Gay Brisbane Nightlife for Queer Travelers
For a city of its size which isn’t particularly well-known internationally, gay Brisbane has some unexpectedly good options for nightlife that promise plenty of fun and something for everyone. The Brisbane gay nightlife scene is surprisingly vivacious, open and welcoming to anybody who just wants to have a good time – with a range of mixed venues, LGBT events and one of the best gay dance clubs in the world.
Contrary to what the rest of Australia, and the world, might believe – gay Brisbane is anything but boring. In fact, the cocktail bars and clubs here are truly some of the most inventive, energetic and fun we have ever experienced – plus there is a steady stream of theme nights, drag performances, leather and fetish events and more to keep you on your toes.
Most venues are located in CBD area and Fortitude Valley, which is filled with bustling restaurants and nightclub – but a few are more far-flung in the inner and outer suburbs which could be fun to explore if you have more than a few nights in town.
One thing we also loved about the Brisbane club scene is it has plenty of fabulous cocktail and food options as well as unforgettable, high-end venues. Sure, they don’t come cheap but while maxing out your credit card you can expect to sip fantastic mojitos and martinis in charming courtyards or panoramic rooftop’s overlooking this modern city. Seriously though, prices here are some of the most expensive we have ever come across and are up there with Dubai, Copenhagen, Luxembourg, and Oslo.
There are a lot of other things to love in Gay Brisbane, but trust us when we say a trip to Brisbane would not be complete without sampling the city’s pulsing gay party scene… Gay Brisbane here we come…
The Beat Mega-Club
Brisbane’s biggest and best gay nightclub open since 1983, with five club rooms, seven bars and six beer gardens here is something here for everyone! Open 365 days a year at this Queer As F*ck hotspot, you can party every night of the year with live entertainment every night, performances by drag queens and DJ’s all night long. “Brilliant! Exquisite! Feels like home!”, this is truly one of our favorite gay clubs around the world and an absolutely unmissable highlight of the Gay Brisbane scene with affordable drinks, funky décor and an always ready-to-party vibe right in the heart of the famous Fortitude Valley. Let’s get sickening y’all!
GRUNT @ AMPED Nightclub
The gay dance party event in gay Brisbane everyone is talking about held a few times per year. A night that is sure to have your arms in the air, groaning on the dancefloor, brought to you by a dedicated trio of promoters behind such previous gay events as RIGID, Filthy, Babylon, Studs n Suds, Rabbit Hole and the original White Wolf. Grunt is an attitude free, fun-fuelled, down and dirty dance experience for men!
Lighting shows and mind-bending performances will take you on a journey riding into the night and beyond as you are entranced and quickly leave reality behind. In this unique social 200 square meters all-male space, playing with some of Australia’s best DJ talent, you can enjoy a sensory exploding atmosphere for men only that will leave your legs buckling and your brain screaming for more.
The Sportsman Hotel
One of the best gay meeting places in Brisbane, this bar, bistro, and hotel has been affectionately known to regular patrons as “Sporties” for over 30 years and is still just as fabulous as ever! Gay owned and operated, pop in to enjoy the club bar 7 days a week or the Nellies bunker bar on the pumping weekends.
There is also a more relaxed restaurant open nightly and on-site basic accommodation if you want to stay gay. With social, camp events most nights of the week including drag dinner shows, trivia nights, dance parties, karaoke and more there is always a reason to try the Sportsman’s Hotel!
Fluffy @ EI8HT
A weekly camp-pop gay dance party held on Sundays at Club EI8HT that we were absolutely living for! Expect lots of pink opulence, upbeat music and memorable performances by international DJs and drag acts. Wildly successful, check out their other upcoming events for drag brunches in Brisbane and one-off nights featuring the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
