The queer scene is here in a big way and is located almost exclusively in South Beach. There has been a gentrification of South Beach over the last five years. The gays are starting to feel pushed out, if you will, from main stream South Beach. Ocean Drive now caters, almost exclusively to a straight scene. Lincoln Road has been handling to overflow. But have no fear, there are still more than enough rockin' spots to keep your twinkle toes twinkling....so Blanche....it's time you packed your bags and headed south for the weekend because the best looking men in this town are all queens and don't you just love it? 
The Palace Bar and Grill   The Front Porch    Spiga
The Delano Hotel    The Hotel Astor    The Hotel
Salavation    The Warsaw Ballroom    Twist
The David Barton Gym    Club Body Tech    The Beach
THE PALACE BAR AND GRILL
1200 OCEAN DRIVE, SOUTH BEACH
(305)531-9077
The Palace Bar and Grill is an Ocean Drive institution and is one of the last remaining, exclusively gay haunts right on the Drive. It's right across from the "Gay Beach" at 12th Street so many meander off the beach and right into the open air café for drinks or a late lunch. The place really rocks on weekend afternoons. Remember my dears, you don't come here for the food, you come here for the "view."
FRONT PORCH CAFÉ
1420 OCEAN DRIVE, SOUTH BEACH
(305) 531-8300
The best place in town to catch a casual breakfast or brunch. It is very popular with the locals-be they gay or straight. The tourists have not managed to discover this gem as of yet so try to keep it a secret. No attitude or posing here. A perfect way to start the day.
SPIGA
1228 COLLINS AVE., SOUTH BEACH
(305) 534-0079
Blink and you may miss it as you buzz down Collins Ave. Spiga is the Hotel Impala's (See Hotels) wonderful Northern Italian restaurant. Spiga is popular with the stylish gay community. It offers excellent light Italian dishes at very affordable prices. The pretty little patio is the perfect place to get high style on a budget. Try the Snapper Milanese or the risotto. If you are straight, you may feel out-numbered. A recent dinner indicated that the service is getting a tad slow, so be sure you like your date. Lunch: Pasta entrees range form $4.50 to $7.50, Dinner: Salads $6, Pastas: $8-14 Fish, chicken $10-14. Serving dinner till midnight on weekends.
THE DELANO HOTEL
1685 COLLINS AVE
The Delano is still very gay friendly. It is the perfect spot to spend an evening dining on the romantic patio of the Blue Door restaurant or sipping a cosmopolitan at the Rose Bar. Better yet, bring your honey for the weekend so you can pass the day lounging poolside. The best time to come to the Delano if your are gay is for Thanksgiving week when the who's who of the gay world has checked in. Barry Diller and David Geffen have been known to show up along with every top fashion designer in the western hemisphere. The draw: the annual White Party at Vizcaya. Not to be missed.
THE HOTEL ASTOR
956 WASHINGTON AVE. SOUTH BEACH
(800)270-4981
The Hotel Astor caters to the rich who like to be low key but well pampered! Room rates are a bargain: $110 to $400 in low season. $145 to $600 in the high season. Half of the 42 rooms are suites. All the rooms are nicely appointed with marble baths, cotton robes and dimmer switches...don't you just love good lighting? The decor is a classy blend of muted colors. There's quite a buzz at the Astor these days between the lap pool in the courtyard and the happening restaurant/bar scene on sight.
THE HOTEL
801 COLLINS AVE., SOUTH BEACH
(877)THE HOTEL
Darlings, I just returned from a one week stay at this fabulous and brand new hotel and the formula works. Even with the flu! Todd Oldham, the clothing designer, has designed everything here from the carpets to the blue and green cloth headboards and the oh-so-retro tie-dye motif that runs throughout the hotel. The roof top pool deck is relaxed and chic and offers a killer view of the blue-green ocean (which ties in the blue and green tie dye curtains that can be pulled for privacy when you get your open air massage.) It's a little too soon to tell if it will have a strong gay following or not, but regardless, you will be made to feel welcome. The bedrooms have lots of mirrors in all the right places and CD players to set the mood. When you are not in your room tap your toes to the hip music playing on the hotel-wide sound system. The Hotel is getting a lot of press right now and has already been the centerpiece for many a fashion shoot. The on-site restaurant, Wish, has a romantic patio with a fountain and lots of candles. You can't beat the location as it is one small block to the News Café, the nerve center of South Beach. The room rates are a bargain on the lower end so book early to nab one: $185 and up.
SALAVATION
1771 WEST AVENUE
(305) 673-6508
Saturdays at Salvation...if you are gay, beautiful and like to party than this is your spot. There's a huge dance floor and an upper balcony for viewing the local talent. It's a glam crowd to be sure. When you have had enough of the shirtless wonders for one night, head over to Wolfies Diner for a late night bite.
THE WARSAW BALLROOM
1450 COLLINS AVE., SOUTH BEACH
(305) 531-4555
Warsaw is worth a visit if you need a loud dance club on a Wednesday night. Stop off at Twist afterwards.
TWIST
1057 COLLINS AVENUE
(305) 538-9478
Twist is still going strong and should be on every gay boy's late night list. There's a tiny dance floor, a pool table and an outdoor deck upstairs. Go any night of the week since it caters to an almost exclusively gay clientele.
THE DAVID BARTON GYM
1683 COLLINS AVE., SOUTH BEACH
(305)674-5757
The David Barton Gym is located in the basement of the Delano Hotel. It is packed with pretty gay boys with buff bods working each other while working out. The on-site physical trainers are excellent. A truly safe haven for women!
CLUB BODY TECH
1253 WASHINGTON AVE., SOUTH BEACH
(305)674-8222
You never know who you'll run into here at Club Body Tech. It's the club of choice for the many models and celebrities that are in town for a visit. it gets a more evenly mixed gay/straight crowd than the heavily gay David Barton Gym.
THE BEACH
12th to 13th streets is the "gay section" of the strip but the reality is that the entire beach is sprinkled with beautiful boys in tiny g-strings and pulsating uhhmmm...pecs. You will have dies and gone to heaven. Head over to the Palace Grill for a late lunch and a cruise fest. The Delano's beach pavilion is another great option. It has fabulous beach chairs for rent for just under $20 bucks. The cushions must be at least 5 inches thick...you'll feel like a queen....for the day. And the view doesn't suck either.






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