• On the 8th May 1996, South Africa's Constitution was the world’s first to make discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal. Then on 9th October 1998 homosexuality was legalised by the courts – a ruling which applied retroactively back to 27th April 1994.

   

  The push for greater LGBT rights continued throughout the 2000s. On 30th November 2006 South Africa became the fifth country in the world, and the only country in Africa, to legalise same-sex marriage. Openly gay people now serve in the South African armed forces; transgender people are permitted to alter their recorded gender in the population registry, allowing them to acquire updated passports and other identity documents; same-sex couples can adopt children, and also arrange IVF and surrogacy treatments; and in short, LGBT people enjoy statutory protections from discrimination in employment and other areas of life.

   

  It has enshrined equal treatment of the LGBT community in law and recognises same-sex marriage.

Welcome to Cape Town’s gay scene. It is predominantly white, though more and more LGBT-friendly clubs are beginning to emerge in the small surrounding townships, where the majority of people are black. Cape Town, being South Africa’s main hub for LGBT travellers, has a vibrant gay culture and attracts visitors from locally, as well as globally. The heart of gay Cape Town is the very chic area of De Waterkant, especially the entertainment strip of Somerset Road where you’ll find a large number of lgbtq+ bars and clubs, as well as the inner-city suburbs of Green Point and Sea Point which stays lively well into the early hours.

Cape Town is a laid back city with a fabulous  fun atmosphere. You’ll find lively nightlife with places to dance or maybe a little cruising? You can enjoy fine dining and also amazing cabaret shows, sophisticated coffee bars, fabulous shopping, so there is a wide variety of activities to keep you busy . So we thats the nightlife covered and the daytimes offer so much too with the award-winning soft sandy beaches, vast winelands and mountains to hike, bike or climb so you can go and make your own adventures whether its chilling out or something a little more energetic.

You’ll find Cape Town’s LGBT-friendly venues listed on street maps at the city’s tourist information kiosks and see the multicoloured rainbow flags flying loud and proud from many businesses in this fabulous city.

In Cape town Beefcakes is a spectacularly camp drag bar offering fierce queens and half-naked muscle boys. Designed to reflect Miami’s South Beach in the 50s. Located in the heart of De Waterkant, this is a great place to enjoy a typical gay night out in Cape Town. You can eat a gourmet burger and watch the fabulous show. take part in bitchy bingo on Tuesdays which is always great fun.

One of the oldest gay bars in Cape Town, Café Manhattan bar and restaurant is a popular but laid-back meeting place. The service is excellent, the menu perfect for the morning after a big night out or a leisurely lunch, and there is regular entertainment in the form of art exhibitions and live music (most Thursdays).

There is so much diversity in the food here in cape town from hot new chefs and go-to favourites to hip tapas spots and pizza places, the range of restaurants in Cape Town seems to grow every year with such a wide variety of eateries and various budgets you are sure to find something you fancy.

FYN  this 50-seater urban eatery sits on the fifth floor and boasts incredible views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. Japanese cooking entwined with the African-inspired menu at FYN, this can be elevated by unique wine pairings.

La Colombe headed by a multi-award-winning chef, La Colombe is a stylish jewel in the Constantia Winelands’ crown. Very creative French-Asian dishes are conjured up at this incredible restaurant, using foraged ingredients that are beautifully plated into culinary masterpieces.

Kloof Street House set inside a stylishly furnished Victorian house, the sophisticated Kloof Street House is known for its brasserie-style menu that puts an eclectic spin on South Africa’s favourite comfort foods. Look out for the live jazz afternoons on the first Sunday of each month, best enjoyed over oysters and champagne.

Thali is a popular Indian-tapas eatery’s menu with eight unbelievably delicious dishes that are served with sambals, poppadoms and tandoor. If you’re looking for heavenly curries, look no further than Thali.

Hemelhuijs is a small oasis in the heart of the city centre that’s famous for its freshly squeezed juices, fabulous cocktails, fantastic coffee, and creative menus which change from season to season..

Belly of the Beast is a fine dining restaurant and serves a maximum of 24 guests per service, as the owner-chef believes that smaller-scale cooking enhances the depth of flavour in each ingredient. There are no set menus at Belly of the Beast – you’ll be served a large feast comprising a selection of delicious courses.

Boasting beautiful Atlantic Ocean views, Salsify at the Roundhouse delivers refined dishes that are skilfully and sensitively prepared. Seafood features prominently on the menu, paying homage to the owner-chef’s father who was a professional fisherman.

Kyoto Garden is consistently ranked among the best Japanese restaurants by Cape Town’s top chefs and food critics. Amazingly crafted sushi and flash-grilled fish are served in a minimally decorated yet tatilising venue.

Cape Town undoubtable has some of the best beaches in the world. One of them is Clifton’s gay-friendly Beach and is a popular rendezvous spot for gay men in Cape Town. It has a very lively atmosphere, the beach is not as crowded as its busier neighbours, and the weather conditions are always perfect for creating some fabulous tan lines. Ten minutes from the city centre and consist of four beach coves separated by giant boulders that protect against Cape Town’s unruly ‘south-easter’ wind, the soft white sand and cooling blue water of all of the four beaches are a haven for sun worshippers and those looking for a fun day at the beach.

Just down the road from Clifton you’ll find the beautiful circular bay of Camps Bay – the best-known beach on the Cape Town coast. Locals and tourists alike love this palm-lined beach, perfect for people-watching, playing or just watching the beach volleyball, cruising or catch a tan while gazing up at the dramatic peaks of the Twelve Apostles range, part of Table Mountain. A beach with views left, right up and down or where ever your eyes can focus.

Playa del Carmen has a thriving community of LGBTQ locals and the repeat visitors from Europe and North America have made the town a LGBTQ+ hotspot that's both welcoming and fun.

Playa del Carmen Pride festival is held each year in June, and features pride parties, parades, and events attracting visitors from around the world. There are occasional parties and special events hosted throughout the year by some of the more liberated hotels and resorts in Riviera Maya.

This part of the Caribbean Coast is the prime location to head off and explore some of the area’s biggest tourist attractions. Easy to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulum.

Riviera Maya offers perfect weather, soft white sand beaches, and sparkling clear water, it’s easy to get lost in this Mexican paradise. You can swim with turtles and tropical fish in the crystal clear waters.

Head over to Cozumel, an island that celebrates gay culture with an annual pride festival, and gay marriage is legal in the state of Quintana Roo to which Cozumel belongs.

Many gays and lesbians have started seeing Playa del Carmen as an alternative to its big sister Puerto Vallarta and bustling Cancun.

Every year, around february time, Mexico hosts the biggest gay event in Playa del Carmen. The Arena Festival is 6 days of complete fun, music and so much more with 15 unique parties with amazing dj's not to be missed. Arena Festival promises an unforgettable week.