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Power Exchange - CLOSED
Category: Nightlife Adult Entertainment Adult Entertainment [Edit]
74 Otis St(between Brady St & Gough St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 487-9944
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
74 reviews for Power Exchange
Review Highlights
"Sex positive is my phrase of the week by the way."
(in 4 reviews)
"I, too, am glad that places like this exist."
(in 4 reviews)
"has many different types of rooms for your kinky fetishes."
(in 3 reviews)
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74 reviews in English
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Review from xx x.
Menlo Park, CA
10/5/2011
This location is closed. Look around, though, as they're now open at 220 Jones.
-
Review from Kimchimney C.
Stockton, CA
1/4/2012
WOW JUST WOW! YEARS AND YEARs back (lets say around the beginning of 2000)....I AM NOT GOING TO SAY NAMES but someone brought me here and to my knowledge at the time was "WERE GOING TO A STRIPCLUB!" To my drunk'n madness I agreed but I sobered up 10 minutes after arriving and let's just say I'm still SCARRED! LMAO NEVER AGAIN....I still have flashbacks and still get the wiff of dirty sperm from time to time when it just pops up in my head out of nowhere...GREAT I SMELL IT NOW! What a dissappointing night! After 10 minutes of being in there I wanted to go home and curl up and suck my thumb in the fetal position! Who does this crap?? OH YAH...PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET NONE!!! OR SICK F***s...whatever floats your boat right? If you wanna catch an STD then this is the place for you!
-
Review from Bella W.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2007
Where should I go for our wedding anniversary?
POWER EXCHANGE!
I'm turning 18- what's a fun place to go?
POWER EXCHANGE!
Hey guys- my parents are visiting from out of town- where should I take them?
POWER EXCHANGE!
I want to contract an STD- where can I get one?
POWER EXCHANGE!
Power Exchange seems to be the answer to all the questions asked on the threads. Must be a fabulous place to go, yeah? Yeah- not so much.
After a night of eating, drinking, dancing, drinking, smoking, and drinking some more, my douche boyfriend at the time suggested we should hit up PE. Against my better judgment, I agreed to go. There is a reason why people come here- to get laid. They come here b/c they can't get laid in the real world. Why am I here again?
We made our way through the various floors. I made sure I watched where my cute shoes stepped- I seriously considered burning them had they not been so damn CUTE! We settled on the 3rd floor- where the "couples" area is located.
Bf: I'll be right back
Me: NOOOO! Don't fucking leave me here by myself.
Bf: I have to go to the bathroom, you'll be fine.
Me: Shit- can't I come with you?
Bf: Uh- I don't think you want to know what I'm doing
Me: Oh, that stuff is going to kill you one day.
So I sit on an empty bed- trying not to look at the not so impressive couple to my left and an anorexic girl with 34DDs with her bf to my right. God, am I the only one that's NOT getting laid? Um- do I really want to get laid here? Never mind.
My bf comes back and w/in 10 mins is gone again. This time, a couple sees me sitting alone on the bed.
Me *DON'T make eye contact, Bella. LOOK AWAY!* *Looks towards the ceiling*
Hairy guy with gf/wife: Hey, are you alone little lady?
Me: Ugh- get the fuck away from me. I'm waiting for my bf.
HGWG/W: Oh sorry, you sure are purdy and my lady friend wanted a companion.
Me: Have you tried the SPCA?
My bf and I head down to the S&M floor and end up sitting on a couch- SANITIZER, PLEASE(!!!) and talk the entire night about everything but sex (not to be confused with Butt sex).
Bf: I think that guy in the swing likes you.
Me: Do I really want to look?
Bf: You always wanted a sugar daddy.
Me*looks*: I'm surprised he can even get it up! Now can we go before he spews?
Entrance fee: $40/couple
Bleach: $10
Hand Sanitizer: $5
Knowing that not so attractive people have more sex than I do? Priceless (and kinda sad).
Knowing I can apparently rock the socks off the geriatrics? Also priceless -
Review from Thomas F.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2007
69th review!!!
Recommended dress code:
HAZMAT suit with a pee hole cut out for your junk to hang out through and nipple clamps
o o o
|_ / | \ _|
/| / \ /|
^ ^
creepy dudes
staring at you
while pounding
their little puds
...but if only I could make the stick figures ugly, old and fat?
update:
Zella B's ASCIII art piece SUBMISSION
O O
D-O__---(|
|\ /\ \\ /\
Melissa "LADI D" A.'s SUBMISSION
O O
I-O__ -|
|\ /\ \\ /\
If you would like to add your own ASCIII art work to this ASS-KEY GANG BANG art show, please contact the curator Thomas F with your SUBMISSIONs
On the plus side, the private 3rd floor was... well, I don't wanna sound like I'm bragging but... someone in the film Office Space would pay $1,000,000 for this and it involved a hot girl I was seeing and her girlfriend -
Review from luis m.
Oakland, CA
11/28/2006
no joke, a girl I was dating brought me here once so I could flog her. I totally sucked at it and had to let someone who knew what he was doing take over. The things I'll do to help a girl to bust a nut. She should have asked me to kick her in the box. I'm real good at that.
That's not it folks, I came back for more at a later date! My friends were visiting and they wanted to come here. They thought it was a regular club where people just had a tendency to get freaky. Oh how I love people from the Central Valley.
So I bring them here because they had a guest list hookup and we got in for free as well as being allowed to keep our clothes on. It was freakin' classic! There were lots of little hispanic dudes running around in those tiny towels. For some strange reason they were clutching to the damn towel so it wouldn't fall off with one hand and reaching under the damn thing to play with themselves with the other. What's up with the modesty? You think we don't know you are jacking off?
