Torremolinos Gay Travel
wolfyy’s Torremolinos gay guide to hotels, things to do, gay bars, cruising, events & more.
The Gay Travel Experience: Torremolinos, Spain
Torremolinos is one of the most memorable and fun-filled gay destinations I’ve ever visited. Travelers love this seaside town in the south of Spain for its carefree gay resorts, upbeat gay events, and rowdy nightlife scene.
I’ve heard gay travelers familiar with Torremolinos call it “the new Sitges” since it’s relatively less discovered. However, the town still ranks among one of the best gay destinations in the world.
You’ll find tons of Spaniards and Italians, but not anywhere near the same number of American and British gay travelers that frequent gay destinations in Spain that are more well-known.
Traveler's Opinions of Torremolinos
Before I visited Torremolinos, a few fellow travelers shared that they thought the destination was “trashy.” I was a little confused about this and naturally curious to see for myself. Ultimately, after spending over a week here, I can say I don’t agree with them!
Calling the gay nightlife in Torremolinos trashy is understandable though, based on how all the bars are clustered in an older complex. And to be fair, local gay hotels aren’t necessarily giving five-star luxury. But, plenty of other aspects of this gay resort destination more than make up for it.
My recommendation? Go to Torremolinos. Aside from weeks during large circuit festivals, the vibe is authentic and relaxed, yet there is still plenty to do! Popular Andalusian destinations like Seville, Granada, and Cádiz aren’t too far, either!
Gay Torremolinos: Hotels & Where to Stay
The La Nogalera area is the heart of gay life in Torremolinos. Here you’ll find all the town’s gay hotels, bars, and beaches. Everyone pretty much stays within walking distance of the local bars and restaurants in this area.
Here are the top gay hotels where you can be sure to have the best experience!
Hotel Ritual Torremolinos
Hotel Ritual Torremolinos is without a doubt the best local gay hotel. During the day, the center of gay life is right here. The biggest draws of this large 180+ room hotel are the massive lower swimming pool, the rooftop nude pool deck, and direct access to the adjacent gay beach.
I stayed a week at Hotel Ritual and was so comfortable. They get everything right. The rooms are super clean, the air conditioning is strong, the service is fast, and the breakfast selection is enormous.
In addition to a gym, steam room, and sauna, there’s even a barbershop inside the hotel so you can get a fresh cut anytime you like.
Hotel Sireno
Hotel Sireno is another Torremolinos gay hotel owned by Ritual. It’s located closer to the center of town, but still a quick walk to the heart of the gay area.
The hotel’s interiors and overall vibe are similar to Hotel Ritual, but they all come at a lower price since the location isn’t directly on the waterfront. If you’re looking for the best gay hotel at the lowest price, this is your spot!
Hotel Sireno also has a fabulous rooftop pool with fantastic views. And another perk is that Sireno guests get free access to the Ritual Hotel’s pool areas.
Meliá Costa del Sol
Meliá Costa del Sol is popular with gay travelers who want a hotel right near the gay beach and bars, but don’t necessarily want to be in a fully gay resort.
Just a minute away from Hotel Ritual, Meliá is a four-star property that offers a bit more style and robust amenities. They have a ton of outdoor relaxation space, two pools, their own beach club, modern finishes, an interior bar/lounge, a gym, and a spa.
If you stay at the Torremolinos Meliá, you can still join the crowd at the swimming pools at Hotel Ritual by purchasing a day pass. Super easy!
Torremolinos Gay Travel Experiences
Swim at the Gay Beach
Playa del Bajondillo is where you’ll find the gay beach in Torremolinos. Directly in front of Hotel Ritual, it’s a ton of fun and undoubtedly one of the best gay beaches in all of Spain.
There are a few different spots on the gay beach to relax. You can grab a spot in the open sand area on the north side of the beach clubs for free.
Otherwise, relax at the popular Eden Beach Club. All the friendly guys around make this place perfect for single gay travelers.
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Relax at Eden Beach Club
Eden Beach Club is the most popular spot to lounge by the water along the gay beach in Torremolinos. Make sure you’ll have a sun bed (or a luxurious cabana) by making a reservation on Eden’s website the day before, at the latest.
Reservations are only held until 12:30 PM and everything starts getting busy between 12 PM and 1 PM, so don’t be late! If you didn’t make a reservation, just show up just around 12:30 PM and they’ll give you anything that’s available.
Make sure to bring your own beach towel. They don’t provide them. The cabanas do come with a fresh towel covering, though!
Shop These → Gay Beach Essentials
Swim at Ritual’s Nude Pool
If you’re not shy about being nude, you have to head to the Ritual Hotel’s rooftop pool deck at least once during your visit to Torremolinos.
Spaniards, as well as most other gay Europeans, are pretty comfortable being naked—so if it’s your first time, don’t give it too much thought! It’s such a friendly environment and honestly can be a great way to meet some new friends.
