Now called Zero, the new club opened this past weekend. In fact, their new location is right across from Alta Gama, on the other side of Parque Lleras. Alas, word on the street is that their lease was up so they had to relocate, but luckily they didn’t go too far. That used to be my favorite dance spot in the city. After moving around to a few different locations, the people behind Purple brought a new vibe to the area around Parque Lleras when they opened up Lady Luck. It was located near the Laureles neighborhood. One of the first gay dance clubs I went to when I first visited Medellin in 2013 was a place called Purple. Hours: Thursdays through Saturdays, 9 pm to 4 am Sundays 9 pm to 2 amĬover: Varies – Normally $10.000 pesos, though it may increase for special events No cover on Sundays Where: Alta Gama Nightclub, Calle 9A # 38 – 26, Medellin (Look for the rainbow flags in Parque Lleras) I don’t think they’re going to let you in with your shorts and flip-flops. Oh! Remember to dress it up when you come to Alta Gama. It’s the perfect place to soak up the year-round Springtime weather that Medellin is known for. When I’m not dancing inside, I like to hang out on the balcony that overlooks Parque Lleras. There’s no need to wait in line at the bar – the staff will take your order and bring your drinks to you, giving you more time to shake it on the enormous dance floor or chat it up with your friends. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by a friendly member of the staff who will inform you about the drink specials. The night’s I’ve visited, Alta Gama’s DJ mixed up electronic, reggaeton and pop music. Whether that would happen or not, that the straight-owned business is freely flying the flag now is an indication of the growing cultural acceptance of an out and proud LGBT community in Colombia. Doing so, he said, would invoke a visit from city officials with a mandate to take it down. What’s amazing about this is that just a few years ago no business would be allowed to display the rainbow flag in the middle of the city’s most popular party center, according to manager Cristian Delgado. You can’t miss it – the owners have hung two huge gay pride flags from the balcony.
![closest gay bar to current location closest gay bar to current location](https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_limit,h_1200,q_75,w_1200/v1/clients/columbus/20170623_expcmh_1709_36dc34f4-fa24-44a9-818a-5cc4641fa356.jpg)
Alta Gama, as its name indicates, offers an upscale, somewhat exclusive experience for the partier looking for a little elegance. Hours: Wednesdays through Saturdays, 6 pm to 2 amĪ new nightclub is boldly claiming its prime location in Parque Lleras for the gays. Where: BarChiquita, Carrera 37 # 10-37 Local 205, Medellin (Via Primavera between Calles 10 and 10A) Chiquita offers more than the rum or aguardiente you’ll get at your typical Colombian cantina, and they offer some tasty appetizers too! That newness is also represented in the variety of mixed drinks served up by the engaging and sexy bartenders. But Chiquita represents the new Colombia, and we’re sure to see more variations of what the new Colombia will look like as the country continues to develop and modernize.
![closest gay bar to current location closest gay bar to current location](https://cdn.waterstones.com/bookjackets/large/9781/7837/9781783785834.jpg)
It’s rich history and culture are draws in and of themselves, and maintaining those traditions is important. I credit Juan Pablo and his colleagues with creating a space where subculture can thrive in a city that desperately needed it. It is unapologetically not the norm, and that’s why I love BarChiquita so much. As Juan Pablo says, Chiquita is a place where everyone can “feel free, where they can dress crazy and behave how they want.” Besides the vagina imagery on the walls behind the bar, when you take one step into the ladies room, you’ll find yourself surrounded by 3D images of dicks….lots of them! And while those of us gay boys might be disappointed that phallic visuals don’t adorn the walls of the men’s restroom, we can all celebrate the fact that the visionaries behind BarChiquita are challenging traditional, conformist standards about how women should behave. Liberation, particularly sexual liberation, is a theme you’ll find throughout Chiquita. When you visit make sure to ask one of the friendly staff about the girl from another planet. Juan Pablo told me a good story behind the bar’s stylings that puts it all in context. Upon walking up the steps, a big Moulin Rouge-esque heart greets you, providing the perfect backdrop for group selfies! The space is modest, but the decor is not. From the moment you turn the corner and see the pink fluorescents illuminating the street, you know you’re in for a treat.