The key addresses in Rio de Janeiro — verified and regularly updated. Clicking takes you straight to the location page.
Close to Copacabana Beach, the Black Cat is a cruising and party location. The venue is divided into several areas, including a darkroom for discreet encounters. The offer includes bartenders, live DJs and bars open at selected events. The central location and mixed crowd make the place a permanent address in Rio's gay scene.
The Club Mix Bar on Rua do Mercado in the center of Rio hosts the Macho Man Club and is aimed at men with an interest in cruising. There is a dance floor, dark rooms, mazes, private booths, glory holes, bars, showers, and a terrace. Photography and filming are prohibited. You bring your own towels and sandals, and free lockers are available subject to availability.
Located in Ipanema, opposite Gay Beach, the Rio G SPA Men's Club is spread over three floors. Facilities include steam and dry saunas, massage rooms, private cabins and a relaxation area with a bar. There is also a video room, a darkroom and internet. The central location is good for relaxing after a day at the beach.
In the Lapa district of Rio, the Sauna Chupps Club combines men's sauna with club operations. Sauna, steam baths, relaxation zones, darkrooms, a fitness area and a sun deck are spread over several floors. There are regular parties that last until the early hours of the morning, and admission usually includes an arm's cupboard, towel and flip-flops.
Finding a gay sauna in Rio de Janeiro is quite possible, even if the houses are spread over the city and not all in the beach districts. There are several saunas around Copacabana and in the more central districts, some of them near a metro station, making it easy to get there. Typical are several floors with dry sauna, steam bath and relaxation areas, often combined with a bar. In some houses, go-go boys or drag shows are part of the evening program, here the boundary between sauna and nightlife is blurred.
The crowd is mixed, from locals to travelers, and the focus differs from house to house. Some saunas are clearly geared towards cruising, others focus more on entertainment and social gatherings. Some addresses are among the oldest of their kind in the city and have been a fixed meeting place for decades. Because the program and mood can change significantly depending on the day of the week, pay attention to the opening hours and possible theme evenings before visiting. Towels and lockers are usually available on site. The following addresses will help you find the right sauna for your evening in Rio.