While the LGBT scenes in Cologne and Berlin are bigger, there is still plenty to keep visitors entertained in Munich. The gaybourhood is situated in the super-cool Gärtnerplatzviertel and Glockenbachviertel areas, running from the Viktualienmarkt to Sendlinger Tor. To get a full view of what’s happening, look for the free Rosa München guide.
When NY.Club first opened in the 80s it was one of the hottest clubs in the world. Sister Sledge, Divine, Flirts, the Weather Girls, Village People and Eartha Kitt all performed there, and it was a favourite hang out of Eddie Mercury. These days, in its new home in Elisenstraße, NY.Club is still riding the wave as the first stop in Munich for beautiful young gay men who want to dance, chill and cruise.
This klein aber fein (‘small but great’) gay bar in Munich welcomes boys and girls of all ages, though normally the crowd consists mostly of people in their 20s and 30s. There are regular pub quiz nights, €5 gin and tonics on Wednesdays and a wide range of top-drawer drinks available the rest of the time. In case you were wondering, ‘Jenny Was a Friend of Mine’ is a song by the Killers.
Egypt calling! Café NiL, a landmark in the Munich gay scene, has been a place for old friends to introduce each other to new friends for years. You’ll know it instantly by its kitschy Egyptian decor. Aside from the central bar, there are alcoves for quiet conversations and couches for hanging out and enjoying a drink or three. If your stomach is rumbling, look for the famous cornflake schnitzel.
A wide range of reasonably priced drinks is on offer at Prosecco, largely to fuel the all-ages, all-gender and all-orientation dancing that goes on until late in the night. Dasa, the owner, sometimes spins the decks himself, or leaves it to others to serve up a steady diet of pop and international dance hits until the disco balls stop turning. Most nights, this is long after all the other clubs have closed.