No. 12, Lane 80, Sec 1, Hankou St, Utopia Map, 2381-6276, 2311-0078. Not far from cruisy 228 Park and Taipei Train Station. Look for the Ikari Coffee shop on the corner of this small market lane. Enter the lane and walk in about 150m and look for the red Chinese lanterns (with Da Shanghai in Chinese characters) and a bright orange door on the right side. This small, friendly neighborhood sauna is a pleasant surprise - not only one of the cleanest facilities in the city, but one of the friendliest - with unpretentious and warm clientele. 1/F has lockers, TV lounge, private cabins and two dark rooms, wet area with warm and cool pool, dry and wet sauna rooms, and showers. B/F has a video lounge, with more nooks and crannies, and karaoke. Crowd is mixed ages, from guys in their 20s to grandpas, and many visitors from neighboring Asian countries. Can get very packed on weekends. They offer coupons for reduced entry price on return visits. Even so, they are one of the cheapest saunas. 台北市漢口街1段80巷12號

2/F 120 Xi-Ning South Rd, Utopia Map, 2311-8681. MRT Ban-chiao line, Xi-men stop, walk along Cheng-du Rd, turn left on Hsi Ning Rd for a short distance. Look for the large sign on the corner at the front of the alley and a (kind of0 rainbow paint job on the alley entrance. They've refurbished everything (2013) and the place is clean and busy - certainly the nicest sauna in Ximen area, though not the biggest. Very friendly reception desk with large towels available. Double locks on the lockers. Also on this floor is a small snack and reading area, a dark TV lounge and wet area with warm soaking pool, showers, steam and dry sauna. 3/F has gay video station, dark room and private cabins. Mid-age and mature crowd, but everyone is welcome. Busiest on weekend afternoons and early evenings. Open 24 hours. 漢士三溫暖

20 Hsi Ning South Rd (2 doors east of the Paradise Hotel), Utopia Map, 2381-5900. Open 24 hours. MRT Banchiao line, Ximen stop. While older and smaller, it's clean and the staff are friendly. Weeknights there are enough guys to keep things busy. Rooms are small, but comfortable. Mature men and their admirers. 西寧南路20號

2/F No.142 Kunming St at Chengdu Rd (one block from Han Sauna and around the corner from Relax & Royal Spa), Utopia Map, 2370-2899. Once you get to the address you can't miss the stairway with rainbow flag. Still has younger patrons even though it's crumbling and unrefurbished year-after-year. Large wet area with two big soaking tubs at different temperatures (with very grotty bottoms you won't feel like stepping on), dismal bathing and shower areas, steam room and a large, clean and comfortable dry sauna. Also on this floor is a large, dark lounge with recliners, plus a snack and reading café. 2/F extends the haunted house feel with David Lynch tiled floors, a gay video running in front of some shabby couches, several dark mix rooms that smell foul, and private cabins and nooks in various states of disrepair. Busy, even on weeknights after work. Theme nights, such as Nude Night. Management and staff are welcoming ("no big towel and no underwear," they cackled when we visited). Mostly local, younger-for-younger and working class crowd here. Bring some slippers if you don't like the idea of walking around barefoot. 昆明街142號2樓

Comments from Utopians:

"Went to Rainbow last week. Friend of mine found out that NT$20,000 was lost [Note: do not leave valuables in any locker room, in any area of the world -- Utopia]. Asked the staff at the counter to check the CCTV. However the rudeness of the staff was just disappointing. No accusation of anyone, but just to find out what actually happened. Just be extra careful when you are there." -- younggun80, Oct 11, 2012

YANGMINGSHAN HOT SPRINGS

10, Alley 300, Singyi Rd, Utopia Map, 2874-7979. Take the MRT red (Tamshui) line to Shipai Station. There are taxis right outside the main exit that will take you directly to the hot spring entrance, so we recommend you do that and skip the directions which follow (there are multiple entrances from different directions to the hot springs, so a taxi is easier than bus and not too expensive - about US$7). Otherwise, if you don't mind walking and trying to find the correct hot spring: exit the station and turn right on the main road to the bus stop in front of the China Trust Bank (green sign). Take bus #508, 535 or 536 from here to Singyi RD #3 stop (there are 4 stops on the road). Get off the bus when you see the sign that says 300 Lane (NOT "alley"), which is at a bus stop right before the driveway to the hot springs. Go down the driveway past the parking lots and ask by name or show the Chinese characters below for directions (there are a lot of hot springs here, so be sure to ask to verify you are at the correct place). Huang Szu is up a short flight of steps. Pay at the counter near the entrance (bring your own small towel or buy one here) and prepare two NT$10 coins for the coin locker. Walk to the right, past the restaurant, and then right down some stairs to the ticket attendant. Take off your shoes and stow in the open cubby holes. Coin lockers for your clothes. Lovely outdoor facility with three types of hot mineral pools under a thatched roof, two cool pools, a tepid shallow pool for reclining on your back, showers, a large massage pool with different kinds of alternating jets for self-massage, dry sauna and steam room (some discreet action). Men of all ages here, with lots of Daddies, uncles, chubs and bears mixed in with the straights (so be discreet). Everyone is naked or with a small wash cloth. You can also get a decent one-hour, traditional massage at a good price. Best after 8pm, especially Sat night. Open 24 hours and some reports of activity after midnight until dawn. Pool for men is closed on Thu morning. 皇池

Comments from Utopians:

"This place is just meters away from Chuan Tang. The crowd here is mixed and more 20s to 50s, whereas Chuan Tang is more under 40s. Bi-curious. No place for action at all, unless you go very late for privacy. I suggest to go in the afternoon and enjoy the man watching." -- alexbam, Nov 18, 2012

