Taiwan Gay Bars: Gay Bars in Taipei and Beyond – Before I visited for myself last year, my knowledge of what exactly Taiwan had to offer LGBTQ+ travellers was limited to the fact that gay marriage was legalised, and that Taiwan was the first Asian country to do so.
But beyond that, and in terms of a gay scene – I had no idea either how big it would be, or even if there was one at all!
So, imagine my surprise to learn that Taiwan not only has a gay scene, but a thriving and vibrant gay scene at that – and this extends beyond the capital city of Taipei too. There are gay bars, gay clubs, and gay owned businesses such as cafes and restaurants in pretty much every major city on the island.
Regardless of what type of venue you are searching for too, Taiwan has you covered, especially in Taipei. If you are looking for a quiet bar to have catch up drinks with friends, or a bar to do some K-pop karaoke, or somewhere to bust some moves until the early hours, Taipei will have somewhere to suit. There are even bars for the slightly more “outgoing” traveller – the ones that might be heading out with the purpose of doing more than just dancing!
In this post I have delved a little deeper into the gay bar offerings across the four major Taiwanese cities – Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung and Tainan. Hopefully it helps!
And for more information on what gay Taiwan has to offer – gay friendly hotels, Taiwan Pride, and what to see and do whilst visiting, check out my full gay guide to Taiwan here.
Gay Bars in Taipei
Without a doubt, Taiwan’s capital city of Taipei is the islands gay epicentre – celebrated for its LGBTQ+ nightlife, with something to suit everyone.
The majority of the gay bars in Taipei are located in the Wanhua District, and more specifically in Ximending, which is the area surrounding the iconic landmark “The Red House” – an octagonal shaped theatre building so named for its distinctive red brickwork. You may also see this area called The Red House District.
Directly behind The Red House is a “complex” of gay bars, gay clubs, cafes and restaurants, most of which are all lined up next to one another. Many of the venues also have outdoor seating areas and terraces, so you can literally hop bar to bar, sitting outside, sipping on cocktails, ordering snacks, and watching the world go by.
Here are the most popular gay bars found within The Red House District, or within easy reach.
Commander D
Commander D is a popular gay cruising bar, located in the Wanhua District of Taipei, about 10 minutes from the Ximending Red House.
This underground bar has a bit of a dungeon theme going on – dim lights, dark corners etc.
Commander D also hosts regular events, you can check their full schedule of upcoming events on their Facebook page.
The bar does also play international dance music so you can just go and have a dance if that is all that takes your fancy.
Address: No. 36號, Section 2, Kaifeng St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Café Dalida
Named after a French singer and actress who inspired the bar, Café Dalida is one of the many bars-come-cafes that is located just behind the Ximending Red House.
A small and intimate bar, like most of its neighbours it has a large outdoor seating area, the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by.
Café Dalida is an extremely popular choice for Taipei locals, equally as popular during the day, and is known for being a regulars bar – most definitely when one of their drag shows is on.
If you want a bar where you can mix with the local LGBTQ+ community, then Café Dalida could well be the spot for you. Take a seat on the patio, grab one of their excellent cocktails, and enjoy the show. And if you’re lucky, maybe Pangina Heals will be performing!
Address: No. 51, Lane 10, Chengdu Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
G. Star
Known as more of a gay megaclub than a gar bar, G. Star is by far one of the most popular clubs in Taipei, in particular amongst the younger crowd wanting to end their night on the dance-floor.
In fact, one of the descriptions of this club I read was that it was a “gay megaclub filled with multi-coloured lasers”.
The club is spread across two floors – the ground floor where the main stage is, where from time to time you can enjoy stage shows such as drag and dancers, and upstairs, where private karaoke rooms are available should you wish to take a break from dancing.
Music wise, whilst K-pop seems to be the most widely played to cater for the younger local crowd, the resident DJ does often mix it up with the latest international dance and chart hits, as G. Star does also tend to be the go-to choice for visiting tourists too.
Address: B1, No. 23, Long Jiang Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10491
G Paradise
G Paradise is another bar that makes up the complex of gay bars located behind The Red House in Ximending.
This laid back and friendly bar attracts a mixed crowd of all ages, although it is particularly popular with bears and their admirers!
Inside it is a cozy setting, with dimmed lighting and comfortable seating, although like most of the bars behind The Red House, there is a large outdoor seating area where patrons can watch the world can go by and get mingling with the locals.
Drinks wise, G Paradise is known for their extensive menu of cheaply priced drinks – in particular for their craft cocktails!
Address: No. 47號, Lane 10, Chengdu Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Hero Bar
Hero Bar is an extremely popular bar mainly attracting a younger, local crowd – although it seems to quickly become a firm favourite amongst visiting tourists too!
