As a Russian person who went to this bathhouse expecting a real banya, I have to say I was disappointed. The only aspect of a russian banya that this place holds is its deceptive name. If you are expecting samovars, wood paneling and matryoshkas, this is not the place for you. The lounge room was just an empty carpeted room with a couple of lawn chairs and some exercise balls, not exactly what I call cozy. The tea room was also rather plainly furnished and they only offered one type of tea in paper cups. Though, I have to say the place was very clean. A Russian bathhouse is a place where people go to not only to get clean and relax, but also to socialize. To me, this is a very important aspect of the Banya, yet upon entering Banya 5 it seemed as if the place had some sort of unspoken rule about silence. Everyone talked in whispers and kept to themselves, I began to feel uncomfortable talking to my own mother sitting next to me. Now that I've covered my thoughts about the atmosphere of Banya 5 let's get to the most important part; the facilities. Banya 5 has two steam rooms: a turkish steam room and a "parilka". They may call this room a parilka, but in actuality it holds a closer resemblance to an oven. First of all, the room was completely dry, with no opportunity to splash water onto rocks to create steam, so in this way if anything it was more of a sauna. Second of all the temperature was extremely high, even for a sauna. Apparently they sell veniki there (but not everyday), but I really can't imagine how anyone could use a venik in a completely dry parilka. Sitting there for more than 10 minutes was unbearable. Another negative was the benches. They were uncomfortable and too small, making lying down a challenge. As for the Turkish steam room, I am of a completely different opinion. The room was spacious and the temperature inside was perfect. As a bonus they put fresh eucalyptus plants near the holes were the steam came out of so as a result the whole room was filled with a pleasant eucalyptus scent. Overall it was one of the best steam rooms I have ever experienced. Along with the stream rooms Banya 5 also has three pools: a cold tub, a warm salt water pool, and a hot tub. All three were clean and pleasant, I especially enjoyed the salt water pool. The staff were friendly enough and I struck up a conversation with one of them. I asked a couple of questions about Banya 5 and was surprised to learn that the original owner was an American and not a Russian. Nothing wrong with this in general but it explained the lack of Russian in the supposedly Russian bathhouse. If it weren't for the great steam room I would say that this place is not worth the price (40$). The steam room is really its redeeming quality, but even with this in mind I have been to bathhouses that charge half the price of this one and have better facilities. This place is great for anyone who dosen't know better and just wants to go to a spa to relax, but if you are in to authentic banyas that offer delicious food, an assortment of tea, and a lively atmosphere where you can freely engage in friendly conversation with whoever, I advise you skip this place. 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

I've only made one visit to this place a few months back but it was such a great experience that it deserves a post. I expected a larger setting but it didn't put a frown on my face. The people who worked there were very friendly and inviting. They knew that it was my first time and gave a fantastic introductory instructions/backgrounds. The Turkish steam room was my favorite! I also loved the hot water whirlpool. I did not want to get out of there! Everyone should at least check this place out once! read more

I got offered a package last Summer including entrance to the spa, a massage and a facial and this was my first visit to Banya 5. It was a weekday in August so the place was rather quiet, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Anyway, the main reason for my review is the facial I received from Jonie Broecker. Absolutely amazing! Very sweet lady with a ton of experience, who gave me plenty of easy and useful tips to help with my various skin issues - and all with natural products. Loved it! Also during the facial, she massaged my neck and shoulders and this was just the best. Can't wait to be back in Seattle to see her again. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let me start by saying, I came for a massage and I had a WONDERFUL massage! Really, really great. HOWEVER....Several things...the locker room is small and very outdated. It was unclear where we go to get our massage, had to find someone and ask. The area upstairs is also outdated and just not very upscale, but whatever. Had a great massage, however there is a lot of construction going on next door (jack hammers, bull dozers, etc), so it was super loud and noisy in my massage room. After we finished we thought we would check out the spa amenities. Area is SUPER small and it was packed on a Saturday afternoon..no thanks. Anyways, we go to check out there are about 7 people waiting to be helped, so they were deft understaffed. We finally get checked out and notice we were both charged approx $27 each for using the spa amenities...which we didn't use, because everything was packed. Finally we get refunded (this whole process takes entirely too long...). I mention to the manager (Who was brought in to do the refund) that they should confirm with customers that they did indeed USE the spa amenities before just assuming and charging them the $27. She replied in a bitchy tone that "Most customers use them."....ummm, a) don't talk back to a customer. Own it, apologize, and move on...b) that's a very poor way to go about business, assuming you should charge people for something you don't know they used. Given my poor customer service experience, and the fact that the spa is outdated, I will not be returning and cannot recommend this place. 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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Kristin was wonderful. A peaceful place to soak or get a treatment. Highly recommended.

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

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

Worst massage ever!!! I went in because I was having back issues and I had a gift certificate to use. The start of the massage seemed promising because she was asking me a ton of questions like where it was hurting, what I did to it, etc. Then she started massaging me and she spent about two minutes on the area that was bothering me and spent the rest of the hour and a half massaging my armpits, arms, and butt. It was the strangest massage experience of my life!!! I wouldn't recommend to anyone, unless you need your armpits massaged! read more

If you're looking for unhelpful staff and small baths, Banya 5 has got you covered. Anything more than 6 people per pool is too close for comfort in the pools. This place seemed just right in theory, but ultimately, it was a disappointing experience, especially considering the price point. If you have a gym with a jacuzzi or sauna, go there instead. If you don't, a membership at a reasonably priced gym will be a better better value and experience. read more

Note to the people who run this website please make it very clear on your site that you take no reservations and when you come to your spa it is very limited space so you could be waiting two hours just to get in. I had planned this for weeks drove from Everett was super excited just to be told there were too many people and we could be waiting hours to get in on a Wednesday night????? I am not willing to wait and this should be clear on your website. You lost my business and then a group of 5 guys walked in and they all walked right out after being told it would be two hour wait. 7 people times $45 =$315 that this business missed out on in a matter of minutes. It must be nice to be doing that well to constantly turn people away from coming in.....owners think about moving to a bigger spot maybe google the Russian spa in Miami , http://www.russianandturkishbaths.com/en/about/index.html .....that is a true Russian spa!!!! Totally disappointed! read more