In this guide · 3 sections
Gay Saunas and Sex Clubs in San Francisco
San Francisco's bathhouse history is complicated — the classic gay bathhouses were shuttered during the 1980s AIDS crisis, and for decades the city had strict rules on private-room venues. What survives today is a small but characterful set of adult social clubs, concentrated in SoMa and the Tenderloin, where gay and bi men can relax, socialize and connect.
The venues
Eros is the city's best-known safer-sex club, an SF Legacy Business voted best in the Bay Area for years running. Now housed in the historic Bulldog Baths building on Turk Street in the Tenderloin's Transgender District, it offers a clean, welcoming space with steam, sauna and social areas, plus a strong safer-sex ethos.
Power Exchange on Jones Street is a long-running, multi-level pansexual play space — not gay-exclusive, but with dedicated men's areas and a come-as-you-are crowd. It is one of the more freewheeling venues in the city.
Folsom Gulch on Folsom Street is an old-school adult arcade and cruise spot in the heart of the leather district — a compact, no-frills institution rather than a full bathhouse, and a piece of living SoMa history.
Practical tips
- Bring: flip-flops, a lock, and cash for entry (typically in the $20–$40 range). Towels are usually available on site.
- Hygiene and consent: shower before the wet areas, always ask, and take no for an answer — consent is the house rule everywhere.
- No photography: phones and cameras are off-limits at every venue to protect everyone's privacy.
- Note: Steamworks, the region's full gay bathhouse, is across the Bay in Berkeley rather than in San Francisco proper — worth the BART trip if you want the classic experience.
For the full picture, see the Gay San Francisco Guide.