Whilst not within the immediate Red House area, it is only about a ten-minute walk from The Red House, and the Ximen station.
It’s a great place to come and meet the local gays of Taipei.
Hero also serves food, has a live DJ and a small dance floor that gets very busy on weekends, and they also put on some themed nights and parties from time to time too. Their Facebook page seems to be quite frequently updated, so if you are planning a visit, you can check their schedule for upcoming events.
Address: 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Kunming St, 15-2號2樓
Mudan
Mudan is more of a café than a bar, but it is still definitely one to put on your list!
It sits right in the heart of the Red House gay district, and is well known for its expansive patio area where guests can sit and enjoy some delicious Asian fried foods, with a heavy Japanese influence. In fact, the head chef actually travelled to Japan specifically to learn the tempura style of cooking which he has now implemented into Mudans menu.
It is also famous for its delicious smoothie style cocktails!
Many locals and tourists alike stop by Mudan to eat, a smoothie cocktail before heading out to one of the many other bars in the Ximending Red House district.
Address: No. 45號, Lane 10, Chengdu Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Hunt
Hunt might be a small bar – but it certainly makes itself known!
Located less than a ten-minute walk from the Red House and Ximen station, Hunt is a basement gay bar, known for its fun atmosphere.
Whilst not quite as cruisy as Commander D, Hunt is very popular for its themed nights and parties. The schedule for upcoming events is usually posted on their social media, so if you are planning to attend, you can check in advance and dress accordingly.
Hunt is open daily, but generally gets busy around 11pm, when most people are ready to hit the dance floor, watch the shows, and see where the night takes them…
Address: No. 7號, Section 2, Guiyang St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Gay Bars in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s second largest city, and so naturally will have a large LGBTQ+ community to speak of.
Once upon a time Kaohsiung had a decent little gay scene, not quite to the same scale of Taipei of course but still one worth checking out. Unfortunately, a couple of the longer standing bars, clubs and gay dance bars didn’t survive, leaving Kaohsiung with just one permanent gay bar – Private Life.
That being said, the local LGBTQ+ community is still looked after, as there are various gay events and parties throughout the year. I have listed some of the most popular ones below, the best thing to do is look on their various Facebook pages and websites for schedules.
Private Life
This late-night gay bar is in a bit of an odd location, found on the third floor of a building in Kaohsiung’s old town, the Yangcheng District – but as it appears to be the only remaining permanent gay bar in Kaohsiung, it is probably worth checking out!
It is still a decent sized area, with booth style tables, a small bar and a TV monitor that is used for, you guessed it – karaoke!
The bar is cash only – and there is a minimum spend, but quite unusually they allow you to bring your own food. So, if planning to visit, it might be worth following the example of the locals – buy food and snacks at the nearby night market, and then hit the bar, which is open most days until 04:30am.
Address: 803, Taiwan, Kaohsiung City, Yancheng District, Jianguo 4th Rd, 306號3樓
Rainbow Thursday @ Brickyard
Every Thursday at Brickyard, a popular dance club in the Qianjin District of Kaohsiung is “Rainbow Thursday” – a very popular gay night.
Brickyard itself is not a gay bar or a gay club – although according to their official description on their Facebook page, it is “Kaohsiung’s most gay friendly bar since 2009!”
Brickyard is a bar that prides itself on making sure that all types of people have a space to go to dance, hang out and meet new friends that is both fun – and most importantly, safe.
As a result, the owners of Brickyard introduced themed nights, or nights that are dedicated to different types or groups of people – Ladies Night on a Wednesday, Student Night on a Friday, Latin Nights, and Saturdays that mix it up.
Of course, anyone is welcome to visit the bar at any time – the concept of the dedicated night is just there so that people can choose to visit on that particular night should that make them feel better.
And for the LGBTQ+ community, our night is Thursday – known as “Rainbow Thursdays”, which has become an extremely popular night. Good DJs, great international music, dancing and even some performances make Brickyard the place to be on a Thursday!
Check there Instagram to be sure as small bars like this often change their schedule!
Address: 801, Taiwan, Kaohsiung City, Qianjin District, Zhongshan 2nd Rd, 507號B1樓
GLOW
GLOW is a big gay dance party organised by the GLOW group – described on their very own Facebook page as “the biggest gay parties in Southern Taiwan”.
Unfortunately, they are held quite irregularly – but they certainly look like a fun event – very circuit party-esque, with lights, lasers, international DJs and go-go dancers.
