About the LGBT Scene in Salzburg
Salzburg's queer infrastructure is small, and most of it sits in the Andräviertel, the nineteenth-century district on the right bank of the Salzach between Mirabell Gardens and the main station. Three addresses matter.
The first is HOSI Salzburg at Franz-Josef-Straße 22. The Homosexual Initiative has worked for around forty years for acceptance and legal equality of queer people. After thirteen years on Gabelsbergerstraße it moved into modern, highly visible rooms on busy Franz-Josef-Straße. Events run there during the week, and it is also home to the HOSI Bar, open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For newcomers it is the best place to find out what is going on in queer Salzburg. Regular nights include Ladies Night for women, a quiz hosted in drag and a queer city tour to places where queer figures left their mark on the city.
A few minutes' walk away, at Paracelsusstraße 11, is the Dark Eagle. It is the bar of the leather and fetish scene from the city and the surrounding region, and the club bar of LMC Salzburg. There are play rooms in the basement, and the host, Wolfgang, is well known to regulars. Besides normal bar nights it runs fetish nights, Sunday afternoon sessions and a puppy meet-up.
The third address is across the river: ARGEkultur at Ulrike-Gschwandtner-Straße 5, on the edge of the old town next to the university. The cultural centre describes itself as a place for critical debate and runs events all year. For the community it is mainly known as a party venue, because the HOSI-Fest takes place there four times a year and Pride Night follows the parade there.
All three places are within walking distance of the centre.
