B1, 20, Lane 353, Lin-sen N. Rd, Utopia Map, 2564-1069, email. Gay-owned Aniki Club is a world-class, private recreational club for gentlemen who want to enjoy 5-star pampering with club services. They aim to provide a space with the highest standard of safety, cleanliness, and privacy. From the minute you enter their garden path sliding door and are greeted by their smiling staff (tall, tan and gorgeous) 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). 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 imported from Scandinavia, and dark shower area. Large number of private cabins available free and dim cruising corridors. Admission fee includes a 16 hour stay, with in and out privileges. Lockers can accommodate your backpack and staff can manage larger luggage (some visitors just check in and stay for days). They also offer massage (see listing under Massage and Spas). 林森北路353巷20號地下室 Utopia Member Discount

Comments from Utopians:

"I was there on a Fri night from 11:30pm-2am. After midnight the crowd became a little less, but still some 30-40 guys were cruising. After 1am the young twinks became much less picky and I had great fun. I can definitely recommend this place." -- rolamani, Jul 29, 2011

"Went three times at the end of Dec: nice place! Very clean, modern - friendly welcome at the front desk - easy to find: after metro station just turn on your right until Prince Hotel. In front of Prince Hotel turn right and then left. Many guys - most young. Easy to find partners - good action in the dark room more than in the steam room and sauna - better to go late afternoon and in the evening. Price = NT$400. Much better than other saunas especially in Europe where you have practically no chance to find kind and easy partners if you are nearly 50 years old! I also visited Rainbow and Gengis sauna: no comparison. You can also spend the night here: some beds in front a large screen (not porn)." -- virgilio, Jan 2, 2011

"I went earlier this week on the young guy discount night, Tue. The place was spotless, very nice jacuzzis...open showers to show off a bit, private showers for a more private show. A steamy steam room that was quite naughty. I relaxed a bit, walked around the darker cruising spots, got a nice slow helping hand from a college guy...towards the end of my trip I went back into the naughty steam room and helped four guys...headed to the small room hall and met two cute college guys...played for a while. I thought the place was great!. I think a secret is to get attention in the shower, but wait till you've got several guys interested. Had a blast and will be back for more." -- hottravelguy, Jan 2, 2011

"Aniki simply rocks. It leaves every other facility in this city way, way, way behind. That said, the locals are a bit particular. Speaking Chinese helps but is no guarantee. Get to work on those abs! This reasonably well defined guy found himself the butt of some abrupt rejections. At other times, I was the center of unwanted advances from guys who didn't know the meaning of no. I guess it's just the local style, but quite affronting at first. No food and limited drinks when I was there on a Sun afternoon into the evening. Met some very nice guys and walked home with one. Overall, it is well worth the effort of finding the place. Highly recommended." -- cbc16, Dec 15, 2010

"I went on a Sun about 5pm. The cost was NT$500 (US$15). There is a small sign outside. There isn't an obvious door, but when you stand close enough it will slide open automatically. I took the stairs to the receptionist desk where I paid and was greeted by the cutest Asian staff. I changed in a general locker room area and then ventured off to have fun. There are private rooms here along with showers, steam room, dry sauna, a really dark room and one big room where I saw a number of guys sleeping. The longest you're able to stay here is 16 hours at a time. The place is very, very clean and the crowd is younger and very cute, maybe a little snobbish. It's a nice place and I would return." -- aldpaco, Dec 4, 2010

"Paid NT$700 for entry. The rooms for fun are free, or you can also pay for a real room with a toilet and real bed inside. Mostly young and truly gay guys. Most are choosy, passive and browsing. I had great fun in the dark room. The secret is to take the initiative and be active; also moaning is good way to attract guys to come to you. We are all after fun. No need to pretend in this place." -- cosmo30, Nov 20, 2010

"Aniki is the best sauna in Taipei, with lots of guys in their best form, however they are too snobbish and very conceited. The patrons are not foreigner friendly. Should you be going there, bring more Mandarin with you." -- smallest, Sep 25, 2010

"Aniki is a meeting place for men with beautiful bodies. If you are not, then only go here if you are a voyeur or masochist, and expect to be coldly ignored, cruelly rejected or hissed at. The place is full of bright, open spaces. Average, older or hairy guys are better off going to The Office, where fun can always be had." -- piliferous, Sep 6, 2010

"Aniki is one of the best saunas anywhere in the world. I don't waste my time and money going to the others in Taipei, which are dark, garish, and a little scary. I always have amazing experiences there (I love Taipei and Taiwanese guys!). Keep in mind that this crowd is young, hip, and hot. If you are older and out of shape, you might not have fun (try Rainbow or Han Men's instead (an older, blue collar crowd). Easiest way to find it: turn right from exit #1 of Shunglian Station 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. The building in front of Aniki was recently torn down, with rubble in its place. Bring sexy underwear for the theme nights and don't whine about the slightly higher price (it's a bargain for what you are getting), but enjoy the loveliness! Bring your own condoms and be grateful each room has BIG lube dispensers. Last week the staff was great; they kept my bag during the day while I toured Taipei. Very professional and welcoming, even though they are young. The CEO is great. Every sauna should be this good! FIVE STARS." -- ernst, Aug 14, 2010

