What it is like visiting a private gay club in Chicago
Steamworks Chicago – it’s a bath house in the Windy City many gays talk about but is it any good? Moreover, is it worth the money?
Recently, I was in Chicago to see family and decided to check out the facility for myself. Now I want to preface a few things before giving you my impressions.
First, you need to know that I’m not receiving a dime for what appears below nor is this blog. Additionally, I’ve kept my review super sanitized because I want people to read this in a way that is SFW.
Finally, I need to say that my experience may be different from others and so it is important to check around to get an idea of what you may expect.
Where is Steamworks Chicago?
The club is located at 3246 N Halsted Street in Chicago, smack in the middle of what many refer to as “Boystown”. It’s a 24/7 club, meaning it never closes.
It is easily accessible by train on the Chicago Transit Authority’s “Red Line”. You can also take the “Number #8” Halsted Bus.
Street parking in the area may be available but wow is it a congested area. You might be better off taking a cab or paying for an Uber.
FYI: In my case, I stayed at a local gay-friendly hotel so grabbing a ride was super easy.
What did you pay to get in?
For a 30-day membership pass, I paid $7.00. Because I visited Steamworks Chicago on a Sunday, I paid $22.00 for a locker. That makes $29.00 in total.
FYI: To get in, you must buy a membership. Even if you are just visiting one time, you still must buy it. You also need to pay for a locker or a room.
Prices for lockers and rooms are different on weekends and weekdays. I encourage you to visit their website for their complete pricing scheme to get an idea of options.
Finally, you should know you can purchase passes that are greater than 30-days. Because I was an out of town visitor and knew I would only pop in once or twice for the entire year, I only bought the 30-day pass.
What time did you go?
I was in the club on a Sunday in March, arriving around 2 pm. I stayed for approximately two hours, give or take.
What were your first impressions?
I’ve been to private clubs in the past so I can honestly say I wasn’t intimidated or freaked out. In my case, it did help to refresh my memory on gay bathhouse etiquette. It never hurts, right?
When I got there, a small line had already formed that extended down a hallway. It took me 15-minutes to check in, which wasn’t bad.
The desk attendant was very nice and asked me if I wanted a locker or a room. He then suggested I put my valuables in one of their lockboxes, which I happily did.
Moments later, he gave me a white towel and a key. Before I knew it, I was “buzzed” through a door which served as the gateway to the facility.
Immediately, I took in the smells of the “Wet Area”. Here, I am talking about chemicals used for cleaning and disinfecting.
It wasn’t overpowering but it was noticeable. That’s a good thing I suppose because it was a strong indication the club was being looked after.
What did you like?
I’m not going to bore you with every single detail. Suffice it to say there were many things I liked. Here’s a quick rundown.
- Loved the wet-area and the multi-guy jacuzzi.
- Really dug the steam room and how it had so many dark nooks and crannies.
- Sauna was also nice although I did not spend a lot of time in there.
- There were maze areas on the second and third floors. Those were fun for watching people and other activities.
- Fun video room where a lot of guys congregated.
- Cool gym on the third floor; a place where I saw guys actually working out.
What didn’t you like?
I went into the club with an open mind and so finding something to mention that I didn’t like is kind of difficult. If I had to pick one thing, it would be the need for more showers in the wet area.
Now granted, I was there during a very busy time and so they were constantly being used. Still, given the high amount of traffic taking place, it just seems like they should make more showers available. Had I been there during a weekday, I might be singing a different tune.
Were there hot guys there?
I loathe even putting this question into my review because the term “hot” is very subjective. What I like and what you like may be completely different.
Here is what I’ll say. When I visited, there was a wide rainbow of patrons running around the club. We’re talking about everything from young men to older guys. If I had to range it, I’d say early 20’s to late 70’s. It also had a multi-racial vibe, which I really liked.
Did you mess around?
Remember I said I would be keeping my review SFW? Well, I’m keeping my promise. But I will tell you that I enjoyed myself on at least two occasions.
Is Steamworks Chicago worth the money?
All I can do is speak to my experience and say that I had a very good time. Given that the price of entry was just $29.00 in total (the pass plus the locker), I’d be hard pressed to say it was overpriced. To me, it was not.
So, there you have it. My review of Steamworks Chicago. I know there are other reviews online where people have shared different experiences. Some people say it’s not that great. Again, I’m trying to take anything away from what they’ve shared.
Have you been to Steamworks in Chicago? If so, how was it? Did you think it was worth the money?
Main photo pic: Steamworks. Instagram photos from Steamworks website.
Update: 9/16/22: Steamworks was closed for most of the pandemic. As of this moment, it has reopened to full operations.
