The history of Babylon in Joburg
Opened in late 2009, Babylon Bar at Illovo Muse on Oxford Road quickly became a hotspot for Joburg’s suburban gay nightlife. One of Joburg's longest-running queer clubs, Babylon was a gloriously over-the-top playground of neon lights, sticky floors and trailing greenery that hung from the ceiling like a decadent sky garden.
To understand its final night, you had to understand what it had always offered: permission. Permission to be louder, freer, more yourself. Whether you came to dance until sunrise, lock eyes with your next fling, or gather around the stage for Joburg’s fiercest drag performances, Babylon delivered the exact mix of chaos and camaraderie the weekend demanded.
Though rooted as an LGBTQI+ safe haven, Babylon's energy eventually drew a broader crowd, becoming one of those rare “everyone-bars” in the city.
On Sun, Mar 1, 2026, Babylon closed its doors. But not before we joined one last dance – determined to be among the final bodies on that floor.
From drag to dance floors
Our Saturday began in Sandton at The Greenhouse, with winged eyes and body-tight tops. We were there for House of Drag, presented by Drag Brunch and hosted by Femme Aldehyde and star performer ADAM aka adaammahh (who we first encountered practising a walk in impossible heels outside a venue in Rosebank, and have been obsessed with ever since).
First off: If you’re intimidated to interact with these queens, don’t be – they are some of the warmest, most encouraging beings you’ll ever meet.
The afternoon, a pre-party to Babylon’s closing bash, featured pop anthems performed by high-cheekboned queens in outrageously over-the-top outfits. Seeing ADAM perform – already a standout figure on the city’s drag scene and central to Babylon’s entertainment line-up over the years – was a perfect start to the night. Every Saturday, ADAM brought Babylon to life with a signature drag show that became the highlight of many nights out.
The turnout for this drag brunch was impressive, and the complimentary pornstar martini on arrival gave even the shyest guests the courage to fully participate. The highlight came when ADAM performed Natasha Bedingfield’s Unwritten under a soft drizzle and golden-hour sun. Everyone sang along, strangers becoming momentarily in synch – a reminder of how beautifully public joy can unite us.
Follow @thegreenhousejhb and @adaammahh on Instagram for upcoming Drag Brunch events.
The hesitance of celebration
We headed to Babylon Bar, where half of Joburg had also gathered to pay respects. The dancefloor diversity was the real highlight. This institution was always about dancing hard, singing louder than necessary, and leaving gloriously exhausted. (RIP Babylon: you will be missed, but not your overpriced drinks.)
While waiting in line for the bathroom, momentarily becoming a wallflower, a bass-heavy version of 360 by Charli XCX pulsed as shirtless, tattooed bartenders moved with precision to serve twinks in sleek latex, and a group of friends dissected the spicy on-screen visuals (if you know, you know).
This scene reminded us of an article by Herman Lategan for Daily Maverick (2025): South Africa’s great queer memoricide is a choice, but so is remembrance. He recalled Africa’s first Gay and Lesbian Pride march in Joburg on Sat, Oct 13, 1990, led by Simon Nkoli – a black gay activist whose courage under Apartheid and during the AIDS crisis helped shape the 1996 Constitution, outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Back then, queer spaces were underground havens. Activism was urgent, and survival demanded defiance. Today, many young queers are unaware of Nkoli, police raids, or AIDS-related deaths – they celebrate the freedom that places like Babylon afford as a lifestyle rather than a hard-won political achievement.
It’s not this generation’s job to constantly give thanks – they’re making their own way, on their own terms, and setting up the next era. Yet Joburg’s nightlife quietly carries forward the spirit of those early activists – in spaces where identity, creativity, and defiance thrive – and small republics of joy and belonging, where everyone still has a voice.
Pre-democracy, spaces like The Dungeon Club at the corner of Marshall and Goud streets in the City Centre (now closed) laid the groundwork for underground queer life. Today, that energy continues in forms of warehouse parties, pop-ups, and after-hours gatherings – raw, restless, and alive with connection. Unlike Cape Town’s polished visibility, Joburg thrives on experience and improvisation.
Babylon’s closure
Why did Babylon close? Owner Heinz Rynners explained that it wasn’t financial; he wanted to end “on a high” while the club was still thriving. Social shifts, increased LGBTQI+ integration, more fluid identities, and declining alcohol consumption also played a role.The brand will live on through smaller pop-up Babylon tribute events, planned upstairs at his Pink Mamas restaurant in Dunkeld. Nearby Democracy Bar continues to host drag shows, quiz nights, and other events, keeping Illovo Muse alive on the nightlife map.
Gay- and queer-friendly bars – or "everyone-bars"?
If Babylon taught us anything, it’s this: gay or not, we all click on the dancefloor. Queer-friendly spaces cultivate a kind of authenticity and community you rarely find elsewhere – but that’s something we should all strive for.
And in these types of clubs, being self-conscious is a non-starter – which is exactly why straight folks love them. Queer patrons know how awful judgement feels, so they give everyone permission to let loose. And heteros feel safe, knowing the space is a no-judgement zone. It would be fantastic to see nightlife continue to move beyond rigid divides.
Good to know: Gay bars are created by and for LGBTQI+ people: safe havens centring queer identity, drag, themed parties, and Pride events. Queer-friendly bars are mainstream venues with inclusive policies and visible allyship – but don’t necessarily put queer culture at the heart of programming. In short: gay bars are queer-first; queer-friendly bars welcome all.
Is Joburg safe for gay travellers?
Annual events like Johannesburg Pride of Africa and Queertopia draw visitors from near and far. The city maintains a zero-tolerance approach to homophobia and hate crimes. As with any major city, exercise caution: avoid walking alone at night, use trusted transport, and be mindful of public displays of affection in conservative areas. You’ll feel especially at home in Rosebank, Braamfontein, Melville, and Illovo – where most of Joburg's queer-friendly nightlife is concentrated.ADAM’s top 5 queer-friendly spots
On the closure of Babylon, ADAM told us, “I think Babylon was an important first experience for a lot of people. It also left a lot of people wanting. Joburg queer nightlife will now grow in ways people never imagined. People will take more risks, create niche events, and the scene will flourish. We are truly unstoppable."
1. Good Omens in Melville
2. Bad Manors in Newtown
3. House of Drag at The Greenhouse (last Saturday of every month)
4. Smoking Kills in Melville
5. Eden the Fruit (the event moves around, but it is astounding)
Further reading: Our guide to Joburg’s queer-friendly bars, restaurants, and parties.
Written by Ruvesen Naidoo, who attended Babylon's closing night on Sat, Feb 28, 2026.
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