Phrolix Login
East Side Sauna
- Orgasm Rating
- Address 227 E. 56th St. (2nd & 3rd Aves.) New York, NY
- Phone 212-888-1884
-
Annual membership card (required for admission): Call for membership fees; day pass: $15; room rental (four hours): $21;
changing room (four hours): $19; locker charge: $16; (note that prices are $2 higher from 2pm Friday until Sunday at midnight)
The East Side Sauna bills itself, rather vaguely, as a “private men’s club.” The fact is, it’s a bathhouse—a place for men to have sex with other men—catering to a mature clientele with lots of gray hair and not a lot of muscle. Most “out” gay men do not frequent such establishments because they have no reason to keep their affairs secret. They’d rather stride into a bar or coffee house, meet a guy, strike up a conversation, and perhaps take him home. Ah, home. There’s the rub. We noticed a number of men sporting wedding rings at the East Side Sauna. Enough said.
The club is an attractive place with subdued lighting, marbled floors and a soothing color scheme of deep blues. There are three floors that are subdivided into “rooms,” changing rooms, and locker areas. The walls of the rooms and changing rooms don’t quite reach the ceiling, although they are fitted with regular, lockable doors. The rooms, typically, are really no bigger than a walk-in closet, and are furnished with a sheeted bed. The changing rooms are pretty much the same, only with a bench instead of a bed. The locker room resembles that of virtually any high school in America, minus the kids of course.
Patrons rent a room or locker, disrobe, don a towel, and start cruising. There are several open seating areas. Some patrons just cruise up and down the hallways, peering into those rooms whose doors are open. Body language is the language of choice at clubs like this—virtually no words are exchanged. Men make eye contact and suggestive motions if they’re interested in each other. If there’s a match, well…
As its name implies, the East Side Sauna also has a small steam room and sauna, as well as decent bathroom and shower facilities. A word of etiquette, however: There is no cruising in the bathroom areas. Given that every other area in this club is designed for sex, it seems only fair to leave alone those guys who really just want to answer nature’s call. After all, they do need some privacy.
Complete the form below to forward this page to a friend.
Successfully sent!