Phoenix Bathhouse, Cologne, Germany

Part of a collection of gay bathhouses in Germany with popular branches in Essen and Dusseldorf, Phoenix Sauna Cologne (Richard-Wagner Strasse 12, 49-0221-258-11-71) opened in this gay-friendly city in 2004, right in the heart of the gay nightlife district that's centered around the leafy Rudolfplatz district. A beautifully decorated, rather upscale-looking gay men's club, Phoenix is a spacious compound with well-kept facilities that include a sun terrace, Finnish sauna, cafe, bar/lounge, and full massage and bodywork services on request. Just about every night of the week, Phoenix is crawling with guys - the younger, buff, nicely built crowd favors this place above the other gay men's clubs in town, such as Faun (around the corner), Babylon Sauna, and Sauna Volcano, although all of these establishments are fairly popular in this sexually forward and progressive city.