Same location as Huang Szu hot spring, Utopia Map. Entrance is opposite and to the left of (if you are standing with your back to) Huang Szu hot spring, across a bridge-like entrance (there are a lot of hot springs here, so be sure to ask to verify you are at the correct place). Pay at the counter near the entrance (bring your own small towel or buy one here) and prepare two NT$10 coins for the coin locker. Walk down the steps to the left, past the restaurant, to the ticket attendant. Take off your shoes and stow in the open cubby holes. Coin lockers for your clothes. Small hot spring with a large hot pool, warm pool with massage jets, cold dipping pool and tiny steam room that is packed like a clown car. Guys walk around naked or with small wash towels. This place is popular with 20-40yo guys, with some gym fit and muscle men. Everyone just stands around, though. No place for action, just lots of eye candy. Busiest on weekends, esp Sat 8-10pm when almost all the customers are gay. 北投行義路300巷10號

Comments from Utopians:

"Everyone walks around unabashed. Best time is weekend afternoons and you will get the best eye candies. The crowd is 80% bicurious. Every time someone gets in or out of the pool, all eyes goes to the dick. Forget about action, there is no place for it. Just go for the eye candy." -- alexbam, Nov 16, 2012

ZHONGSHAN

B1, 20, Lane 353, Lin-sen N. Rd, Utopia Map, 2564-1069, email. Turn right from Shunglian Station Exit 1, walking to the Gloria Hotel. Cross the street at the intersection and walk to the Gloria Hotel, then go right along the sidewalk to the second small street after the hotel (Linsen Rd). Walk about 70 paces to the blue lighted Aniki sign on the right side of the street. Walk down the short gravel path with tan stone steps to the wooden sliding door and stand underneath the automatic door sensor. Open sesame! One of Asia's top three men's clubs (along with Thailand's Babylon and Osaka's Hokuoukan). A world-class, private recreational club for young, hip, and sexy men. It is, without a doubt, Taiwan's cleanest and hottest spot with the highest standards of safety and privacy. Safer sex and drug-free zone are the house rules. From the minute you are greeted by their handsome staff, you realize that the level of service here is as high as the top-notch decor and facility design (with subtle accents that change with the season). Take off your shoes (on rainy days put into plastic bags provided) and carry to your locker. Lockers can accommodate up to 500 men. Restaurant (open 24-hours on weekends), three online Mac stations, relaxing TV lounge with a dozen beds, and high-quality toiletries in the bathroom. The wet area is stunning, with three large pools: hot, cool and jacuzzi, steam, plus dry sauna and dark shower area. Large number of private cabins lining the cruising corridors. Dim room with laser light has three slings and reclining bj benches. This room sees the hottest group activity unless you attend one of their legendary theme parties. We visited on Masked Orgy night when patrons were stripped, issued black ski masks, condoms, and entered into a group playroom that far surpassed even the wildest Japanese hattenba. Admission fee includes a 16-hour stay, with in and out privileges. You can also pay for a private room with a toilet and real bed inside. Lockers can accommodate your backpack and staff can manage larger luggage (some visitors just check in and stay for days). They also offer massage. The crowd is definitely young and body-beautiful. If you are older and/or out of shape, you might be largely ignored - unless it's Masked Orgy night ;-P 林森北路353巷20號地下室 Utopia Member Discount

265 Chang An West Rd, Utopia Map, 2550-7766, email. Busy seven-storey facility. Pay at reception and you'll get a locker key and towels. Leave your shoes here in a plastic bin with the same number as your locker key. Take the elevator to 7/F with lockers, plus snack and reading lounge with free drinks. 6/F is a large wet area with showers, warm and cool pool, dry sauna room with TV and busy steam room. Toothbrushes, razors and small towels are available here. 5/F has a large TV lounge and some private cabins. There is no 4/F. 3/F is mostly more cabins. 2/F is staff only. Friendly, English-speaking receptionist. Popular with blue collar, manly, mid-aged men, muscle bears, chubs and uncles. Massage also available. Open 24 hours. 長安西路265號, 近塔城街口

4/F No. 8 Min Tsu East Rd, Utopia Map, 2598-8856, 2598-8859. Walkable from the MRT Yuanshan Station Red (Danshui Line). Take your shoes off on 3/F and put into plastic bags provided and carry to 4/F reception desk at entry. This unpretentious neighborhood men's club has several unique features: they serve alcohol, the have a clothing-optional gym for nude work-outs, and a large rooftop for nude sunbathing and special group parties. In addition to the very reasonable entry fee (even cheaper for Utopia Members) you will also pay a small towel and key deposit which is returned to you when you exit. Tiny towels only, so bring your sexy underwear if you are shy to walk around nude. To the right of the reception desk is their serious gym space. To the left is a lounge and hallway (with bj bench seating!) leading to one of two locker rooms. Adjacent to the lockers is the wet area (slippery floor, be careful!) with small, dark steam room subdivided by a hanging tarp. Also leading off from the locker area is a corridor lined with private cabins leading to a group mix room with couch and padded floor. Back in the bj hallway you can take a narrow stairway down to 3/F with more lockers and two more large mix rooms, one dark and one lit with red light. At 8pm the lighting in the bar and gym area goes dark with laser lights and dance music. Occasional DJ spinning live. Monthly parties. Crowd is gym-fit, 25-40, and less snobby than at Aniki. Open daily until 2am and super discount entry (NT$99 as of May 2012) from 5-7pm nightly. Massage also available. 民族東路8號4樓-樓下為詹士運動用品店 Utopia Member Discount