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! read more

Great spot in Seattle to warm up and relax. Had a massage here and then did the whole bath house deal. The massage therapist was amazing and really listened to my needs, I've been suffering from terrible tension headaches/TMJ pain and she melted all of it away. The massage "room" I was in was actually a shared space with a partition sort of wall... interesting. As far as the bath house, the sauna was the best part. Extremely hot. Steam room was meh, kinda had a funky smell and was questioning the hygiene in there. The locker rooms are pretty hilarious. So tiny and only one shower space... During lower volume times the locker room isn't an issue. But when its busy, you can barely get to your locker and then have to wait in line for the shower. read more

Staycation- take a break and feel like you are on vacation while staying in town. i really needed to relax and this was the best way to treat myself for my birthday. some things i picked up here: -it's co-ed. you dress in your bathing suit. great idea for a couple. -people talk. i'm used to quiet spas but the russians do this socially so i was caught off guard by the lively chatter. -they have a tea lounge upstairs with complimentary teas and magazines which is great to stay hydrated and relax. - they provide towels, slippers, and shower gel & conditioner. plus locker to store your things. - they have a pool of COLD water. i was too chicken to take the plunge in. maybe i'll have the guts next time. read more

Great place to relax! Sauna, steam room, cold plunge, etc. Sleep like a baby after the visit.

While I agree this is a nice place to relax and soak, there really is nothing particularly special or unique about it. I don't mean to diss it, but it's pretty basic. In fact, it's surprising that people rave about this place so much and to see all the 5 Star reviews. I went there expecting to be blown away and I was not. The hot tub can hold 4 comfortably; 6 with a squeeze. If you get a bit queasy in tight spaces with strangers, the hot tub may not be for you. The sauna and steam room are basic as well. They seem to be well-maintained (a staff member came in and actually mopped the sauna while i was in there). The bathrooms are also basic and small. Upstairs is a big lounge-like area. Again, nothing special. But one can have a cup of tea and relax some more. Again, all in all, it's okay. It's definitely a bit pricey for all what you get... but hey, people pay the price so... read more

I went here during the long weekend - a perfect solution to the dreary Seattle winter. Soaking in the saltwater pool after hanging out in the sauna is sublime. So why 4 stars? Well, this time around, it was unusually crowded. When I went last year, I had to wait about 30 minutes until some guests left because it was too crowded. I guess they've upped the limit of people who can be there at once. That and it's $35 / person, so it ain't cheap. Still, a great staycation idea (god, I hate that portmanteau). read more

this place is super relaxing and feels great on a cold day. the order to tubing and sauna-ing is not outlined clearly so for the 'banya high' make sure to hit the eucalyptus steam room first. Then go to the sauna, stay in as long as possible. When you start to feel dizzy, jump into the ice cold pool and stay for at least a minute. Then make your way over to the salt pool. Rinse and repeat - high effect multiples the more times you repeat. Lacking a final star since the water is upstairs - it's a spa, people are going to be lazy. Don't make me walk upstairs for water. read more

It gets busy and the eclectic mix of patrons can occasionally be...educational, but I've never been uncomfortable here. I've purchased a number of services and each has been fantastic. I'm currently in the process of trying to drag my boyfriend here. I'm sure he'll adore it, as well. I live in Marysville and am more than happy to skip over the similarly themed establishment in Everett to make it to B5. There is really nothing else quite like it. It's a very clean, "stripped down" feeling building with none of the pretentious attitudes I've come to expect from downtown Seattle health and wellness nuts. Parking can get interesting, but there is a small lot on the side of the building. All you have to do is let the person at the front desk know you parked there and it's fine...and free. The price is right. The staff is wonderful. The environment is relaxing. I love this place. Pure and simple. read more

Had the best time at Banya 5 today! It was the ending of a great weekend with a group of girls and we had plans to enjoy the spa and get a service. After walking into the spa room a helpful spa-goer suggested we take the counter clockwise tour through the different pools and saunas. It was an awesome suggestion! The first pool is a traditional hot tub and then you head to the 'wet' sauna. Breathing is a little difficult in the intense steam, but if you enjoy the heat you'll love it. The next room is a dry sauna, be sure to bring a towel to sit on! Once you leave here, jump straight into the ice cold pool (don't test it out first, just jump!). From there you get into the bath water warm pool and delight in surviving the experience. :) I was also lucky enough to get an unbelievable massage from Jeff who did wonders on my aching and sore back. He is fabulous, and I highly recommend asking for him if you schedule a massage! Don't miss out, ensure you book the 80 min one! Thank you Banya for making today a fabulous experience. *Don't forget your bathing suit - the spa area is co-ed. read more