Anyway, I gave my friends the grand tour. They were mortified. hahaha! The best part was when this pervert busted out an electric wand and talked my friends wife into letting him have a little electro session with her. It started off innocently enough but of course things had to get a little bit...dirtay. So my friend freaked out and pulled his wife out of there.
Eventually a tranny started sucking cocks and the little hispanic dudes swarmed on that. Yeah, that was our cue to go. This is the place for dirty birdies! -
Review from Courtney Y.
San Francisco, CA
6/20/2007
When: Halloween
Where: The Power Exchange
With: A handful of lesbians
A couple of my friends and I have always discussed the Power Exchange with curiosity. What goes on in there? What's it like? What are the people like? Finally, on halloween we had the nerve to get a small group of women together to check it out. We were only there for about 45 minutes, but that was long enough to swiftly walk through and get the hell out.
What we found?
1. Mad Jackers. These are naked dudes that follow you around pointing their junk at you and frantically jerking off. For some reason, the majority of them are about 5 feet tall and hispanic.
2. Really, really unattractive people. Yes, that was disappointing.
3. Disgusting surfaces everywhere. I have never been so paranoid about brushing up against walls before.
4. Super nice Doms. Really! If you're friendly, one might give you a tour of the place and keep the mad jackers at bay.
5. Dungeon! There are several theme rooms but the dungeon is the most interesting. Well lit and filled with various devices and an accompanying stench that reeks of bodily fluids, body odor, and leather. I saw a 400 lb. woman tie up an 80 yr old naked man to a rack. That image is burned in my mind forever. Unfortunately.
Two stars for curiosity, freak factor, and intrigue.
Minus three stars for icky people, feeling like prey, and being afraid to touch anything. Will I go back? Most likely not. But it was fun to check out just once. -
Review from Amanda C.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2008
Gather round chillins while I tell you the exhilarating, titillating, and semi-disgusting-if-you're-vanilla-like-me tale of the time Great Auntie Mander Pants C went to Power Exchange.
Picture this, it's 2002. I am living in a small college town 73 miles outside of San Francisco and all of my friends are gay males except for one other girl. My main gay and I are sitting around one night bored out of your minds trying to think of something to do.
"Well we could go to Power Exchange.", my best gay offers completely joking.
"What is that?" I ask timidly, already guessing I don't want to know the answer.
"It's this weird sex club in San Francisco. My friends and I used to go our Senior Year of High School"
"So people like....do it?"
"Yeah I guess"
"Fuck it (pun unintended) ,I'm in. Why not?" I say boldly. You only live once, right?
We make the rallying cry to the other gays. 14 of them are in as is the one girl. We hope into about 4 different cars and off we go for a night on the town.
We arrive at Power Exchange and pay the cover. The men are offered the "If you only wear a towel you get in cheaper" discount and everyone , thankfully, refuses. The second we step inside the gays split up to the "All Male" floor and my gal pal and I are left alone on the "straight" floor. We are not amused.
I was convinced places like this couldn't legally exist. Like I've said before, I am incredibly vanilla. Since we weren't there for pleasure my gal pal and I retreated to the dungeon and watched trannies offer blow jobs and hand jobs while 60 year old businessmen got their balls whipped. We settle in to a front row seat to the "show", a mid-50's could be a psychiatrist or anyone of our dads looking type with a bad comb-over sitting in a sex swing masturbating, and begin talking about the prior weekend's debaucherous drinking.
Yes kids, in 6 years not much has changed about Great Auntie Mander Pants C.
In the middle of some gossip my female partner in crime's eyes go as big as the rather obese women's nipples we saw in the front room. I turn around and am greeted with Mr. mid-50's could be a psychiatrist or anyone of our dads looking type with a bad comb-over sitting in a sex swing masturbating's rather swollen, cock ring laden member about 4 inches from my face. I jump back startled as, while I have seen much genitalia since entering this establishment, I have yet to have one that close to me.
"Hi Ladies", Mr. mid-50's could be a psychiatrist or anyone of our dads looking type with a bad comb-over now standing directly in front of me masturbating begins, "I've been watching you since you came in. I'd like to cum for you."
"What?!?!?" I finally manage to stammer out.
"Cum for you. You both are so beautiful. I've been fantasizing about cuming for you since you walked in"
"uhhh no thanks I think we're good"
"Okay no problem! I want to respect your boundaries. Have a fantastic time!"
Mr. mid-50's could be a psychiatrist or anyone of our dads looking type with a bad comb-over now walking away masturbating goes over to the nearest trash can and ejaculates into it as my gal pal and I jump on our cell phones to the boys upstairs tell them to "Zip up!! WE WANNA GO HOME".
We pile back into the cars cracking up. WTF had we just witnessed?!?!? Little ol' Great Auntie Mander Pants C was not prepared for all of this. We all laughed all the way home stopping at Mel's for some grilled cheese and I kid you not...Mr. mid-50's could be a psychiatrist or anyone of our dads looking type with a bad comb-over who asked to cum for me walks in. He made eye contact with us and immediately bolted to the back of the restaurant.
It made my life.
Don't let all the bad reviews of Power Exchange fool you. If this is your thing I think this is a great, safe, sex positive place to do it. There are plenty of bouncers making sure no one is harassed or mistreated, they are incredibly sex safe promoting and have a lists of rules to back this up. Sure the clientele might not resemble David Beckham or 1990's Cindy Crawford but if this is the type of establishment you are looking for look no further.
