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Banya 5
Rating Details »
217 9th Ave N
(between John St & Thomas St)
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 262-1234
(between John St & Thomas St)
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 262-1234
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
46 reviews for Banya 5
yay! I got to go with a friend from work and came out 2 hours later rejuvenated and relaxed as ever. The different rotations of hot and cold pools is no joke...my mind was cleared and I felt like I was floating for a few minutes. (Euphoria...!) I especially loved the tea room upstairs and the steam room....super steamy with eucalyptus and herbal remedies plunging into our lungs and detoxifying our bodies.
Very great place to escape and renew your mind, body and soul...
My first experience at Banya 5 was great. My friend and I went the other day and it was everything I thought it would be and more! A friend of mine used to work there and raved about it...so I ended up getting a 5 time pass to the spa for my birthday about a month ago.
The staff is friendly and helpful. The facility itself is great, very modern and comfortable. Definitely a place to relax. They also have ice cold lemon water and a couple of types of hot tea that is made especially for Banya. Delicious! They also provide sandals, towels, and a locker.
Even if I didn't have a 5 time pass to Banya, I would definitely go back...I may even get a membership. It is a great way to relax and it is also good for your health!
id have to say that this facility is pretty good. 1 star taken off because it was so full of people that it seemed more like a party scene than a place of rejuvenation, the entry fee is high ($35, which is half that if you book a $70+ service but still) and also that it is co-ed all the time (which can be good, except i like to bathe nude). but on to the review:
got a 20 minute scrub and mud wrap with dillion, which was great. ladies - if you arent the shy type, have the treatments done topless - you wont regret it! they use real massage tables (instead of those at the korean spas that have the face holes in the table - very uncomfortable) so my face and neck felt good the whole treatment through. they also have a great table warming system (both on the bed and above you) to ensure you stay warm and toasty all throughout.
i liked the russian 200 degree sauna, all made of clay and brick. you can really get a good sweat here. the steam room had fresh eucalyptus, a nice touch. there is also a tea room upstairs with a variety of teas (and raspberry jelly to sweeten, nice!), magazines, and a few board games. the only thing i wish they had was actual reclining chairs so that you can truly snooze in between water therapies.
i also appreciated the fact that they have bathing suits to loan, so if you forget to bring one (which i did), they got you. sounded a bit gross and awkward at first but i got over it and it was fine. i also like that they use green organic and natural products in the bathrooms and during treatment. and, everyone that worked here was super friendly! yay!
I can't get enough of this place. It's clean, serene and a brilliant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
I typically go here after parkour to soothe my aching, abused body.
You are first warmly greeted at the banya, typically by young, hip and always friendly staff. From there you can signup for a number of spa treatments, get towels and robes and intruction on the facilities.
The Parilka ( russian sauna), is outfitted with birch veniks. After about 20 minutes I tend to get into icy showers, then into the Turkish steam room.
There are 3 pools in which to lounge, one cold, one moderate and one hot tub.
Upstairs there's a lovely tea room, with a variety of hot teas and a couple pitchers of iced. Further down the hall is a lovely nap room.
The people I've met there have always been friendly and intelligent, never cruisey.
For 35$ you can spend the afternoon here. For very good prices you can get the full spa treatment with massages or facials.
This is my sanctuary in the middle of the city. I recently moved here from NYC and went to the russian baths there a lot, and was happy to find a place here. But Banya 5 is much better than any I've been to back East. Everything is very new and clean and it is never too crowded. I haven't tried any of the services yet, however. When I go I plan on staying for a few hours (at least three) and bring a book, a water bottle, and and extra towel or two. They give you towels and (sanitized) sandals, you can also rent a robe.
I appreciate the lounge upstairs with complementary tea. There is even an area where you can take a nap if you like.
I've only lived in Seattle a few months but I've been here several times. I even contemplate getting a membership.
