Monday, January 30, 2012

The Manila Gay Bar Guide: Part 3

(continued from Manila Gay Bar Guide Part 2)

The Quezon City Macho Dancing Gay Bars

For those staying in Makati and who are willing to travel a few kilometers up north to experience the numerous macho dancing gay bars there, then I recommend visiting a few macho dancing bars in the Quezon City area. There are quite a number of macho dancer gay bars in this area, ranging from the bigger, more established, popular ones to the small seedy gay bars in the side streets. You will see the location of these bars in the map below.


To get to Quezon City from Makati, I recommend passing through EDSA, which is the main thoroughfare that connects the major cities of Metro Manila (see brief explanation from Part 1).

A taxi ride from Makati City to Quezon City (QC) will take around 40 minutes on a week night 10-11PM traffic, even if the distance is just 5 miles or 8 kilometers away. Otherwise, it's just 15 to 20 minutes past 1 AM (Pinoys, correct me if I am wrong). Just because of the distance and the traffic to get there, the bars in this area are ideal to visit if you are spending the weekend or more than a week in Manila.

Just like in the previous entry, let me get into detail how to get to those bars in Quezon City. There are two areas with gay bars. One is in the Timog (pronounced TEE-mohg) Avenue area, while another is in Aurora Boulevard. Let me start with the area with the most popular bars:



TIMOG AVENUE AREA
It's a highly commercial street filled with various eating places, banks, KTV bars, clubs, cafes, etc. The whole avenue starts at the GMA Network Building from EDSA, goes through the Boy Scout Rotonda (circular road with tall well-lit monument), then extends up to another major road, Quezon Avenue.

1. Adonis - Quezon City
118 Timog Avenue, Quezon City
Underneath the sign, there's always a tarpaulin
banner announcing a big night event
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com
What to expect: Most iconic gay bar in Metro Manila. Dark and cavernous, with a huge elevated stage. Perfect for the discreet because of the darkness. Couches near the stage (no extra fee to sit there). Average of 25 to 30 dancers on any given night. Mostly fair and good-looking men (not the typical dark-skinned "exotic-looking" guys that a lot of foreigners like). Mostly lean to buff, gym-toned bodies, to keep up with the "Adonis" physique. Average age range of dancers around 25 to 27; more mature age range among the gay bars in Manila. Continuous macho dancing from start to end, with no drag queen performances to serve as breaks and can thus get monotonous. Lots of VIP rooms for private conversations; Php 2090 for the first hour. Taxis abound at night.

By the way, its sister bar "Maginoo" along Timog Avenue is already closed.

What you can tell the taxi for the general location of the bar: Timog Avenue, right in front of the GMA Network Building. From EDSA, Timog Avenue is to the left, so the taxi may take a u-turn past the traffic lights. Once you reach Timog, the GMA building will be to your right (a 7-11 store in front of the building). You will find Adonis to your left, beside Lydia's Lechon and East Garden Grill and Bar. It's easy to find.

Click map to enlarge
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com
You know you're near when: You see the well-lit GMA Network Building to your right. The bar is right across the street.



2. Club Mankind - Quezon City

144 Scout Ybardolaza Street, Quezon City
"Hunks Bar" in Google Maps
What to expect: Typical macho dancer bar. Averages about 20 to 25 dancers. Average-looking men (with some standouts), lean to muscular bodies. Varied shows: typical macho dancing the entire night, interspersed with some themed sexy dances (eg. dances with masks, dancing while showering, ATW shows, etc) and drag queen performances. All-cast (when all the men will dance in front of the stage, and get introduced one by one) past midnight. No VIP rooms. Despite the darkness, customers can see each other's faces because of the stage's nearness to the customer couches. Clientele is a mix of gay men and older women.

What you can tell the taxi for the general location of the bar: Hmmm... Along Timog Avenue, go straight until you reach Amihan Restaurant, the landmark nearest the bar. That restaurant is at the corner of Timog Avenue and Scout Ybardolaza Street. The bar can be easily seen from this corner.

Click map to enlarge
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com
You know you're near when: You see Amihan Restaurant to your right and Shell Gas Station to your left if coming from EDSA side. The taxi needs to take a right turn at Amihan Restaurant. You know you're there when you see the poster of Gerard Butler's ass from the movie "300."




3. Makisig Entertainment Bar and Restaurant - Quezon City

59 Timog Avenue, Quezon City
Look for the "No Entrance, No Service Charge" banner under the logo
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com
What to expect: A small macho dancer bar. I haven't been inside the bar due to its very limited parking space. Thus I can't comment on the number of men and how good-looking they are. What I heard from a macho dancer friend who used to work here though is that there are only around 8 tables inside. There are two VIP rooms also.

