Gay meeting spots melbourne

Formerly known as "Melbourne's only bear and leather bar", The Laird has progressed over the years to become a haven, meeting place and party space for same-sex attracted CIS and Trans males. Open 7 nights a week, the venue boasts three bars and a massive beer garden downstairs, with unique accommodation upstairs. Like many hotels in Melbourne, The Laird has seen its share of owners and operators, some of whom were not necessarily on the right side of the law. The Laird was once famous as one of the meeting places for illegal gambling during the earlier part of the 20th century.

The large spa is good for a soak, but the small steam room smells dank. It may have passed its prime, but the clientele make it worth a visit. Tue-Thu 6pm-late; Fri-Sun open 24 hours. Stepping into a gay sauna for the first time?

A city with something for everyone, Gay Melbourne has rewards aplenty for those willing to do a bit of exploring. Often overshadowed international by Gay Sydney — with its famous Madri Gras and prize jewels on display — discovering the best of Melbourne requires venturing down a labyrinth of laneways to find hidden speakeasy-cocktail bars, world-class coffee roasters, avant-garde art galleries or pop-up performance venues. The city-fringe neighborhoods of South Yarra and Collingwood are a hotspot for gays, hipster and all things trendy — where it is common to see queer folk out in full force, snogging in bars or walking hand in hand down the street. While gay bars and saunas are largely centered in Collingwood, gay locals no longer feel the need to limit themselves to such venues and neither should you. You can find rainbow flags flying from buildings, plenty of Queer Street art, advertising vying for the pink dollar and LGBT-friendly stickers on all manner of local shops.