Escape bar, Prague

[manlysize]

I'm in Prague for a short Easter vacation with my family. After reading an old post I decided to check out the Escape bar Thursday night. After some trouble finding the right gate and the stairs down I found the door with the sign "Escape bar, open daily from 9.00 to 5.00.
Unfortunately the door was locked and nobody answered the doorbell. Since it was just half past nine I thought it might open a bit later, being Mandy Thursday after all. So I went to a bar close by and had a beer to comeback a bit later. Just after eleven I checked back but the place was still dead.
Hopefully I haven't gone to Prague to not see a dick for the whole trip.

[goji]

Have you considered venturing along to Club Temple ? If that is still open.

[a447]

Hopefully I haven't gone to Prague to not see a dick for the whole trip.

I never made it to Temple- I spent every night in Escape. You saw dicks there, that's for sure, but hard-ons were as rare as hens' teeth. So if the bar has closed, you haven't missed much.

I'm not surprised it's closed, if indeed it has. It was over-priced and the boys' fees were ridiculously high. Who would chance it if they can't get it up?

I did go to Drakes one evening but it was dead, so I escaped back to Escape.

But if I were you I'd take a look at Drakes. In the past I've had a lot of fun there. Maybe I went on a quiet evening.

[manlysize]

I read your review (thanks for that) , that's why I decided for Escape in the first place. What I'm after is some 'professional' show of dick, an ordinary cruise bar isn't that interesting for me.

[Blacktouch]

Gents, Prague is completely FINISHED for the rent scene.

Escape Bar is closed down.

Temple Club is still open, but nobody goes there. Empty every night.

My friend goes to Prague every few weeks for business and report back to me. Plus some others who live there report back to me. Prague is not worth going anymore. Unless you need to go for other reasons?

Grindr works out there. But not the same as the old days.

This is all thanks to the strong economy, internet and all those apps.

[Blacktouch]

I read your review (thanks for that) , that's why I decided for Escape in the first place. What I'm after is some 'professional' show of dick, an ordinary cruise bar isn't that interesting for me.

No bars like that in Prague anymore.

[Blacktouch]

Head for Berlin or Düsseldorf for bars with what your looking for. But mainly Eastern European guys.

[DaveyJonesLocker]

Any personal experiences on "rent" bars in Milan? A friend of mine is headed there. He can see some bars reviewed online as having rent boys present, but assumes that really means it's a scene rather like Telephone Pub in Bangkok. He's after a more dedicated rent boy experience, like the old "host bar" of yore.

[Magnum]

There was a raid at Escape Club back in November 2017 (http://www.queer.de/detail.php?article_id=30144) and their Facebook page Escape Prague says 19 Dec "WE ARE CLOSED FOR TECHNICAL REASON"

[a447]

When I was there I didn't see any "minderjährige Junge" (under-age guys).

Apart from one guy who told me he was 19, the rest of the guys were in their twenties or early thirties.

I guess when business declines owners will try anything to make up for lost revenue, resorting to human trafficking and the employment of certain guys to cater for a very specific type of client.

[DaveyJonesLocker]

"... FOR TECHNICAL REASON"

A favourite excuse of airlines too. Could mean anything

[goji]

Gents, Prague is completely FINISHED for the rent scene.
Escape Bar is closed down.
Temple Club is still open, but nobody goes there. Empty every night.

The clubs may be dying, but surely the escorts section of Planet Romeo must still be well stocked ?

Admittedly, this is not as much fun as visiting somewhere like Club Temple used to be, or even cruising in the old upstairs part of the railway station.

The loss of Escape is no issue for me, as the type of guy they had in there had no appeal at all to me & paying high prices for the "wrong type" of boy just isn't going to happen. Club Temple was more my kind of bar.

I suppose it's the decline of the clubs is just another result of two main changes -Czech lads are free to work anywhere in the EU and the phone apps are taking a lot of the dating business now.

[Blacktouch]

Any personal experiences on "rent" bars in Milan? A friend of mine is headed there. He can see some bars reviewed online as having rent boys present, but assumes that really means it's a scene rather like Telephone Pub in Bangkok. He's after a more dedicated rent boy experience, like the old "host bar" of yore.

Try Alexander gay sauna. Best sauna in Milan with some "Rent" fun!

[Blacktouch]

The clubs may be dying, but surely the escorts section of Planet Romeo must still be well stocked ?

Admittedly, this is not as much fun as visiting somewhere like Club Temple used to be, or even cruising in the old upstairs part of the railway station.

The loss of Escape is no issue for me, as the type of guy they had in there had no appeal at all to me & paying high prices for the "wrong type" of boy just isn't going to happen. Club Temple was more my kind of bar.

I suppose it's the decline of the clubs is just another result of two main changes -Czech lads are free to work anywhere in the EU and the phone apps are taking a lot of the dating business now.