GLOW have also had events in conjunction with X-Formosa, the team responsible for Formosa Pride – the largest gay music festival during Taiwan pride, and the team that put together most of Taiwan Prides circuit parties.
Eden’s Secret
Eden’s Secret is a gay dance party in Kaohsiung, that similar to GLOW is held irregularly, but usually with a couple of events a year, so it’s a good idea to check their social media for updates and upcoming events.
Eden’s Secret appears to be another circuit-style party, with international guests DJ’s spinning, and dancers and live entertainment.
Gay Bars in Taichung
As the third largest city in Taiwan, Taichung has a decent sized LGBTQ+ population, with a strong community spirit – and a small but still lively LGBTQ+ scene to cater to them.
Taichung’s gay scene is somewhat overshadowed when compared with Taipei, which is only an hour away by high-speed railway, but the few bars and other queer owned businesses found in Taichung have become important to the local community. Most of these gay venues are located within the Central District, near the Taichung Central Station.
Whether it’s somewhere for friends to meet socially, or to spend the night on the dancefloor, Taichung’s gay bars and clubs are warm and welcoming to both the local LGBTQ+ community and tourists alike.
Castle
Open 7 days a week, and until the early hours of the morning, Castle is most definitely the place to be if you want to dance the night away!
This cross between a gay bar and nightclub is Taichung most popular gay hangout for sure. As well as the DJ and dance floor where most people will end up at some point during their night, Castle is also popular due to its entertainment offerings – go-go performances, cabaret shows, drag shows and of course, as is standard in most Taiwanese gay bars – karaoke!
Castle’s New Years Eve party is also one to check out apparently if you happen to be there for this celebration – tickets include entertainment and the show, and unlimited drinks. But reservations are highly recommended – this is a popular event and seating is limited!
Address: 40041, Taiwan, Taichung City, Central District, Section 3, Liuchuan W Rd, 16號9樓
First Floor
After Castle, First Floor is probably Taichung’s second principal gay bar.
First Floor is a small but fun “gay-karaoke” bar that is very popular with locals, in particular the younger crowd, and is known for its friendly bar staff and warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The small bar is upstairs, and downstairs in the basement is the karaoke.
The bar does have a ‘minimum consumption’ charge to enter, which might vary depending on if there is an event on, but they also do sometimes offer unlimited drinks with this fee, so it is always worth checking out.
Address: No. 23號, Lane 141, Section 1, Taiwan Blvd, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400
No Boundary
Not a gay bar or club as such, No Boundary is more of a café bar and restaurant, but being gay-owned means it is a popular hangout spot for Taichung’s local LGBTQ+ community – and I am all for supporting queer owned businesses to ensure they survive!
No Boundary is open all day every day, the perfect choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or even just to call in for an afternoon coffee and to hang out with friends.
Address: Wuquan West 3rd St, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Gay Bars in Tainan
Whilst there is an LGBTQ+ community living in Tainan, this city on Taiwans south-western coast doesn’t really have a gay scene as such to speak of, not compared to Kaohsiung and Taiching.
There are no specific gay bars or clubs, however there are a few gay owned businesses that need the support of both the local LGBTQ+ community and visiting tourists to ensure that they both survive and thrive.
After all, if you are wanting to mingle and meet members of the local community, then chances are they will be hanging out in one of the gay owned businesses!
South Pasture
Much like No Boundary in Taichung, South Pasture in Tainan is actually a gay-owned café as opposed to being a gay bar or a gay club, however it has been serving the local LGBTQ+ community of Tainan for over 10 years.
The café is open daily from 11am, and serves some delicious Taiwanese snacks, as well as tea, coffee and fresh juices.
This is a really cute spot to come and meet friends, hang out, and being a gay-owned business, sit and chat to the owner and find out more about gay life in Tainan.
Address: 700, Taiwan, Tainan City, West Central District, 大南里
Simple Plan
Whilst not an actual gay bar, Simple Plan is another gay-owned business in Tainan, which naturally makes it a popular hang out venue for the local LGBTQ+ community.
Simple Plan is a wine / cocktail bar, with a loft-style design, and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, mainly attracting a younger, fun crowd. They have a pretty extensive food menu too.
The owner speaks good English, and is always happy to welcome international tourists. And being gay-owned, I strongly recommend you check it out and support him!
Address: No. 186, Section 1, Minsheng Rd, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700
So as you can see – Taiwans gay scene and LGBTQ+ nightlife offering is certainly not one to turn your nose up at – there are more than enough bars and clubs here to keep even the most seasoned partier happy!
For more on what gay Taiwan has to offer, such as where to stay, or things to do, make sure you check out my full Taiwan LGBTQ+ travel guide found here.