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Top Gay Clubs for a Night Out in Johannesburg
If you’re gay and currently travelling in South Africa, then you’re in for a treat! The Rainbow Nation has great gay clubs for you to party it up and meet like-minded (party-loving) folks.
From dance clubs to bars, Johannesburg’s gay club scene is one of the best in the entire country. We’ve picked the best gay clubs in the city where you can hang out and enjoy a night of drinking and partying with friends!
1. Babylon
Address: 198 Oxford Rd, Illovo, Sandton, 2196, South Africa
Website: https://babylonbar.co.za/
Contact Number: +27 73 030 6398
Operating Hours:
- Friday to Sunday, 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM
- Closed from Monday to Thursday
The Babylon Bar is a gay club that you will want to spend a night partying in thanks to its modern and chic appeal. The interiors of this place are phenomenal with bright lights across the walls and ceiling, a large dance floor for guests, and a pole dancing area!
On top of the impressive interiors, there are also private booths that you can rent here for some privacy with your partner or loved one. Take the scene and the revelry all in as you enjoy the club’s signature cocktails and mixers like their ginger ale and liqui-fruit!
| Pro Tip: Check out their Facebook for any promotions or special events, such as a Saturday featuring Lady Gaga’s Artpop! |
2. Priscilla’s
Address: 198 Oxford Rd, Illovo, Sandton, 2196, South Africa
Website: http://www.priscillas.co.za/
Contact Number: +27 81 562 6419
Operating Hours:
- Thursday, 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday, 5:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- Saturday, 5:00 PM to 11:30 PM
Priscilla’s is a cosy gay club located in Sandton, and it’s a place you might want to check out if you want something more laid-back and private. It doesn’t have a sprawling dance floor, but it does have a great bar and tables for small friend groups.
What stood out for us, though, is the dimmed-out lights of this club, giving it a more intimate vibe where you and your companions can whisper sweet nothings among yourselves. Do all these as you sip on their drinks such as gin, beer, and whisky.
| Pro Tip: Aside from their drinks and their bar food (ordered from other restaurants via Uber), you can also ask the wait staff for hookah pipes. They’re sold by a different establishment nearby (86 Public), so they’re subject to availability. |
3. Trouble Bar
Address: Republic Rd &, Rabie St, Fontainebleau, Randburg, 2194, South Africa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Troublegaybar/
Contact Number: +27 82 875 9230
Operating Hours:
- Saturday, 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Closed from Sunday to Friday
Trouble Bar is a bar cum dance club in Randburg that serves up the right amount of party vibe this side of South Africa. It has dimmed and disco-coloured lights that will surely entice you to dance up to somebody plus sleek tables perfect for sharing a drink!
You can either join the other partygoers on the dance floor or enjoy their drinks (e.g., champagne and cocktails) along with their bar food (e.g., cajun mix prawns and grilled salmon). Don’t forget to also order some of their craft and local beers!
| Pro Tip: Check out their Facebook to confirm if they have any special events during your visit. They sometimes host drag shows, karaoke, and holiday (e.g. New Year) celebrations to up the party vibe! |
4. Xai Xai Lounge
Address: 7th St, Melville, Johannesburg, 2072, South Africa
Website: https://www.facebook.com/XaiXaiLounge
Contact Number: +27 83 584 2955
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM
Xai Xai Lounge might be the most interesting gay club in the city with its unique decor and approach to inclusivity.
Here, there are no dimmed-out lights. Instead, the lounge features light and airy interiors that look like those you’ll find in a modern tropical resort.
Aside from their cocktail mixers and beer on tap, you can also order some amazing food items from this establishment such as steaks with fries on the side and pizzas served with three different kinds of dips. Don’t miss out on their huge burgers too!
| Pro Tip: If you want something light but good for sharing, you can try their Xai snack baskets such as the meat basket (ZAR 145), fish basket (ZAR 145), and Buddha basket (ZAR 135, includes spicy cheddar, toasted tortilla mozzarella, pickle, basil, and crumbed mushroom). |
5. The Club SA
From ruan_vanbiljon
Address: 19 Madison Ave Rivonia, Johannesburg, South Africa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheClubJHB/
Contact Number: +27726970245
Operating Hours:
- Friday, 8:00 PM to 3:00 AM
- Saturday, 9:00 PM to 3:00 AM
The Club SA stays true to its name, as the interiors of this establishment literally look like an exclusive club for affluent gay men and women. It uses modern and minimalist furniture and fixtures that exude a classy look for its indoor and outdoor seating areas.
