Gay Guide to FRANKFURT 2021

City Layout & The Gay District

Gay Frankfurt is sophisticated and pleasant and all the same time. It has one of the most enviable collection of museums dotted along the banks of the river Main. Foodies will be spoiled with several Michelin-starred restaurants to choose from. Those who like to party will find an eclectic club scene with lots of themed parties from fetish to bears, indie to pop. Add to all of this some of the most stunning architecture in Germany together with the warm and gay friendly welcoming locals and you will find a city that more than merits a visit beyond the confines of its flight gates.

When you arrive in the city, the first thing you will notice is its impressive Skyline. Nicknamed “Main-hattan” by locals the buildings of the financial centre rise high into the sky. As you walk towards the centre of the city the landscape changes as you pass by centuries-old buildings that were rebuilt to perfection after the war.

Know as “the smallest city in Europe”, Frankfurt is delightfully compact, making it very easy to walk to practically any destination. The city has a population of less than 700,000 people and it is estimated that more than 30% them are non-German in original. The city is also home to one of the largest urban gay populations in Europe with more than 60,000 gay man and women living within the city’s districts.

The gay scene is centred around the “Bermuda Triangle” area of Alte Gasse, Schafergasse and Bleichstrasse. The first stop for most visitors here is Zun Schwejk and old fashioned bar that is kitschy and typically German. Lucky’s LM 27 is nearby attracting crowds of all ages.

Those looking to dance should check out CK Studio, the one dedicated gay dance club in town. Several other themed parties take place on alternate saturdays. Check out the events section for details.

“The gay scene is centred around the Bermuda Triangle”

Central bar is one of the most popular venues in the city at the moment attracting the hip and the beautiful. Next door, Tangerine has a feeling of “Old Germany” with timbered ceilings and brick walls. The crowd are slightly older too. The entire “Bermuda Triangle” spans 3 blocks, approximately and so you can hig almost every bar in town in one night should you feel the need.

CSD Frankfurt & Other Popular Events

The biggest gay event of the season has to be “CSD Frankfurt”, Christopher Street Day, where the downtown area of Konstablerwache hosts a three-day pride festival featuring a huge parade, street festival and live music and acts, attracting more than 200,000 visitors. Other events include the delightful Christmas Markets when over 200 beautifully decorated stalls are placed throughout the city and Romerberg square is transformed into a winter wonderland complete with gigantic Christmas Trees and ferris wheels.

Finally, the Pink Monday during the Spring and Autumn Harvest Festival or “Dippodrom” is held in the fair’s premier party pavillion and is the fun highlight of the gay calendar.

Exploring, Shopping and dining along the way.

Start your trip with a coffee at Wacker’s Kafee, serving locals since 1914. Its brisk and crowded but definitely a great place for a midday pick-me-up. Next stroll to the Main Tower and take a quick ride up the elevator to take in amazing city views.

Those looking for knick-knacks, second-hand bargains  should check out Frankfurt’s famous flea market, which alternates between the southern Main embankment near Eiserne Steg footbridge and East Harbour every second Saturday. Check out the shopping section for a selection of the best stores in Frankfurt.

A quick trip to Kleinmarkthalle is a must for food lovers. This covered market is home to some of the most delicious spices, vegetables, frankfurters and cheese. You can also stand at one of the markets littke counters for a quick and delicious lunch, with everything from Sushi to Antipasto on offer.

Other nice lunch spots include Ebert’s Suppenstube, a soup and sausage eatery on Freegass offering wholesome and delicious food. Zarges with its bordello-style interior offers great food at reasonable prices. For something more traditional try Apfelwein Wagner and try an Apple wine, the local speciality. For more on dining out check out the restaurants section.

After you have taken in the views from the tower, head to beautiful Romerberg, a rebuilt historic square featuring period-style buildings and an elaborate town hall, reconstructed from original plans in the 1980s. It is truly magical.

Cross the Iron bridge and take in the locks hanging over the railings, placed by couples as a sign of their love. Watch the tour boats sail by on the waters below and head to Bruckenstrasse and Sachsenhausen, the city’s “South Bank” where you will find several young designers and funky stores in complete contrast to the commercial Zeil.

Those looking for some culture should check out the Frankfurt’s Museum-row, on Schaumainkai, where you will find the museum of Applied Arts, the museum of World Cultures, the German Architecture Museum and of course the Stadel home to works from Botticelli to Rembrandt through to modern greats such as Matisse and Picasso.