5/F, N0. 8 Min Tsu East Rd, Utopia Map, 2598-8856. Large sign. A gay-owned and operated gym and sauna. MRT Dan-shui Line, Yuan-shan station. Walk along Min-Zu E. Rd to the intersection of Zhong-shan N. Rd and look for number 8. Muscular and goodlooking patrons. 民權東路8號5樓 – 樓下為詹氏運動用品

Comments from Utopians:

"HX is a great place to go if Aniki is too expensive for you. There is a basic gym room where hot guys are pumping their bodies hard and naked during the nude night, with UV light on. Good sized mazes on different floors and clients are all daring. Expect to have long sessions or multiple sessions with gym fit local guys here." -- ericswfs, Jan 10, 2011

"HX is easy to locate. I liked the place but it was not busy the Sun afternoon/evening I visited. Good gym equipment and good bods using it, but they mostly seemed to be there for the workout. Some action in one of the common cruise areas, but a bit standoffish otherwise. Perhaps the various theme nights are better." -- cbc16, Sep 5, 2010

265 Chang An West Rd, Utopia Map, 2550-7766, email. Open 24 hours. Seven floor facility with steam room, restaurant, maze, private rooms. Massage available. Attracts locals and visitors. Popular with middle-aged men and bears. 長安西路256號, 近塔城街口

Comments from Utopians:

"Went to Office sauna on Sun afternoon. Very busy. Good action in the steam room, but locals less inclined to interact elsewhere. Not too bad a venue (hot and cold pools, steam and sauna, TV room, etc) - a step or two above Han's or Rainbow, with plenty of towels, free drinks etc. Could do with a general makeover. Also went mid-week mid-evening when it is much quieter and locals still rather stand-offish." -- bear4unz, Jan 23, 2011

"The location is quite a distance from the railway station. Better bring a map. The receiptionist was very friendly and spoke English. The building is old, not so clean. They have a big hot and cool pool. Lots of action in the steam room. Individual rooms at level five. Mostly blue collar guys. I had fun with a good looking local guy." -- cosmo30, Nov 20, 2010

"Office sauna might be old and run down, but average build foreigners can be guaranteed a great time here. I've had some fantastic experiences with some very hot, young guys." -- piliferous, Sep 6, 2010

XIMEN -- Red House

2/F 120 Xi-Ning South Rd, Utopia Map, 2311-8681. Look for the sign on 2/F at the front of the alley. Clean and small. Open 24 hours. Attracts a more mature crowd. MRT Ban-chiao line, Xi-men stop, walk along Cheng-du Rd, turn left on Hsi Ning Rd for a short distance. Older facility, but very friendly. 漢士三溫暖

Comments from Utopians:

"Dedicated clients attend mostly on weekend afternoons and early evening. All facilities are very old and well past any use-by-date. Come on sauna owners, there is such a thing as sleazy and sexy - but this place, despite it's central location, is just sleazy and sad. Unless you speak Chinese, forget it." -- cbc16, Dec 15, 2010

"I went to Han Men's Sauna during the week at about 11pm. It was clean and everyone was friendly, but the facility is dark, garish, and a little scary. Though I did meet men who were interested in me, I did not like the atmosphere of the place. I was put off by the lack of warmth." -- ernst, Aug 14, 2010

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. The most popular gay sauna in town even though its an aging facility. No sign, but once you get to the address you can't miss the exterior and stair hallway plastered with rainbow flags and banners. Large bath and scrub area, steam, dark video room, reading and TV lounge. Lots of private cabins on the upstairs floors. Busy, big, and well-worn working-class type of place. 昆明街142號2樓

Comments from Utopians:

"This is an older spa, but clean enough. I went on a Sat afternoon. The spa has dry sauna, steam room, two large hot tubs, private rooms and private showers easily big enough for two people. The place wasn't very packed when I was there, but I think it's worth going to. The crowd was a good mix of all sizes and ages. Cute, young guys were there and so were older guys. I see this as more of a place for locals. I'm a black guy from New York, so I wasn't sure if I was being looked at because they were attracted to me or if they just thought I was lost...but it's a laid back crowd that didn't seem to be snobbish." -- aldpaco, Dec 4, 2010

"Rainbow is small and it can be hard to find a room. Fun can be had here, but it requires a lot of patience and thick skin." -- piliferous, Sep 6, 2010

"Rainbow was easily located. Thanks for the tip on the flags. Can't miss them! Stayed late during my recent visit but nothing much happened the whole time there. A number of interesting guys but not many into westerners and quite standoffish, even for this reasonably well defined guy. Decor is quite dated, but cleanish. Concrete floor in some of the showers was a bit hard on the feet. Management quite welcoming and staff did work hard. Local crowd seems mostly hot for each other." -- cbc16, Sep 5, 2010