I visited this place about a year ago, because my friend worked there. My back was killing me from a pinched nerve so I partook in a massage. Frankly, it was the worst massage I have ever had. I had bruises when she was finished. I like less pressure and more relaxation (some people like it hard), so I had to go to another massage therapist right after to work out the kinks Banya left.
My mate and I then decided to hang in the bathhouse area, which was packed with the Russian flare, who let their kids run around everywhere. It was busy and a small area....thus uncomfortable.
When I went to change in the locker room (it was the size of a closet) a couple ladies pretty much pushed me out of the way so they could access their locker. I guess I wasn't standing there butt naked or anything. Apparently, they had the right of way.
I have been to other spas, I think i now prefer female only ones with a larger space.
My friend who so graciously promoted Banya to his friends, ended up getting fired. They accused him of stealing $100. He didn't do that. He had no need for an extra $100. He brought legal action against Banya.
I am surprised this place has good reviews, maybe I just caught the spa on a bad day. Who knows.
Normally I would never write something so negative about a business, however I have been stewing on this for quite some time. I have been in the customer service industry for over 16 years and had never seen or been treated as scathing as I was there. The guy at the front desk was verbally abusing and aggressive, how they are still in business while he is there is beyond me. I booked two appointments there on my anniversary and was the biggest mistake. I was super sick so when I came in I explained what was going on, they denied me services and than charged my cc for 350$. I tried to reschedual and was told no over and over. There are many great spa's in Seattle, this is NOT one of them......please think it over before going there.
Love this place! A great alternative night out on Friday or Saturday nights, since they're open till 11pm. I like to detox, verses toxify, my body whenever possible. Weekdays are also nice, as I find it is more quiet and relaxing... and not so social and chatty as weekends are. As you go here more frequently, you can tell who the members are and who are "just visiting." ;)
Banya5 gets my business because they are clean, lavishly upscale, effective and worthwhile, and extremely addictive. The staff as well as fellow patrons are very nice people to get to know. I've made a few new friends here.
BUT: I don't really recommend the massages, as the therapists have proven to not be very good (I've tried three different LMPs, and all were at that I'm-still-a-massage-student-and-I'm-using-you-to-p ractice-on level.) Plus, the massage "rooms" upstairs are only separated by cubicle panels and curtains, so you can hear the other practitioners/clients whispering/sighing, etc... In trying to relax, the cool breezy massage room felt like a refrigerator compared to the warm spa downstairs.
The therapists do not seem happy about their job, more from under-work vs. over-work. I felt they were not really into the groove and quite tense themselves. Once, I had to get another massage the next day to un-do all the wacky tension and extra soreness the a female LMP (forgot name!) caused.
(I have not tried the salt-scrubs, but have heard good things about these, and they are done on the same floor as the pools/sauna/steam rooms.)
I appreciate the varieties of herbal teas and cucumber/lemon water Banya5 has to offer. I have been known to spend up to 4 hours here. But do not get the massages (it's hard to resist, being that they would be the perfect compliment to all this hydrotherapy!)... unless they learn how to heat the room to a comfortable, non-clinical temperature and get cozier rooms and more experienced LMPs.
Still, I am very thankful Seattle has Banya5. Everyone should try it at least once.
Sunday at Banya is family day.....which apparently means make out with your weird-significant-other-in-the-hot-tub-day to a lot of people.
Anyways, I suggest a weeknight. Lovely then.
I have been to this spa a few times and I have to say it is excellent! The staff is all very friendly and the facilities are kept very clean, tidy and well-stocked. It's a great place to spend some time relaxing with a friend or alone. I'm sort of a wussy for hot things so I don't stay in the different areas as long as most people but I still find it very refreshing. I've also had a massage here and it was very pleasant. It was my first professional massage and the masseuse was very accommodating and told me everything I needed to know!
A spa day. Everyone who loves to be pampered deserves one every once in a while, whether it is homemade in your bathtub or somewhere fancy.
