Gay bars have a reputation in Istanbul of not staying around for long, the clash of gay versus religious life was all too apparent when I came across the third vacated gay bar on my week away to Istanbul. However, thankfully I did find some open bars and although many bars come and go for one reason or another this doesn't stop Turkish gay resilience. Whilst the scene is small the vibrancy, when found, is vivacious, energetic, dynamic and resourceful. That is if you go to the right bar and to me the best bar in Istanbul is Lovepoint. With fun european house music pumping from the decks, muscley athletic go-gos mixing it with polysexual trannies on the stage offering a tantilising stage performance and hot good looking bartenders (one melted my heart!), it is certainly the bar to visit after you have spent the day either taking in the cities many sites or relaxing in one of the cities hamams. Istanbul is certainly a beautiful city and the men and music should get your pulse racing.

The website is not as good as it was (I visited in 2005 - so I am still hoping that it is there!) www.lovedancepoint.com . I would be happy to know that this gay bar still exists in the good form that I found it, if anybody could let me know I would be gratful as I am hoping to go again soon.  Thank you X

Dana International would love this point.

Gay, bi, transexual

Beware of randy taxi drivers loitering outside the Lovepoint, this guy guy I kept meeting was not too pleasant! My advice would be to arrive/leave with friends or lovers if possible the Istanbul nightclubs are in the edgier side of town; where the drugs, prostitutes, pimps and nasty bastards operate. At dark its best not to be alone looking a tourist.