Banya 5

It is the only sauna in Seattle that we have found that is actually hot enough. All the others are set to a wimpy 130 degrees F. This is a walk in the desert in AZ, not a sauna. Banya 5 cranks it up to 180 - 200 just like they do in real saunas in Europe. more

Rude owners/staff who don't seem to care. Dirty, crowded facilities. Clearly due for remodeling. Unbearable smell of chlorine in pools. Saunas were literally barely warm at 10 AM. I would not recommend it to anyone. Pros: Free parking Cons: Everything else more

This place is really elitist and snotty. It is a bad place to go for new people. It is full of regulars who have an extreme hightened sense of superiority and entitlement and go out of their way to make you feel like an outsider. My wife and I went there for our anniversary and were having a good time. It was getting crowded which it often is and so we had to wait a while to use some tubs. We were also waiting for the sauna to get hot enough to use the oak branches to beat eachother with (a Russian tradition that feels pretty good). After 45 minutes they finally brough out the branches and so we asked how to use them. A staff told us to ask a regular who looked at us and said his friend was waiting and she would go first so we should wait. I said we were waiting too and went into the sauna. This guy actually followed me into the sauna and started lecturing us on how I shouldn't talk back to him because he was a regular and we didn't know the ""culture"" here. My wife went out to smoot things over but he left. When we told the staff at checkout she told us he was a VIP which apparently meant something there. I'll never go back to a place that allows it's VIP to treat other customers so rudely. Pros: Expensive Cons: Elitist more

As relaxing as a massage or pedicure might be (not that those aren't great too) there's something to be said for having a spa experience that isn't over until you want it to be over. Between the hot rooms, the pools (cold, tepid salt, and jacuzzi) and the delicious teas I could make a whole day out of it. The borscht manhattan next door at Venik is a tasty apres treat. But, be warned, one's tolerance may be considerably lower after spending several hours in temperatures well above 100 degrees. Pros: very clean, despite all the sweaty people Cons: I wish I could have it all to myself more

Banya 5 is truly a real spa! I've spent a lot of time traveling throughout Eastern Europe and have spent a lot of time in some of the many bath houses throuhgout the region and to me, the Banya brought back that feeling. It definately had a European essence with the Dry Sauna and the Steam... After being in seattle for almost 2 years now, I'm so happy to have found the Banya. I can have my escape from the fast paced city life of Seattle, and chill out at the Banya! The people there are great, and very helpful. The Banya is extremely well maintained! The staff definately takes cleanliness to heart. It is so welcoming to everyone who comes in and provides the atmosphere for great conversation! I Love the banya... I highly recommend this place to anyone interested in something different, fun, and relaxing. So.. go relax and socialize! Or just go to chill out.... \r \r Oh! and they opened up a bar next door, called the Venik Lounge. Great food and GREAT vodka! Pros: Everything! Cons: its closed on Mondays... more

I had a very disappointing experience at Banya 5. I had brought a friend there for a birthday soak/sauna and massage, but the service and ambiance was so disappointing we ended up leaving after 15 minutes and canceling the massages. When I arrived I had to wait several minutes to even be acknowledged and the attitude of the staff, when I did interact with them, was, at best, uninterested. The bath/sauna area was eerily empty on a Friday evening, and the area was surprisingly small. I was expecting something like the Olympus women's spa, but it was not even half the size. When we entered the hot tub, the jets were not on and when we turned them on, the tub filled with a foamy lather, not unlike shaving cream. I thought this was peculiar, but was willing to hear an explanation (maybe salt content?) and asked the woman testing the pH of the tubs. She did not know why it was foaming and acted as if she could not be bothered to find out, though eventually she did say she would check with the front desk. At this point I became concerned that our $100 dollar massages would be equally unpleasant and my friend agreed that we should leave and cancel the massages. \r We informed the front desk of this and they told me they did not know if we could cancel--they had to speak to the manager, and he was at dinner. We were insistent that we could not wait for him to return and they called him, one of the staff explaining to me that she was new and that this (addressing the concerns of upset guests, I guess) was not her job. Fortunately the manager told her to let us leave and we were not held hostage until he returned. \r A spa should be the ultimate in pampering and customer service, and here we were treated as inconveniences, not welcome guests. I would avoid going here if you want a spa experience and would instead go to the Olympus Spa for sauna, scrubs, and soaks (though sadly this is not coed) or to many of the other wonderful day spas, such as Ummelina, for a massage. more

I wanted to make sure that I wasn't dreaming, so I waited until I had seen Nadov (one of the massage therapists) for the second time before writing my review. I have now had two 90 minute massage sessions with Nadov, and he is BY FAR the greatest therapist I have seen in a long time. It has been a couple of years since I've seen someone who has met my expectations in this regard, and I'm so glad that I read the reviews on him on this website. I came with the expectation that it would be mediocre (hey, that's what happens when you get enough of those ""mediocre"" massages!), but it was nothing of the sort. He was very specific about what areas were concerning me (both times I have had super tense muscles and strains in certain areas of my body), and was very thorough. I cannot stand the feeling of having left a massage therapist's office and realizing that you just wasted your money to have someone ""professionally"" rub lotion on your back. I can't recommend this guy enough! You have to experience it to believe it! As for the rest of the Banya, I have yet to experience the baths..but I will update later :) Pros: great massage therapist, limited parking spaces for patrons more

I've had many massages in my life and the best one by far is from Nadov at Banya5. He is incredible!! I've gone to him three times now and all I can think about is when can I book my next one!. If you want the ultimate relaxing experience-hang out in the tubs and steam rooms for atleast an hour and then head upstairs for the best message ever with Nadov (can't remember his last name). You will not be dissapointed. The experiences stays with you for days. Your body just feels so....relaxed. Don't forget to make sure you ask for Nadov.\r Enjoy!!! Pros: parking right next to building-making it even more stress free! Cons: bring your own shower soap-the one they provide isn't a great smell. But all the other amenities are good. more

I savored the massage, but I didn't like the Banya. The massage was deliciously smooth while the overchlorinated and crowded Banya pools left me feeling as frazzled as a rough driving commute. \r \r I was happy to hear you can book massage without using the Banya. Go see Nadov; he manages to find every tight and sore spot on a body to leave you feeling wonderful. Pros: massage Cons: overchlorinated, crowded more

I love coming to Banya to relax on grey seattle days. Facilities are immaculate, atmosphere is calm and service is very friendly. Fresh eucalyptus in the steam room is a nice touch. Nadov's massages are wonderful! more

Banya are ultimate experience and very natural salt water. No chlorine! I love it! And I met Nadov Nahari the massage therapist, He is wonderful which he respects my resistances. He reduced my pain. Salt SPA helps to relieve my pain. I felt great with this experiences. Some day I will go on vacation and I will return to Banya to meddle through the water and relax! more

I love Banya 5. I have found it is a great place to go to relax and let go with friends or alone. The atmosphere is relaxed and non-judgemental. I think it is quite a bargain and I don't go there expecting a $100 spa experience. As someone experience with the real thing in Russia, banya 5 does a good job, though it does have urban Seattle flavor. The staff is friendly and I love the tea! Pros: Inexpensive, Clean, Good Parking more

I would have hoped that spending $25 for a visit would be worth the money. But it wasn't. There's a hot room, a steam room, a small jacuzzi with so much bleach my eyes were burning. Not to mention it only sat 4 and the water would overflow and pour all over the floor making it an extremely slippery and dangerous. I guess after visiting luxurious spas in Vegas and 5 star hotels that charge the same, I would have expected more. Pros: clean Cons: crowded, slippery, too much bleach more