The Boilerhouse

    Very popular gay sauna in downtown Dublin.

    The Boilerhouse

    Location Icon

    12 Crane Lane, Dublin, Ireland

    Popular gay sauna over 5 floors in the Temple Bar area, close to all the gay bars and clubs. Opened in 1997, The Boilerhouse replaced the former sauna 'The Gym’ which had been in business since 1979.

    Facilities include dry sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, lockers, showers, private cabins, smoking area, TV lounge, sling area, solarium. The café bar serves coffee, specialty drinks and snacks. Free internet access available.

    Weekday: 12:00 - 06:00

    Weekend: 24 hours

    Features:
    Bar
    Relaxing Cabins
    Cafe
    Steam room
    Sauna
    Jacuzzi \/ Hot Pool
    Free Wi-Fi
    Shop
    Rate The Boilerhouse
    3.2
    Audience Rating

    Based on 227 votes

    2017 Audience Awards
    2017 Audience Awards

    4 Star Winner

    2018 Audience Awards
    2018 Audience Awards

    4 Star Winner

    2019 Audience Awards
    2019 Audience Awards

    4 Star Winner

    2020 Audience Awards
    2020 Audience Awards

    4 Star Winner

    G
    G

    Fri, Sep 14, 2018

    The Boilerhouse

    I've been here once and it's so dirty that's impossible to get stimulated while u see that. All over 60yo people and few younger ones that they are off limits because too full of themselves. Avoiding this place is the best you can do. Save 22 euros if you are young or interested in young people. 18-40 yo is rare like 5% of the crowd.
    T
    Tom

    Thu, Jan 04, 2018

    The Boilerhouse

    Been there with my Bf. We are used to gay saunas but never saw so dirty, smelly and empty. If you like to have 15 loose handed 50+, go there, if not: stay away.
    B
    Ben

    Wed, Nov 08, 2017

    The Boilerhouse

    I've been to a few saunas in various countries and this one is definitely below average. For €22 I'd have hoped a functioning sauna, a warm jacuzzi and some nice hot showers. But none of that happened. Even the screens are low quality. A few guys were there but on the older age range.
    a
    alex

    Thu, Sep 14, 2017

    The Boilerhouse

    Defo not a place to spend 22 euros + 5 for flip- flops! Been a few times when I've traveled to Dublin, Saturdays mostly and the place was awful. 99% old guys in late 60's! The 1% - ''masculine'' and heterosexuals wont let you to touch them. Dirty cabins and showers/toilets and Saturday night @ 3 am not more than 30 guys. If you really insist to spend your night in such a place be my guest but I will return in such a place again!
    F
    Fab

    Sun, Sep 10, 2017

    The Boilerhouse

    I went there on a thursday night. Most saunas and steam baths were turned off, there was no place to warm up. Very few people and most of them in their late 50s. I've been to different saunas all around the world and this one has been the worst so far.
    S
    Scott

    Sun, May 28, 2017

    The Boilerhouse

    After a long Euro trip, I was ready to scratch an itch and visit my first gay bath house. €22 entrance fee and €5 refundable for flip flops felt a little steep based on these reviews. Front door clerk was helpful and friendly, and I made my way in. First stop was the tiny changing room. Quick and easy since there was just one other guy in there (2am on a Saturday), but crowded when I changed to leave (4am). Went upstairs to shower and climbed into the jacuzzi. Didn't seem to be working (perhaps I was supposed to turn it on?), so I quickly moved on. Wandered the other couple of floors until I reached the upper floor cruising dark rooms. Got my action by quite a few guys in the dark and went into private rooms to play more privately with a couple of them (separately). Unfortunately there were guys that subtle moving and declining offers did not work, and swatting away and forceful "nos" would only get me a temporary reprieve. Where there is action, guys will congregate. I'd get groped by others, while others would try to catch a feel. When it would get too crowded, I'd break away and do a loop. Night got busier over time. Action picked up as the night progressed as well, with a couple of younger guys getting passed around. Sling got some action too. Ages ranged, but clearly skewed older. No offense, but I don't want to hook with someone my grampa's age (I'm early 30s). Give me a dilf any day though. Pleased that I checked it out, but unlikely to return. The best thing was the dark room and cabins, and the price of admittance is too steep for that benefit alone.
    R
    Rob

    Fri, Apr 21, 2017

    The Boilerhouse

    Smelly, old and one of the worst I've been to - left in 5 minutes!
    G
    Gay World

    Sun, Mar 26, 2017

    The Boilerhouse

    As it's the only gay sauna in Dublin, there are always a lot of guys. You can find small darkroom and porn cinema on the first floor, there is a sauna, jacuzzi and steam on the second floor, the third floor is only about cabins and the forth floor is about actions haha - dark room, porn corner, sling etc. The best actions are of course in the darkroom but also in the steam which I prefer as you can really see the person. The staff are very friendly, everything is very clean and you feel kinda comfortable and safely there. You are given condom and the gel at the entrance with towel and keys to your cabinet. The entrance fee is a bit high but definitely worthy. HINT: The best time to visit is defo weekend. The sauna is starting to be very busy mainly after the clubs close which is around 3am. Everyone then goes to the sauna to get some action.
    P
    Pascal

    Thu, Mar 23, 2017

    The Boilerhouse

    As a German I like strict rules, but if the internet tells you that you can stay their till 6 and you have to leave before 5 ist making me sick. I had berfored to stay there longer and if they tell you at the entrance it doesn't make it better.
    E
    Enrique

