Gay clubs johannesburg south africa
A quick, dirty Queer travel guide to Johannesburg, South Africa
For LGBTQ+ visitors to South Africa, it’s Cape Town, with its reputation as being a queer-friendly party-oriented beach metropolis, that’s at the top of everyone’s to-do list, right up there with going on a safari. Meanwhile, the Rainbow Nation’s biggest city, Johannesburg, is often treated as somewhere to consume a night or two between legs of a larger trip.
But Jo’burg, which has a metro population of about 6.2 million, has a few tricks up its sleeve for queer travellers. It’s just a matter of navigating its sprawl of neighbourhoods and satellite cities to discover the good stuff. And with its artsy and active queer community, there’s lots of pleasant stuff to find.
Unlike many other gay-friendly cities, it’s not a matter of walking around, looking for Pride flags. Jo’burg is car-oriented, with attractions, restaurants, bars and boutiques scattered here and there, sometimes in unlikely places. Though the city has a reputation for petty crime, that’s usually not an issue for pragmatic visitors; transportation will mostly be in a taxi or rideshare, primarily because of the elongated distances and the way the metropolis’ districts ar
Queer Spaces in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city and its economic hub. One would think such a city, in the continent’s most progressive region, would be home to at least a sizeable amount of queer businesses, but that’s sadly not the case. Still, the city is home to a few queer friendly spaces and LGBTQI-specific events that are worth both your time and dime.
Curating this list is rapper, Mx Blouse, whose boundless music has set them as a mainstay on the music scene in Jo'Burg. For the best queer-safe spaces in the city observe below.
In this Guide
The Tennis Club
“Johannesburg has a serious lack of establishments that cater particularly to the LGBTQIA+ community, but Tennis Club is one of the venues that are not just paying lip service to “queer friendly” – they really are. It’s one of the not many places I feel comfortable rocking up at in a crop top and loads of eyeliner without a worry in the world. In addition to that, they often host gay-themed parties and dress-up parties in general, which are always fun and go right into the prior hours of the morning. Tennis Club has often played host to LE GRAND BALL.”
More InfSSouth Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world: homosexuality is legal; queer adoptions were legalised in 2003; and, only two years later in 2005, gay civil marriages became legal.
Johannesburg epitomises this forward-thinking approach, and although it just lost out by a whisker to Cologne for the 2010 Queer Games, it hosts The Out in Africa International Lgbtq+ and Lesbian Production Festival held yearly, whilst its annual Joburg Pride Pride first hit the Joburg streets in 1990, before the current constitution came into force.
Today, the Joburg Pride event has grown into Africa’s oldest and biggest celebration of gay and womxn loving womxn pride and attracts thousands of people, not only from South Africa but from all over the world. It takes place in Melrose Arch and is a amusing, vibrant day out.
Gay and lesbian communities happily live in all of South Africa’s major cities, including Johannesburg, but what you’ll spot is that Joburg is an integrated city with brief or no discrimination against gay people who frequent most restaurants, bars and clubs. You’ll be welcome most places you go.
There’s no shortage of nightlife that brims with cinemas, theatres, bars, nightc
Gay Johannesburg
Johannesburg, often dubbed as "Jozi" or "Joburg," is a pulsating heart of South Africa and boasts a vibrant, albeit smaller, LGBTQ+ community compared to Cape Town. This bustling metropolis is known for its rich history, arts and culture, and dynamic nightlife, making it an engaging destination for Gay travelers looking to examine the diversity of South Africa.
The gay scene in Johannesburg is primarily centered around the suburb of Melville, where a variety of LGBTQ+ friendly bars, clubs, and restaurants can be found. These venues are known for their welcoming atmosphere and regularly host gay nights and themed parties, providing ample opportunities for visitors to mingle with locals.
Johannesburg also hosts the annual Johannesburg Pride, one of the oldest in the region, which is a colorful and exuberant event celebrating diversity and rights within the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride parade and connected events draw a massive crowd, featuring a morning of live music, performances, and stalls, all establish against the backdrop of the city's vibrant culture.
Aside from nightlife and events, Johannesburg offers several attractions that resonate