Rio de Janeiro
Gay Travel Guide 2025
By a Local
For Gay Travelers

🔥  Looking to spice things up in Rio?

Here are the hottest spots for after-dark adventures, from steamy bars to full-on saunas. Be smart, be safe, and enjoy responsibly.

 

TAURUS CRUISING BAR

📍 Lapa | @tauruslapa

taurusbar.com.br

Open Thursday to Monday – check social media for hours.This is Rio’s busiest cruising bar, right in the heart of Lapa. Taurus is known for its high-energy vibe, live interactive sex shows, and go-go boys. The first floor has a bar, DJ, smoking area, and lockers. But the real action? That’s upstairs—think slings, cabins, mazes, a massive orgy bed, glory holes, and a pitch-black darkroom. Fridays and Saturdays around 10 PM are when things really heat up. Expect a local crowd and a lot of movement.

 

BLACK CAT

📍 Copacabana | @blackcatcopa

Open Thursday to Sunday, 11 PM – 6 AMA go-to spot for both tourists and locals. It starts out like your typical bar—pop and electronic music, dancing, drinks—but transforms after midnight. By 2 AM, the upstairs darkroom opens and the vibe gets fully cruisy. They also feature live sex performances with go-go boys. Pro tip: buy tickets in advance for a discount. Peak nights are Friday to Sunday.

 

CASA PRETA

📍 Various locations | @festacasapreta

Casa Preta isn’t your typical bar or club—it’s a movement. Created by two Black organizers, it began as intimate house sex parties and has grown into something much bigger. Events now happen both at their home (usually Wednesdays and Sundays, 6 PM – 11 PM) and occasionally at Sauna Chupps. These are full-on, uninhibited bareback parties, often with over 100 guys.Expect a mostly Black, Brown, and Latin crowd—but all are welcome. Message them directly on Instagram for the latest event info. And yes, discounts available for XXL. 

 

SEXY ROSE

📍 Cinelândia | Rua Álvaro Alvim, 37 | Google Maps

A true hidden gem—more underground than online. Sexy Rose is part sex shop, part secret cruising spot. For around R$20, you get access to private cabins with TVs playing both gay and straight porn, plus two darkrooms. It’s busiest during weekday lunch hours and after work (starting around 5 PM), attracting closeted guys who work downtown.

 

RIO G SPA

📍 Ipanema | @riogspa | riogspa.com

Open daily, 3 PM – 10 PMLocated in the heart of Ipanema’s gay district, this is a luxurious cruising spa that attracts a more tourist-heavy crowd due to its higher prices. You’ll find massages, drinks, saunas (wet & dry), cabins, a video room, gym, and darkroom. Busy after beach hours, especially Friday to Sunday after 5 PM.They enforce a zero drug policy and don’t allow rentboys—so be discreet if you’re carrying anything.

 

SAUNA CHUPPS

📍 Lapa | @chuppsclub

A newer addition to Rio’s scene, Chupps is an all-day, all-night cruising sauna with a laid-back crowd and affordable prices. Expect a mix of people, from partygoers to regulars. They host themed nights and events (often in partnership with Casa Preta), so check their Instagram for schedules. Best time to go: weekend nights.

 

SB SAUNA & CRUISING BAR

📍 Botafogo | @sb_sauna

Open daily, 5 PM – 10 PMThis is one of Rio’s largest sauna spaces, with 650 square meters spread over three floors. Includes dry and wet saunas, cabins, a cinema room, darkroom, and smoking area. While it’s not always packed, it’s worth a shot—especially on theme nights like “Bears,” “Black,” or “Twinks” in partnership with Hornet. Follow their IG for updates.

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