Honestly way overpriced for what you get. It's an extremely small space and you're packed in like sardines. I was a bit shocked to learn it was $100 for two people! read more

The used condom wasn't even the worst part. Banya 5 could be so good. While small and slightly outdated, the facilities are nice and it has a very chill vibe. I was already planning my next visit when it happened. A couple of friends and I were soaking in the hot pool (basically a hot tub), when like a creature from the depths, it emerged. A USED CONDOM. Stretched out, twisting and twirling around the surface of the water, dangerously close to our next-to-naked derrières. I don't think I've seen three women move so fast. An attendant fished it out and closed the hot tub, while the rest of us cleaned off and quickly tried to forget. About 15 minutes later, the hot tub reopened. It wasn't drained, no announcements were made, and many guests were left unaware of what lurked there just moments before. No employees came to update us or to apologize. It was like nothing had happened. When we brought up the issue at check out, the staff were rude and unapologetic. Sensing our disapproval, the woman behind the counter retrieved the manager, who told us the condom "must have fallen out of someone's pocket." No, sir, this is definitely not the time for excuses. I did not sign up for a sperm bath. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" he replied. At minimum, an apology was expected. "Well I'm sorry, okay?!" he admitted angrily. He ended up giving us 20 dollars off, remaining silent as he took our payment. Did I mention that a USED CONDOM WAS FLOATING IN OUR SPA WATER? So, I get it. Things happen and you can't always control what private things your guests do in public, but what you CAN control is your response to it. Smile, apologize, acknowledge there is a problem, and assure your guests that this isn't a regular thing. This is basic stuff, guys. It wasn't about the money. It wasn't even about the sperm bath. It's how we were made to feel about the sperm bath. Looking back, I realized that even before the incident, not once did an employee smile at us or make us feel welcome. It's your typical pretentious, "don't bother me with your patronage" style of service. In the end, it was this attitude that made me never want to return. If anyone knows of a good bathhouse in Seattle (sans sperm), please let me know. tl;dr: There was a used condom in the water. Staff couldn't care less. read more

this gem is hands down my favorite spot to visit in Seattle - its an absolute treasure. Banya provides wonderful service and has fun people to enjoy the spa with. i particularly enjoy doing "cycles" between the hot sauna the cold plunge pool and the salt water pool. after doing 3-4 cycles, the health benefits, including improved circulation and detoxification are amazing. the hot-cold contrast really gets the endorphins flowing, and there is no better prescription for a hangover. upon leaving i always feel happy and amazingly refreshed. i feel we are incredibly fortunate to have Banya 5 in Seattle. read more

This is an awesome place, Expensive yes, but I found the amenities nice than a lot of other spa's I have been that are somewhat comparable. I come to a place like this to relax, and it is impossible after going from backing in the steam room to dunking your whole body into ice cold water to not feel better. Not all the people that go there are people you want to be in a room with while trying to relax, but I let the place tune that out. I wish this place existed in San Diego if there is a place like it down here please let me know. If you live or goto Seattle this is an afternoon well spent, worth it. read more

Normally after a massage I feel relaxed and overall better but not after this massage. The technique used was very strange and in no way relaxing to my muscles Or to my mind. I told the front desk and they could care less. The customer service at the front desk was awful and doesn't even deserve one star, the changing room was freezing cold. Biggest waste of a $100 in my life. read more

Had an appointment at 7:15 pm. The staff made the appointment told to arrive early to take a deep shower before spa which I did 6:15 pm but the staff have a issue arrive 1 hour early and gave me a grand entrance attitude of why I need to arrive 1 hour early. I usually go to spa early to tour around the place and settle in ask loudly to drop the valuables items in order to give me a locker key. Not only it ruined my mood to enjoy this spa, I would say please make people welcome, I try to have a signature back rub prepaid $130 bucks and I wanted to cancel right before I go in, but it really sucks they made a bad experience for me. I'm not try to use your dirty tube water, I didn't even use your flip flops I bought my own, and your shower is terrible no door and need to share side by side with 2 female, your locker room feel like a kids gym room you guys sucks. The eye staring woman is flirting with customer say she get off on Wednesday it's her type of day to put herself together. You know what you guys sucks. read more