Unfortunately the "Rent scene" has diclined drastically in Prague (and around the world). I strongly believe this is all due to a stronger economy, boys can travel around Europe, gay apps, online dating, and lifestyle changes etc.

Escape was never my cup of tea. The boys charged way too much. On a few occasions I was told they wanted 4000 Czech Crown. Another asked for 3000 czk. They never asked for any amount under 3000 czk. And the boys there were never my type. Well maybe the odd one. They were all upper class behaviour and their shit don't think.

Now at Club Temple (formerly Pinocchio) the boys were more my type, and asked for 1000 czk, or 1500 czk max. Ok the odd few who may try their luck and ask for 3000czk, but would soon lower their price when nobody showed interest. Well who wouldn't if you see a newbie punter arrived for the first time?

The venue was sold by the previous owner (Joe) and his bar Manager took over the business. I don't know why he did this, as I can't see the business recovering.

[Nirish guy]

If trying Milan ( and many other Suripean saunas etc) be sure to read up on ( get) the required government issued Adult pass ID ( sorry I can’t recall the exact name but you get the idea). From memory it has to be applied for 24 hours before use (?) and there’s a ( yearly?) charge for it.

A real pain in the ass when one decides to perhaps pop in for a quick nosey / some fun somewhere on a whim when travelling in Europe when passing I find :-(

[goji]

Unfortunately the "Rent scene" has diclined drastically in Prague (and around the world). I strongly believe this is all due to a stronger economy, boys can travel around Europe, gay apps, online dating, and lifestyle changes etc.

Escape was never my cup of tea. The boys charged way too much. On a few occasions I was told they wanted 4000 Czech Crown. Another asked for 3000 czk. They never asked for any amount under 3000 czk. And the boys there were never my type. Well maybe the odd one. They were all upper class behaviour and their shit don't think.

Now at Club Temple (formerly Pinocchio) the boys were more my type, and asked for 1000 czk, or 1500 czk max. Ok the odd few who may try their luck and ask for 3000czk, but would soon lower their price when nobody showed interest. Well who wouldn't if you see a newbie punter arrived for the first time?


I agree with pretty much all of your findings on the Prague scene. Paying CZK4000 for someone who is not even our kind of boy at Escape is not an attractive deal. Much better to try Club Temple.

[DaveyJonesLocker]

If trying Milan ( and many other Suripean saunas etc) be sure to read up on ( get) the required government issued Adult pass ID ( sorry I can’t recall the exact name but you get the idea).

Wouldn't it be obvious that the person wanting to go in was middle-aged?

[Blacktouch]

If trying Milan ( and many other Suripean saunas etc) be sure to read up on ( get) the required government issued Adult pass ID ( sorry I can’t recall the exact name but you get the idea). From memory it has to be applied for 24 hours before use (?) and there’s a ( yearly?) charge for it.

A real pain in the ass when one decides to perhaps pop in for a quick nosey / some fun somewhere on a whim when travelling in Europe when passing I find :-(

You do not need the membership card for Alexander gay sauna. Friends who have been there said it's one place you can just walk in and pay. But best to fully research before going?

[Blacktouch]

Wouldn't it be obvious that the person wanting to go in was middle-aged?

It's nothing to do with proving your age. Lol

[Blacktouch]

It's nothing to do with proving your age. Lol

Ops. I've just googled about saunas in Milan.

"Milan Gay Saunas

Milan has great choice of gay saunas for those who want a bit of hot and steamy fun.

Take a photo ID that shows your age or expect to buy an ANDDOS club card."

[Blacktouch]

I was right. You do not need membership card to gain entry to the Alexander Sauna. Below is a comment from one customer:

ALEXANDER SAUNA autumn/autunno 2017

“Due to an old tradition of gay hospitality 80ties this ambiance was favorite from married men and others who rescued anonimously did not need a card of admission.

To day after to different ownership we have a terrible decrease of hygiene, safety and people in the club. It is almost hard top approach other men for the arrogance of hustlers, who run after you, willing small money (10 Euros) just to leave you alone without annoying. I think this is bad and irresponsible in charge to someone who run a public/gay/sauna“

[Blacktouch]

Here is another comment from another customer. So full of hustlers, and no membership cards required.


[Old-fashioned , with hustlers

“I guess this is the oldest gay sauna in Milan still in activity. The place is not particularly clean (but even when it is, it smells mouldy). No whirlpool, small dry sauna and medium-sized steam room.
Basically it's a hunting place for old & often closeted men (they don't ask for a membership card, so anybody can get in) and it attracts a small crowd of rentboys. Not particularly good-looking or in shape. Best to avoid it.“]

[DaveyJonesLocker]

I should have made it clearer (my original question specifically mentioned bars) that saunas are not an option for my friend. Louche bars are more his style.

