Gay men’s sauna in Sydney opens to women

A gay sex on premises venue in Sydney has broadened its customer base by allowing all genders and sexualities to enter.

A gay sauna in Sydney has decided to mix things up and allow women, and heterosexuals, to enter the venue once a week.

Sauna X by 357 is located just off Oxford street in the city’s main gay district.

For the majority of the week, only cis and trans men are allowed to enter the sex on premises venue, but that all changes on Tuesdays.

“We call Tuesdays ‘Ladies Day’ because ladies get free entry,” Glenn, one of the owners, told news.com.au. “But everyone is welcome on Tuesdays, all genders and sexualities.”

‘Ladies Day’ has been running at Sauna X by 357 for three months now and has drawn quite a diverse crowd.

“We’ve had bisexual couples come in, where the guy is bi and the lady is straight,” Glenn said, adding that he’s even heard of some straight men dropping in.

“Heterosexual men have to be 100 per cent comfortable in their own sexuality to be around gay and bisexual men, who, quite frankly, will probably try to pick them up,” Glenn told news.com.au. “If a straight man’s going to be uncomfortable with that, then this is not the venue for them.”

What happens inside a gay sauna

“When you enter, we’ll give you a locker, a key and a towel,” Glenn explained.

“You go to your locker, change into your towel, have a shower and then the rest is up to you.

“You can have a spa, a steam, a sauna, or you can go for a wander and explore the cruising areas.

“If you meet someone, you can have some ‘fun’ in a private room or, if you’d rather, you can do something in a public space like the adult cinema.

“And if you simply want to relax, you can watch a movie in the lounge, listen to some chill jazz music, have a free coffee, or buy something to eat or drink at the bar.”

The cruising area is lit up in neon lights.

How much does it cost

Entry to Sauna X by 357 ranges from $20 to $30 depending on the day and time.

That entry fee covers you for a 20-hour stay.

How busy does Sauna X get

“At peak times there are over 100 people inside the venue at once,” Glenn told news.com.au.

“There are always people coming and going (so to speak), so we have hundreds of customers a day.”

Glenn added that the venue has a “large team of dedicated staff who are always cleaning rooms, the facilities and washing towels”.

The bar area downstairs.

Creating a safe space

According to the owners, there are strict rules in place inside the sauna to ensure everyone has an enjoyable time.

“We do regular PA announcements about consent and we have signage around the venue with the same messaging - no means no!” Glenn said.

“For the most part the majority of our clients are completely respectful and gain consent before making a move, but if someone approaches you and you say no, the person must respect your boundaries and move on.

“Any ‘pests or serial offenders’ that are reported to staff are ejected from the venue and I’m happy to say this is rare.

“We all come into this world looking for someone looking for us, and Sauna X helps make that happen,” Glenn told news.com.au.

Originally published as Gay men’s sauna in Sydney opens to women