Ibiza for gay people? - advice please!

A

axon

Active Member
I'm from the UK and have had a great time on my 2 previous visits to the white isle!

I'm now living in San Francisco USA and am currently planning a third trip for this summer's closing parties. Some of my friends from over here want to join me which is great. However some of them are gay and are wondering whether Ibiza would be to their liking...

I know in terms of specific nights there's La Troya at Amnesia, however I think my friends would definitely be coming because they're into the music (rather than specifically to try and pull lots of other men). So as I've never considered it in these terms before, i guess what I'm really asking is would you consider Ibiza and Ibiza clubbing to be a good and fairly non-phobic environment for gay as well as straight folks? Any advice or ideas welcomed?
Thanks.
 
As long as they are dedicated clubbers who are passionate about clubbing they will enjoy ibiza no matter what their sexuality. They simply need to do some planning to make sure that they go to clubs that play their preferred style of music. That being said, I don't think I would advise gay boys to go to Es Paradis or Eden.

As with any place, it depends on the area you choose to stay in and the clubs you choose to frequent. I've always had a great time in Ibiza however if your friends are expecting a New York or London type gay scene (or a Miami or Montreal circuit party experience) they will be disappointed. Certainly now that London has the world's largest gay scene (where you can club from Thursday night through to Monday afternoon) I do know some Londoners have been disappointed with the lack of a defined gay presence on the club scene.

With the exception of the gay club Anfora (which is not worth visiting unless you fancy an early night) all of the clubs are polysexual to varying degrees. La Troya, which IIRC, was originally a gay night has now metamorphosed so that it now draws in a large number of straight people.

What you will find in most clubs that appeal to gay men (such as at Pacha for example) is that the gay clientele tend to congregate in one area (at least this has been my experience). I think the same holds true for Manumission in the Coco Loco room at privilege but I don't know as I haven't been. Apparently a club called Penelope (which wasn't there when I last visited) has a gay night on Fridays and a very gay positive night on Sundays. The terrace at Space for Matinee and after La Troya is very gay and you can always count on a good gay showing at Bora Bora. Certainly at all of these places I have seen gay guys being openly affectionate (although at Bora Bora some small-minded idiots did cast evil glares -- but then who cares, it's always fun to shock bigots).

We went to El Devino and did feel that we were the only gay boys there but it didn't really bother us as we liked the music. Some clubbing adjustment is required though: as gay clubbers we were used to dancing topless and we were quite surprised to see that shirts had to stay on in some clubs.

The key thing is to avoid San Antonio (which was lambasted in the UK media as being the centre of the UK binge drinking 18-30 year old chav culture). I only went to San Antonio once (to Cafe del Mar) and that one visit was enough for me -- up to that point I had thought Ibiza to be paradise and yet that trip fulfilled every stereotype I had ever heard about the obnoxious egg'n'chips brigade. We have all heard the term "jaw drop" but I had never actually seen someone's jaw drop until visiting San Antonio! Seriously! A guy was sitting with his girlfriend and when my two friends walked by hand in hand his jaw actually dropped!

As you've been before I assume you know this but, if you are not getting a villa, you should think about staying in one of the decent gay hotels in Figueretas -- which is only a few minutes walk from Ibiza town and the Street of the Virigins (where all the gay bars are).

And of course Ibiza has what is arguably the world's finest gay beach - Playa Es Cavallet with optional nude bathing and a fab beachside restaurant.

So yes with gay hotels, gay bars, a gay beach, a couple of gay nights and numerous polysexual nights Ibiza is an ideal gay destination so long as you know what you are doing and where you are going.

Ultimately Ibiza is about the music and the atmosphere and being with good friends irrespective of sexuality.
 
Hey Rafal, thanks very much indeed for all that great advice. Much appreciated!

I already knew from previous experience to avoid the wrong side of the island, but its definitely worth mentioning again. I had no idea there were so many gay 'options' on the island. I guess, as it'll be a mixed gay/str8 group, we'll probably do a mixture of different things. I'm willing to give La Troya a chance provided the music's good (is it?) and provided everyone comes to DC10 on a Monday with me! 8)
 
Wow, Rafal, this is what I call a report on the gay scene in Ibiza. I totally agree with you, but let me give a little update on the scene last year:

- La Troya is a gay party as much as Brokeback Mountain is a gay movie: it's very much like the original, but a little softened for straight people;

- Try Scandal @ Penelope, on Sundays, there's a big gay audience;

- You can never be wrong if you stop at the Dome or Oriental around midnight, specially before La Troya (you can get free tickets);

- The beach of Ses Cavallet is really very beautiful.

But, as Rafal said, Ibiza is about the music, specially during the closings, if you want the circuit party feeling, you'd better try the first 2 weeks of August. But for circuit parties, there are better destinations than Ibiza...
 
axon, if your friends are more interested in dancing/clubbing/partying than "trying to pull men" as you say then you have no worries whatsoever. Ibiza is the party capital of the world with multiple events to choose from every night during the summer and an abundance of bars with amazing vibes.

ibiza is a very tolerant/liberal place and this goes for people's sexuality as well. I think you could go to some non-gay nights and still find many gay people there and still enjoying yourself immensely. i'm sure your group would have fun at nearly every event at pacha, amnesia, space, dc10, penelope, privilege.

remember, in ibiza anything goes............;) :D
 
I also have some other recomendations.

