Gay friendly | Wander Argentina

Rendez-Vous — A Boutique Hotel in the Heart of Palermo

Rendez-Vous is a boutique hotel that perfectly fits in with its chic surroundings in Palermo Hollywood. Popular with Brazilians, this oasis in the middle of one of Buenos Aires’ trendiest areas is immaculately clean with a contemporary feng shui flair.

Overseen by the friendly and professional, Fréderic Dubois, the hotel features 11 uniquely decorated rooms with hardwood floors and huge windows in a 1904 French-style mansion. The staff here is very accommodating and willing to go the extra mile to make reservations for city tours, the area’s best dining locales such as La Cabrera and of course the obligatory tango shows.

The staff can also arrange massages, haircuts, laundry, tours and other services. Amenities include en-suite jacuzzis, wifi, a computer center, a bar, a solarium and leafy patio area.

rendez-vous2 — photos courtesy of Rendez-Vous

Prices fluctuate depending on the season, but this is a good value — a room for two with breakfast included runs around the US$130 mark. This non-smoking hotel is gay friendly, accepts pets and is well-equipped for disabled travelers.

With only 11 rooms, this one books up fast so make your reservations in advance.

Rendez-Vous Hotel-$$$
Bonpland 484
Tel: (11) 3964-5222
Palermo

Mendoza’s Gay Vendimia Festival

Mendoza’s Gay Vendimia festival in Argentina’s beautiful wine capital is the largest LGBT event in the country, aside from Buenos Aires huge gay pride celebration.

Under the slogan ‘Vendimia para todxs’ (Vendimia for Everyone) the festivities usually take place the second week in March, after the main Grape Harvest Festival ends.

This conservative northern city has a smaller, more demure gay scene than Buenos Aires, but during this week-long celebration Mendoza lets its freak flag fly high and proud.

In 2013 Argentina’s Tourism Minister declared the newly branded Vendimia para Todxs of ‘national touristic interest’ and added it to their agenda of yearly events.

Now that it has the backing of provincial and national governments, ‘Gay Vendimia’ has now become one of Mendoza’s most popular yearly events.

The Origins of the ‘Gay Vendimia Festival’

vendimiagay2010kings — 2010 contestants for the title of King of Vendimia Gay

Gay Vendimia started as a joke according to Ricardo ‘Tito’ Bustos, founder and iconic owner of some of Mendoza’s most popular gay nightspots.

Today, the over 20 year-old ‘Fiesta de la Vendimia Gay’ has been rebranded as ‘Vendimia para Todxs‘ (Vendimia for Everyone) and draws revelers from across the globe, hosting 5,000 spectators for the main event.

As in the mainstream festival, there are activities all week long and a campy Las Vegas style grand finale that includes a beauty contest, with the ‘queen’ in this case in drag of course.

Where to Stay During Gay Vendimia

In Mendoza renting a private apartment with the gay-owned
Modigliani Art and Design Suites or the Dot Confort Suites is an excellent choice.

The staff speaks English and the modern-style fully-equipped suites are in the heart of downtown Mendoza. The group also runs an art gallery, Espacio Modlgliani which host events open to guests including exhibitions, live music and wine tastings.

Both options are a bargain too, with prices starting at US$80 per night. It’s important to book in advance during festival events, when prices surge. If these options are full, check out reviews on other Mendoza hotels and hostels.

To find out more or get tickets for the main event, get in touch with the Mendoza Tourism office or head straight to Mendoza’s local gay establishments and get swept up in the fun.

Gay Vendimia Festival 2020

Main Event & Party & Casting for Candidates for the ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ of Gay Vendimia
Saturday, March 14, 9:00 p.m. -Sunday, March 15 7:00 a.m.
Arena Maipu Stadium

• Cost: AR$800-$20,000, price depends on seating

• Tickets can be purchased in advanced on EventBrite

⇒ Take a wine tour, hit a thermal spa, hike to Aconcagua or go rafting in Mendoza — see all tours

• Modigliani Art and Design Suites

• Dot Confort Suites

Gay Nightlife in Mendoza

Gay nightlife in Mendoza isn’t anything near as wild as in Buenos Aires, but thanks to the city’s small size you can meet people and zero in on your preferred scene quite easily. Here are some good places to start, for food and dancing:

Espacio 348 — A gay-friendly bar with a cool oriental décor, decent food, and pretty good music, including their popular ‘Club Zen’ parties.
San Lorenzo 348
Downtown Mendoza
Tel: (0261) – 429-5082

Casa 3 — A fun gay-friendly pub and restaurant that brings in some pretty good DJ’s. The food is better than the typical pub fare and the atmosphere is comfortable.
San Lorenzo 490

• Closed Sundays

La Reserva Pub – A small boisterous pub that hosts theater and music during the week and drag shows on weekend nights.
Rividavia 32
Tel: (0261) 420-3531

• Closed Mondays

Estación Miro — Here you’ll find quite an eclectic mix of gay men and women and many transsexuals dancing the night away. Anything can happen here — and it probably will.
Ejercito de los Andes 656

• Open nights, Thur-Sun

Queen Disco —Mendoza’s oldest gay club, a little outside of the city center is the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights to boogie to pop hits, techno and Latin music.
25 de Mayo 318
Tel: (0261)-4315846

• Open weekend nights
• Cost: AR$20+

Gay Tango in San Telmo

Gay milongas, (tango dance parties) have popped up everywhere in Buenos Aires in recent years. Queer tourists have known Buenos Aires is one of Latin America’s best destinations for years, but since the 2010 legalization of gay marriage even more gay travelers and expat residents have descended upon the city.

