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Brussels makes a perfect winter away-gay break, writes OutUK's Adrian Gillan. Cute young Eurobods and boys well and truly pout and sprout in bijou Brussels' cafes and bars around the Old Town and Grand Place. Paris minus the bustle, this intimate city has all that continental charm, on a far more human scale. While you are there you can check out the administrative centre of the European Union, which hosts a number of its principal institutions in the European Quarter. Eurostar from London or low-cost flights from around the UK make it a city that is easy to get to. |  The famous Christmas market makes Brussels a perfect winter weekend getaway with a great gay nightlife for post-clubbing shopping therapy. |
BARS & CAFESTraditional pub Le Belgica is the old boy in town but still one of the most popular to get the night a buzzing. You might sample Tels Quels, a queer cultural centre by day that magically transforms into an ambient and not overly raucous café-bar by night. Castro Brussels is a cool bar you'll find when roaming the Saint Jacques neighborhood cafe and bar-hopping and what a great find it is. A small intimate bar, the interior fantastic and an L-shaped space dominated by the main bar with great decor and furniture and many seating areas both inside and out overlooking the busy streets.There are a whole load of other little snug gems to taste the true soul of gay Brussels too - the informal but rather good Au Soleil, or friendly Le Roi des Belges, let alone the rather cheekily named L'Homo Erectus which is a fun gay bar with friendly staff and good beer prices. There's also a nice clutch of more continental cabaret-focused venues like Chez Maman for a camp concoction of nightly 'spectacles' or DIY karaoke. Yet more variety on the scene, this time for those all leathered or booted up with nowhere to go! Manly men head for the men-only likes of the truly hard-core La Réserve. The new team of Le Baroque welcome you in the heart of Brussels, not far away from the famous Grand Place, where you can enjoy the "Bear Spirit" in a friendly and open atmosphere. They claim that is more than a physical aspect claimed by the bear community, it is more an attitude and a state of mind. | |
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Sungays is your gay-friendly Sunday afternoon party held every two weeks where you can meet, dance, share drinks and finger food
with friends in the heart of Brussels.
Station BXL is the perfect place to have a drink with friends. It's a cozy gay bar with a large terrace, multiple video screens and a DJ set Fridays and Saturdays. |
.jpg) Belgian Pride attracts between 60,000 and 100,000 visitors each year. Photo: Miguel Discart CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons |
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Jungle Bar is open from Wednesday to Sunday in an atypical and authentic setting with usual decor from the Rajasthan region, which is a
state in Northern India. They have three different floors in which to party and their live DJs create a unique atmosphere with their music.
Dolores is one of the best gay-run and patronised eateries in town with a simple, wholesome menu and walls lined with silver screen divas staring down as you eat amidst flickering candles. Brussels just before Christmas is the best of all. Enjoy the fresh nip in the air as you buy your fine beer, coffee, cheese and chocolate gifts in the many tinselled boutiques. Bernard Gavilan is a wildly creative gay-run second-hand fashion and gizmo store in the heart of the queer quarter full of unique bargain booty treasures you won't break the bank for. CLUBBINGAfter all these years, Sunset Club is still the main club staple in town. Although no bigger than a medium-sized London bar, it does fill itself with shirtless young Flemish boys posing and pouting! After being called The Why Not, the Box and the Nation, there is no more dark room, just a place to dance. Nowadays the clientele is not exclusively gay, and so the club is a little more calm than before.Stammbar is a hot place for gay cruising and we'd definitely recommend going on their Naked Sunday party nights, when it's very busy with great deal of variety. Other nights have a good crowd and some well know DJs, as well as staff who are friendly and cute. Stammbar has an industrial style with dark room and cruising areas. | |
| But it is well worth planning your entire Brussels weekend around La Démence - the country's biggest gay club night that has celebrated 30 years of existence and materialises ad lib. Check their website, details below, for information about their events that are roughly once a month. The special night attracts Belgium's finest from the surrounding lowlands, not to mention beauty boys from countries all across Europe. |
 One of the habitués at La Démence. |
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Good DJs fill the large main space whilst horned-up Euroboys troll the
maze of upper rooms kept strangely dark above. The club's popularity spills over
into all the other gay venues in town that weekend and the capital's gay population
swells manifold. So go boys go!
CAVE started out as a "friends party" in the little room of Barrio Cafe, a place where they shared good electronic music and good moments. Cave quickly
evolved into a popular party in Brussels for the LGTB+ and open-minded friends, but always keeping the cozy and family spirit where music takes center
stage while enjoying some clubbing fun with the best underground electronic music.
FLASH Club @ YOU Night Club is a gay night open every sunday from 22:30 till early the next morning. Entrance is free before midnight and after is 10 euros with one free drink. Each week, there's a a different theme to the night such as Wild, The Cage or Pop Queens. Revelation Brussels in the Rue des Capucins plays host to the annual Revelation party that acts as the opening event of Belgian Pride which is held each year in May. LETTING OFF STEAMIf you still fancy letting off steam day or night, Macho Sauna is the most central and established, which a good reputation.Sauna Oasis bills itself as the best Gay sauna in Brussels. It offers clean facilities for relaxation and cruising. They have a Finnish sauna (dry), Sauna Hammam (steam), Baths, Jacuzzi, Swimming pool, Shared showers, Massage parlor, TV lounge, Outdoor terrace, Anal shower, Glory Hole, Cabins and a Darkroom with Sling and Orgy area. They organise special nights including Hot Bear, Bear Splash, Hey Mr. DJ and Belgium Bear Pride. | |
| But why pay when you can have your fun really fresh outside? There are many parks, wastelands and forest areas all accross the city and in the Parc de Bruxelles - especially along the central promenade and around the ponds facing the Palace. You never know there might be a right Royal encounter! |
.jpg) The Grand Palace in rainbow colours for Pride Photo: Romaine - CC0 via Wikimedia Commons |
BED & BREAKFASTAdrian travelled with Eurostar who'll take you effortlessly from London Waterloo to the heart of Brussels in well under three hours. For information and booking, phone 08705 186 186 or visit www.eurostar.com.Les Ecrins is a comfortable and well-positioned little gay hotel that will cater to your every need - though it does get full quick - or try the gay-friendly no-frills Hotel Mirabeau right next to all the bars and with a hearty breakfast buffet that will set you up for all your gay daytime ramblings.
Revised January 2024. |
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