This was my second time here. I've enjoyed my 1st experience, however, we found a used condom floating around in the hot tub this time around! We told one of the staff, he took it out, and closed the hot tub for maybe 30 mins, and opened it back up for others to use. Curious was that enough time to drain it and clean it?? And I wouldn't say, its the staff's fault that people would have sex in the hot tub and leave their used condom behind. It was the condescending tone of the "Manager" as we were paying to leave, that really struck me. We were made feel guilty and a bit embarrassed to have felt, we didn't need to pay the full amount, given I didn't use all of the amenities. This manager actually tried to tell us, perhaps the condom fell out of someone's pocket...I guess used condoms fall out of people's pockets all the time! :/ It was my birthday, and I was raving about this place prior to all my friends, I won't be coming back...and I made sure to create an account on yelp and write this review! Terrible customer service by so called manager. read more

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. read more

Very nice facility. Clean. Friendly staff. Good massages/scrubs. The Dry Sauna is as good as any in Seattle. Steam Room is also excellent. They offer tea and a nice reading room to relax in. Usually quiet. No cell phones. It can get a bit crowded and rowdy at night. It is expensive and the facility is a bit on the small side. Otherwise it would be 5 stars. read more

Today was my first experience with Banya. I decided to check it out because of the co-ed experience, positive Yelp reviews, and the 50% off Day Pass Admission on your birthday is a nice perk as well. I have only been to one spa previously, it was an all-women's with a quiet/whisper policy. I was expecting the same quiet, keep-to-yourself experience at Banya, but was presently surprised by the friendly, talkative, 'hang-out' type atmosphere. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful when engaged with. They didn't go out of their way to explain any extra details about the spa or services but I liked the "if you'd like to know, just ask" vibe. To me it felt as though they were respecting my space. Over the 4 hours I spent at the spa it never got too crowded. I noticed the staff recognizing some people and thought it was very nice that there is obviously a regular community of people who attend this spa. All seem very down to earth type folk. People respected me when I wanted to sit alone and zen out, but were also quite approachable and talkative when I came out of my own head space. There are a few little things that Banya might be able to do just to perk it up a bit, but in general they have all the lovely amenities you would want and need for a day spa. I can't comment on the authenticity of it being Russian or not, but I did enjoy myself and plan on returning, hopefully soon. I think the entry price is fair - this is a spa after all. If you are looking for a very quiet space where you can keep entirely to yourself and expect staff to attend to your certain needs, you might want to look for something a little more pricey (that's how spa pricing works.) If you are looking for a place where you can relax in a semi-social, positive, enlightening, atmosphere this place is for you! It is also awesome to go with a buddy and I can see it being a great place to even meet new people. Side note: despite my positive experience and interest in returning, I will advise it was a little bit of a sausage fest in there. Though, the men seemed to be very respectful and kept to themselves. read more

Left this place feeling relaxed and rejuvenated! For $40, you get to enjoy the sauna, steam room, various temp water pools, nap room and stretching area. I got a salt scrub which was great (ladies don't shave your legs before you go!), great staff and clean facilities. I would probably skip the Friday night rush next time. read more

Just meh.... pools are very small, pretty noisy, and you have to wear swim suits . If you've never been to a spa before, or are more interested in making it a social event, then you'd probably like this place. If you're looking for a quiet and relaxing naked spa, head over to Olympus in Lynnwood (if you're female). Spa entry is not included with services, unless you buy a pre-set package deal.... just combining services only gets you a $15 discount on entry. read more

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! read more

Have been to this spa a few times and enjoyed every visit until now. After 2 hours of soaking, I was told that my swimsuit was not appropriate to wear as thong bikini bottoms are not allowed - the swimsuit I was wearing was NOT A THONG. In fact, it was the exact same type of swimsuit bottom that several other women were wearing so I was apparently singled out because of my body type and I suspect also my age. Feeling uncomfortable and angry, I left and do not intend on returning. Spas are designed for the purpose of relaxation, there should be no element of sexualizing present even in unisex ones!! And preventative efforts should include reminding guests of such NOT telling a woman what she can and cannot wear. read more

Crowded little space with less than nice staff. We were welcomed at the lock room by a lady who clearly was not happy about her job and barked at us giving us a quick tour. People were speaking loudly with zero respect of others' relaxation. Will not go back or recommend to any of my friends. read more