Sex positive is my phrase of the week by the way. -
Review from Mike W.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2006
In fairness, I only visited the "Straight Side"
Ever go to the county fair and pay 50 cents to see the pig that weighs 4,000 pounds? I did. It was one damn impressive pig, and well worth the 50 cents. But at no point in the day (or at any time afterwards) did I ever feel like suggesting to my friends..."Hey guys! Lets shell out another 50 cents to get another look at the 4,000 pound pig!".
And so it is with the Power Exchange...you pay, you look around, and it doesn't take long to conclude that you've seen everything there is to see. I went there as a fly on the wall one night, wondering how on earth a heterosexual sex club could remain balanced and functional. As it turns out, my suspicions were well founded. The straight side of the Power Exchange serves as something of a makeshift circus where the attendees are expected to put-on the side-shows. For all practical purposes, it doesn't function...
As far as decor went, I expected so much more. In reality, it was nothing more than a old building with dimly lit rooms, mostly filled with cheap props and vinyl covered couches. Two people were fooling around in the spectator proof "jail cells" (that you locked outsiders OUT OF) near the entrance....a crowd of looky-loos crammed around the bars to watch what limited action there was.
Up until around 12:30AM, the whole place was like a loading platform in a BART station....lots of people standing around, avoiding eye contact, and waiting for something to happen. It wasn't until the nightclubs started fizzling out that all sorts of wide-eyed bridge-and-tunnel youth started pouring in. An hour later, I took my last glimpse at the 4,000 pound pig, and decided I'd seen enough.....
The one redeeming part of the evening was watching a VERY well put-together drag queen that looked like A drift-over from Esta Noche on 16th Street. He/She was decked out in a conservative looking knee length dress with a long sleeve blouse and medium heels. It was the classic outfit you'd wear to meet your future husband's parents. At any rate, quite a few Pacific Heights romeos were waltzing over and putting on the moves....only to blanche with horror when they figured out who/what had gotten their hormones in an uproar...
My advice? Pass on this place unless you're at a serious lack of something to do, and you're not in the mood for a six-pack and a rented movie. At best, the Power Exchange might be good for a few laughs or some good chitchat fodder to spread amongst the cubicle dwellers at work come the following Monday. But really folks....if you've lived here for any length of time, you've seen people in weird outfits...you've been to a strip club...and you've gone to bed with someone. All the Power Exchange offers is a seedy concentration of stuff we see (and usually glance away from) on a semi-regular basis... -
Review from Tom R.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2008
I used to have a friend that would always say that you could get laid at power exchange and I never believed it. First off he'd never been there and also he was a constant shit talking fool. I just didn't believe there were women out trolling for public sex and not charging for it.
Years later I got talked into going there once with a girl that somehow got us in for free. It was so nasty, and I've been to some world-class nasty places. Middle aged trannies trolling for young guys, sticky floors, and a generally unpleasant vibe. I walked by one girl sitting by herself and said "hi", she screamed "no" at the top of her lungs like I was trying to rape her.
I paid nothing and felt ripped off. I'm honestly surprised that anyone ever went more than once. -
Review from John T.
San Francisco, CA
3/2/2007
Me: Excuse me, you're wearing the most lovely thigh highs.
40 Something Swinger Lady: (blushing) Why, thank you!
Me: Are you a hooker?
40 Something Swinger Lady: No...are you an asshole???
Me: Only to hookers.
40 Something Swinger Lady: My husband is over there and will kick your ass...
Me: Want to go home and smear gooooey peanut butter all over each other?
40 Something Swinger Lady: (Walking away) Not if my life depended on it.
Me: (Pause)...but I got malt liquor.
Gross people having gross sex in a gross environment. But who am I to judge, i paid $50 to witness the inhumanity. Me thinks I'll stick to my bedroom, door locked, lights off, curtains closed, Yanni cd loaded. 1 star.Listed in: - Prince">Dance, Bitch!!
-
Review from Polly Enmity P.
San Francisco, CA
9/16/2007
UPDATE 9/6/09: IT'S BAAAAACK!
Yes, PE is open again. New location, probably same old wankers. For having the balls to reopen, I give to thee, PE, an extra star.
~and now back to the original review!~
HAHAHA!!!!
Ever have one of those outings that you *swear* is ironic and it ends up being really, really fun?
This totally happened the last time I went to the PE. I hadn't been since I was 21 or so (that was a few years ago, mind you), and the last time was 89% creepy and 9% fun. (The other 2% was so gross I couldn't tell if I liked it or not.)
I went a couple of weekends ago with some friends. I had some sex, I got beaten and cut and such, but I mostly enjoyed the voyeurs. Yeah, you guys. You fuckers who show up just to watch. I laughed at your inane commentary ("Oh my god, is she screaming because she likes it or because she wants him to stop?"). I laughed at you, Guy Who Looks Exactly Like Colonel Sanders, for jacking off to our scene the entire time, including the time when we just all sat around and pointed RIGHT AT YOU and laughed at YOU. Yeah. This place is hilarious.
Awesome parts:
-Chicks get in free, unless you want to go to the stupid "swingers' club" upstairs. Then it costs, like, $5 or some Arby's coupons or a glimpse of tits. Whatever.
-You can have sex in public and not get arrested. There are MUCH hotter public sex venues (e.g., the library), but those also possess a decent chance of leading to your arrest.
-Open really late, so you can come here AFTER drinking and play. Just don't tell them I told you. It's a sober venue, OK?
Cons:
-Bodily fluids EVERYWHERE.
-Gross people EVERYWHERE, offering to "help" you.
