A change from Rio - something different

[mvan1]

If any travelers to Brazil want to try something different away from Rio, there is a nightclub/hustler bar in Sao Paulo that has become increasingly popular over the past few months. I mentioned this place last year or so in another thread.

The place is called Bar Fama. It has been at its current location for several years. Recently, there has been a marked increase in garotos and their admirers. I assume, like many establishments, there are busy nights and fewer busy nights. I know that the three nights I was there recently, the place was fun and busy and exciting (except for the drag shows that I do not care for).

Some of the garotos at Bar Fama are the same garotos that one sees at the saunas. While other garotos are those who do not visit saunas. There is a large selection of garotos not otherwise seen except for at this place.

One negative factor about the bar is that it does not open until late, after the saunas generally close or die out, or around midnight or so.

As mentioned above, there are live drag shows on premises. Considering that the place is a hustler bar, I suspect that most customers are not motivated to visit Bar Fama to see drag shows, although the shows do attract a large crowd.

If anyone chooses to visit Bar Fama, due to the late opening hours, I recommend using a taxi to and from. The Metro is several blocks from the bar. Unless you know the area, it is too easy to lose your way in the dark. Furthermore, it is potentially dangerous to be walking around late at night in Sao Paulo, although the area is no more dangerous than many areas of Rio.

Here is a link to Bar Fama:

http://famainflama.blogspot.com/

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[SolaceSoul]

Thanks, mvan1!

I am familiar with that area, and although I wouldn't recommend others who are less familiar and easier targets than I am walk from the train station or from a hotel, I could do it from where I often stay.

I love a good hustler bar (not any of them really left in USA, but years ago in my youth, there used to be some great ones in LA, NYC, DC, Atlanta and Miami. There also used to be a great hustler restaurant / bar in Rio (Corunjinha) but sadly, it no longer has any hustler scene.

I will check it out next time aim in São Paulo, especially since I am usually just winding down after the saunas anyway. It would be great to know the better nights.to go to this hustler bar. Do you recall the better, more crowded times and nights?

[mvan1]

Thanks, mvan1!

I am familiar with that area, and although I wouldn't recommend others who are less familiar and easier targets than I am walk from the train station or from a hotel, I could do it from where I often stay.

I love a good hustler bar (not any of them really left in USA, but years ago in my youth, there used to be some great ones in LA, NYC, DC, Atlanta and Miami. There also used to be a great hustler restaurant / bar in Rio (Corunjinha) but sadly, it no longer has any hustler scene.

I will check it out next time aim in São Paulo, especially since I am usually just winding down after the saunas anyway. It would be great to know the better nights.to go to this hustler bar. Do you recall the better, more crowded times and nights?

Hi Solace -

I remember Corujinha in Rio - what a fun place that was (about ten years ago). I met many a fine garoto at that place. The restaurant is still there but the hustlers are a mere faded memory.

As to Bar Fama in Sao Paulo, I used to go there often several years ago. As time passed, I got to meet and know so many different garotos that I stopped going to Bar Fama and either went to the saunas or visited with the different guys I met over time.

As to the better nights to go to Bar Fama, I don’t think my guess would be meaningful. I was there only three times on my last trip, after an absence of a few years. I went on a Friday and Saturday night then a week later, I went on a Saturday again. All nights were fun nights. I went there at the urging of one of my Brazilian friends who assured me the place would be fun, and he was correct.

However, I think it takes more than three visits to predict probability for better nights.

Considering you know the area, you can always go there and if it is not a night with lots of garotos, you can “call it a night” and return another night.

I do not recommend this place over the saunas. Clearly, the saunas afford better opportunity to see what you get before you make a deal with a garoto. Again, this place opens late at night compared to saunas that have earlier hours.

At Bar Fama, the guys are clothed but they are not timid. You have to rely on their apparent good looks and charm as compared to in the sauna when you rely on seeing the whole package (in more ways than one).

Nonetheless, Bar Fama is “something different” to try while visiting Sao Paulo.

Be aware, however, if you do not like drag shows, you are not going to like this place. Sometimes, the music is played so loud and the singing is so loud it is difficult to have a conversation with the garotos over the noise. On the other hand, if you don’t know enough Portuguese to communicate with the garotos, the noise (loud music) offers a comfort zone which will make it easier to negotiate with the garotos using hand signals and other methods.

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