Partying in the capital
Gay nights in Santiago
Whether to have a good cup of coffee, share a laugh with friends or dance, the city offers a variety of options to enjoy after nightfall.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Santiago is constantly renewing its nightlife attractions
|
|
|
 | Loading… |
Cities such as San Francisco and Amsterdam
are renowned worldwide for their large array of panoramas for the gay public. Santiago, like any other modern
cosmopolitan city, is also active in this context and is constantly renewing
its nightlife attractions to provide the greatest variety of alternatives to go out
partying.
For more than a decade now, the Chilean
capital has had locales that are patronized by the gay public, and today the
city has an entire circuit directed at that niche. From bars to cafés and shows
with cross-dressers and hot discos, Santiago by night promises pleasure and enjoyment and almost
always delivers. Here we share with you the alternatives that are a “must”.
Fausto
With no neon signs to advertise it, there
is nothing to make you think that behind some shrubs is one of the hottest spots in the whole city. An
elegant marble staircase leads to two dance-floors, one of them lined with
mirrors. The nightclub has three bars if you just want to have a drink, and
also features a “dark room”.
The stage at Fausto is famous for its shows and
events, such as the beauty queen contest, where the best known cross-dressers
of the city participate. The entrance fee costs no more than three thousand
Chilean pesos (around US$ 6) and if you get there early, entrance is free.
Av. Santa Maria 0832
Providencia
www.fausto.cl
Tomodachi
This café, which means “friend” in
Japanese, is known for its good service, ambiance, music and delicious
offerings such as its variety of teas, hot chocolate, exquisite cakes and
pastries. All this immersed in the characteristic Bellas Artes and Lastarria district in
the center of Santiago, which is considered an urban oasis because it combines
green areas with architecture, history, culture, as well as busy cafés,
restaurants, bars, bookstores, design stores, art galleries and cultural
centers.
Another plus of the café is its Subterráneo
(Underground) Lounge, an exclusive area that offers itinerant art exhibitions
under the auspices and good vibes of the Feng
Shui. In brief, the Tomodachi provides a harmonious and warm atmosphere to converse
and drink a good cup of coffee.
José Miguel de la Barra 432
Barrio Bellas Artes
www.barriolastarria.com/cafeteria_tomodachi_barrio_lastarria.htm
Bokhara
The Bokhara is located at the foot of the San Cristóbal hill. To get there, you have to walk
along Pío Nono until you reach the end of the street, and the red-carpeted
entrance of the locale is there to greet you.
This is the preferred option for people
looking for good shows, which are generally quite long, such as a Broadway
musical, star presentations such as Cher
and Kylie Minogue, or choreographies
offering the best Reggaeton (a mix
of reggae in Spanish with rap and hip-hop) music and dancing.
After about a half hour of spectacle, glitter and
lights, there is music to enjoy the two dance-floors animated by go-go dancers and in the midst of a
varied, mostly young, public.
Pío Nono 430
Barrio Bellavista
www.bokhara.cl
Blondie
Blondie, located in the municipality of Estación Central, is a disco where different trends converge, from fans of
gothic metal to Brit pop followers. Although it certainly lacks glamour and
decorative details, its strong point is its tribute shows to artists such as Madonna and Cindy Lauper, as well as live bands.
To rhythms as diverse as Bjork, The
Cure, David Bowie, to Cristina Aguilera or Paulina Rubio,
this four-storey basement locale receives a large number of people on its three
dance floors. The main one has a stage and three giant screens, another has a
snack bar, and the third has a small stage, in addition to the typical bar.
Nobody is discriminated against at Blondie’s. Heterosexual
people are also present and the dance floors are full of a veritable kaleidoscope
of shapes, colors and urban tribes. All you need is a few dollars to get in.
Av. Bernardo O’Higgins 2879, locale 104
Estación Central
www.blondie.cl
Dionisio
This was the first gay bar in the bohemian Bellavista district, and later developed
into an interactive café-concert,
where the public not only guffaws with laughter but also participates, feeling
that they are part of the show. Today the Dionisio is considered to be the
prime nightclub in Santiago in the category of stand-up comedy routines.
Without any exterior identification, the music you
hear from outside helps you find this U.S.-style club, reminiscent of the Seinfeld series. Everything is set out
for you to enjoy the cross-dresser show that takes place on a small stage.
www.dionisiopub.cl
Bombero Nuñez 111
Barrio Bellavista
Farinelli
Another option to enjoy the Santiago night
life is the Farinelli pub, a very popular place to enjoy a coffee, but served by lightly-clad attendants. It is a “queer”
version of the classic “café con piernas” (“leggy” cafés) that are plentiful in
the center of Santiago.
The idea is to have a coffee at a table served by
good-looking young men. The public is mostly always the same, because it has a
loyal clientele. To add to the relaxing atmosphere, cross-dress shows are put
on. A good tip: the doors open at 2:00 in the afternoon.
Bombero Nuñez 68
Barrio Bellavista
www.farinelli.cl