-Um, it's the PE. Its creepiness is legendary.
But it was free, and I got laid. That's gotta be at least 2 stars, right?Listed in: PAIN!!!!
-
Review from Angela C.
Oakland, CA
12/13/2007
A Power Exchange Haiku:
Naked free for all
Ugly people CAN get laid
Avoid the wet spots
Or...
Small, limp dick in hand
If you touch me, I'll kill you
Where's the f*ckin' door?
I'll spare you the details on how I ended up here Halloween night with my girlfriend and her male flavor-of-the-week, but let me just say this:
If I were craving a little strange, PE would be the LAST place I would go to get it. PE is a festering witches brew of ugly, aging, fat people who can't get laid anywhere else. -
Review from Lisa T.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2007
There comes a point in a romance when you meet "the friends"...
And you have one of "those nights" out. Where you're either going to have a blast and hit on all cylinders, or you're going to be like...
"Uh, yeah... Well I kinda need to hit the road. There's a Ghosthunters marathon on Sci Fi, and yeah... Steve is so hot. He messaged me on MySpace once! Um, you've never seen that show? Really? OH, well... yeah. If you ever think you're being haunted, you should totally call their asses, because they have some SWEET techniques for capturing EVPs... I work in audio, you know, so it's applicable to my job. In fact, I'm gonna bill time for the first hour or so, it's SO informative. Better go grab a cab!"
Saturday night was thankfully NOT one of those nights. (Not that I wouldn't have minded a Ghosthunters marathon, because Steve IS so hot, and he DID message me on MySpace once, and I STILL have the message saved...)
But these friends are super cool. I had an awesome time with them. The roommate is hysterically funny (I know funny -- come on). The best girlfriend and I have much in common. These people are party people in the best way -- LIKE ME! Duh.
So when 12 Galaxies shut down after an awesome show which we nearly peed our collective pants over, and the date asked "where to?" as we hailed a cab, and the roommate jokingly announced loudly on Mission Street...
"POWER EXCHANGE!"
...I knew we had arrived at a critical moment.
Yep -- I like these people. Everyone was IN LIKE FLYNN.
The friends -- THEY get 5 stars. For going to this place. A new team of four very-drunkards, almost out of money... We scraped it together and paid entrance for all three floors. Then we made sure to recoup our cover by packing in as many free condoms as we could.
The Power Exchange -- 1 star. Because it's nasty, and dirty, and nothing that goes on there is even the tiniest bit hot. BTW...
DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING (except the free condoms -- how can you pass those up?)! And don't sit on the furniture! And pay attention to the blacklights! They reveal things on upholstery not visible under regular lighting (that sounds like something from Ghosthunters; I don't think that's where I heard it, though...)...
But yeah, these people... I'd totally go there with THEM again. Great minds think alike.Listed in: Romance through the pages of…
-
Review from Jennifer E.
San Francisco, CA
8/5/2007
Umm, yes.
To all your questions, the answer is probably yes.
Is PE icky? yes.
Are there tons of wankers in towels? yes.
Can you see trannies giving BJs to aging fat men? yes.
Could you be strapped to a cross and beaten with floggers? yes.
Might you be bored out of your mind because you were expecting more? yes.
Will plethoras of men follow women walking through the club, even if they are not in the least bit sexy? yes.
Just go! Well, go if you're a perv, because it has a decent dungeon, and they allow fire play, which, even if its not your thing, is still fun to watch.
ADVICE:
The bouncers here are GREAT, and if people get too fucking close, lay the smackdown and don't let it happen. I've had a stray hand on my ass, which made me stop what I was doing (and I DID NOT want to stop) and glare back, and it happened again. I realized, at that moment, that I should have broken the first guys fingers, and it wouldn't have happened again. If you're a girl, and wanting to play, but worried about your safety, talk to the bouncer guys (the ones wearing Sex Squad t-shirts) and they will walk by and keep an eye on things. They are there to keep you safe! Use them!! -
Review from Barbara S.
Portland, OR
4/9/2008
I'd love to buy this place and redecorate - it could be a great space if someone would just class it up a little.
When I went, it was to the couples level, and I would definitely only go again as part of a couple - the idea of being downstairs with the creepy guys in towels does squick me out.
I was impressed by the diversity in all the couples - age, race, body type. All I saw were respectful couples watching, performing and being watched, and having a great time doing it. It's a friendly, sex-positive place, the staff is great, and they really put a lot of emphasis on safety and respect.
If you're looking at it as a circus side show, as a place to go and make fun of "old, ugly people" having sex, then maybe it's not the place for you. You'll need a healthier attitude than that. But if you have a sense of adventure, if you want to feel like a porn star for the night, it's worth a try.
But yes, the decor is cheesy.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
-
Review from George H.
San Francisco, CA
8/11/2008
Yuck-o!!
I went here once with a guy friend who was visiting from out of town but who used to live in SF - we were just kind of satisfying our curiosity. We went on a Thursday night, which I guess was probably not the greatest idea to begin with, and we pounded some PBRs before heading over...
We were hands-down the main attraction that night. I think aside from myself there was one other genuine female, and there were TONS of Latino or Mexican construction workers still in their work clothes, plus some little old men and some trannies. That wasn't a big deal in itself, but my friend and I just kind of wanted to check out the space and all the rooms, but we got followed around like we were the pied piper or something.
This is what we ascertained:
-There's a jail-cell type area with tv screens and benches you can uh, get busy on while everyone else is locked out but can watch
-There's a dungeon-type area downstairs where people can flog each other
-There's a fantasy-filled "forest"
-A sci-fi / operating room, I think it's all white and has a gurney, some fake technical equipment, and an alien head (the Scientology room?)
