Le Boy

Le Boy was for many years the most famous gay club in Rio de Janeiro — a Copacabana institution that operated as the city's primary circuit-style gay nightclub from the 1980s through the 2010s. The club's name was known throughout Brazil and internationally; it served as the focal point of Rio's gay nightlife during the period when Ipanema's bar scene was the social venue and Copacabana's clubs were the after-midnight destination. Le Boy went through multiple closures and reopenings over its history, reflecting the economic and cultural volatility of the Rio gay club scene. At the time of writing, the venue's current operational status is uncertain — it has faced extended closure periods and visitors should verify current status through Brazilian LGBTQ+ community resources, apps such as Scruff or Grindr, or local guides before making plans around it. The name and the address retain their place in Rio's gay geography even when the club itself is not operating; the Copacabana neighbourhood around Rua Raul Pompéia remains a node of LGBTQ+ nightlife regardless of any single venue's status.