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PRINTABLE VERSION
Complete gay guide of Istanbul
www.istanbulgay.com
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GAY
BARS
& CLUBS
IN ISTANBUL |
CLUB TANTANA (Open everyday between 23:00-05:00 am)
Address: Istiklal Caddesi No: 114, Galatasaray, Beyoglu. Istanbul
Directions: On the 2nd floor of a building located across from Yapi Kredi
Bank's culture and exhibition center near Galatasaray square, in the
middle of Istiklal Avenue. Opened in July 2008, CLUB TANTANA is intending
to be the meeting place gay men in Istanbul. The venue is patronized by
younger gays but also popular place for gay bears and older men. It is a
spacious and well decorated venue, with very friendly staff. The
advantages of the club are its prices are below most other gay bars and
they are very relaxed about entrance fees, cloak room etc.
SHAKE-IN 16:00 - 04:00 (more busy in the evenings)
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 nice cafe-bar open from 4 pm till 4 am, but
expected to be busier in the early evenings and around midnight.
TEK
YON (24:00-04:00)
Address: Across Tarlabasi Bulvari with respect to Beyoglu Police Head
Quarters, not far from Shake'in Cafe (there you can ask its location)
BARBAHCE 23:30 - 04:00
Open Wednesdays, Friday and Saturday
Siraselviler Caddesi, Soganci Sokak, No:7 / 1, Cihangir-Beyoglu.
Close to Taksim Ilk Yardim (State Hospital).
A
modern gay club with no hustlers usually.
EXIT CLUB (23:00 - 04:00) .Address: Istiklal Caddesi Saka Salim Cikmazi NO:1/1 Beyoglu-Istanbul. They
organize activities such as dancing, DJ shows, go go boys, drag-queen
shows mainly on weekend nights. Busy on weekends.
QUEEN BAR ( 24:00-05:00) Address: Istiklal Caddesi Zambak Sokak. NO:15 Taksim. First right street on Istiklal Avenue
after French Consulate. when you go from Taksim Square. A small friendly
club, frequented by a mixture of some rent boys and regular gay men.
OTHERSIDE (15:00 - 02:00)
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Address: Lamartine Caddesi 11/4 Beyoglu.
Good to go in the evenings. No hustlers. Lamartin street is across from
McDonald's near Taksim Square.
EKOO BAR ( 24:00-04:00) (Ex Hans Bar)
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 or British Consulate, closer to Euro Plaza Hotel on the same side of the street,
behind the public bus station.
DEJA VU (23:30-04:00)
Address: Istiklal Caddesi Sadri Alisik Sokak Beyoglu. Mainly rent boys and
hustlers and those who are interested in them. Underground music
CLUB 17 ( 24:00-05:00) Address: Istiklal Caddesi, Zambak Sokak No:17
Mainly young hustlers and escort boys and some gay men who would be
interested in them. Next side street after French Consulate.
DURAK BAR: 18:00 - 02:00 (open until 04:00 am on weekend)
Address: Muratpasa Sokak No 9 AKSARAY. (Near Yusufpasa tram station, after
Aksaray with respect to Sultanahmet)
Pasam is taking the place of senior Degirmen pub, more deliberately
targeting to bear and bear lovers.
SAHRA BAR
: 23:00
- 04:00
ADDRESS: Istiklal Cad. Sadri Alisik
Sokak.
NO:40 Taksim/Beyoglu. On the street opposing the small mosque
(Aga Camii) on Istiklal
Avenue .
Transgenders and rough boys who likes them as well as fewer gay man.
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GAY
CAFE AND
RESTAURANTS
IN ISTANBUL
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Cafe Shops
SUGARCLUB CAFE 12:00-01:00
ADDRESS: Istiklal Caddesi Saka Salim Cikmazi no: 3/A Beyoglu Istanbul.
This small but nice gay cafe & restaurant is located on a narrow lane on
Istiklal Avenue, somewhere opposite of St. Antoine Church. There is a
sign-board of the cafe with rainbow flag colors at the entrance of the
lane (Saka Salim Sokagi
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.
Friendly Restaurants
THERAPY RESTAURANT 08:00-01:00
Address: Divanyolu Caddesi, Eminpasa Sokak. No: 4 Sultanahmet, Istanbul
Located at the terrace floor of gay-friendly Hotel Petrol Palace. This
terrace restaurant has great view of the Blue Mosque and Marmara Sea. The
cook is a master of Turkish and International cuisines including fish and
meat. The restaurant is located just behind the central tramcar station of
Sultanahmet.
BESINCI KAT
( "The Fifth Floor") 09:00 – 03:00
Siraselviler
Caddesi, Soganci Sokak, No:7/1, Cihangir-Beyoglu
Not exclusively gay but very friendly cafe bar
restaurant at the same building with Barbahce
Bar.
(Soganci Sokak is a lane opposite of Taksim Ilk Yardim Hastanesi (state
hospital)
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NOT GAY BUT
CRUISY VENUES
IN ISTANBUL
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Beware of bad hustlers in and around these venues.
MC DONALD'S TAKSIM:
09:00-01:00 Near Taksim Square.
Frequently attended by the gay people and some escort boys especially in
the evenings . Beware of hustlers around.
BIRAHI FAST
FOOD / CAFE : 09:00-24:00
At Taksim Square next to Mc Donald's.
BURGER KING TAKSIM
09:00-02:00 (Open till 04 on Fridays and Saturdays)
Istiklal cad. NO:1 Taksim
(At Taksim Square)
Beware of hustlers around.
In Istanbul, there is not any swimming areas visibly
frequented by gay people. But there are some beaches where it's more
likely to meet gay or gay-related people.
ADALAR (Princes Islands) Small islands near the city. They are four
islands. The native inhabitants of these islands are mostly non-Muslim
minorities. The big one (Buyuk Ada) is the most vibrant one. Regular
ferryboats from Eminonu And Kadikoy. The same ferryboat stops at all
islands. It takes half an hour by boat.
KILYOS beach. Along the
Black Sea sore, European side. 1,5
hour away from city by public transportation.
SILE
Beach. Summer town along
the Black Sea on
Asian side. About 2 hours away
from the city center.
In Istanbul, cruising areas
are where gay people should be most careful
against burglary. Especially be careful if they propose you to have
sex in the open air.
MAJOR CRUISING AREAS:
Please be more careful and selective to pick up someone in such places and
do not have a lot of money or valuable thing with you.
Taksim Park, Behind Mc Donald's, the part of the park closer to the sea.
Taksim Square, near Mc
Donald's. (MA,r)
Istiklal Caddesi On
this street which connects Taksim square, to the most of the gay locals, you can see many
gay-related people on your way.
Ortakoy
Coast. The town
near Besiktas
along
the Bosporus Channel. The coast area near the mosque is very busy and there's a
vibrant night life. 15 minute from Taksim with a
taxi. (It takes more during rush hours) Not
especially a gay area, but some gay related people can be observed
especially at weekends in summer time.
Sultanahmet Park. The small park behind the tramcar station.
Nothing very visible.
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