    Fri, Nov 11, 2016

    The Boilerhouse

    Mondays & Tuesdays not that busy, starts to get busy on Wednesday around 8pm up until Sunday night best times Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. The clientele from young guys to 70's if not more lots of gorgeous guys and like I said in other reviews IRISH guys are the best that's why every time I go to DUBLIN on holidays I go to THE BOILERHOUSE just got back to the USA but I'll be back in APRIL of next year can't wait to have more of those great IRISH guys
    W
    Wayne

    Mon, Nov 07, 2016

    The Boilerhouse

    Staying Temple Bar.... going to the boiler house was great. Place was very clean, the guys were wonderful. Every night that I went I wasn't disappointed. Top floor was great stay on my knees and things would magically appear. True older crowd but older crowd with nice action.
    P
    Paddy

    Wed, Oct 12, 2016

    The Boilerhouse

    Defo one of the best saunas I ever had been 2 friendly staff, very clean, love Friday nights there some Saturdays its hard 2 get what u want as its very busy.
    L
    Luke

    Sun, Aug 28, 2016

    The Boilerhouse

    Only old guys who are there to peak under your towel without even saying "hi" to you, sauna wasn't very clean, and all of that for an expensive price. Was there on a Sunday afternoon with my boyfriend and we ended up walking around several times trying in vain to find a reasonably attractive guy, but ended up leaving after 30 minutes of discomfort, being spotted by Santa-Claus-looking guys in their 70's.
    E
    Enrique

    Mon, Jan 11, 2016

    The Boilerhouse

    I am a fan of this sauna; every time that I go to DUBLIN I go to the BOILER . It is true that is full of older guys, but also many good looking guys, over the weekend many young guys. The attitude like in any sauna around the world from the ones that are full of themselves to the annoying queens but I don't pay attention to any of them. Have had the best shags of my life with very attractive and nice guys. I love those IRISH guys. I'll be back in Oct and will visit each and every day of my stay.
    A
    Alex

    Mon, Oct 05, 2015

    The Boilerhouse

    I visited the Boierhouse on Wednesday 30th September for a massage which at €40 for a one hour session was I felt excellent value. Having had a glimpse of the surroundings and the guys walking round in their towels I decided to pay a proper vvisit the next day! To be honest the guys who were there (I was there early afternoon) were all in the 50s or 60s but as that is my preferred age it wasn't a problem for me. My return visit incurred an entrance fee of €15 and €5 refundable for flipflops. This I felt was reasonable The reception and coffee bar are small but welcoming and the staff couldn't have been nicer or more friendly and after explaining to me what was available on each floor they left me to explore. I was not disappointed! The private cubicles and big enough for four (I can vouch for this!) and have expertly placed mirrors so if the door is closed one can still get a pleasent view of the interior of the room! Overall a very enjoyable afternoon, I will be returning and I can recommend it!
    P
    Paul

    Sun, May 10, 2015

    The Boilerhouse

    I went here on Friday night and enjoyed it from start to finish! Nice staff and a good crowd from 20's-70's and possibly older! A few muscle Mary's that think they're too good for everyone but that's to be expected in every sauna! I enjoyed the sling rooms and the cruising area in general, the only fault I had was that you get 1 condom and 1 lube on arrival and if you want more you have to go back downstairs and ask for it. I think this can wreak the mood if your getting horny with someone/group and you have to leave to restock! I prefer saunas that have condoms and lube in every booth or at least at stations on every floor for convenience and safety! The guys were friendly and chatting and it was a nice vibe. I went back on Saturday and felt totally different vibe, the crowd was 70% 50+ 20% real arrogant up themselves 'fit' guys and 10% decent guys. 1 older daddy type seemed to act like king of the castle sitting at the bar checking everyone who entered and cruising the corridors like he owned them. He was a big beefy silver haired/beared type and got a lot of attention from guys but on 2 separate occasions I witnessed him roughly push guys who tried to make a pass. He seemed like a regular by the way he was very friendly with the staff. I heard a few guys comment on his attitude. There was a good majority of the younger crowd seemed to have very bad attitudes on the Saturday compared to the Friday crowd. It's a shame the Saturday tainted my view on the place because when leaving after Friday's visit I couldn't wait to get back! The entrance of €22 was a bit on the steep side. The location s great, really easy to find from temple bar.
    J
    Jim

    Sun, Apr 12, 2015

    The Boilerhouse

    I made two trips to this sauna during the Easter weekend. On the Sunday it was very busy and if you are into very old guys - and I'm talking 70s and older - then this is the place for you. 80% were old men and the music was AWFUL. It was as loud as it could possibly be, this was to discourage guys from sleeping in the cabins, as it is open all night. I went back on Tuesday and it wasn't nearly so busy and, thankfully, the music was much quieter. Old men were everywhere but I did have a nice time with a hairy Irish guy in his late 20s. This was after being there for about 4 hours though. It has plenty of cabins, clean enough and the staff friendly enough. Free condoms & lube. Very central location but, those old Irish men! Most of them looked as if they should have been at home preparing their sermon for the following Sunday. Dublin is a wonderful city and the Guinness is liquid perfection, so next time I'm there I'll find something else to do, this sauna is not raunchy enough for me. The entrance fee was rather high, about 22 euros if I remember correctly.

    Comments / Reviews are the subjective opinion of Travel Gay users, not of Travel Gay.