Gay Guide to Cape Town

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Advisor - André-Pierre du Plessis
Curated By

André-Pierre du Plessis

  • Cape Town

  • Beaches

  • LGBTQ+ Travel

  • Local Culture

  • Local Food

  • Entertainment

A picture of a beach during a sunset.
Curator’s statement

Growing up gay in South Africa probably isn't all that different to the rest of the world: fear, doubt and the eventual discovery that there are other people just like you pretty much sum up my journey to making peace with myself. Cape Town was my home for over a decade, and even after living in New York and London, I still think it beats most cities in terms of experiences and the ultimate bang for your buck.

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Where to stay in Cape Town

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Things to do in Cape Town

A picture of a beach during daytime.

Gay beaches

Cape Town is world renowned for its sandy beaches and they're all gay friendly. The city's politics is quite liberal and you're not very likely to run into conservative types while at the beach.

The best sunsets (and greatest eye candy) can be found at Clifton Third Beach. Clifton has four different beaches but number three and four are generally the most popular to hang out and make friends. Be warned that no alcohol is allowed to be consumed on the beach. Cape Town's police regularly patrol these peoples and won't hesitate to fine you.

Nude beach? Of course, there's one. It's called Sandy Bay and you might get lost trying to find it. It's located in Llandudno which is about half an hour's drive outside Cape Town along the peninsula towards Hout Bay. Search 'Sandy Bay Parking' in Google when you get to Llandudno. Park your car and take a leisurely stroll for about 20 minutes. You'll soon see one of the most pristine beaches in this part of the world, together with many other eye-opening sights.

Places to eat & drink in Cape Town

An aerial view of people gathered near the beach during sunset.

Gay bars

Like most major cities, the majority of gay bars in Cape Town have either been killed off by covid or Grindr. New ones are always popping up (so be sure to Google) but the only long-term establishment that's still around Cafe Manhattan. It's more of a restaurant serving hamburgers to gays but it's a good place to meet likeminded people. Zer021 Social Club and the Pink Candy Night Club are more recent gay additions to the city.

Cabaret

Similar to bars, cabaret clubs come and go. Beefcakes in Green Point often have drag shows and weekend performances.

Advisor - André-Pierre du Plessis

Travel Advisor

André-Pierre du Plessis

Get in touch with André-Pierre

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For more travel tips, check out Fora Advisor Rabia Malik's guide, Contemporary Adventures in Cape Town.

This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Cape Town.

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