-A vampire-type room with red pleather bed, gargoyles, candles, and dirty sheets
-A dance room or maybe two, I can't totally remember to be honest.
What ended up happening was that when we first got there, a little old man asked us if he could watch us fool around while pleasuring himself from a respectable distance. Quick thinking, my friend told him how we were just kind of "checking things out" - we both agreed that we shouldn't laugh at the old man because we were the ones who kind of decided to be on his turf, and that is sort of what the place is there for, so we would be jerks to show up and start making fun of everything.
On a funny note, at one point we started making out a little bit, to try and loosen up a little maybe because we were both pretty uncomfortable and felt like we were really sticking out like sore thumbs. But all the construction guys got really excited and started closing in around us really quickly, and they all had their pants unzipped. It really kind of freaked us out so we started walking away quickly, but they just followed us everywhere, presumably waiting to see more action.
*sigh* I don't know what I was expecting, but while the Power Exchange did provide a lot of entertainment, made for some good stories, and kind of left me with a funny memory...I won't be going back. It's pretty gross, and if I'm going to go to a place like that, I want to be an unnoticed observer...not the star of the show! -
Review from James J.
San Francisco, CA
5/9/2007
I have only been here once. Oddly enough, I didn't do anything that would promote me to the status of hoe this time...still wanna listen?
Thought you would.
I went to the power exchange on a whim...a person that I knew back in my hay day was curious about sex clubs so I told him about this place and off we were...whisked away because of the promise of promiscuity and quite possibly (for him) a debaucherous good time.
After he paid the 75 dollar entry fee for both of us I walked around in wonderment. Completely in awe at the things that were happening around me and even more so at the people doing these things.
I saw a senior citizen woman bound to a leather platform receiving lashes from what I could only hope was her husband......weird stuff. I went a little further back and saw that there was a stairwell that leads even further down into the establishment so I decided to be nosy and see what was going on down under.
A couple of things baffle me down here....
As I walk around I see a crowd of people running and I thought it was a fire or some danger so I decided to run with them, they'd prolly know the exits....but to my surprise it was just some woman getting hers beat up by some nasty looking sweaty dude while she lay there hanging from a sling. Straight folks are freaky bitches, lol. After seeing that I decided to go a little deeper into the downstairs area and that is where I found what seemed to be like a small circular room with screens showing porn on them...I saw this man sitting there with a suit on and kind of thought it was freaky attire. I walked around the pillars and made my way back to the same room in less than 15 seconds only to find that same man naked-stroking and oddest of all his clothes were neatly folded. Too freaky for me I thought so I went back to the front and waited for my friend to get back so we could leave.
My overall experience in a nutshell. This is the kind of place that attracts a specific crowd...mostly voyeurs from what I can tell. I thought it was too expensive and it smelled like a Clorox and cum combination. I don't think I will go there again but I will give it 2 stars for providing me with a decent experience.
Visit at your own risk. -
Review from roderick A.
Jersey City, NY
11/19/2008
I cannot believe that this place is closed, because the imagery of coming here is forever stuck in my head. God damn is it stuck in my head.
Came here a few years ago with my cousin, who happened to be getting married that weekend. I had missed the bachelor party so he decided to take me and his friends here. Let me just say, as a jaded New Jerseyean, I thought I had seen everything.
*lowers head and starts shaking it*
wow.
You know that sound in Ms. Pac-Man when she gets killed? I made that sound in my head while walking around.
Or better yet, I was the wicked witch from "the wizard of oz" and part of me was melting, if you know what I mean.
It looked like a Hells Angel convention had been taking place, someone threw dynamite in there, and after it was all said and done what was left was Power Exchange. It was not pretty.
Listen, I know I'm not a looker. But when the best looking person in there looks like he just flew in straight from Japan, where he's the Sumo Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, then we have a problem. -
Review from Anja F.
Mill Valley, CA
3/30/2007
If you're kinky, this is a great place to be voyeuristic - there are whole lot of looky-loos, and they are in awe of just about anything you choose to do. The dungeon is halfway-decent, though much of the equipment was obviously devised more for show than for actual functionality.
Don't go here expecting to get sex, though, unless you are either transgendered or are looking to get it on with a tranny girl. The far majority of the crowd are lookers, too afraid to actually do anything, and have no ettiquette, to boot. i've actually had in-depth BDSM scenes at the Power Exchange interrupted by someone ducking under the ropes to try and get me out of cuffs, on the grounds that i was obviously in pain and was shouting "NO, NO, PLEASE NO!" Had it occurred to them that i'm masochistic? i mean, they DID go to the Power Exchange! :D
Also, if you're a halfway-attractive woman, long streams of men will follow you, and perhaps grope you, everwhere you go. Be prepared for it.
They have a decent sex shop, and the poles are fun to dance on. Good times.
Above all, BE CONSIDERATE! As strange as many of the things you see here may seem to you, this is not a freak show, and it does not exist so that you may laugh at the "odd" sexuality of others.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Cynthia B.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2008
Lots of kinky rooms, they even have a room with a nice sling. Some of the bars on the jail cell felt sticky and that was pretty gross. Almost everyone was ugly. Some ugly dudes and one rude dude and some women who looked like skanky Tenderloin prostitutes. Awesome and friendly staff. This club is what you make of it. Regretfully some of the customers look like they just got out of jail or like they are just old and fat. Sorry to be harsh, I know I am not that hot myself, but that's how I feel about it.
