Reviews New York

I was a little concerned about all the negative reviews for this place but I ususally take reveiws with a pinch of salt as everyones opinion is different. The doorway to the entrance is a little hard to find when you've never been before. The entrance is a lift inside a small doorway next to lips, it has no external markings, probably for safety reasons. Press number 6 button and away you go. The man on the reception was polite and welcoming. He explained everything to me and I chose a room with a bed. It's not cheap for a first timer but NY isn't a cheap city to start with. There are 3 floors inside, the floor you enter on has lockers, a small sauna which holds more than 3 people as previously mentioned, some guys clearly like to exagerate and a small steam room. They were clean and well maintained. The upper and lower floor has the rooms with beds. My room was clean and smelled fresh. Sauna corridors are warm. There is also a small tv room on the middle floor with everyday tv channels. The guys are mostly older which I prefer but there were a few younger guys. I had fun so couldn't ask for more. I have been to saunas all over the world and this one is no worse or better than most. Use it or lose it. Go to have a good time and don't blame the surroundings if you don't.

Thanks goodness the Black Party no longer has VIP tickets for the event. The entire Roseland Venue is open upstairs and down, for all. I was there for the 2 years that they had VIP tickets, and yes, it was soooo confusing. They never said that without VIP tickets you couldn't go upstairs to play. I guess with enough angry e mails, they've eliminated that distinction, and once again it's all parts of Roseland are open to everyone.

I've read the other reviews and I have to defind this place - if you know when to go. I've been to places in Philly, Seattle, all over LA, and both places in NYC for over 20 years. West Side Club losing the steam room and video lounge and allowing smoking... all of that ended with the Guiliani era in NYC. He changed all the laws by harassing businesses that dealt in sex. The steam room got shut down then and so did the video lounge. Police sweeps happened once upon a time and people were arrested for indecent blah blah blah. People were seen by these cops getting it on in the steam room and video lounge, so they shut them down. Anyway, the draw here is NOT the amenities... it is the MEN. The other bath house - the East Side Club - draws a significantly older crowd than the West Side Club does. West Side Club is located in Chelsea, which is an awesome neighborhood. The time to go here is between 11PM and 3AM on Friday and/or Saturday nights. Tons of hot men are packed in then. Most times you have to wait in line to get in because they are sold out of rooms, lockers, and changing rooms. I usually find at least 2 or 3 guys that give me a boner on sight when I go during those hours... and there are plenty of aggressive muscular tops that just want to pound your ass. I've seen some HOT ASS scenes here over the years. It's not a dirty place, it's just old and they don't put a ton of money into the place... you can put it like that.

thank you.

1/25 Unfortunately, after reading the below reviews, I'd decided, once again, after 30-plus-years, not to enter the doors of the East Side Sauna (ESS). Apparently, most things haven't changed. I recall standing in the foley of the ESS for the first, and only time in the late 70s, and "felt" like a few of the men in the below reviews - I'd turned and walked away! Now, 30/plus years, and as a healthy elder, it saddens me to know that a total new generation still have to deal with the "shame" of seeking a few hours of compassion! Baths y Sauna are the only safety net these's days, and they should be maintained, and operated by "caring individuals".

Had an atrocious time at this club on New Year's Eve/Day. Without writing an essay, the following outlines the experience my friend and I, who had both purchased VIP tickets, had: 1. Rudeness from the moment I rang the club to inquire on what to do once I got there all the way up until we left 2. Received a text with a broken link to my cell phone that was supposed to serve as my ticket for entry. Never received an apology from the staff when I informed them of this even though I was allowed entry. 3. Had to pay to check our coats even though we both purchased VIP tickets and there was a VIP coat check. 4. Argumentative general manager, supervisor and wait staff. Advised I could not be seated at a table but was welcome to stand by the bar while enjoying the buffet or sit in a corner if so chose. 5. Even though neither my VIP guest nor I were seated at a table (as should have been the case), the supervisor insisted that we had to share the bottle of champagne. No courtesy was extended for the fact that we were receive sub-par/Non-VIP service. 6. Nightclub manager uttered a profanity to my guest who I encouraged to purchase a VIP ticket at my behest. 7. Both nightclub manager and supervisor turned their backs on us mid-conversation while we tried to understand how this champagne bottle promotion worked and why only one of us was receiving what was advertised 8. We were basically ignored for the rest of the night The one redemptive quality of that night was speaking to David Lopez, general manager of the ultra-chic hotel, The Out. David confirmed what XL’s nightclub manager and the attendant had told us. It was supposed to be one bottle per table. I told him that this was a rather confusing promotion and he did not disagree. Then, David did something that totally resolved the entire matter for me. He noted that he had VIPs at his table who had all paid for their tickets and were all sharing his bottle of champagne. Apart from that, David was courteous, an effective listener and truly a class act. He exemplifies everything a small to medium business owner/manager should be. An email that was forwarded to managing partner, Brian Voss, on our behalf has gone unanswered for over a week. It would appear Mr. Voss has about as much regard for the experience we had as the staff we encountered that night.