What you can tell the taxi for the general location of the bar: Still along Timog Avenue, but nearer the Scout Rotonda / Rotunda (Boy Scout Circle). If you want to be discreet, just say "Dream Spa" or "Music Bank" along Timog Avenue.

Click map to enlarge
You know you're near when: You see the red neon lights of Music Bank KTV, then a giant billboard of Dream Spa to your right. Makisig gay bar is beside it.
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com

4. Mr. World - Quezon City
Timog Avenue corner Tomas Morato, Quezon City
You will see this logo on top of the Chowking sign, but it does not the sign to the door's entrance.
What to expect: The newest bar this side of town, the sister bar of Club Mankind. One of the nicest-looking and cleanest bars I've been to, all because it's new. Few men inside, less than 15 from my last visit. But they're constantly hiring. Their looks: Okay-ish, though a Singaporean friend liked the exotic-looking ones here. Mix of young and mature dancers. Mostly couches, all-comfortable. Some drag impersonator performances to break the monotony of the macho dancing, plus some shower dancing if you're lucky. No VIPs. A bit brightly-lit inside, due to the strength of the stage lights.

What you can tell the taxi for the general location of the bar: Scout Rotonda (or Boy Scout Circle) in Timog, Quezon City, near Chowking. Easy. The bar is located inside the building "Philippine International Life Insurance Co."
Click map to enlarge
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com
You know you're near when: You are at the Scout Rotonda / Boy Scout Circle and see the well-lit Chowking fastfood restaurant. If you wish to be discreet, you can alight in front of Chowking. The bar's not-so-obvious entrance, manned by a security booth/table, is to the left of Chowking and before Pier 39 ktv bar. For a visual of the entrance:
See that Chowking sign on the right? And don't be fooled by the "No Entrance" sign.
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com

5. Planet Xanadu (now known as Prince Xanadu) - Quezon City
#6 Scout Borromeo, South Triangle, Quezon City
This logo is different from the unlit sign at the front of the bar
What to expect: Typical macho dancer gay bar. Looks dark and old inside, but interiors try to project a modern, out-of-this-world look and feel. Average of 20-25 men working inside, average-looking men with a few stand outs. Some lean, a few boyish, some gym-toned, a handful of dark exotic-looking men. No VIP Rooms. Bar best known for their production numbers (choreographed themed dances with mood lighting and costumes).

What you can tell the taxi for the general location of the bar: The bar is tricky to locate. First, the Quezon City based taxis may know where the bar is, but those not familiar in the area may not. Second, the area is not along a major road, and you may need a few turns to get to the bar. Third, at night, the Planet Xanadu signage is not lit, and you can only see the lit Burger Machine stall in front of the bar. So to get to the bar, you need to tell the taxi "Puregold Supermarket" or "Tropical Hut grocery" along Scout Borromeo, which are the closest landmarks in the area. The bar is on the block before Tropical Hut (see map).
Click map to enlarge
From the map, you can see that there are lots of ways to get to Planet Xanadu from Scout Rotonda / Boy Scout Circle. I prefer to go straight along Timog Avenue, turn right at Scout Tobias before Music 21 Plaza, then after seeing the Puregold sign, left on Scout Borromeo.  

You know you're near when: First is a big green neon sign of Puregold, if coming from Scout Tobias street. Once you see the Burger Machine stand, you can alight here and you will see the bar slightly behind the Burger Machine stand.
Prince Xanadu / Planet Xanadu entrance behind the Burger Machine stand
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com
Look for this unlit signage on top of the Burger Machine sign.
I also doubt they will change the name to "Prince Xanadu" soon.

ALONG AURORA BLVD.
If you're feeling more adventurous, and can spend more time in Metro Manila, then the macho dancing bars along Aurora Boulevard is for you. You need to navigate the dark and dingy side streets of Quezon City to get to the dimly-lit bars in this area.

1. DreamBoys Bar and Restaurant - Quezon City
774 Aurora Boulevard, Barangay Kaunlaran, Quezon City
What to expect: Small seedy dirty old macho dancing bar. Very dark, very discreet. Most of the clientele are middle aged, middle-to-working class discreet-looking gay men. ATW shows? Abundant. Most I've seen in a bar so far. Dirrrty, literally and figuratively. But sorry, no live shows. The floor managers here are the most pushy. The whole bar experience teases the customers with the idea that they can do anything they please inside the bar (no other bar dims the lights for a minute after each performance). Be sure to bring small bills; "area" is aplenty.