I think if you really wanted to have sex at this club you would need to bring the person you want to have sex with, with you and bring an extra person to watch your back and keep all the weirdos who want to join in from joining in or getting too close. They have a lot of staff but who really wants to scream for the staff to come rescue you. -
Review from Miika m.
8/16/2006
You walk in and immediately smell sex wafting toward you in waves of coercion and corruption. When I left, my skin was drenched, like cigarette smoke had passed through my pores and into my blood.
I went to research voyeurism. And under the protection of two male friends ;)Listed in: Conglomerate's Sexy Dream
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Review from Nenette Y.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2007
OH-MAH-GAAAAWD!!!
My EX EX boyfriend took me here... let me just preface this by saying that I was very young, I think I had JUST turned 21... and I agreed because he said it was a fun niteclub with stiff drinks and girls were free entry. Basically he tricked me (did I mention he was an ex-boyfriend... Eek).
This place was SAD, ugly people (ugly sex can be HOT sex, but not when they have a lazy eye or weird rashes all over their bodies) all over the place... it stunk in there like wet leather... people were whipping each other... and what really did it in for me was when this one guy starting leering at me and making all these weird hand gesticulations with LONG razor like fingernails attached to his hands.
I don't care if you judge me or think I'm a prude, but PE was just way to dirty for me.
(Plus, I don't remember getting a drink... ha!) -
Review from Danny M.
San Francisco, CA
11/4/2006
I will speak up for the gay side. "A shadow of its former self," as one would say. I have visited when the gents had 3 floors to themselves, and have never visited the legendary circus that is the open lower floor.
The first time I went, there was a forest/jungle theme going on and camping tent everywhere. Multiple rooms, a virtual maze, and all on just the first floor (and a real maze too, whose reward was a big screen viewing of a video and the smell of poppers).
The second floor had more maze, a higher ceiling, sort of a boxy arrangement.
But overall I would say that at the time a chap could wander about for a few hours and always encounter a new corner, a new c*ck. Although the clientele tended to comprise the pigs and the pervs (though who am I to say I am not one), I admire an establishment whose function it is to facillitate honest, outright sex, and the viewing of it by complete strangers.
The second (and last) time I visited, the place had been changed to relegate us homos to the top floor only, which was pretty much empty. I saw a young lad and an older gent duke it out in a boxing ring, but both ended their match by rolling their eyes to the back of their heads (most likely from the use of a substance).
I don't mean to discourage anyone from going, as the scene will alter from time to time, but it seems like what was once a strange fantasyland for men to wander about as if in nature before our concrete jungle and primally pursue each other, we are being compressed into smaller caches.
But that, as a political discussion, is for another time. -
Review from Rada I.
3/5/2007
My friends and I decided it would be an interesting choice to visit the Power Exchange for my birthday. As we were uneven (7 guys, 5 girls), we quickly learned that if you don't have a female date you either strip down to a towel, or pay a hefty fee.
Anyway, inside is something out of this world. I have heard it's hit or miss; on the night we went, we noticed there were quite a few older men who opted not to pay the high price. *Picture a bunch of unattractive men walking around in their tiny towels spanking their monkey as you walk by.
There were a bunch of different rooms with different dcor. My less curious friends decided to play pool- why would anyone touch those cues... I don't know. My female friend and I decided to explore. We took a stroll through the couples floor, * picture a bunch of couples doing the deed in one big room. Then back down stairs we went where we found a lady, who was obviously a man not longer than a year ago getting WHIPPED, and I'm not talking about playful, I'm talking a serious beating. To which another lady (clearly a lady from day one), was pleasing herself to the sight...
Overall: Yuck... too many unattractive people being way to dirty. BUT, I think everyone who is curious should check it out. You have nothing to lose, only an experience to gain. -
Review from JayChan H.
Beverly Hills, CA
10/30/2005
DAMMIT!
Str8 guys...put out or stay on your own floor! Str8 girls please stick close to the str8 boys! This is a sex club not a peep show for the wanna-be curious. Uggh and someone mop the floors.
Never again! -
Review from Lindsey R.
Upland, CA
8/24/2008
The Power Exchange....oh wow wow.
This place cracks me up. I went a looooooooong time ago with my ex (now friend) and a friend of ours just to see what the hell was even inside. You think Sex Club, you think...Hmm, what's inside@!!?!?!
This place was like...Hm, how do I explain...If you've ever been to City Nights or "The Crib" just add whips, chains, mattresses constructed into 3 or 4 stories then you have the Power Exchange. A lot of wannabe's and creepers in here. Omg, and it was empty! We went on a supposedly happenin' night too! And the men get a discount if they wore a towel, and these mens ain't guys who keep up with their hygiene or physical well-being. I remember walking into the "leather room" and there were "jail cells" and the mattresses just looked like a bad STD waiting to rob your soul.
A nasty, "portly" over-the-hill looking male (one of the guys adorning a towel) kept following us, even though we were clothed like we could stay warm in a freezer and he was just waiting to see if we were going to try anything. Ew. The staff was very friendly, but jeez, this place looked like a prison from the outside and unfortunately, the people who frequented it, i'm sorry to say, looked like they stayed in one.
We spent half the time playing a game of pool (I hope no one used the sticks as a prop or anything:( ) and the other half just walking around in amazement that such a nasty, place exists. I felt...prude. Besides, we got in for free! -
Review from Angie L.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2008
I went there with a friend (the both of us female) one night just to check it out. We got in free, and just wandered around. The entire place is dark and we go into this small dungeon-like alcove. It has a leather couch and a tv showing Digital Playground's Pirate film.