The salt scrub is amazing. It is a little noisy at times with it being right off of the soaking areas. Staff is really friendly. Soaking prices are expensive for what it is actually worth and the size. Fills up quick- definitely recommend checking the bath counter on their website before you drive there. Oh yeah also- there is no more customer parking. read more

Chastity really knows everything about her job and explained it really well and made sure my first time experience was well prepared for this exotic experience . read more

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! read more

Banya 5 was really nice, until it came time to pay. I had a small gathering of women there to celebrate my sister's upcoming wedding, and we spent over $450 in spa services. Banya 5 is really clear that entry is $25 per person with services, where it would be $40 without. I had a two for 1 entry certificate, and they forced me to pay $40 for my entry in order to use it, even though I qualified to spend less. That is hugely bad business - when someone comes in and spends that much money at your business, to quibble with them over $15 is really stupid. There are lots of banya-type places in Seattle, so I won't be going back to this one. read more

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! read more

Banya 5 is a good spa for downtown Seattle and it's a good value for the $45 entry. I really loved the wet sauna with Eucalyptus and the dry spa. I went during Christmas week so it was pretty packed, but still a very relaxing experience. It was on the small side with three small pools, a wet sauna, and dry sauna. It's not as large as the Korean spas in Lynnwood and Federal way which I would reco for a longer spa day, but Banya is great for a 1-2 hr break. read more

Great spa but when I informed the front desk of a guy spending way too long hanging out in the change room fiddling with his smart phone they blew it off. He never showed his face in the spa area. Creepy and not great customer service. read more

Really lovely atmosphere, Very clean facility.Had a very nice visit here, felt very relaxed.I really like the tea they have upstairs. Very comfortable sauna and pools. The staff was very friendly to. I hope to come back again read more

Dear Banya5. My love for you is as deep as the cold plunge, as hot as the pirilka and as wide as the seas that inspire your salt pool. love love love love!!!!!! read more

What an amazing and relaxing place! The staff was friendly beyond measure and specifically, JEFF was incredible! What an amazing man and the body scrub was out of this world! BRAVO on a wonderful spa! Anyone visiting Seattle should plan on making a 3 hour detour at this wonderful day spa. Congrats! read more

Was like going to a friends apartment complex to their hot tub an sauna. Save your $40 over priced and not worth it. I would pass on this place and try and find something else. Staff was rude and wouldn't even let me kiss my fiancé in the public eye of others. Was told you could show affection towards one another? It's not like we were making out and going at it! Lol read more

Just a quick note. The record for staying in the cold plunge pool is 32 minutes (held by a man named Sage). Setting a new record is NOT encouraged. read more

This place used to be great but it's turned into an adult Chucky cheese where they just let everyone in and let people do whatever they please. I don't know why they don't have a sign with simple rules like every other gym and or spa in the world so that people can respect the fact that you're supposed to be able to go there and relax on a Sunday night before a long work week instead of having to fight through piles of men yelling in Russian in the steam room. Maybe some ground rules like please no yelling please no cannon bawling into the cold pool and limit 20 people in the spa at a time so there's not close to 50 people in a small room trying to rotate through all the facilities at once. This is located in Queen Anne where you would think adults would be respectful but not anymore. There was even a wait when I got there and I complain to the staff about people yelling in the steam room so they did discount my entry but I don't know if I'll be going back there again which is sad because I used to love this place and it's very necessary to reboot me after seven day work week. read more

Wonderful. Highlights for me are the super hot dry sauna and the ice cold pool. The facilities are quite nice all around.

I had the day off so I decided to relax on the happy hour special. When I arrived, they said there would be a 20 min wait. That meant it would be after 2 but they assured me they would honor the happy hour pricing. This place is a lot smaller than I imagined. Everything feels nice and all but I really think the hot tub needs to be bigger. Especially since it's the most conventional and familiar of the services. Each area serves a nice purpose though. Note the Russian sauna is much hotter than your typical sauna. The super cold pool is good for about 2 seconds after the sauna and ecyluptus steam room. The tepid pool is a little pointless. This place makes a nice, occasional relaxing day. I think I'll come back at some point. :) read more

Loved our time at B5 on our vacation to Seattle. What a gem! Next time we visit, we will call ahead for additional spa treatments.