You can enjoy some beers, hot cocktails, bar food, fantastic live music, and its spacious dance floor. The food and drinks you order here are also used to support LGBTI causes—good social responsibility indeed!
| Pro Tip: This gay club also hosts various events that support LGBTI campaigns (e.g. Pretoria Pride march). You can check their Facebook to confirm if they feature DJs or other artists during your planned visit. |
6. The Tennis Club
From deeptownjozi
Address: Cnr Bertram and, Miller St, New Doornfontein, Johannesburg, 2094, South Africa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetennisclubjhb/
Contact Number: +27837817406
Operating Hours:
- Friday, 8:00 PM to 3:00 AM
- Closed from Monday to Thursday and Saturday to Sunday
No, the Tennis Club isn’t a sports bar dedicated solely to tennis. Rather, it’s a gay club with a sports theme.
From its logo, posters, and promotions, you will see depictions of sports equipment and apparel (e.g. Nike).
We think this strategy is pretty awesome, and the venue itself is certainly a must-visit especially if you’re gay and you want something different. You can enjoy their drinks (e.g. beer) and food (e.g. BBQ) while enjoying the edgy beats of their DJs.
| Pro Tip: Check out their Facebook to confirm which artists are performing for the night. Some of them may have specific genres you prefer to dance and groove to as you party the night away! |
7. Liquid Blue
Address: 8 7th St, Melville, Johannesburg, 2109, South Africa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Liquid-Blue-Cocktail-Bar-100069415140884/
Contact Number: +27 11 482 5593
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, Open 24 hours
Liquid Blue looks like a traditional lounge with a cosy home-like vibe. It uses various sofas of different colours and sizes, which make the bar much more inviting to look at and definitely more comfortable for you and other guests to unwind and drink.
Speaking of drinks, this gay club has a great variety for you to choose from like Hunter’s Beer and different cocktail mixers and shots (e.g. blue-coloured gin). There are also some bar food for you to feast on or share with your group (like their fish platter).
| Pro Tip: You can check their Instagram to see if they have any featured artists or DJs. Aside from their guest performers, you can also check if they have any promos or discounts during your visit. |
8. Kitchener’s Carvery Bar
From mesios
Address: 71 Juta St, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017, South Africa
Website: http://www.kitcheners.co.za/
Contact Number: +27114030166
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 12:00 NN to 3:00 AM
Kitchener’s Carvery Bar perfectly imbibes the feel of what a bohemian gay bar should be. The interiors are colourful with a traditional Irish pub feel to them.
The facade of this bar is out of this world with its rustic and rainbow-coloured paint making it pop!
Aside from the awesome vibe of this gay club, we also like the food items and beverages on offer. Some of the items you can order include fish and chips, quarter-pounder burgers, and beers (e.g. Heineken and Stella Artois).
| Pro Tip: Door fees for the Kitchener’s Carvery Bar can vary depending on the event. You can check their Facebook to confirm how much they may charge during specific dates. Some days are free of charge! |
9. The Third Place
From fanciful1784
Address: 39 Gwigwi Mrwebi St, Newtown, Johannesburg, 2113, South Africa
Website: www.thirdplacebarroom.com
Contact Number: +27114920795
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday, 12:00 NN to 12:00 MN
- Closed from Monday to Tuesday
The Third Place looks like a cross between an industrial basement and a modern lounge with dimmed-out lights—and we like it. The bar itself looks sleek, and the drinks on offer are organised.
There’s also a bicycle hanging from the roof adding some flare!
They mostly offer beer on tap along with some fruit punch, cocktails, and shakes. The variety of food here, though, is phenomenal with bar food like burgers, sliders, and salads, but they also have full meal plates like ribs and steaks!
| Pro Tip: Door charges can change depending on the event, but they usually cost around ZAR 50 to ZAR 100 based on the musicians or DJs who will perform. It’s best that you check their Instagram to find out the fees during your visit. |