The rooftop has a small bar, a couple dozen lounge chairs, and of course the gorgeous infinity pool with a view of the sea. It’s quite popular in the late afternoons, especially once the lower pool deck and beach areas are in shadow.
Visit La Carihuela
If you want a break from the gay scene, head on a little adventure to the adjacent neighborhood of La Carihuela. It’s a great place to walk along the beachfront promenade, grab lunch at one of the many Spanish restaurants, or have a drink at a beach bar.
The town center of La Carihuela is gorgeous, with bright white buildings and cozy little café-style restaurants.
Restaurants in Torremolinos
4 Cuartos
The best meal I had in Torremolinos was at 4 Cuartos, a mind-blowingly delicious tapas restaurant. The flavors of every dish were so diverse and satiating and you could tell the staff is proud of how happy the food makes everyone.
You can order tapas-style plates to share or traditional entrees. Plus, being right across the street from the Ritual hotel in the gay area of Torremolinos, having a meal at 4 Cuartos is totally a no-brainer.
Bar Jerez
Bar Jerez is perfect for quick, easy, and delicious tapas. They’re located in the center of Torremolinos, not too far from the Sireno gay hotel. It’s an easygoing place to eat, have a beer, and people-watch.
They also pride themselves on being one of the fastest restaurants around. Our food came out so quickly!
El Armario Bodega
El Armario Bodega is a fun gay-popular restaurant and wine bar in the heart of the Torremolinos gay neighborhood. It’s a great spot for an early dinner or late afternoon drinks.
They have both indoor and outdoor tables, and even have drag performances from time to time. I saw a decent little crowd here much earlier than at the other nearby restaurants.
La Ponderosa
If you’re looking for a good Paella, head to La Ponderosa. This restaurant is also a good choice for seafood lovers. A traveling gay couple from central Spain recommended this spot to me since they loved La Ponderosa so much for their authentic Spanish dishes. Give it a try!
Torremolinos Gay Bars & Clubs
Torremolinos has so many gay bars and other nightlife venues that you surely won’t be able to visit them all in one trip!
Most of the gay bars are clustered together in La Nogalera. This nightlife center is a little urban compound consisting of many smaller establishments. The setup makes it easy to bar hop, find your friends, or make new ones.
A couple of popular local gay clubs are just outside this area though, which I’ll explain in the sections below.
Aqua Club
Aqua Club has two adjacent locations, one of which is a gay bar called Aqua Terraza that’s located along the main strip. Across the plaza is Aqua Emporio, one of the large popular gay clubs in Torremolinos.
Inside Aqua Emporio, there’s a ton of space to dance. They always have fantastic DJs, who typically play circuit party-style music. You’ll find tons of gorgeous shirtless men here.
Centuryon
Centuryon was my favorite Torremolinos gay club. It’s another one of the biggest venues popular for late-night dancing (they open at 1 AM)!
Expect sexy go-go dancers on stage and a great mix of music. Centuryon is only two blocks away from the main cluster of gay bars, so it’s easy to get to. Entry is typically 18 Euros.
You may notice one of the nearby gay bars selling entry wristbands for Centuryon. While these are perfectly legit, it’s not a good idea to buy them in my opinion. Firstly, there’s a 1 AM cutoff time for buying the wristband for the same night.
Secondly, they make you order drinks in order to buy it. Paying at the door at Centuryon is easy, so there’s no need to buy wristbands in advance.
Eden Copas
Eden Copas is the sister bar to the famous Eden Beach Club near the local gay beach. It’s a decently sized gay bar in the center of the gay nightlife area with popular drag shows.
They also have a takeaway stand out front for quick drinks. Lots of people order here and hang out at tables in the surrounding plaza walkways.
Parthenon
I had such a fun time at Parthenon watching a hilarious drag show. Even for those who aren’t Spanish speakers, the performances are still easy to follow. The drag queens slide a little English in between to make sure you can get the gist of it.
Parthenon’s air conditioning is magic, by the way, which is honestly so nice coming from the humid main strip of gay bars.
Marta, Cariño!
Marta Cariño is a newer, medium-sized Torremolinos gay bar that’s owned by Ritual Hotels. It’s also known as “Ritual Copas.” They’re another one of the popular gay bars for drag shows later in the evening around 11 PM. Entry is 10 Euros, which includes a drink.
Men’s Bar
Men’s Bar always has a bit of a sexy vibe and is the local leather/bear/fetish gay bar of Torremolinos. They host special events like Fetish Social, video DJ nights, and Glitter Pop dance parties.
You can also find some cruising inside Men’s Bar. Just take a peek inside their underground darkroom! On weekends it can get pretty busy here.
More Torremolinos Gay Bars
The venues above are the most popular gay bars and clubs, but there are a bunch more you should keep in mind. Here’s a quick list of the rest of the noteworthy Torremolinos gay bars.
Sky Lounge – Relaxed gay bar with a cozy interior and outdoor tables for fun cocktails.
Bar Ego (Ego Copas) – Large, popular gay bar known for its diverse and queer-friendly crowd as well as the drag queen host, Cherilyn Divine.