The men? Not-so-goodlooking for the general Filipino taste with a few notable exceptions, but may be appealing for the exotic-liking foreigner. Mix of thin young twinks barely 20s and very mature buff-to-stocky men barely 30s. The guys are quite open to meet outside for breakfast and then some. =)

What you can tell the taxi for the general location of the bar: Betty Go Belmonte LRT Station along Aurora Boulevard. That's the nearest landmark, although the bar is not exactly underneath the station. The bar will be before the LRT Station if coming from EDSA.
Click map to enlarge
You know you're near when: Turning left from EDSA to Aurora Boulevard, after 5-7 minutes from the intersection, you'll see the bar to the left. It is beside a Reyes Barbecue restaurant. You will not miss this bar due to the Christmas lights decor lining the roof of its entrance.



2. Hotmen and Emotional Hunks - Quezon City
I've grouped these two together as they are right beside each other, at another area of Quezon City: Cubao.
Both bars: Stanford Street, Cubao, Quezon City
What to expect: Small macho dancing gay bars. Hotmen is old, while Emotion Hunks just started last 2011. As with small bars, expect quite a lot of ATW men who will go "area" on you after each performance. Looks? Average to Exotic-looking. Hotmen has some VIP rooms. As with small bars along Aurora Boulevard, customers have more freedom in touching the men when tabled beside you. Just choose wisely, as these men keep pestering the customers to choose them for the night. 

Can you brave the dark streets of Cubao to get to those bars?
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com
What you can tell the taxi for the general location of the bar: Say Cubao first. Then Hotel Sogo, along Aurora Boulevard, turning right from EDSA. See map below.

Click map to enlarge
Night photo by http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com
You know you're near when: Along Aurora Boulevard, you see Hotel Sogo to your right and a Mini-Stop Convenience Store to your left. The taxi will need to take a u-turn after Hotel Sogo and Mini-Stop to get to Stanford Street. You can ask to be dropped off at Mini-Stop then walk towards either gay bar, or choose to turn right at Stanford Street. Open your eyes for the lit signage of Emotion Hunks and neon signage of Hotmen (near the neon signage of Kakosa bar) to your left. 

Note: Batong Buhay KTV Bar, also in Cubao, is already closed. I won't include yet the infamous Prince Galaxy bar until the bar re-opens.

Please see also Manila Gay Bar Guide Part 2 for gay bars in Manila-Paranaque-Pasay area.

*Hope you find this useful. Even if you may not email me anymore for gay bar recommendations and directions on how to get to your target MD bar, I will appreciate it very much if you email me a simple thank you note or post a comment below if you found use for these information.

GB Goer
Learn more: Lessons from Gay Bars in Manila
http://machosandhostos.blogspot.com/
email: char.affairs@gmail.com
twitter: @gbgoer



Photo credits:
http://shootingatnight.blogspot.com for most of the night photos
Google Maps
http://121jigovatios.blogspot.com/2011/02/big-culo-day-2011.html
http://www.dreamboyzbar.blogspot.com/?zx=e8306b74a0c2efef
http://ph.openrice.com

23 comments:

  1. nice...been waiting for part 3 for a long time. btw, when did maginoo close down? did the MDs transfer to Adonis?

    ReplyDelete
  2. also, will prince galaxy bar re-open?

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  4. oh my!e2 n hinihintay q eh!ahahahaha!Mr. World, Makisig, Planet Xanadu & Dream boys. dyan nagttrabaho ung mga friend qng dancers d2.

    Ung friend qng ATW sa mr. world nagttrbho...and in fairness...huge tlga sya! sa makisig nmn yung ex q. sayang hnd u napasok....hihihi! my friend din aq s planet xanadu & bongga! my advertisment p cla sa youtube. in fairness,creative cla.qng s dreamboyz la n maxadong wafu as you say, malamang wla n dun yung ex q...hahaha (minsan lng magfeeling!^_^.wak n kontra!) all in all, prng yung wafu n d2 samin eh average type lng pla tlga dyan sa manila. so 22o din pla ang chismis khit minsan..^_^..and kya pla nagmamigrate cla d2 kc la maxdong competition pero sapalaran prin kc hnd rin nmn maxadong dinadayo mga GB d2....super thanks GBG! patour nmn pgbalik q dyan if my time k? ahahaha!!!^_^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes. May mga kilala na rin akong nakapagsapalaran sa Olongapo para malaman kung pati doon ay magkaroon sila ng mas magandang income

      Salamat ulit.

