Auntie has visited many gay bathhouses over the years, usually based on comments in old-school print publications like Damron’s Guide or more recently on cruising sites and apps like Sniffies. Sometimes I have liked the places that I’ve visited. Sometimes they left a good bit to be desired.
Far too often, reviews are brief summaries of what we already know (like “there’s action in the showers” or “Friday and Saturday nights are busy”), or they can be hyper-specific (“I’ll be there Thursday afternoon, and I’m looking to do this, that, and the other.”). Those are all fine, but they’re not especially helpful when you’re trying to decide, “Do I want to go there, and if I do, what should I expect?”
Never fear: Auntie is here! Like the rest of my site, my reviews are based on first-hand knowledge of these places, and I share information that will help you to go in knowing what to expect. Naturally, I also share some opinions that you can take to heart — or just chalk up to Auntie being Auntie.
Also: Auntie isn’t here to hand out awards, stars, or numerical ratings for the clubs. Each bathhouse serves its community in its own unique way, and I’m not going to rank them against each other.
If you’ve landed on this page but haven’t checked other parts of my site, you might be interested in:
- Bathhouse basics that help orient you to what to expect on a visit to the baths
- The rules and etiquette that are common in most bathhouses throughout North America
- If you’ve never been to a bathhouse before, check out my Field guide to your first visit
- Or if you’re a seasoned bathhouse aficionado like Auntie, check out my Bathhouse Culture folder
Whether this is your first or ninetieth visit to a bathhouse, welcome! Have fun!