Looking for gay bathhouses in NYC?

For decades, New York＊s gay bathhouses were legendary 〞 steam-filled playgrounds where men could cruise, connect, and carve out community. They were about sex, but moreover, they were about freedom. Before apps, before dating platforms, bathhouses were one of the few places where you could drop a towel, drop your guard, and find people who matched your vibe.

Fast forward to today: the scene is smaller, but not completely gone. Only one true gay bathhouse is still open in NYC, while a handful of other spaces keep part of the culture alive. The rest live on in memory, survived by older generations of kinksters who were there when New York＊s gay sauna culture was at its peak.

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What is a gay bathhouse?

A gay bathhouse 〞 often called a gay sauna in Europe 〞 is part spa, part sex club, part social hub. Inside, you＊ll usually find lockers, showers, saunas, steam rooms, and private cabins. Some add video lounges, bars, or play areas. The mix depends on the place, but the core idea is always the same: a dedicated venue for men to meet men.

What sets bathhouses apart is the way people connect. There are no profiles to scroll and no chat windows to hide behind 〞 it＊s about picking up on cruising codes in real time. Eye contact, proximity, a gesture that shows interest 〞 these are the signals that guide who approaches and who doesn＊t. It＊s a mix of subtlety and directness that＊s been part of gay sauna culture for generations.

It＊s also about respect. Just because someone is in a towel doesn＊t mean they＊re available. Consent is built into the culture: no means no, and silence is never a yes.

? Want to know more about how consent works in kink and cruising spaces? Check out?our full article on kink and consent.

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The history of gay bathhouses in NYC

For much of the 20th century, bathhouses were central to queer New York, offering safety, connection, and a way to build networks in a city where queer life was still pushed underground.

Some bathhouses went beyond that. The Continental Baths blurred nightlife and cruising by hosting cabaret shows and live music, becoming the birthplace of Bette Midler＊s career. St. Marks Baths turned into a sprawling cathedral of gay sex, where thousands of men passed through every week. The Everard, tucked behind ornate Victorian tilework, became a mainstay of the community for nearly a century.

But by the mid-1980s, the AIDS crisis changed everything. Bathhouses were labeled health hazards and shut down by the city. Almost overnight, queer men lost not just sex spaces but entire ecosystems of connection.

1. East Side Club 每 Midtown＊s last gay bathhouse

Photo: East Side Club?

The East Side Club is the last of its kind: the only gay bathhouse in NYC still running. Open since 1976, it＊s discreet from the outside, but step inside and you＊ll find two floors with everything you＊d expect 〞 saunas, steam rooms, showers, private cabins, and video lounges.

It isn＊t trying to be a luxury spa 〞 The East Side Club is unapologetically what it＊s always been: a place to cruise, play, and keep alive a tradition that almost disappeared.

The crowd is mostly mature, but you＊ll see a mix of ages. Evenings and late nights are busiest, when the hallways are full and the heat is turned up. On weekends, the club runs 24/7, so if you＊re a night owl, this is where you＊ll still find company at 3 a.m.

Lockers are available if you just want to towel up and explore, while private cabins give you space for longer play. Entry is 18+ with ID, and you can choose between day passes or memberships.

If you＊re curious but want someone to join you, Fetish.com is a great place to connect with like-minded guys before you go.

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??227 E 56th St, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022

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2. Russian & Turkish Baths 每 East Village heat

Photo: Russian & Turkish Baths?

The Russian & Turkish Baths isn＊t officially a gay sauna, but queer men have always been part of its clientele. Founded in 1892, it＊s one of the oldest running spas in the city. Inside, you＊ll find five saunas and steam rooms, an ice-cold plunge pool, showers, and a rooftop sun deck when the weather＊s good.

The focus here is wellness, not sex. But during men-only hours, you＊ll notice the gay presence. For many, this spot offers a similar communal vibe to a bathhouse 〞 a place where you can sweat alongside strangers and feel part of a tradition that spans generations.

