San francisco gay sauna

In San Francisco, there are places where you can go for a steam, a sauna, and a cold plunge. And then there are places you can go to contain steamy sex with strangers.

But surprisingly, there’s not a place to do both — well, legally.

San Francisco was once famous for gay bathhouses like Ritch Street Health Club, the Barracks, and Bulldog Baths. These operated in a legal gray area, with authorities generally turning a blind eye but periodically conducting raids for “lewd conduct.” In the 1980s, fears over the role the venues played in the spread of HIV/AIDS led to a court command that made it nearly impossible for the businesses to survive.

None have operated within city limits since 1987, even as an uber-kinky festival with its own waterworks takes place annually on Folsom Street.

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, a same-sex attracted man who represents the Castro, has been on a multi-year crusade to get bathhouses steaming again. It’s been a history lesson on how outdated mores have wormed their way into a complex bureaucracy.

Mandelman introduced legislation Tuesday that would repeal Article 26 of the police code, which outlines standards around san

POWERHOUSE BAR San Francisco

For events and hours, visit the Powerhouse facebook page at this link

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Dore Alley Sunday:

Powerhouse Bar
1347 Folsom St
San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit the Powerhouse facebook page at this link

Castro Baths

San Francisco and the broader Bay Area contain one of the utmost concentrations of LGBTQIA+ folks in the world. We have explicit legislation creating a favorable business environment (Supervisor Mandelman, bless 🙏). If there was ever a time to revive our city’s once burgeoning bathhouse culture–it’s now.

Castro Baths is hustling to unseal our doors in period for Pride 2025 and you’re invited!

Our Vision

Last summer, we visited bathhouses around the world: Tokyo, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Istanbul, Fresh York, Los Angeles, London, and more. (If Lorraine at the IRS is reading this - this was an absolutelynecessary business expense!)

Repeatedly, we were asked: “I’m going to San Francisco next month - which bathhouses should I visit?” Sheepishly, a tad embarrassed - we explained that there isn’t really a gay bathhouse scene in San Francisco. “Your best bet is probably in Berkeley.”

While there are a handful of local traditional bathhouses we frequent (shoutout to the newest addition: Alchemy Springs) - gay bathhouse culture in San Francisco never recovered after the AIDS crisis.

Closing the baths in 1984 was like shutting off the internet today. Our lines of commu
Softly lit playrooms with video pits, bunk beds, cages, glory holes and a sling. Private sex rooms are illegal in San Francisco, so they build the best of bunks and secluded areas. Professional non-sexual massage available upon appointment.
open: 12-24, Fri & Sat -3h; prices: US$ 15.- with a 3-month membership or US$ 25.- for a one-time visit / 3-month membership: US$ 10.-; number of lockers: 149/-
Gay. Exclusively or almost exclusively gay men
Showers
Dry sauna
Steam bath
Solarium
Massage on offer
Darkroom
Glory holes
Sling
Free condoms
Video shows
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