San Francisco's gay sauna scene is smaller than it was. The city's bathhouse history is tied directly to the AIDS crisis: San Francisco was one of the cities hit hardest in the early 1980s, and the city health department controversially ordered the closure of bathhouses in 1984 in an attempt to slow transmission. The debate about that decision continued for years. Some venues reopened under modified operating rules, others did not.


What remains includes some of the oldest gay bathhouses still operating in the United States. A few have been running in some form for decades. The scene is smaller and the venues fewer than in comparable cities, but what is there is functional and has a loyal clientele.

What to expect

Standard bathhouse format: you pay entry and receive a towel and either a locker or a private cabin. Lockers are cheaper and give you access to communal areas. A cabin gives you a private room with a basic bed. Most venues include steam room, dry sauna, showers, and common areas. Some have dark rooms, mazes, or themed spaces.

Entry runs around $20-30 for a locker and $30-45 for a cabin, depending on the venue and time of visit. Weekday afternoons from early afternoon tend to be active. Weekend nights are busier. No time limit on sessions.

Locations are split between venues in or near the Castro and others in the Tenderloin district. The Tenderloin is a rougher neighbourhood — the sauna itself is fine, but be aware of the surroundings when arriving and leaving late at night.

The saunas

    • Eros — ho says weekdays have to be boring? There’s always something going on at the Eros gay sauna in the heart of San Francisco. Discover the dry sauna, steam room, and open showers, where gay men get up to all sorts of mischief. Discounts are available during the week depending on the theme. Wear leather on Monday. Bring a buddy on Tuesday. Wear just your underwear on Wednesday. Thursdays give 18 to 29-year-olds admission for just $10.

Practical notes

Bring ID. Most venues will ask for it. Towels are included in the entry fee. Condoms and lube are usually available at dispensers or at the desk. Some venues have secure storage for phones and valuables at the front desk.

The venues still operating have maintained safety protocols that go back decades. Staff know the community they serve and can answer practical questions.

For the full San Francisco picture: Gay San Francisco Guide.