Serbia is on it's way of becoming a more open-minded and accepting country when it comes to LGBT population. More and more gay clubs, bars and cafes are opening these days in Belgrade. While there are no strictly gay venues, all of these places are very inclusive and welcome everyone with an open heart and an open mind. We have made a list of some of the best places and events for LGBT people.
Šupa literally translates as 'shed' in English, but this couldn't be farther from the truth - or at least it's not dirty enough anyway. It got its name because the owner liked to spend time in his shed when he was a kid. Šupa is very inclusive and everyone is welcome here. It's pretty laid back and is great for working, if you happen to be one of the lucky few and can take your work with you, this is a great place to bring it. Another thing that you can bring here is your pet, because the place is pet-friendly. The main motif of the interior are flowers, so you'll see them everywhere: on chairs, in vases (where you'd expect them to be found), in the pictures. Vegan-friendly choices on the menu include vegan coffees and vegan hot chocolate, and with every hot beverage you'll get to try a homemade Turkish delight, or perhaps Serbian delight in this case.
This small cafe is located in the very heart of the city on Terazije, in a passage near Čumićevo Sokače. It can often be rather crowded, but that only speaks about its popularity. More importantly, the place and its clientele are absent of any prejudice and make you feel welcome, and we are sure you will. The interior was renovated not long ago, and now Smiley i Osmeh Bar is all in teal and burgundy tones which give it a hip vibe. It's great for both an afternoon coffee or a cocktail night.
Located an ambitious throw of a stone from Belgrade’s only mosque, Meduza is one of the most enthralling cafes in a city full of the things. A relaxed atmosphere nestles gently alongside an intangible sense of creativity, as the good men and women of Dorćol descend upon it from the early morning until way after the sun has clocked off. Head here early to catch the post office crew enjoying beers at an hour that is far from suitable for such things.
This colourful jewel lies on the bank of the Sava river and is really hard to miss - especially if you're walking across the north side of Branko's Bridge, as it's the first thing you'll see below. The exterior is decorated with portrait murals of some of the most influential musical icons from popular cultural, like Elvis Presley, Billy Idol and many more, including of course the eponymous Frank Zappa. Even the sultry Jessica Rabbit of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? fame found her place on the walls of here. Zappa Barka is one of the splavs that host regular events with many local and foreign musicians.
Belgrade's very first straight-friendly place, club Mercury is one of the popular floating boat clubs, or splavs, located on the river Sava. It hosts numerous events and great parties every weekend. Music genres vary depending on the type of the party organised. Mercury is an accepting place and always a lot of fun.
XL Bar is located in the centre of Belgrade, on Terazije Square, on the first floor. It's a small place (by Belgrade standards) for up to some 150 people. The interior is truly beautiful, with grey, purple and blue tones mixed with predominant white and stylish furniture giving it a special appeal. XL Bar is a great place for a morning coffee as well as a cocktail night.
Pride Info Centre is located close to the city centre and is a great place to head to get all the relevant information about happenings concerning the LGBT community in Belgrade. The folks working there are incredibly friendly and are glad to help you with any questions or queries you might have. The interior is tastefully minimalistic. Debates, exhibitions, discussions and more are also organised and everyone is welcome to join.
Another small club, Mystic, is located on Čumićevo Sokače on Terazije in the city centre. Mystic often hosts drag parties that are very popular amongst locals - mostly because they are incredibly fun. The prices are affordable and atmosphere is always great.
Club Musk is located in Makedonska Street, close to the city centre. Weekly karaoke nights are organised at the club every Wednesday, with occasional themed parties at the weekends. The visitors are mostly young men, and the staff is generally very pleasant.
Musk machine is strictly a weekend nightclub since it's open only on Friday and Saturday nights. The club's interior is rather eccentric, mostly in earthy tones mixed with red, combining steampunk and industrial styles giving it a strange but interesting look. There are drinks galore and they come at very reasonable prices.
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