This was definitely a unique & neat (uneat) spa experience as all the other reviewers mentioned. I've never experienced a Russian banya treatment before so I opted for the Izba spa special (1.5 hr) rather than the basic treatment (2 hr). The Izba spa special includes a 15 minute hot tub session, massage, and 1 Russian Banya session (steam room and branch/leaves hitting/spanking). The basic treatment includes hot tub session, massage, banya, massage, banya. The difference between the 2 of them is only $15 and $30 minutes but I wasn't sure if I could handle 2 banya treatments during my 1st try so I went safe with the shorter treatment. You can go into the hot tub full on naked or you can bring a swimsuit. I thought the hot tub would be scorchng hot based on the other reviews but it was not as hot as other hot tubs I've been in. You're in a private room and they leave you be during that time. You then proceed to the massage table face down first. I had a lot of knots in my back so getting them massaged out was painful @ certain points but totally necessary. I am also a bit ticklish so I struggled a bit with certain parts of the massage (like the foot and thigh parts). You get massaged from head to toe and the masseuses are really strong! You can ask them to adjust the intensity level if the massage is too painful or strong for you. After the massage you enter the steam room and lay down for 10 (?) minutes. Someone will come in and lather honey on your body. Then they come in with the birch (?) branches/leaves and spank/hit you with it. The aromatherapy from the branches is great. Like other reviewers mentioned, the steam room is intensely hot! I, like the other reviewers, could not wait for the splash of cold water they give you toward the end. They give you a cup of cold water to drink while you're in the steam room which was super helpful. After the honey and spanking you rinse off in the shower and then exit the massage room for some apple slices & tea. Overall, the service was great and the new experience made the visit undeniably worthwhile. I'd recommend this type of spa experience for those who want some serious knots worked out and for those who can handle the heat! read more

My gal and I got the basic treatment after the holidays - the rooms are a private enclave for two, which was really great. Hot tub is up on a riser from the massage tables and across for the sauna, next to the shower. Really cool art on the walls - extra star for the whole motif in the rooms. The place is way down in the guts of the TCM building, and you walk by a bunch of classrooms/through a break room which is kind of weird. Staff was professional and amicable - everything was timely and as promised. It was pretty wild to get smacked with oak leaf bundles and rubbed with honey. We had been battling this wicked winter headcold and this really put us on the road to recovery. It was also cool to see all the signed photos of traveling russian athletes - place is legit. Really cool and unique experience - worth the reservation and the cost. read more

I've had many massages but none are as good as the one's Eugene gives. He is extremely knowledgable and good at figuring out which muscles need special attention, etc. I would recommend him to anyone suffering from deep muscle pain, especially lower back, neck, shoulders, and legs. read more

I always make a point to visit when I'm in Denver! Great, professional, pampering and powerful massage in a setting that is beautiful, unique and truly relaxing. The treatment rooms in this "garden level" spa have either a forest cottage or Russian Orthodox style interior. I go for the deluxe two hour treatment with whirlpool, sauna, honey and birch (or is it oak?) leaves. It's intense, but also very luxurious. I love sitting at the picnic table to sip the hot tea and apple and orange slices I am served post-massage. I've been going for about ten years, and the service is consistently good, no matter who the therapist is. read more

This was unbelievable! I also had the guy from Kazakhstan and he had such strong hands and had a warm personality. I wasn't expecting this place to be run by real russians and was pleased to see it was. I have never been so hot in my entire life. I agree, the hot tub was too hot for me and I only lasted 10min out of the prescribed 15min. But the real heat was in the banya. I asked the therapist how hot the banya was and he said it was 85C (which I converted in my head to be around 180F). Luckily it was only for a couple of minutes. Getting smacked with the hot tree branches actually felt great. You've got to try this out at least once in your life, its a pretty cool experience! read more

