East Side Club

"As a child of the 80s, I cherished the East Side Club as one of the last vestiges of a time when gay male sexuality felt more open and uninhibited. The staff and owners have admirably navigated challenges like Disney's expansion, the pandemic, and political shifts. However, the current atmosphere has changed. The evolving social landscape of NYC, and perhaps a shift in gay male culture itself, means many patrons seem less inclined towards the spontaneous encounters and social interactions that once defined the space. Instead, there's a tendency towards a more detached, less engaged approach. For a more authentic experience, I recommend visiting on a weekday during lunch hours. You'll likely find a clientele more focused on the core purpose: sex and fun, without the pushiness. The East Side Club holds a special place in my heart, and it's with sadness that I acknowledge it no longer possesses the same vibrancy and sense of community it once did. It was a place where many young gay men in New York experienced their sexual awakening. Where else could you have such anonymous, intense encounters? Perhaps it's simply a matter of aging, but the focus seems to have shifted from genuine connection and shared experience to a more individualistic, technology-driven approach. The energy is different, less about the shared experience of sex and more about personal gratification and a sense of competition."

I recently visited this place. It was a Wednesday close to 5pm. It has been more than 10 years since I visited so I did have to get a membership. I was very pleased with the amount of guys I met that night. Not everyone was my type, but the one’s I hooked up with were very well hung and quite attractive. The place was clean and the staff was friendly. I suggest get the year membership, it is worth the money. I was there for 3 hours and hooked up with about 8 guys. I’m glad to have this option instead of the apps.

Went today for the first time. The staff were not rude as per other reviews, I would say they are very matter of fact or very New York. I was charged $43 (temp 5 day membership $15 and $28 room hire) which had to be paid in cash. The guy before me was told he was allowed to stay for 4hours. The place was very clean everywhere I went in the public areas. I got a room and that too was very clean. Unlike other saunas, ESC has no gloryholes, darkroom, play area or jucuzzi. It’s just rooms, a dry sauna, steam room and a small video/porn room and showers. The clientele was on the older side while I was there and it was not busy at all for it being a sauna in New York which I found a bit sad. While I did not have a negative experience I would probably not return again.

It’s very clicky people are into body image and penis size I prefer older white and Hispanic men with big endowments if you don’t have muscles or thin you don’t stand a chance sad but true even though I always meet a couple of guys Some guys never have any luck

Such a good time. The bathrooms and showers are very clean. The rooms are a bit dated but it serves the purpose. The attendants show me directly to my room and are very accommodating. Definitely a variety of men.