As I watch it, my friend gets nervous and nudges me. I looked outside and there are 4-5 middle-aged to senior men standing, watching us, and masturbating.
We leave and go into what i imagine is the Rec Room; there's couches (where naked men lay, masturbating), pool tables (stained with dried cum) and a small stage with a steroid-pumped male dancer. My friend got weirded out so we left, but I waved good-bye to the stripper.
2 stars because it's just worth checking out. -
Review from Cindy W.
Monterey Park, CA
8/31/2009
I'm very sad to hear that they closed.
An open sex club, now you don't find that often.
Although this place reeked of sleeze and raunch, it was a hot spot I would take every visitor to the city. I never cared to do anything here, but it was fun roaming around the different rooms checking to see if any action would be happening even though I made it mandatory to wash my clothes and take a long shower when I got home.Listed in: I left my heart in San…
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Review from Blah B.
San Jose, CA
8/31/2008
All these ultra negative reviews proves something
1) Curious hipsters
2) Curious hipsters watching too much porn who think that sex clubs are for good looking people only
3) Curious hipsters watching too much porn who thinks sex clubs are for good looking people and likes to be spanked.
4) Curious hipsters watching too much porn who thinks sex clubs are for good looking people and likes to be spanked BUT DONT WANT TO ADMIT IT. -
Review from Mikee L.
San Francisco, CA
7/30/2005
Have you heard the ads on the radio? Listen carefully. Never once do you hear them ever mention the word "sex." But not a bit of meaning is lost without it. *wink wink nudge nudge* What a triumph! Kind of like that novel where the writer never uses the letter "e". Brilliant.
Been here many times for ... uh ... the pool table. It's free with admission, you know. -
Review from Darrin G.
San Francisco, CA
3/14/2008
A room full of tranny sex workers giving guys head in the basement! Also, I saw some bitch get fisted when I went. On one hand, I'm glad that places like this exist, but at the same time I wonder how they make enough money to stay in business. Soooo gross, the people there are unfuckable. Only good for a laugh.
Also, this is a transphobic establishment, because according to The Power Exchange, a couple consists of one genetic male, and one or more genetic females. -
Review from Leslie Ann R.
San Francisco, CA
11/28/2006
Looks like Disneyland and smells like the lusty lady. And not as much fun as either.
I am so happy it exists, even if I never ever ever want to go back again. -
Review from miriam b.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2006
Don't waste your time and lose your cookies on Otis when you step out. My verrryyy hip European friend was horny and wanted some stimulation and wanted some aaaaaamsterdam type action and so we went on Thursday which ended up being shemale, 300 lb grannie in corset whipping 280lb nerd, tiny Mexican guy being jacked by white guy, Filipina midget mastermate-hate-bate-ing by the pole dancing stage and my puke pile by the Otis Street door because it was smelling of spent sperm and sticky floors and ugly, ugly butt ugly old fat guts wanting to suck my breasts. Oh my, oh me. YUCK! Help I've fallen and I'm going to vomit.
The sexiest guy was the 6'7" tour guide LLAMA that wanted my phone number and he was the best RIDE away from the pathetic .................PE---P(hony) E(xcrement).
JenniferEE.nAprilMRselfproclaimedpervzand will be happy to show youhowtheyenjoyAuntieFesteringFistuleandGranpaGrop piousMaximuscleinafreekythreeway
Hey go on a Saturday night with a group of your sexiest male and female friends, head up the couples floor and see what happens after 2am. I don't know....It might be one of those ice breaking topics of conversation you could use at the next boring house party. -
Review from Delilah W.
San Francisco, CA
8/30/2007
I love the Power Exchange!
Could things be cleaner? - Of coarse, yes but all in all this place is a reflection of a very honest view of what true sexuality is. I have never done anything sexual there yet but it's interesting to feel the "energy" that is being generated by all of the sexuality happening there. It's very cool that the place is dimly lit so you feel comfortable being more relaxed if you choose to decide to get sexual.... I will say the upper level's music is WAY too rap oriented. I'm sorry but that music doesn't turn me on at all - you need something more atomospheric to get people in the mood. On top of the Rap music on Level3 it's blaring at top volume, which is also a mood breaker.
I wish that more of the couches were covered in cloth in the secret "cubby spaces" where you can get romantic but instead they have this Vinyl covering on them which doesn't attract you to getting comfortable and getting in the mood. Recently I hang out in the Basement with all the BDSM people, they play better music down there and the vibe seems more open.
Definitely cutting edge, I can see this being something that progresses in the future - for now I will be thankful for having the PE in SF! :-) -
Review from Carmen M.
Iowa City, IA
8/10/2008
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Power Exchange before I went there.
Because I was with someone, I went right to the third floor (I've heard mixed things about the first floor, most of them not so good) where it was single women / couples only.
I understand how people's experience could really differ from visit to visit, but I loved it. It was clean and interesting and non-judgmental, and I got to see a lot of really interesting erotic practices (Japanese bondage and candle wax and flogging).
There's also no pressure to do anything if you decide you don't want to. People are walking around and observing and you can just as easily spend your entire time looking as participating.
All in all, a really good experience. I look forward to returning. -
Review from Christopher J.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2006
I am actually having a difficult time digesting the idea that any single person feels the need to provide either a one or five star rating. Befuddled.
Entirely too confused or disjointed to elicit shouts of " THIS IS THE OPTIMAL RENDITION OF ALL MY SEX FANTASIES IN A THREE STORY PAINTING" or " THIS PLACE DISGUSTS ME, THEREFORE I AM NOT FASCINATED IN THE SLIGHTEST". So, with two distinct editions of beaming esteem related dysfunction ( attention seeking poser or repressed stalwart) it seems to me no one can give you an accurate portrayal of this hedonism bakery. ('CEPT ME, SPECTATORS!)