One of the best neighborhoods to learn tango is San Telmo, the neighborhood that lays claim to the birthplace of the sultry dance. Straight females take notice — gay milongas as the best places to learn, without the macho ‘are-you-good-enough-to-dance-with-me?’ attitude found in some straight tango establishments.

Tango Entre Muchachos

A big draw for male gay tango enthusiasts who are just starting to learn the dance is Saturday Tango Entre Muchachos at Lugar Gay. Milonga ‘La Marshall’ claims to be the first gay milonga in Buenos Aires. Rasonably priced two-and-half hour class takes place at San Telmo’s oldest gay guesthouse, Lugar Gay. The crowd is mostly an international mix of guys.

Those interested in staying here should be aware it is men only and no minors are allowed.

Lugar Gay
Defensa 1120
Tel: 4300-4747

• Sat: 6:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
• Cost: AR$$

Tango Queer

Tango Queer has been going since 2007 at Buenos Aires Club. The low-key black and white tiled dance floor is a nice, non-intimidating place to practice your steps, whether gay or straight. This is the best place for lesbian milongueras (tango dancers) in San Telmo, as they are usually plenty of females in attendance.

Tango Queer
Buenos Aires Club
571 Perú
Tel: 15-3552-6894

• Tuesdays: 8:00 p.m.—2:00 a..m.
• Cost : Free

Bayres Folk

This queer milonga and peña (folk club) started in San Telmo but has since moved to the nearby Congreso neighborhood. It is a good option for those interested in learning tango as well as other types of Argentine folk dance in a festive environment. Founder, Mariano Garcés also runs the week-long Buenos Aires Queer Tango Marathon.

Lessons begin at 8:00 p.m. and the milonga really gets going around midnight.

Bayres Folk
Alsina 2540
Balvanera
Tel: 15-6554-1658

• Wednesdays: 8:00 p.m.
• Cost: varies

Peñalonga
Uriarte 1271
Palermo

• Saturdays: 12 a.m.

→ Check out the nearby Pride Cafe

→ If you’re in Buenos Aires in November, you can’t miss Buenos Aires Gay Pride Parade

→ Annual events: Vendimia Gay

→ Gay nightlife in Mendoza

Amerika: Buenos Aires’ Largest LGBT Nightclub

Buenos Aires’ most popular gay club, Amerika has three floors of music and room for 1,800 people meaning here there is something for everyone — gay or straight.

The roots of the Amerika gay club scene harkens back to the days of Argentina’s repressive military government when it was still taboo –and even dangerous– to be gay in Buenos Aires.

At that time, the privacy of the clients was the name of the game. By the time Amerika debuted as Buenos Aires’ largest gay club in 2000, things had started to change and the owners of this mega club were only to happy lead the charge. Originally frequented mostly by gay guys, Amerika now has a reputation of being a definitively hetero-friendly club, where anyone queer or straight is welcome to let their freak flag fly.

Although not as popular with foreigners as many of the city’s other large clubs, here you’ll find a congenial straight-gay mix with loads of glam boys eager to strut their stuff, a smattering of lipstick lesbians and hetero kids eager to get in on all the dance floor fun.

Straight girls love this place because they can dance without being constantly harangued by the sometimes-relentless ‘machos’ of Buenos Aires. Secure straight guys swear this is one of the best places to pick up girls because the atmosphere is relaxed and the odds are in their favor.

On three dance floors, each with their own name; Caribbean, Continental and Crystal, you’ll hear techno, house, cumbia, and dance hits including an abundance of Lady Gaga among a varied crowd that isn’t afraid to let it all hang out. Those 18 years old and up are permitted entrance but the crowd tends to be 21 and over — sometimes way over.

Amerika has opened and closed a few times through the years for permit violations, and some gripe that the vibe changed when they started with a canilla libre (all-you-can-drink) policy a few years back, but its still a great destination to dance all night among the smoke machines and bubbles.

These days the entrance tends to be a little pricey for many young locals unless they can drink their weight in alcohol. The cover charge gets you free drinks all night — if you can manage to weasel your way past the thirsty and sweaty crowds to actually reach the bar.

Amerika-$$
Gascon 1040/corner Cordoba
Almagro
Tel: 4865-4416

• Hours: Thurs—Sundays from 12 am
•Entrance free for birthday boys and girls

Take a Tango Tour