Vida Bar – Centrally located bar popular with groups of guys looking to meet new people.
Billie’s Piano Bar – Prohibition Era-inspired gay bar offering tapas and craft cocktails.
Boomerang Torremolinos – The only gay bar nestled inside a popular local plaza filled with restaurants in La Nogalera. I loved the ambiance here!
QUEEN by Cesar’s Corner – Tucked-away bar in the center of the La Nogalera nightlife area with friendly staff and a mixed crowd.
Lights Bar – Easygoing spot in the heart of the gay nightlife area with outdoor seating, great for easy drinks.
Gay Saunas & Cruising in Torremolinos
Exxxtreme Cruising Club
Exxxtreme Club is the most popular gay cruising spot in Torremolinos. They have live sex shows just about every weekend all year long with some incredibly sexy men.
Inside they have a bar, private cabins, slings and other cruising areas. There are also plenty of lockers to leave your clothes behind.
Just a few of the themes of Exxxtreme’s sexy parties include military, sport, neon, and naked night. Entry is typically 12 Euros, which includes one cocktail or two beers.
Aqua Sex Bunker
Next to the street-level Aqua Terraza gay bar, you’ll see the entrance to Aqua Sex Bunker. This is a separate late-night fetish and cruising venue that opens later in the night, typically at 1 AM.
You can buy tickets to enter Aqua Sex Bunker next door at the bar. Their Facebook page is typically updated with the latest events and shows.
Cuero Cruising Club
Cuero Cruising Club is a tiny but popular gay cruising club. They’re known for having a cozy and friendly environment. This spot is busiest Friday through Sunday as well as on Mondays when Cuero Club hosts their weekly naked party.
Before you go cruising, make sure you have a pair of sexy underwear or a jockstrap to wear!
Alcatraz Men’s Club
Alcatraz Men’s Club is a sexy underground men’s cruising and fetish club that hosts weekly sex parties and live sex shows. They’re open all year, even hosting events during the cooler winter months.
On Thursdays, Alcatraz hosts a naked party and on Fridays, they host a fetish and leather party where you can sport a sexy harness. Each Sunday they host a sexy sportswear party in the late afternoon. Wednesdays and Saturdays are regular cruising nights.
Hotel Ritual Spa
On the lower level of Hotel Ritual is a spacious and relaxing gay spa. Most afternoons there’s at least a small group of guys here, but weekends are usually busier.
This spa is probably the tamest of all the gay cruising venues in Torremolinos. At times it can be more of a place to relax, which is sometimes perfectly fine!
Torremolinos Gay Events
Infinity Festival
Infinity Festival is one of the most popular yearly gay festivals in Torremolinos. It’s a long weekend packed with parties and events like beach parties, pool parties, and sex parties. One of the main events is the European Porn Awards!
The festival is presented by Scruff and is typically scheduled in early October. Make sure to bring all your best gay party gear and some sexy swimsuits.
Matrix Sun Festival
Matrix Sun Festival is another yearly gay event weekend in Torremolinos, but with a heavier circuit party influence. Get ready for local versions of popular big-name international parties like WE Party, Kluster Madrid, and Heaven & Hell!
In addition to the evening circuit parties, Matrix Sun Festival hosts boat, beach, and pool parties!
Wonder Gay Festival
Wonder Gay Festival is an event producer that co-hosts a bunch of different types of gay events at the beach and local clubs. Many of their events are much tamer and smaller than other typical circuit parties.
Each summer, Wonder Gay Festival does have its own self-hosted gay party weekend, the most popular of which is the big pool party at the Ritual Hotel.
Make sure to bring your best gay circuit gear and some sexy underwear or jockstraps!
Torremolinos Travel Tips
Languages Spoken by Tourists in Torremolinos
The majority of travelers visiting Torremolinos were either native Spanish or Italian speakers. Many of them travel from smaller towns in Spain and lots of people visit from Málaga over the weekends.
In my opinion, this speaks to the authenticity of Torremolinos as a gay travel destination that is less discovered by the rest of the world. I absolutely loved it.
The majority of other gay travelers will be able to speak some English at a minimum. There are also the occasional Americans, British or other northern Europeans to make friends with.
But, if you want to be able to speak with the handsome Spaniards that don’t speak english, Torremolinos is a great place to practice the Spanish you learned in school, or even a destination worthy of learning Spanish before visiting!
Babbel subscriptions are super cheap and their app makes learning some language basics easy. The most you’ll pay is $14 per month. Plus, it gets even cheaper if you choose a multi-month package.
Prep for the Beach
The beaches in Torremolinos, including the local gay beach, have a lot of black sand. This stuff gets very hot and can really burn your feet.
A cheap pair of stylish water shoes will do the trick. Remember to bring a beach towel as well. Local beach clubs don’t provide them.
Want another party hotspot instead? Check out Maspalomas!
For more inspiration, browse wolfyy’s full collection of gay travel guides.