Of course in ibiza are a lot of gay places, but as Rafal told before, most of the clubs are polysexual, or mixed as we say in spain. I'm gay and i was now for two summers in Ibiza. i have to say that i enjoyed more straigh-like places than gay-like places... I think in two years i have been to mostly all sessions in ibiza (not including neither Es Paradin neither Eden) and places i enjoyed more :

- We love Space
- Manumission @ Carry ON
- In bed with Space
- Fake
- Matinée
- DC10

Most of them are not gay, none is 100% (talking about all discos), but of course Fake (Troya's after in Space) is mostly 90% gay, on the terraces there is a big "fauna" of gay people, and Matinée (Saturday Mornings) is mostly 90% gay too.

For LA Troya, i have to say that it was the worst night last year. Too many people to be in a disco. Music sounded too much electronic, house music did not start until 6 AM, and i had to spend most of the night in the closed area because on the terrace there were too many people.

The nights i most enjoyed were the first yearh, Balearic People at Privilege and the second year People from Ibiza at Amnesia. Very crowded nights, not very gay but absolutely increbile people and music.

DC10 is i think the best after hour on earth, and there is also a gay side in there, i think mostly at the morning until 7-8 PM, on the right side of the terrace. AFter that hour it is quite heterosexual and a lot of "strange" people (mostly a bit aggressive) arround there.

Space is the best club of all and it's the one i more go to. Love mostly all after sessions, Carry ON (is very straight) but inside on the right hand has also its gay "fauna". In bed with space is mostly on the terrace, not very gay, but a lot of "happy" people ;) , FAke, as told is absolutely gay, Matinée the same as FAke, but with better music, and We love space is not that much gay, but you can find some very friendly people around it.

Penelope's Scandal was my dream to go there, and when i arrived i was very much dissapointed. The music was bad until 6am. and i think this one was too much gay for my taste. Too many guys looking for sex at the same time ;) Maybe i espected something different, but lots of guys told me that scandal @penelope is not what it was like scandal @ pacha.

There is also gorgeous @ penelope (or was last year) and i enjoyed very much this night. It is a very gay announced party but after it it is more mixed than anything, but very interesting night. AT this one you can enjoy penelope better than at scandal, and maybe find some interesting guy, just because it is not that crowded.

As you see, at much places you can find some gay "stuff" . But i think that this is not the most important at ibiza. See, for me, i have all gay stuff i want in Madrid, all i do the rest of the year in my city is going out on gay places, shop on gay places and so on, so when im on holidays... i absolutely DON'T want to make the same things than the rest of the year. That is probably the reason why i enjoyed more the first year when i went mostly to "more" straight places than the second (where i told me i have to visit the BIG gay places and got very dissapointed).

But at the end it is always your choice...

Just, enjoy and have a nice holiday! An, enjoy the island.
 
Speaking as a straight man, not having been to any of the "gay" nights.

I found that all the big clubs have a very gay friendly atmosphere, although you would probably be advised to miss Es Paradis & Eden.

I'm surprised though that you guys completely consider San An to be the "wrong" side of the island. I would have thought that the Sunset Strip and the Arenal Strip (BAR M, Itaca etc.) would have been perfectly Gay friendly.
 
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Makkinero said:
For LA Troya, i have to say that it was the worst night last year. Too many people to be in a disco. Music sounded too much electronic, house music did not start until 6 AM, and i had to spend most of the night in the closed area because on the terrace there were too many people.
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I suppose this would depend on when you go.

I went to the La Troya opening party in June last year and had an absolute blast on the terrace. Great house music, fun crowd, and not overcroweded at all.
 
Of course, you are right.

We can give as many tips as possible or receive as many tips to go to one party or to another, but it will always depende on the night. Maybe not all nights in La troya are as when i was there...
 
axon said:
Hey Rafal, thanks very much indeed for all that great advice. Much appreciated!

I already knew from previous experience to avoid the wrong side of the island, but its definitely worth mentioning again. I had no idea there were so many gay 'options' on the island. I guess, as it'll be a mixed gay/str8 group, we'll probably do a mixture of different things. I'm willing to give La Troya a chance provided the music's good (is it?) and provided everyone comes to DC10 on a Monday with me! 8)
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No probs. Yeah if I were u I'd def head to La Troya -- undoubtedly the best thing going on a Wednesday night. You and your mates will have a blast. Also make sure you check out Matinee and Fake. DC 10 is obviously a must do and if your friends are North American def take them to Pacha and Bora Bora as Americans really seem to like it there -- and as for the whole "is it gay friendly" thing at Bora Bora well, as I said in another thread, I've just uploaded a pic of me dancing at Bora Bora to my profile http://www.spotlight-forums.com/member.php?u=10142 You'll see that I got away dancing on the tables in a fairly gay outfit and no one seemed to mind! Enjoy your vacation!
 
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As mentioned before I would avoid the west end in san an, it's the only place I have felt uncomfortable in ibiza. As for anywhere else, anything goes. The area around the dome and angelos turns into a bit of a catwalk at midnight and is always good fun and despite it getting a lot of slagging off, anfora can be good fun if you're looking for a cheap night out.
Es Cavalett beach is probably one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to but if you can't be bothered with the long trek, try Los Molinos beach which is small but great for rock jumping.
 
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