Myself and several friends visited this bar. We all checked our coats with David at coat check. About an hour and a half later we came to collect our coats however my coat was strangely unaccounted for. Understandably upset I did not want to leave without the coat that had just been checked, but was told to leave and come back the next day. When I came back the next day my coat was not there. I then spoke with the proprietor Tommy who gave me his card and told me to call about it later. The next day I called. His friendly demeanor was now agitated and irritable. He tells me he checked the security footage and I was never in the bar! I tell him I have pictures of myself there, wearing my coat. I also inform him that I have several friends who can verify my attendance. He tells me he doesn't have time to do this for everyone. I noted this comment and asked him how many peoples jackets his bar loses on a regular basis. his response was to text him with the approximate time the coat was checked. I do so, and then follow up that text message with another message a day later and receive no further correspondence. The rest of the bar staff were friendly and courteous but the lack of effort to restore a coat that was lost by the bar is unconscionable. Disrespectful coat check and apathetic owner. There are PLENTY of other options, and you wont have to worry about getting your jacket stolen by a catty coat check diva.

This club is a little hard. The music sucks 80% of the time. The waiters are rude and expect tips. The crowd is diva. So, it does suck, but NY has almost no options. Such a shame for a city that is dubbed city that never sleeps.

I don’t recommend this place. The Bar’s management opposes any display of affectionate behavior among the patrons. To wit, my buddy was asked by the management to stop giving me a foot rub (the sneakers were off but the socks remained on). It should be noted that this is not an upscale establishment where more discreet conduct would be expected. It is, rather, a no-frills, casual attire, smallish neighborhood gay bar. So, after we finished our drinks and were on our way out of the bar, I stopped before the exit and confronted the apparently not-so-intelligent, middle aged, heavy set, Irish looking door person who followed up on the request made to my buddy by a bar hand. I told him that he has a bad attitude. His response was that “this is a sports bar.” Presumably, his concept of a sports bar is one that should be patronized only by heterosexual males whose sole purpose is to watch and discuss sports. I told him how incredibly ridiculous and out-of-touch with reality his comment was, that my buddy’s and my behavior was benign compared to other acts of affection commonly engaged in by patrons in gay bars, that his bad attitude does not make business sense (not only losing my business but that of friends who would meet me there) and that we will never patronize that bar again.

This sauna was soooo bad on so many levels for the price i paid! Terrible compared to saunas I've visited in europe. Such a shame for a big city like NYC it doesn't have any good saunas.

I went twice to see may be the 2nd time will be better but no it was even worse..I asked the guy at the door how many guys r in there and he lied he said theres like 15 but there was only me and a couple of others

This place is so grim and depressing...the facilities r very much below par, it has a tiny little steam room, sauna and its cold when u walk around...the south american cleaner told me he will only show me around the place only if i tip him


Better stay away and don't waste ur money!

La pire experience en discotheque de ma vie! Un spectacle pittoyable, des gogos minables, un personnel incorrect (exigeant certains montants de pourboire aux bars, ou acceptant 5dollars pour permettre a des mineurs de 13 ans d entrer dans la discotheque) et le pire, une hygiene deplorable avec DES cheveux dans le cocktail servi ( le barman n y voit aucun probleme, l enleve en trempant ses doigts dans la boisson et le ressert.....) ! En quittant la discotheque je souhaite m entretenir avec un manager qui appele la securite et me frappe en me jettant au sol ! Bref une experience a oublier Rapidement !

young crowd, typical hells kitchen. Nothing special.

Apparantly Hells Kitchen and me dont go together. XL is another example of this. Simply rude waiters(and expecting tips), overpriced and a crowd which is far too much into itself.

Rapido, the New York way. Top prices, but worthwhile. Get the VIP-tickets, which includes cloakroom and 5 sodas (and no waitinglines). Those who know me ... you will get access to the balcony! :-) Okay, now here is the deal: the NY-ers are not up for foreigners ... they will stick with their own friends. Musicwise (Rosabel on oct 28/29) it will be going anywhere (singalongs, brasilian, house etc). Its good, but i question if this THE place to be.

For people from Amsterdam: this is copy of Spijkerbar. Cheap, full drinks, out-of-the-tourist-district, nice bartenders, locals, pooltable and just a little dark, tho no darkroom. It is not a 'must-have-been-there'-bar.

This is a place to return to. Best thing: a roofterrace for (non)smokers. 2 floors with a pooltable. Get very busy and cruisy during the weekend.

Right in the middle of Chelsea, with a big oval bar in the middle. Somehow it is lacking something, but the bartender makes it worthwhile passing by :-)

The neighborhood shows signs of Sydneys' Kings Cross; a little rowdy. Nice atmosfere, but not-friendly barkeepers. A " party" called Fire in the whole should bring gingerboys, well they were not there. Day after (friday), the joint was empty. One good point to mention: they serve Brooklyn-beer.

Fridaynite: EMPTY