However I did receive a good news email from him overnight. He arrived in Milan a couple of days ago and almost immediately was introduced to an impecunious young member of the corps de ballet at La Scala. As a ballet queen he's in absolute heaven - mentioned something about a fantasy of licking the sweat off his balls as he came off-stage after a vigorous performance. Between ourselves (and the 607 active members of this Forum) I believe he's hoping for one of the young Principals but they earn rather too much money, and his particular favourite is already attached (not that that's ever stopped anyone).

Happy endings all round.

[StevieWonders]

Between ourselves (and the 607 active members of this Forum) I believe he's hoping for one of the young Principals but they earn rather too much money, and his particular favourite is already attached (not that that's ever stopped anyone).

No names no pack-drill?

[DaveyJonesLocker]

No names no pack-drill?

A gentleman never tells. But then neither I nor many of the 607 active members of this Forum are gentlemen, so I've sent you a PM.

[Nirish guy]

Thank you Blacktouch an Anndos card - that’s the best me I was referring to. I’ve been asked for that card on several occasions when entering gay places in Italy ( not all but some and certainly the more hard core places rather than just ordinary bars). I think the general point was if there was “sex” on the menu ie live Sex show in one of the bars behind the train station or the sex club places they ALL asked for it and absolutely denied entry without it.

To me it’s a very questionable requirement anyway as it seems yet just another way of a Government keeping tabs on / oppressing not out members of the gay community and ultimately also having a ready made list of hard core Gay place users which might be handy to them for all SORTS of reasons not excluding job offers and promotions within their civil service etc. Obviously I’m not sure but I don’t believe such a card is needed to access straight sex venues - but I might be wrong there and am happy to be corrected there.

Ps sorry to the Op as I did realise you’d said your friend is more interested in bars and ballet guys ball sweat :-) but I thought this info might be of use to others reading this thread in the future perhaps as the lack of having said card ( which requires 24 hours advance purchase and s passport ID to buy stopped several good fun opportunities I had in their tracks when I was in Italy this year - but thankfully not all.

Perhaps asvide your friend to take care in the fee gay bars / money boy barsbwhjnd rge train station as they are as rough and dangerous as fuck imho.

[DaveyJonesLocker]

Bloody Search engines! Duck Duck Go kept offering me pages of results about registering my Nando's Card. I see it's issued by the National Association against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (never heard of it) and is required for entry to all SOP (Sex On Premises) venues in Italy - presumably so they can discriminate against straight men who don't have one.

I've let my apartment out on AirBNB to a middle-aged Thai bloke who spends most of his time away, and am already in Europe. Somehow I don't think I'll be needing either a Nandos Card or an Anddos Card while I'm there. It's my annual "Get the Hell Out Before the Hell of Songkran" trip.

[Blacktouch]

You're welcome Nirish guy.

But I think, one can get the Anndos card straight away on arrival at some of the venues? Correct me if I'm wrong. I did read one of the sauna's actually sell you this as you enter, and then allowed you to use the facilities at the same time?

[Nirish guy]

But I think, one can get the Anndos card straight away on arrival at some of the venues?

You know you could well be right, I honestly can't recall, It could well of been that you had to pay for the card at somehting like 20 euros and THEN admission at another 10 or 15 euros and the miser in me might well of said stuff that for a 10 minute nosey in the door.

Edit - You're right Blacktouch - I just googled it ( after also getting the Nando's card offered to me by google - i wonder dod Nando's know why they have such a big gay following in Italy ! :) So, as below is as taken from Travel gay Europe site ( https://www.travelgayeurope.com/italy-gay-sauna-cruise-club-index/ ) - that site also lists a wide variety of venues in several cities. I think the prices of the pass may have gone up slighty perhaps by 2 Euro or so but it should be fairly close to pass price I think. So it states the following re the pass :

"To enter a gay sauna or cruise club in Italy you will need an ANDDOS or ArciGay UNO Club Card.


Purchase a card on arrival from any participating venue for 8 euros (valid only at the venue you have joined) or 15 euros (valid at all ANDDOS venues). Both cards a valid for one year.
You will need government issued photo ID (Passport etc) that shows your date of birth to purchase a card."


So, it seems I WAS to miserly to buy a pass when going in to check out the few locations I entered that asked for the pass - I guess I'll never know WHAT I missed now ! I should add that on that trip I'd my BF in tow, if I had of been alone I'm guessing the 15 Euro would have been handed over toot sweet ! :)

[Blacktouch]

So, it seems I WAS to miserly to buy a pass when going in to check out the few locations I entered that asked for the pass - I guess I'll never know WHAT I missed now ! I should add that on that trip I'd my BF in tow, if I had of been alone I'm guessing the 15 Euro would have been handed over toot sweet ! :)[/QUOTE]

No worries. We all live and learn.

I hope to do a weekend visit to Milan soon, and will be checking out some of those venues, and of course, report back on here my findings. Wink wink!