Banya 5 provides an experience that is affordable and truly luxurious, yet without breaking the bank. Entry is $35, less than half the usual price of $80 (not including tip) for a one hour massage, and better yet, there is no time limit on how long you can stay. So, guests can enjoy the hot tub, steam room, dry sauna, cold plunge pool, saltwater bath, and tea room for as long as their hearts desire.
Of course, don't worry if you have more dough to spend, because other services such as massages and scrubs are available. On the other hand, if you need an excuse to spend $35 in these turbulent economic times, do it for your health. Too often, Americans treat the symptoms of disease, a habit that costs far more money and time than simple and pleasurable preventative measures.
According to the Banya 5 health fact sheet, the health benefits of alternating radiant heat and invigorating cold include stimulating lymphatic flow, activating fluid circulation, stimulating the immune system, and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. Sweating, which you do a lot of in the steam room and sauna, is well-known for its detoxifying properties and deep cleansing of the body. To read more, visit this page of the Banya 5 site: http://www.banya5.com/...
I visited Banya yesterday after a rainy bike ride. The steam room felt especially soothing to my tightening muscles. The whirlpool jets gave my back a very gentle and deserved massage. The dry sauna was incredibly hot yet satisfying. The cold plunge pool woke up every cell in my body. The saltwater bath was strangely relaxing. And the complementary tea and lemon-infused water in the lounge upstairs provided the perfect refreshment. I recommend that you visit the spa after a particularly vigorous workout or on a brutally cold winter day. But I will warn that you may become addicted...
We won a gift cerfificate from here at a Wildnight PAWS fundraising event and were excited to see what it was all about. The fact that they would contribute the use of their facilities to help animals said something to us about the management.
Not knowing what to expect I have to admit that initially we were very intimidated. You arrive, check in, they give you towels and a complimentary robe if you make arrangements for the spa treatments, we booked the salt scrub. So there I was in the locker/shower room where there was a mixture of 20 somethings and elderly russian women. Those coming from the Banya didn't seem to have suits on so I was flooded with panic thinking, "Is this a clothes optional thing?!" So I quickly took my shower, dawned on my suit, took a deep breath and entered the tub area where I was relieved to find a group of all ages and nationalities wearing swimsuits! Whew! This is where I wished they had that shot of Vodka to losen you up before you jump in! I figured out later that they probably had a spa treatment and rather than put on a wet suit they just went with the robe!
My husband and I rotated between the dry hot sauna, cold pool, wet steam eucaliptus smelling sauna(my fav), cool salt pool and hot tub for around an hour. It was both exhilarating and relaxing. I would probably have enjoyed the experience a bit more if there weren't so many people to share things with. The pools are fairly small in size so you do end up having to get intimate space wise with others which isn't necessarily the most comfortable for me thus I took off one star.
Although the facitilites were very enjoyable I have to say the best part of the experience was the Salt Scrub. Truly Amazing! You are called into small room right off of the communal spa area so I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to relax. However you quickly forget about everything around you once this heavenly treatment begins. You are scrubbed in massage like manner with this wonderful concoction of honey and salt. Then the best part is they rinse you off with small buckets of water that lap at your body and make you feel as though you are laying along the gentle surf of the sea. This is the perfect way to end this experience!
After leaving, we were more relaxed than we have been in years, in fact we were almost exhausted. Which apparently from reading some of the material they had out, the alternating between hot and cold is a work out for your organs that would explain why we felt as though we ran a marathon but didn't have the muscle soreness! Maybe this is how the Russians' livers can handle so much Vodka!
I went there for my birthday in 2007 and had a lovely time moving between the different pools and relaxing in the sauna and steam room. I love the sauna smell and almost can't get enough of it. Perhaps because it reminds me of my childhood (in Russia)?
I had a relaxation massage and that was really good, but not the best I've ever experienced. I wasn't really enjoying it at first but it ended up being better than initially expected because I remember I went into one of those wonderful almost-asleep relaxation states where I felt like the practitioner was waking me up when it was time to turn over onto my back.