      Delete
    2. teh, shareness naman ng eksenahan diyan sa 'Gapo. hehehe. I too have picked up on this thing about MD in Manila getting recruited to bars in your city, target opkers would be the gay farang moolah. so teh, nuba namesung ng mga pugad diyan? parang puedeng field trip one day vah.. hehehe

      Delete
    3. i'm not in gapo eh...baguio aq...hehehe.... baguio gaybars namely, dessert moon sa may naguillian rd.,meron sa nagoya dating cloud 7 pero iba n name ngayon pero same management, macho bar sa magsaysay medyo bagong bukas.more or less than a year ata.yun ung latest n nagbukas d2.ung thunder birds na malapit sa nagoya nagsara n eh.ung samurai sa may marcos high way kasasara lng pero magbubukas daw and hercules ang magiging name.ewan qng kelan magbu2ks.daming mga taga manilang dancers na nagsitaas d2 pero eventually bumababa din kc hnd gaanong puntahan mga gaybar d2.not unless weekend or big night....^^....hope u can visit!^_^

      Delete
  5. nasan ba yung mr world..eto ba yng malapit sa valenzuela??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hindi, no! kanto ng morato extension and timog ave. Chowking sa ibaba ng building

      Delete
  6. Review of DreamBoys Bar and Restaurant - Quezon City by Gay Tripadvisor ;-)

    Quite easy to find, and it took our Manila cab driver not so much time to get there, as the streets and avenues were surprisingly empty.
    We entered on a late sunday evening, around half an hour before midnight.
    A total of 8 guys was what was available. A first disappointment ;-) After midnight I guess 5 or 6 of them went all the way. They had fabulous equipment, let's say: european sized dicks. All of them had cute faces. But about the body in between, I can be very short. Fat, a bit of fat or just too fat. Very sad to see one of these youngsters under the red spots with something like cellulite pits. These guys are straight as hell and think they loose weight while watching themselves in the mirror. There was only one cutie perfectly build. There were no slim guys, and certainly no dark skinned pinoys.
    Most of the guys approached us after the show, so we had time for a closer inspection. Not that we didn't not like that ;-) but after a month of travelling the Philippines, we were quite experienced in pinoy watching.
    The staff was a little bit pushy and one of them informed me which guys were 'game'. Interesting, but useless.
    Anyway, this show was far much hotter than the one in Cheetah Boys in Mandaue (Cebu). Mainly because the macho dancers were dancing very closeby.

    I guess if you are here with a group of friends, it can be a lot of fun. But if the show and the performances are your main interest (and you are white) you are likely to be disappointed.

    Even in the smallest places, and with a lot of help of local wifi and PlanetRomeo, I met really goodlooking gay and bi lads. All of them horny, and exactly into the same stuff as I was ;-)
    A win-win situation for both sides. Better 'invest' your pesos in real pinoys and not into these straight dudes, of which most never go to the gym or do some sports.

    Gay Tripadvisor

    ReplyDelete
  7. Review of DreamBoys Bar and Restaurant - Quezon City by Gay Tripadvisor ;-)

    Quite easy to find, and it took our Manila cab driver not so much time to get there, as the streets and avenues were surprisingly empty.
    We entered on a late sunday evening, around half an hour before midnight.
    A total of 8 guys was what was available. A first disappointment ;-) After midnight I guess 5 or 6 of them went all the way. They had fabulous equipment, let's say: european sized dicks. All of them had cute faces. But about the body in between, I can be very short. Fat, a bit of fat or just too fat. Very sad to see one of these youngsters under the red spots with something like cellulite pits. These guys are straight as hell and think they loose weight while watching themselves in the mirror. There was only one cutie perfectly build. There were no slim guys, and certainly no dark skinned pinoys.
    Most of the guys approached us after the show, so we had time for a closer inspection. Not that we didn't not like that ;-) but after a month of travelling the Philippines, we were quite experienced in pinoy watching.
    The staff was a little bit pushy and one of them informed me which guys were 'game'. Interesting, but useless.
    Anyway, this show was far much hotter than the one in Cheetah Boys in Mandaue (Cebu). Mainly because the macho dancers were dancing very closeby.

    I guess if you are here with a group of friends, it can be a lot of fun. But if the show and the performances are your main interest (and you are white) you are likely to be disappointed.

    Even in the smallest places, and with a lot of help of local wifi and PlanetRomeo, I met really goodlooking gay and bi lads. All of them horny, and exactly into the same stuff as I was ;-)
    A win-win situation for both sides. Better 'invest' your pesos in real pinoys and not into these straight dudes, of which most never go to the gym or do some sports.

    Gay Tripadvisor

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi G.B. Goer!

    We miss you. Hope you'll have an update soon. Take care always!

    ReplyDelete
  9. @Gay Tripadvisor,
    Cheetah is not in Mandaue, it is
    in the Banilad area of Cebu City.
    The bars in Mandaue are Navigator,
    Milkmen (Club Notes), and Naughty Ka.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sir can i ask what is GEB club in moras morato? Is is a gaybar thanks...

    ReplyDelete

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