This is what i gathered: oogling eyes from the vanilla crowd, tranny's giving head to rows of aging straight men, a dungeon s&m shindig starring disinterested, unattractive quasi-educators, themed rooms where people can go to skirt rationality, men with giant laser pipes dangling from the urethra.
I think people need that deadpan, detached write up in order for them to analyze and categorize the objective layout. Too controlled and conscious an enviroment to really warrant any true convictions that represent enchantment, yet absolutely, uproariously spellbinding when it wants to be (there will be warmth somewhere amongst your endocrine....a warning supplied) Ya'll gonna need a gander at the philander for ya gerrymander your thizz-oughts.....yo, digest these bolts slowly, no casualties.....*
*Yeah, sorry, kill whitey, i know... -
Review from Karissa B.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 12/2/2008
I tried going to PE again for Halloween 2008.
Thank you so much sweet things for not mentioning the fact that the couples only area is open to everyone on Halloween.
How I adore to waste cab fare to go to a place full of disgusting single ghetto men and leave within five minutes in order to still get my cover charge back and not throw up all over my costume in disgust.
Not to mention, why the hell would I pay more to be in an even less desirable environment than usual? Not smart. But I suppose catering to an attractive couple is not on the top of the priority list. It's all about the paper.
The only thing worthy of a star is how pretty my nails look in the lighting.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/17/2007
I can tell that Power Exchange tries to be an exciting place.
(I am only speaking for Level 3,… Read more »
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Review from Shaun L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/20/2007
If you want to completely freak out your friends from out of town? Take them to The Power Exchange on a Sunday when they open.
It is possibly a real study in human behavior. It is like Night of the living Dead. In towels...because they do not want to pay extra to keep their clothes on...wondering aimlessly through an empty space that smells like plastic and bleach.
I took two of my improv female friends there (because hey...ladies get in free...and I WONDER WHY...) and it was so sad in retrospect
Yet surprisingly hilarious when we were there. I ended up getting into a conversation with a poor African American man.
Him: Hey Baby.
Me: (chirpy) Hi...so...who are you voting for...Gavin Newsom or Gonzalez?
Him: uh....Newsom?
In retrospect now this is even funnier.
My friend comes up behind me and realizing he is getting no black on black loving from me anytime soon he turns his attention to her:
Him: So, how are you doing
Friend: (overly chirpy high pitch fake voice) GREAT! So tell me...how do you feel about being here ON THE LORD'S DAY!
And that is when I had to walk by myself into the cow room and laugh my ass off.
It's a real freak show. If you do stand up comedy, improv comedy or any sort of theater that is character based? Spend at least an hour in that place. -
Review from Janna M.
Santa Clara, CA
6/17/2007
OK, I'm committing.
I'm making it public. Yes, I've been to the Power Exchange. And you know what? I, too, am glad that places like this exist. People getting together to enjoy themselves, have fun, and be completely open about their sexuality?
I'm all for it!
HOWEVER, The Power Exchange didn't really seem like it was all about fun and openness. Great potential, but the reality was a bit more *creepy* than *free love*.
My hubby and I went up to the upper level where only couples and single women are allowed. The bouncer for the upper level was this total "I am a centered spiritual being of the universe", but in a good way. He said we looked like we really belonged together, but that the action wouldn't really get going until later, and he was right. On both counts.
I think it was about 11 pm on a Friday when we arrived, and apparently the party doesn't really get started until after 2 am. Mostly there were other couples like us kinda wandering around, and looking. We did get our freak on just a little bit at one point but it was a little creepy how people just walked by and stared. Not in a good way. I guess that's sort of the idea at a place like this. Maybe we're just not really exhibitionists.
Anyways, my guess is that the upstairs area fills up more after 2 when the bars close.
Oh, and we did a quick walk-through of the other floors: Mostly a bunch of dudes whacking off, pretty skanky. Won't bother with a walk-through next time.
Highlight: Spiritual Bouncer who looked into our souls and made us feel really peaceful and at home (Really!)
Lowlight: Nasty guy who'd tied himself up and was slapping his gigantic flaccid penis back and forth with a dead look in his eyes. Ew. -
Review from Dela A.
Hayward, CA
4/30/2006
Well I wont lie and make up some weird story as to why I went to this place. I was curious and had heard different things about this place and wanted to see what was going on. The last story I heard from a girlfriend of mine was that she was there and saw midgets having sex. No offense little people but I had no clue that midgets had sex and I had to see it with my own eyes.
Anyway, one night a male friend of mine asked me to go and check it out with him (he had been there before). Anyway, I walked into this place and it was crazy. I felt like a piece of meat everywhere I walked and I was really afraid to touch anything. There are different themes to each room and for the most part I only saw older people getting down and dirty. There was no people I saw in their twenties and no one was attractive in the least bit.
One sexcapade that stood out was 2 couples in the Egyptian room. There was some live DP going on in there and I was amazed. It was like watching a live porno. There's a weird stinch in the air and it feels kinda damp everywhere you go. And to top that off blow jobs are happening all over the place. Its really weird.
I would go again if I had a friend that wanted to go and had never been. But on my own, I don't think so. I hear they have a lesbian night on Thursdays. Otherwise, gay night is all the time from what Ive heard.
Be sure to wear gloves and a face mask when you go into this place. I don't think a place that has this much random sex taking place could possible be very clean.