"I went at about 11pm. Though I did meet a VERY hot young soldier, the concrete showers are dark and the black/white checkerboard vinyl tile floors are hideous." -- ernst, Aug 14, 2010

YANGMINGSHAN HOT SPRINGS

10, Alley 300, Singyi Rd, Utopia Map, 2874-7979. MRT Tamshui line, Shipai station, then take the main exit 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). There are many hot springs here. You will have to locate this one. Not a gay place, but plenty of action and gays tend to be agressively cruisy, especially in the dark steam room. Best after 10pm and on Fri, Sat and Sun. Open 24 hours. Pool for men is closed on Thu morning. 北投行義路300巷10號

Comments from Utopians:

"If you take the bus from Sipei MRT, look for the big sign of 300 on your right side. Private rooms are on your right as you enter and public/open area is on the left. The lady directed me to the right/private room which is NOT the place for Utopians. I saw the left side entrance and went to have a look - that's the place - all men walking around naked! Most are gay, but most also pretend to be straight. The action is in steam room, all standing inside and squeeze each other. I had great fun inside. Great experience, but not an ideal place for fun." -- cosmo30, Nov 20, 2010

"I went from noon-4pm on a weekday and had a nice little time. There were about six customers there (all gay), with more arriving as it got closer to quitting time at work (around 4pm). It's a nice, small facility and the natural spring pool has mineral water. The only place for action is in the small sauna and only when your partner is not afraid of being interrupted by someone walking in on the play. It's not so difficult to find: Take bus #508, 535 or 536 from that China Trust Bank bus stop going up the road about ten minutes. Watch the street signs on the right; the numbers grow larger as the street ascends. Get off the bus when you see the the one that says 300 Lane (NOT 'alley'), which is at a bus stop right before the entrance to where this and other hot springs are. Go down the lane through the large parking lot which accommodates tour buses, keeping right. At the bottom of this lot is another smaller car lot on the left and steps to hot springs on the right, separated by a column with white, old-fashioned pictures of Japanese women in kimono. Chuan-Tang is on the right side under a covered walk of stone tile steps leading down to it. Turn left at the bottom of the steps to go to the desk to buy your ticket. If you turn right you will go towards the baths; men's is on the left at the back. You can get a decent one-hour non-erotic massage here for only NT$1000, which is cheaper than most places. Patrons here are middle-aged and nice. A local man told me this place is hot from midnight to dawn." -- ernst, Aug 14, 2010

Same area as Chuan Tang Hot Spring, Utopia Map. Lockers for your clothes. guys walk around naked or with small wash towels. outdoor showers and pools or various sorts. Two steam rooms. Not gay, but the gays are easy enough to spot. This place is popular with mature guys and bears and those who hunt them. Bring your own towel if you don't want to pay for one. 皇池

7 Hu-shan Rd Sec 1, Yang-ming-shan, Utopia Map, 2861-7100. About 35-45 minutes to the hotel which is opposite the 7-Eleven. Take bus#260 at the Taipei train station to the mountain (last stop, in front of 7-Eleven and Starbucks). Walk back along the road about 20m. There you will see the old hotel built of stone. Small but very crowded from mid day. Not gay, but lots of action. under the water. Open 9am-4pm and again 4:30pm-9pm. Just before closing at 4pm things heat up as straight patrons leave. Don't bring valuables. Bring water to drink. 陽明山湖山路7號

Comments from Utopians:

"While the bath is small, the water is good. Also, the chance of meeting a nice romantic Taiwanese from out-of-town there and the beautiful views on the wayand back makes the bus trip worth it. The #260 bus stop for going to International Hotel hot springs has moved to the road on the other side of Taipei Main Train Station. The cost is NT$30, which you pay as you get off the bus - cheaper than catching a taxi which will cost around NT$400+ from Shilin MRT Station." -- HKtoTaiwan, Nov 21, 2010

"Not recommended. Very old place, very small pool and not clean. No sauna or steam room. Don't waste your time to visit unless you want to stay over night there." -- cosmo30, Nov 20, 2010

No. 20 Lane 251, Zhujaihu Rd, 2861-6351.

Comments from Utopians:

"This is a hot spring about 12 kms from Yangmingshan village. However, be careful about the easily confused address. It is Zhujaihu Rd, NOT Zhuzihu Rd. There is a bus going back to Yangmingshan and Taipei and another going to Jinshan on the other side of the road where there is a bus stop shed and timetable. The bus accepts EASYCARD, the local Taipei MRT card. I got a taxi there from Shipai MRT for $NT560. I got a bus back to Yangmingshan afterwards. To get the bus you need to walk up the lane about 2km, back to the main road. Note it is a steep walk up the road. There are no street lights on the lane, but it is easy to find the main road from the main street lights and once you reach the main road you can see a sign that says Jinshan going one way and Yangmingshan going the other. The hot spring is mixed but many gays go here as it is in a beautiful location, has very large hot spring baths of various temperatures, and a restaurant." -- HKtoTaiwan, Jan 6, 2011