I have to agree with most of the reviews,the place is neat and the overall experience was OK, however a few things ruined it for me. We went for a couples massage, my husband really enjoyed his deep tissue with Amanda, and highly recommends her. My masseur was ok, I never had to meet him until I was lying down and he started with the session, I found that odd. When we were in the middle of the massage the door of our room opened and keep hearing voices in the hallways, my massage table was the one immediately to the door, I felt really uncomfortable knowing the door was open,and I was half naked in the table, so i raised my head twice to see what was going on and I saw this other guy at the edge of the door holding a written piece of paper to my masseuse. I was thinking that however need it to talk to him couldn't wait until the session ended and open the door to do that. At that point I couldn't relax and enjoy the massage. I never experienced anything like that before when in a reputable spa. Maybe something for the management to work on. read more

This is the only place I go for a massage. I have received the best sports massages ever at Izba. The staff is very professional and well-trained but everyone has a sense of humor. You will thank yourself for this experience. It's the best value in town. :) read more

A friend of mine kept telling me about Izba, so I finally checked it out with 2 friends. I was actually a little scared as I was told you get beat during the massage...what?!? It ended up being a great experience - no frills atmosphere, you do get beat with banyan leaves in a sauna and then cooled down with a bucket of cold water followed up by a deep tissue (and I mean deep tissue) massage. All in all a great experience for a reasonable price! read more

my wife and i came here for a couples massage.. we got Eugene's special... lets just say it was an interesting experience to get slapped with birch/oak leaves.. the banya itself is hot.. but not uncomfortable.. the massage was excellent and really broke down some knots i was had... overall.. the price is excellent and they seem to do a lot of business with colorado avalanche.. read more

Every time I visit Denver I stop in for a banya session and massage. This is my place to rejuvenate and I am never disappointed. If you need a place to unwind and get your life rejuvenate then Izba Spa is the place. read more

Truly an amazing experience. Eugene was a true professional, the best massage I've had in years. I also enjoyed the pre-massage hot tub and post-massage banya. It's clean, comfortable, and they anticipate your needs with plenty of water and even a hair tie available. Apple slices and tea are offered as soon as you come out of the treatment room. Everyone should come here, you will feel completely relaxed and rejuvenated. read more

I am an experienced spa junkie. I love me my massage and izba spa is among the best. Not fancy but full of atmosphere and fantastic feelings. From the aromatic sauna with surprisingly sensational stimulation of slapping branches, honey and cold water. Sounds wired but trust me it was AMAZING. The banya was followed by a powerful massage. I LOVED EVERY SECOND. read more

We just went for the third time! We forget how wonderful it is and then we go back. AMAZING. We had Eugene and Tiffany. Yes, it's hot and yes, you will be beat with branches but it's so wonderful. You can always choose a different service if you are reluctant but you might like it more than you think. My husband did! It does not feel like a fancy spa...it's more of a serious treatment. We love it and can't wait to go back! read more

I've been wanting to try this spa literally for years and I'm so glad I finally did. As others have said, this isn't a fancy, upscale spa. The atmosphere is cozy and somewhat rustic. The whole experience was amazing and a great deal for the price. I did the deluxe treatment for $135 (plus tip) and it was worth far more. Kim is a great massage therapist and I really appreciated how she walked me through each step, what the purpose was and constantly checking in to see how I was doing with the heat, which is intense. I may never even so much as consider another spa in Denver again. I mean, what's the point when it's this good! read more

Amazing experience. Will go back every time I'm in Denver. Unlike any other experience with the birch leaves. Take a friend and enjoy a girls spa day. My skin has never been softer. Left relaxed and rejuvenated. The people were professional and attentive. A must if you're ever in the area. Go get your relax on. read more

Love Izba! I like the style of the place, very relaxed and easy. it doesn't have that 'clinical' feel that some massage places have. I've had two massage/banya sessions at Izba and they were both wonderful! The banya is totally worth the extra price. read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! I visited izba spa on my bday with my husband.  This was our 1st time receiving a Russian spa treatment. We chose the Izba Special. It was AMAZING.  We had great therapists (Lisa n Kara).  This was an awesome welcome into Denver.... we will be looking for this service in every state we visit read more

