESI  CLOSED DOWN
Ths venue was closed recently but we are listing it here because it is still being listed in most gauide books and internet websites (mostly copied from istanbulgay.com)

 DURAK BAR: 18:00 - 02:00 (Former Pasam Bar)
Address:  Muratpasa Sokak No 9 AKSARAY.  (Near Yusufpasa tram station, after Aksaray with respect to Sultanahmet)
Durak (former Pasam bar) is the meeting place of middle class bear and older men. It took the place of of senior Degirmen pub which was closed in early 2008, more deliberately targeting to bear and bear lovers with almost same exotic atmosphere of Degirmen Pub. More usy in late evenings.

 SAHRA  CLUB : 23:00 - 04:00
ADDRESS: Istiklal Cad. Sadri Alisik Sokak. NO:40 Beyoglu. (Closer to Aga Camii on Istiklal)
Originally a she-male club, but definitely not a typical one in comparison to other ones in Istanbul. Words are not enough to describe this 5 storey bar/club. Packed with a compilation of transvestites, semi-transvestites, male prostitutes, queens but overwhelmingly with hundreds of horny young boys ready to screw anything (call them bi or straight) coming from ghettoes of Istanbul especially on Saturday nights.  Some gay men who like such rough boys would also go here comfortably. Watch your wallet and do not expect to be highly esteemed. It can be really fun to see the place once, because it  must be one of its kind in the world most probably.
 

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