The person I was there with had a hand and foot massage and he was rather disappointed with it. It felt good and everything, but he was hoping it would be more intensive and work out all the kinks instead of just being light and pleasant.
I doubt many of you will need this, but here's a tip anyways: Make sure you have a ride arranged to take you to wherever you are headed next! We were traveling by bus and everybody seemed extra dirty and gross after spending several hours being surrounded by very clean and very relaxed people.
Much better the second time!
I took my friend here for her bday celebration.
I scheduled her an hour message.
She was brave and achieved the banya "high".
We found out later that her message guy called out.
Even though she didn't experience the full Banya experience,
they comped our entrance fee & offer her a gift certificate for a salt scrub next time!
Of course we will be back!
Now we know the secret of when it is the down time there.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/1/2008
After Michelle B. review.. I decided to give this place a try.
I went there on a Friday afternoon… Read more »
You've got to get here early if you've got any issues. If you time it right, you'll have the place to yourself. No worrying about anyone seeing you less than fully clothed. No sharing the sauna with a weird grunting guy - dude, if it is too hot for you, step out. No need to pant like that. No noisy, cackling bachelorettes. Just you and your pick- sauna or cold rainfall shower? Warm pool or warm rainfall shower?
If you get a scrub treatment, wait downstairs. Otherwise, you'll be waiting upstairs in the tea room for someone who won't know where you are.
The treatment isn't delicate. It's not like a fancy spa where they discreetly pluck out your arm or leg, and tuck you into a nice sheet so your unmentionables aren't visible. Nope. It's a stark experience- from the bare, grey concrete walls to the plastic bucket that they use to douse you with water. You are completely exposed and it can be unnerving. Another negative of the salt scrub treatment is when you roll onto your stomach, you get a big whiff of the faintly moldy smell of the table. Luckily it is erased when they cover your face with honey.
I'm not wearing any pants!!!
Is not what I want to hear when I'm surrounded by strangers. So, it's nice that Banya 5 allows you to do the traditional bath house thing without making your walk around nekkid.
Here's how it works:
1. Get undressed. But not all the way undressed there tiger. Just put on a swim suit.
2. Wander into the main room and over to the "drench showers" which are the kinds of things you see in science labs. (now you will want to pull them all the time in science labs) Grab the handle and drench yourself!
3. Now that you look like a drowned rat with your hair all tangled and your leftover mascara (that you swore you removed all of) dripping down your face - head over to the steam room and breathe in the eucalyptus until you can't take it anymore.
4. Haul your sweaty self over to the tepid salt pool to restore the salt that left your body in the steam room.
5. Abandon good sense and walk into the dry sauna room where you can sit like a lizard soaking up the heat, that should, in theory, kill you.
6. Leave this room when one of two things happen
6a. Your tongue swells up like a dry balloon. (which is only fun to waggle around and say weird words for a few minutes)
6b. Your ponytail drips water onto the rocks and you scald yourself. No one wants to hear your screaming.
7. Immediately ***without thinking*** plunge yourself into the icy waters of the coldest fuc@#$%#^GD*@#$it tub you've ever been plunged into!!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!
8. Apologize to everyone about the screaming.
9. Sit in the normal hot tub.
10. Go next door for a shot of medicinal vodka and try not to picture any of your tub mates naked.
I love Banya 5! My first introduction to this lovely place was as a student at the Brian Utting School of Massage, and now I'm an addict. The steamroom is pristine and smells awesome.They always have yummy tea and good chill out space upstairs.
You need about 2-3 hours minimum to get the full experience, hot, cold, hot, cold....ahhh!
Brian Utting's voice always lingers in the back of my mind.."You must finish with cold!"
If you have time/$ for a scrub it's well worth it!