Easily some of the best massage therapists in Denver work here! The Banya is magically healing, the space is beautiful, massage is on point, and the tea and fruit a the end of your treatment are just the cherry on top! Consistently excellent. Thank you Izba! read more

Had the flu prevention massage, banya treatment and body polish. Eugene was the best! I'm not a hot house flower so wasn't sure about the banya but turned out to be the best part. Room is private and therapist very respectful of your modesty. It's been a long year up to then but this was all worth it!!! Happy New Year to ME! read more

This place is the perfect mix of relaxation and being natural with great masseuses.

I have very high standards when it comes to massage and I was very happy. It was firm yet nurturing, just what I needed! I had a lovely experience and left feeling super relaxed. My only critique is I wish they supplied nicer shampoo/conditioner and bodywash. Thank you again Izba, we had an amazing time! read more

Oh yeah!! Amazing russian spa. The other yelpers are right, this is the best european massage experience I have tried in Denver. Will definitely return next time I'm in town. Did the 90 min massage with a double banya, intense and AWESOME. read more

The reviews of this place were spot on. Took a friend for the deluxe package and was very excited about what we were going to experience. You do walk through a building down to the basement. Was greeted and had to fill out some quick paperwork. Was taken into our room where we first soak in the hot tub for 15 minutes. I wore my bathing suit, but if I had gone alone, wouldn't have thought twice about being naked. Was very relaxing and they provided water. After that, we laid on the table on our front. Got an incredible massage for a decent amount of time. Went into the banya after that, which is very similar to a normal sauna, where they pour water over rocks. The leaf experience was very interesting, but I loved the feeling of the honey. I think I could have gone 1 minute less in there, as it was INCREDIBLY hot and I was getting a little nervous. A quick shower then time for the front massage. I cannot find a negative about this entire experience. Loved everything about it, and everyone there was so friendly. I told my husband about the entire experience and he cannot wait to try it again with me. And what a great way to end it all, with apple slices and tea! read more

Meh. Interesting for Americans not interested in travel - who'd overpay for a conversation starter. A waste of time for Eastern Euro folk looking for the real deal. Why the one star: 1. sauna/banya's not hot 2. massage was weak 3. hot tub is chlorinated 4. joint prices itself at 4 Seasons rates with sub-par accommodations 5. folks lather you with honey... (that ain't Russian... Russians don't play with food) 6. the place isn't group friendly 7. everything's timed - you're on their schedule read more

Very excellent place. Feels like a hole in the wall but very therapeutic. They really do pour honey over you and beat you with a brush as Jeremy H. has indicated. read more

Amazing. I've had a lot of massages, and this was probably the best I've had in a while. The banya is different, but totally worth it.

I called to schedule a spa package on Dec. 22 as a last minute Christmas gift for my girlfriend because of some great reviews on yelp.com. The lady who answered the phone asked if the appointment was good for my girlfriend and I said it was. She was very rude about telling me that we cannot cancel last minute or we would have to pay half the cost. I told her that would be fine. I didn't have a good feeling about this phone call so I didn't schedule it. I understand someone informing you that you may want to make sure that the day and time are available for the person being scheduled but I don't appreciate being talked to like I'm an idiot. They may have good services but I am not going to spend my money there find out because of the poor customer service skills and attitude this lady displayed. That is not something that I want to deal with at a spa. read more

This place is awesome. I got the Deluxe treatment with Tiffany. She was amazing. I didn't know what to expect but she guided me through the entire experience. I was worried about the heat of the sauna but there is so much going on in the room - essential oils on the rocks, the honey on your skin, and the beatings with the leaves - that I didn't feel like I was in there too long. I was wondering about modesty before I went. I decided to wear underwear during the experience, but the draping was so on point and Tiffany was so good at what she does that if you are comfortable being naked then you could do that, too. It is a private room. The tea and fruit afterward is an awesome touch. My massage was one of the best I've had in a long time. Plus, there is a good dispensary around the corner. Definitely coming back here next time I am in Denver! read more

