[night&day] List of places: Action Bar – One of the busiest darkroom cellars in Budapest. Every Friday striptease and live sex shows, while on Saturdays the so-called “oral academy” may turn you into the show’s main star (when things rather interactive) Patronized by a mixed public, the bar opens every day from 9pm to 4am. (V. Magyar utca 42., near Kalvin tér metro4 or 49-47 tram stations, www.action.gay.hu admission free, minimum mandatory bar consumption Ft 1,000).
finally declared a public garden in the 1900s. Nowadays, Margitsziget offers an openair theatre, a thermal bath/ water park, clubs, pubs, a jogging track that is easily the world’s most scenic, and even a mini petting zoo. On summer nights, there are a number of open-air gay parties happening around the south part of the island (near Margaret Bridge entrance). Before leaving for home, lonely boys go for a walk around the park looking for busy bushes.
Alterego Bar & Lounge – A trendy club that serves as the mother ship of well-dressed gay men and their friends. The dark-but-stylish cellar has a dance floor and three bars. The club is famous for their Saturday drag shows, followed by either a house DJ or other guests. Opens every Friday and Saturday from 10pm to 6am (enforced face and dressed control). (VI. Dessewffy utca 33, near Oktogon 4-6 tram stop or Metro1, www.alteregoclub.hu. Ft 1,000 before midnight, FT 1,500 after midnight, free admission after 3am)
Andrassy út (“Andrassy Avenue”) The Hungarian equivalent of the Parisian Champs-Élysées, the avenue was recognized a World Heritage Site in 2002. It is an iconic boulevard dating back to 1872, connecting the heart of the city (Deák Ferenc square) to the monumental Heroes square (Városliget). En route, you may find everything you need for a pleasant stroll, including high fashion brands, an Opera House, museums and a handful of great restaurants, cafés, pastry shops and pubs. The sights during your walk will feature Neo-renaissance mansions and townhouses displaying fine interiors and facades. Ideal for any occasion, be that a romantic afternoon, a happy hour, an evening at the Opera or just plain sightseeing.
www.humenmagazin.com
Capella Café – This venue is the oldest gay bar in Budapest. However, the years turned the place into a lottery. Some nights, you might meet interesting people to hang out with, while in others, you might end up around miserable unfortunate souls watching a cabaret-like drag show. So go at your own risk. (V. Belgrád rakpart 23, near Elizabeth Bridge, Ferenciek tere metro3 station)
Gabriel
Club Underground – This cavernous basement is gay alternative women’s favorite spot on Friday and Saturday nights. With two dance floors and an additional small karaoke room, a mixed crowd enjoy drag shows and the club’s house DJ. During the week, the place serves as a restaurant. (VI. Teréz körút 30, near Astoria metro station, www.clubunderground.hu
admission free, minimum mandatory bar consumption Fridays Ft 1,000 and Saturdays Ft 2,000).
CoXx Men’s Club – Under this small neat netcafe disguise, lies a 400 meters square beacon of pure testosterone. This cellar of pleasure has three full bars and a labyrinth fully equipped with cages, slings, cabins, glory holes, wet rooms and even a car. Look up for theme parties like military, gang-ban along others. Opens every day from 9pm to 4am, Fridays and Saturdays until 5am (VII. Dohány utca 38, www. coxx.hu admission free, minimum mandatory bar consumption Ft 1,000)
Madrid Café & Bar – This cozy pub is located in the heart of Pest and has great karaoke parties. The tall gallery room enhances the acoustics, making you feel like the next Magyar superstar. The list of song provided by the enthusiastic karaoke crew of SongBird (www.song-bird.hu) is wide and current. This is a good gig for gay men not looking to party hard or seeking to have a few drinks before clubbing. Karaoke nights on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10pm to 2am. (V. Semmelweis u. 17, near Astoria Metro2 station, www.madridcafebar. com free admission) Why Not? Café and Bar – This friendly gay pub near Liberty’s bridge (“Szabadság híd)” is the perfect spot to chill after a busy day, or to just grab a drink before clubbing. Recently refurbished, the pub is also famous for its karaoke night madness that happens on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10pm. (V. Belgrád rakpart 3-4, near metro4 station Fővam tér or trams 49 and 47, www.whynotcafe.hu free admission) In this issue, you may find a full English program regarding coming events or parties happening this month. The list of programs can be found on the end of the magazine.
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