I think it was the third time that I plunged into the 50 degree water and rose, gasping for air, lungs constricted, and face flushed. That's when I really got into the Banya groove. With the faint aftertaste of cucumber and lemon water in my mouth, I laughed out loud and headed straight back in to the 120 degree sauna. That is the cycle, hot sauna to cold bath, mixed with dips in the lukewarm salt bath, eucalyptus-scented Turkish steam room, and plain-vanilla Jacuzzi.
Now I'm not as hard core as some of the other visitors. Some have a tolerance for the heat like that of Gila monsters sunning themselves on scorching rocks. Are these humans cold blooded? And while I can't gracefully handle the respiratory restriction that accompanies the cold water plunge, there are others who jump without a pre-plunge grimace. But I get it. There is a certain meditative euphoria involved once you hit that groove.
Pad up to the upstairs relaxation room for a cold-fix of cucumber-lemon water or iced tea. Although there is a hot water pot and tea packets, I'd suggest sampling their hot house teas... "Cheer" is my favorite. Made of good-for-you ingredients like licorice root or chicory, the teas taste complex, a suitable accompaniment to a day of plain water and steam. You can lounge at the wicker tables, reading magazines or playing chess, or you can head to the back chambers where there are lounging chairs for catnappers and exercise balls for stretching.
I hope that Megan D's concerns about the employee treatment have been addressed, cause Banya is a gem. Sometimes its crowded, sometimes its not. Meh. It's a different way of spending time with your fellow human beings. I've always been impressed with the cleanliness of the facilities and have had some nice conversations. (Seattle Celebrity Bonus: a friend of mine has witnessed some of the Teatro Zinzanni performers, complete with entourage, rolling deep into Banya late at night. Vodka shots and all.)
So belly up to the Banya folks. Test if your style is the dry-heat/cold-water circuit or if you prefer to mellow down in the steam room. Either way, I hope that your time as a Banya guest is as euphoric as mine.
I love this place.
For some reason among my friends this place has been termed the "man-spa". But it isn't just for men. In fact every day is co-ed now!
It is clean and well maintained. Very invigorating and not at all creepy or uncomfortable.
I usually write some kind of tongue-in-cheek bullshit when I review a place. I'll keep it on the straight and narrow for Banya5: this place is a life saver. Whether your body is a temple or an amusement park, Banya5 will help keep you healthy. It is good for the immune system (I've barely been sick in the last two years, thanks to Banya), skin, heart, circulation, lymphatic system, limbic system, and for general mental health. The employees and owners are very pleasant, and the establishment is clean and nice, but unpretentious. I go once a week during the winter months, and maybe once a month during the summer. Banya5 is awesome.
Banya 5 is the first Russian style spa I have ever been to. So, by default, it is the best Russian spa I have ever been to. But, even if I had taken a year long trans-Siberian road trip, there's a good chance it would still be a favorite for me.
If I had any problems with the place, its that the crowd there wasn't made up entirely of elderly Russian men. In fact, most everyone there looked to be in their late twenties and had, like, tattoos and stuff. The only tattoos I wanted to see were hammers and sickles tattooed onto the hairy chests of retired nuclear submarine captains... preferably wearing those furry hats and drinking vodka.
But, that subconscious desire to fulfill gross cultural stereotypes aside, this is actually a really great place.
They've got both a steam room and a sauna where you can work up a good sweat. And then a cold pool you can jump into and give your body a much needed cooling down and jolt to your system. Then, you can relax in their tepid salt water pool or hot tub ...before subjecting yourself to the ritual all over again.
As others have mentioned, they also have free tea (good tea too). As well as rubs and massages for an extra fee. As I was entering, I noticed that they had year-long memberships for $1000, and I balked a little at the price. But, after spending a few hours there, it doesn't seem like it would be that bad of a way to spend your money. If, y'know, you had $1000 to spare.
I really really liked this place. I went there for the first time, hit the saunas and the tubs then had a great 1 hour deep tissue massage. Ask for Lisa - very good.
There are 3 tubs - 104 degree hot, 86 salt and a 50 degree cold plunge.
