New gay bar-disco opens in Buenos Aires centre

Last night I went to the opening night of Eminence situated at Lavalle 918. The facilities there are:- on the first floor, pub and cruising bar; on the second floor, dark room and private rooms; on the third floor, chill-out space and room for private functions; on the fourth floor, disco. There is a lift to transport customers between floors. The building must be around sixty years old and the rooms have very high ceilings. The lift is a classic reminding one of a Paris hotel of the 1920s.

The place was full last night as one would expect on an opening night and the crowd were really a mixed bunch and included taxi-boys and transvestites. I will return in a month or so and review the place properly. However there were three aspects from last night which need attention. The air-conditioning was hopelessly inadequate given the warm night and large crowd; there was no bottled water at the bar; and the city's no-smoking regulations were being totally ignored.

Eminence is open from Monday to Thursday from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Friday to Sunday it is open 24 hours. The web site is here

For up-to-date information on gay places in Buenos Aires, Argentina see Guide to Gay Buenos Aires

Contramano re-opened

Contramano Closed
Following an inspection by city government officials a few days ago the oldest gay bar in Buenos Aires has been closed. This is very strange because all enclosed public spaces that re-opened after the Cromagñon tragedy have to comply with strict regulations before they are granted a certificate which Contramano undoubtedly has. Could be a case of homophobia. News here if and when it re-opens, or you can check the Contramano web site here.

Later
Further to my earlier post, Contramano has now re-opened as a bar-disco with a capacity for 220 people. I intend to check it out at an early opportunity.

For up-to-date information on gay places in Buenos Aires, Argentina see Guide to Gay Buenos Aires

New gay cruising bar opens in Buenos Aires

Zoom at Uriburu 1018, Recoleta, opened its doors at the beginning of June in the premises of the former W.C. It is nothing like its predecessor, the extensive toilets have gone and the interior has been completely re-built. It now has 21 cabins with porno video screens, glory holes and sliding partitions. There is also a dark maze, a lounge bar and a cloakroom. It is very much in the style of the popular Toms. I imagine there is space for two bars of the same genre in this city and the new bar is more likely to poach customers from some of the rather seedy porno movie theatres nearby. Zoom is open daily from 12 mid-day until 3 am and entrance charge is $10.

For more up-to-date information on gay places in Buenos Aires visit Guide to Gay Buenos Aires