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??268 E 10th St, New York, NY 10009

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Other iconic gay bathhouses in NYC

Even if they＊re closed, New York＊s old bathhouses still define the mythology of queer nightlife. Each one had its own identity:

• Continental Baths (1968每1976): In the basement of the Ansonia Hotel, this was more than a bathhouse. It had a swimming pool, a disco, and a cabaret stage. Crowds of towel-clad men danced, cruised, and cheered performances from Bette Midler and Barry Manilow. It was part queer playground, part cultural revolution.
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• St. Marks Baths (1913每1985): Billed as the largest gay bathhouse in the world, St. Marks was a multi-level maze of gyms, saunas, steam rooms, and cabins. At its peak, thousands of men passed through each week. It was a cornerstone of queer life until the city closed it during the AIDS crisis.
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• Everard Baths (1888每1986): Built as a Turkish bathhouse, the Everard ran for almost 100 years. Its ornate design and central location made it a landmark. After a tragic fire in 1977 and increasing pressure from officials, it finally closed in 1986.
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• Man＊s Country (1970s每1983): A fetish-focused bathhouse chain with themed cabins, roleplay spaces, and glory holes. It gave leather men and kinksters a place to mix bathhouse heat with BDSM energy.

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? Curious where you fit on the kink spectrum? Getting into BDSM and want to explore more? Take our BDSM test and see where your fantasies line up.

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Together, these bathhouses created more than just spaces for play. They were living, breathing communities where men experimented with sex, identity, and freedom. Their closures marked the end of an era, but their legacies remain part of New York＊s queer story.

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Safety, hygiene, and bathhouse etiquette

Part of what makes bathhouses work is the unspoken agreement: this is a shared space, so everyone has a role in keeping it safe and respectful. Some essentials:

• Consent is the rule. Cruising runs on codes 〞 eye contact, nods, touch. But if someone turns away or isn＊t into it, respect that. No means no. Silence isn＊t yes.
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• Bring your own kit. Condoms and lube are usually available, but it＊s smart to carry your own. Toss in wipes, maybe gloves if you＊re mixing in kink. Bareback culture exists, but everyone＊s boundaries need to be respected.
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• Clean up. Shower before and after play. Bring flip-flops for the floors. If you use a private cabin, wipe it down after. Towels are usually provided.
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• Mind your body. Steam and saunas dehydrate fast. Drink water, pace yourself, and know your limits. If you＊re layering in kink 〞 bondage, impact play, toys 〞 keep it simple. Bathhouses aren＊t dungeons, so you＊re responsible for your own aftercare.
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• Respect the rules. Staff are there to maintain order, not to watch. Follow their lead. Phones are banned or frowned on for obvious reasons 〞 what happens in the sauna stays in the sauna.
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Want to practice cruising codes before you step into a sauna? Fetish.com＊s forum is full of advice from kinksters who＊ve been there.

Why gay bathhouses in NYC still matter

Bathhouses matter because they keep physical queer spaces alive 〞 places where chemistry happens in the moment, without screens. At the same time, most people mix online and offline now, and that＊s not a bad thing. Spaces like Fetish.com make it easier to find people who share your kinks, swap stories, or even line up a buddy before heading into a sauna together using the BDSM chat. That way, what starts online can flow naturally into the steam room, and what happens in the bathhouse can carry on long after the towels come off.

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FAQs

Are there any gay bathhouses still open in NYC?

Yes. The East Side Club in Midtown is currently the only gay bathhouse operating in the city.

Is the Russian & Turkish Baths a gay sauna?

Not officially. It＊s a wellness spa with a mixed crowd, but it＊s long been popular with gay men, especially during men-only hours.

Why aren＊t there more gay bathhouses in NYC?

The majority were closed in the 1980s during the AIDS crisis, when city officials declared them health hazards and forced shutdowns.

What＊s the best time to visit East Side Club?

Evenings and late nights are busiest, while weekends run nonstop thanks to 24/7 hours.

Do I need a membership?

No 〞 day passes are available, but memberships exist for regular visitors.

Is it safe to go to a gay sauna in NYC?

Yes. Modern venues maintain hygiene and enforce rules, but like any play space, your safety depends on practicing safer sex, respecting boundaries, and knowing your limits.

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