There are 2 saunas - wet Turkish at about 110 and a dry Russian at about 180. Hit those then jump in the cold plunge tub. SO GOOD.
Tea/relaxation/stretching rooms are upstairs.
I can't even use words to describe how much I miss this place since I had to leave Seattle for the SF Bay area. I have not been able to find anything that compares.
Spending time at Banya 5 is very relaxing and rejuvenating. I especially enjoyed the steam room and the cold plunge pool. The hot rooms are HOT. It took some getting used to, but after that no room elsewhere is hot enough.
The interior construction is also wonderful, with lots of wood. The tea and magazines in the lounge are perfect. There's jam for sweetening the tea, in true Russian style.
And, Banya 5 is very clean.
If I had $1,000,000... I'd build my own spa and model it after Banya 5.
My grandfather was always looking for a good place for a "schvitz" and this is a great place. It's a russian style health spa. The main feature is a Perilka, which is a huge wood Saun that get's up to 120 degress. There is also a cold plunge, body temperature salt tub, hot tub and steam bath. Upstairs is a tea room and rest facilities. They also offer salt scrubs and massages.
For $30.00 you get unlimited use of the spa facilities( massag and salt scrub are extra). On any given day you might find tatooed 20 somethings, out of town business people or Russian folks of all ages. In the Sauna it's not uncommon to find russian men smacking each other with oak branches. This supposedly stimulate circulation. The crowd is friendly, the staff very helpful and the atmosphere is very relaxing. I usually spend about 2 hours doing a circuit of the sauna, tups and steam bath. They have several kinds of teas for free upstairs that let you take a nice break from all the soaking.
I was fortunate enough to receive a gift certificate here from a dear friend for my birthday so my boyfriend and I put it to immediate use yesterday. It was our first time visiting Banya 5 (although not his first time at a Russian bathhouse since he spent some time in Russia, but he said those bathhouses are much more rustic than Banya 5). The staff was cordial and friendly (although failed to tell me where the towels were in the ladies locker room!) The space is clean and modern although I was surprised that the pools were so small. The salt water pool and cold plunge pool are both about the size of a good sized hot tub, while the hot tub itself tends to be on the smaller side, comfortably fitting 4-5 people. The sauna and steam rooms were great, although I definitely preferred the sauna, maybe it's because it was filled with Russians jabbering away in their native tongue?!
There is a lounge and a napping room upstairs so you can truly spend as much time here as you want. We didn't try any of the massage or salt scrubs this time around, but I would definitely schedule something for next time. For $30 you can't beat spending a couple of hours jumping from pool to pool to sauna and back again. Grab some friends and check it out!
Russian baths are apparently amazing. This was my first time going to one, and it won't be my last. I spent about 3 hours here and could have stayed even longer.
It's purely relaxing. Unlike a lot of other spa-type places I've been, this one seems to somehow take the pretense out of the spa experience. People are there to relax. Everyone shares the same space and even as a first-time bather I didn't feel out of place or looked down upon.
One caveat--Sundays are family days, so if you don't like splashing kiddies having fun around you then avoid it, but i thought there was something sweet about the families doing stuff like that together. The kids weren't obnoxious, just enjoying themselves like everyone else.
Best services that I've ever had seriously... It was my friends birthday and we decided to go for the afternoon. We got the "Quick Fix" package and arrived 1 hr before our services. Wish we had arrived even earlier!! The sauna to plunge pool was invigorating, and I really don't like to get wet!!
Right before the salt scrub they tell you to go into the steam room for 10 minutes then they come and get your. Then comes the best part! You lie face down on a bed and they throw buckets of warm water all over your body, it's literally buckets and I had no idea this would feel so good. Then the scrub down with a honey and salt concoction, more water, exfoliating scrub... more heavenly water, then turn over repeat on front!!
The scrub gives you this feeling of 'Alive"! even more so than the sauna/plunge/repeat...
