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On a quiet side street in San Diego's North Park district, San Diego Eagle is a meeting place for the leather and fetish scene. The masculine, no-fuss bar puts cruising front and center, with boat polish stations and back-pocket hankies. There is cold beer on tap, plus regular fetish nights. Dress code and rules are required.
There are only a few gay saunas in the classic sense in San Diego, but the most important address is in the middle of the trendy district. Club San Diego in Hillcrest is the only continuously operating bathhouse in the city and has long been a central meeting place for gay, bisexual and curious men. Facilities include open sleeping areas and private cabins, as well as a dry sauna, steam room and hot tub. Experience has shown that Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest, especially in the later hours. Thanks to its central location, you can walk to the house from the bars of University Avenue.
If you expect the cruising experience of larger metropolises, you should adjust your ideas, because the sauna scene in San Diego is rather small and manageable. Part of the action shifts to nightlife anyway: The Eagle in neighboring North Park is considered the city's most important leather and fetish bar and offers a correspondingly cruisy atmosphere. More than anonymous bathhouses, the mild coastal climate and laid-back lifestyle characterize the scene as a whole. Before visiting, pay attention to opening hours, day passes and event days, as these are handled differently depending on the day of the week. The following tips will show you where you are most likely to find what you are looking for in the city.