At the heart of Toronto’s gay village is the friendly and welcoming Steamworks Baths, a gay bathhouse that is genuinely a pleasant surprise for Toronto visitors and locals alike.
Steamworks Baths are not the typical European kind of Sauna, yet they do not resemble those in continental US ones. Here, you would still be offered a room or a locker, and most of the sqft is dedicated to rooms and rooms and, well, these rooms again.
Albeit, the action in this place on a Sunday eve was impressive. An array of types and figures in the darkness with blue highlights in the beautiful “Deck.”
The place boasts a massive area referred to in signs as The Deck, with two boiling jacuzzis. They deserve a true appreciation for having the jacuzzi clean and in wonderful water temperature which I would assume was around the 40 degrees Celsius. So hot and perfect 🔥. Within the deck there are showers and a steam room too with two entrances/exits. The front showers area of deck is enclosed with transparent glass, which gives the place a unique feel.
Also in the deck are two saunas. The wet one has enough space for fun games, and the dry one is small but with perfect temperature.
Walk down the corridors, and you will find a DJ station with a live DJ playing while others play with each other on the couches. Sounds perfect? Well, almost, as no smoking area and no alcohol is served.
The crowd was hot, young, and the opposite of picky, which turns out for everyone’s benefit.
A well-designed dark area has confusing mirrors and various holes, nests, slings, and whatnot. Oh. And another separate dark area and a glass box shower close to the DJ stand and lounge. If it were up to me, I would make the entire place as such and with far more lounge areas. Dump the rooms!
I would appreciate it if they would also install electronic lockers since this is 2023 and they are using physical, old and super basic lock and a key. A visitor who used the locker just next to me couldn’t figure out the locker mechanism and had to call for help. Can’t blame him.
One of the best saunas with the best atmosphere, especially on Sunday eve.
Steamworks Baths are located at 540 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2E1, Canada.
Gay Sauna Boy 