After scrub we had 30 minute massages which were very nice as well. I have had many massages but this one, maybe because I was so relaxed was amazing.
After all that we felt so relaxed and rejuvinated, we went next door to the Vodka infusion bar for a drink before heading home. Had to get rid of the last few toxins ;-)
Definitely recommend this place for packages or even just entry to the sauna. Great experience.
The idea of this spa: great. The execution: not so sleek.
A bathhouse could be a very sexy thing, but somehow Banya 5 avoids this completely. Between the neighborhood addicts soliciting the front desk person, making patrons wait in line, and the shabby resting area upstairs, I'm glad the baths themselves are stellar. I was fighting a cold and my ND recommended going hot-to-cold. It felt excellent, but I would have liked a better atmosphere.
Not being too much of a spa person before I went to Banya 5 for the first time, I had no expectations.
But after having become a regular Banya 5'er, I now can say that this is a great urban spa. It's different than your typical spa. It can be full of mostly (Russian) men at any given time and it's just a different atmosphere. Don't go here for quiet relaxation, go for the 210-218 degree Banya (stone oven). Go for the yummy tea upstairs. Go for the salt scrub or massage or amazing nap capabilities.
It's a bit pricey ($30) but you can stay as long as you want, bring food to eat upstairs, and it's a great experience.
It's nice that there is a place men can go for a soak and not pay an arm and a leg, but Unfortunately Banya5 is missing the beat for relaxation. It feels like a giant locker room, and the tubs are overall too small to really relax in. Why is the hottest tub the smallest? It's almost like an after-thought tucked into the corner.
The best thing going is the steam room. But as a female, I'll stick with HotHouse.
great place! went in with some nasty back spasms; left in total relaxation. unfortunately, once it gets near capacity (40 people), it isn't quite big enough to accommodate everyone - jacuzzi and salt water bath get a bit jammed. i'd recommend trying to go during off hours if possible (if you're looking for total relaxation).
dry sauna and salt water bath were my favourites. try jumping in the cold plunge pool after coming out of the steam room -- complete euphoria.
OMG! Don't even get me started on this place. I'm not generally a spa kind of gal, well I am now! I had heard of Russian bath houses before, so I assumed it was a place for the "fellas" to spend quality time in a hot tubs, before wandering off the locker room for a bit of a rub and tug.
Was I wrong, and my apologies to the owners of this fine establishment.
My friend and I went in for a special that we had seen posted in the Stranger. For a mere 87.00 we experienced the eucalyptus steamroom(divine), The roastin' hot sauna, so hot you may hallucinate, the cold plunge pool,(freakin freezing, yet stimulating and refreshing). Next into the warm salt water pool, nice and floaty. Finally, the hot tub, deliciously relaxing. (though it is chlorinated, ick).
After the pools we go in for a amazing 30 minute massage, where he actually worked on my problem shoulders and hands, yum. Next, we had the salt body scrub. This was absolute heaven. I'm lying naked on a towel draped massage table, with my friend in the adjoining, curtained off area. Soon I am having buckets of warm water poured over my entire body, then I'm being scrubbed neck to toes with a salty, honeylike mixture. Then more water pouring over my like a waterfall. Flipped over and the whole process is repeated, I'm naked but who cares this is amazingly relaxing. After all this she washed and conditions my hair, more of those fabulous buckets of water! I wanted to cry when it was over, I don't want to go home!
I will definitely visit this place again and again. The staff is wonderful and very friendly. It is coed, so bring your suit. No funny business, Banya 5 is an experience you won't soon forget!
this is my seattle wintertime escape. there's nothing better than the steam room....sauna....icy plunge...salt pool...hot tub sequence (repeat as desired). if the regulars are there, make sure you get them to beat you with the venik (a special bundle of branches and leaves). i recommend ending your visit with a shot or two of ice cold vodka. nostrovia!
I absolutely love Banya 5 and bring everyone I can here. I don't even remember how I found it, but my ex and I decided to give it a go. Needless to say after one trip we got the 5 pass (which is actually a good deal folks...you end up getting one visit for free!) and since the ex I have been going ever since.
