Mexico gay cruising

It’s packed most nights, but Tuesdays, when patrons get a large number of drinks included in the cover, are extremely popular.

Boy’s Club at El Taller (Florencia 37a, Juárez, Mexico City). Some are club nights or bars—places where dancing and socializing is the main attraction—that happen to have dark rooms. And in less-touristy middle-class neighbourhoods, close to the city centre, there are probably not enough foreign tourists around to merit a criminal’s attention.

But bad boys are welcome. The “leather bar” is in the name just to scare away the straights and sexually shy people—Tom’s is not particularly fetishy. Then you enter a sumptuously furnished lounge with antique photos and tchotchkes everywhere—and a piano and a chandelier. Among its play structures is a replica of a Mexico City subway car, complete with sound effects and lights that zip past the windows, and a well-lit mirrored geodesic dome, where influencers and other exhibitionists can make, uh…content.

The others were rubbing their hard cocks through their pants, watching intently. I wasn’t about to turn down a show, and a show is exactly what I got. Cover is around 200 pesos ($12 USD).

Vaqueros Bar (9)

A classic gay cantina with a cowboy theme, Vaqueros Bar is a relaxed and fun spot to grab cheap drinks, meet locals, and enjoy a casual atmosphere.

Things were a little different in Mexico City, I’d been told. Weren’t they worried that one of the other snoozing passengers would wake up? The Pink Line has long been a cruising hotbed, as documented by David Graham in his seminal book, The Last Car: Cruising in Mexico City.

Odds of an encounter increase towards the more gay areas of town obviously, but as ever where there’s a will, there’s a way.

A part of me was shocked to see this kind of cruising—so overt, under the bright lights of the train, as we were ferried along underground between stations. But those are not always where the raciest venues for gay men are located. If it’s a club, opening hours may be just afternoons to midnight-ish, later on the weekends. I sat in the front corner seat, keeping an eye on the guys I’d boarded with who had all sat near each other.

The tension mounted stop after stop, as no one got on or off.

Coming in feels like arriving at a 1960s men’s club, with the wooden counter and retro fixtures. None on this list are 24/7. It’s usually included in the entrance price. It was obvious now, he wanted us to see. How you navigate the situation is of course up to you, but chance encounters are known to happen and you too could get lucky. Expect a mix of high-energy dance music and underground electronic beats.

📍 Location:Calle de Niza 45, Juárez, CDMX

🕙 Hours: Fri–Sat: 10pm – 4am (closed Sun–Thu)

🔥 Popular nights: Friday drag nights, Saturday dance parties

🎭 Special events: Guest DJs, cabaret-style performances, themed nights

💡 Insider tip: Check their Instagram for event themes and special guest drag queens.

Secrets Disco Bar and Discoteque 69 (11)

Secrets Disco Bar and Discoteque 69 are two of Mexico City’s best-kept after-hours secrets, tucked away in the República de Cuba gayborhood.

To avoid this, always check the plates of the car against the app before you get in the car; perhaps even take a photo that’s instantly uploaded to the cloud. Follow on Instagram: @soberbia_bar

Tom’s Leather Bar (8)

A legendary spot in Mexico City’s gay scene, Tom’s Leather Bar is the go-to place for bears, leather lovers, and anyone looking for a more underground experience.