There is a circuit that they recommend and mine is as follows....Dry Sauna, Steam Sauna, Cold Plunge (if the spirit moves me), salt water pool, hot tub, Repeat! After about two of these I head upstairs for some tea and then go chillax in the way back of the second floor on poolside lounger chairs (I've been know to fall asleep). I then go back down and do this again.
Here is why you should all go...it does some kind of amazing to your skin and circulation. For about two days after a trip I feel amazing and rejuvinated. This is a definite must for anyone feeling any stress or tightness anywhere. Please try it and FYI: the owners are putting in a vodka bar nextdoor....Danger Will Robinson!
$35 bucks to spend a long time luxuriating in a fully equipped Russian bath house. Banya5 is great. The sea salt honey scrubs are excellent too!!
Seriously... this was a heavenly experience. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded and the people who were there were incredibly pleasant and respectful. It was clean and accommodating... and if you can splurge for a massage, I recommend an hour of rotating between the tubs and hot rooms, get your massage, and then top it off with another 30-45 minutes of tubbing/hot-rooming. OMG. Excellent.
The services here are DIVINE. It is better than any spa that I have been to in Seattle. It is not as luxurious as most spas - but the services are better. I got one of the packages - 30 minute massage with Jeff. Best massage I've had - he is excellent. Then a salt scrub - man this is amazing. They pour warm water all over your body, then scrub you, then moisturize, then scalp massage, more and more warm water over your body and your head. It's heaven!
I spent time in the jacuzzi and the pools. Cold one I thought would be colder, people were actually sitting and chatting in it! Tepid one was a bit cold and the jacuzzi as many people have said is unfortunately very small and is the most popular. Weird. I went in the steamroom and sauna, both very nice.
The spa is nicely decorated, very authentic. Upstairs had some electroyte tea and water. Chairs and tables were suprising very bare bones. I would have thought they were be comfy chairs to relax in but I could barely sit in them. I think some were wicker and for a spa that doesn't seem to fit. Maybe they are easy to clean or something. The "nap" room had basic lounge chairs you'd find at a pool - metal I think. And there were some blankets.
Be prepared for lots of socializing in the pool area - it's not a quiet place by any means. Especially when people jump in and out of the cold pool - they are screaming, laughing, etc. Unfortunately I heard many conversations which I would rather not have heard. Why can't people grab a coffee after to talk and just be quiet and relax inside? Many seemed like regulars who were interacting with eachother.
All in all a great place. Service was professional, from the girl at the receptionist area to the massage person and salt scrub person.
Would definitely return...hopefully soon!
Updated review. Very disappointed as of recent. Was planning on attending before I got married and had scheduled appointments for services (have done this in the past). When I called to let them know I was going to be late they treated me like a criminal! The girl receptionist was snippy and extremely rude! She threatened that they would charge me if I didn't show up, hello -- I was planning on it I was just going to be late! On my drive in, I was upset by how I was treated I ended up not showing up for the appointment -- how could I relax knowing I was treated so poorly? And you know -- to my benefit, they had never taken my credit card number down and I was never charged.
I used to love this place, but I haven't been back since this experience.
I have only seen the inside of the lobby with a view of the pool and sauna and it looks really inviting. I would recommend this kind of therapy to chronic back pain and neck pain patients. Moist heat is a fantastic analgesic for chronic pain.
I treated my best friend Lindsy, to Banya 5 - in order to pamper her two nights before her wedding. I was running a little late from the airport, as I had just arrived from SF, and even though they were no longer accepting arrivals, the staff was very understanding, and had everything ready for us - the moment we arrived. The salt scrubs were AMAZING! The steam room was very clean, as were the pools, and the massages were pretty decent. Lindsy was VERY pleased with her first spa experience. The next time I am in town, I will certainly be swinging by Banya 5!