We cancelled due to a terrible flu bug I had picked up. The owner literally started questioning my girlfriend and really got nasty. He doubted my sickness, then hung up on her. There are wary too many great spas and massages in Denver where I don't think we'd have to deal with such jerks. I always get scared when managers act weird. read more

Agree with what's been written by other reviewers and will stress that this place is NOT for everyone. I had a great experience and would go again in a heartbeat if I lived in the area. If you are going for relaxation and cucumber water drinking, this is not likely to meet your needs. But if you are going to get some muscle work done, and ultimately feel rejuvenated then this is the place for you. Here are a few additional tips: 1) Hydrate steadily before your appointment. Ultimately this will really help you AFTER the session, you'll see. 2) Use the bathroom before your appointment. The room is large and accommodates a 2-person jacuzzi, shower, sauna, and table but there is no private bathroom. Instead if you need to use it during the session you will have to leave the spa and go into public space. This happened to me and it's a bit embarrassing. 3) Soak in the Jacuzzi for the full 15 minutes - it makes a world of difference in terms of relaxing your muscles. There is a thermometer and it gets to 105F. You can do it! 4) While technically you can do this in your bikini, it really don't make sense unless you're naked (e.g., when they smother honey all over you.) So if you're not comfortable with that then this probably isn't for you. Dimitri was the ultimate professional and as a woman I was not uncomfortable in the least bit. In my mind it just makes much more sense to be naked given everything going on. read more

Agreed that this is not an upscale spa, but it is great in that it's really hidden away. Plan on taking a bit longer to find parking and to find the spa, as it is down a hallway, down the stairs, and tucked away. That said their prices for the quality of service are great! I had the Izba Special, which includes 10 minutes in the hot tub, a 1 hour massage, and a 10 minute time in the Banya. The room the treatments were in was really great-lots of artisan woodworking and old style Russian paintings. The hot tub was also great in that the whole room smells like a wood fire without the smoke. Next was the massage with Sergei, which was absolutely great quality!! If I just had to go for the massage, it would still be a great experience. Last is the Banya time, where I had no idea what to expect. It was very, very hot, and the therapist adds water to the spa, so it's also humid. You get to relax while sweating it out for a bit, then the therapist comes in, brushes you with oak leaves which smell great, adds more hot water so it's extemely hot at this point, and coats your skin with honey. It all sounds funky, but it really is a fantastic experience! Lastly, you get splashed with cold water to wake you up and then a shower. I left feeling about as relaxed as I am capable of being. I would definitely recommend it!! read more

My husband and had a couples treatment at Izba Spa to celebrate his birthday and it was an excellent experience. We went with the Izba Special, which consisted of a hot tub soak, massage and banya. We were told what was involved by a friend who had been before, but it really exceeded our expectations. The room was private and contained the hot tub, massage tables, sauna and shower. So once you entered, it was all in one place and very private. The massages were excellent, we had Jeff and Dimitri. The banya part was so much fun and so different from anything I've ever experienced. All of your senses are engaged while you lie there. You feel the heat, smell the aromatherapy oils in the air, hear the ticking of the heater and are surrounded by the wooden benches and walls. Your back, arms and legs are beaten with dried oak leaves to bring circulation to the surface of your skin and get rid of toxins. Then they pour a cold bucket of water over you, which feels awesome with the heat of the room, and you are lathered up with honey to moisturize your skin. After, we took a shower to clean up and were treated to apple slices and tea in the outer room. I wold recommend this treatment to anyone who enjoys a great massage and a new experience. read more

I love this place! WOWEE! I scheduled a couples massage for my husband and I and I am very impressed. We did the hot tub/massage/banya and it was amazing. The hot tub was pretty toasty but super relaxing. The massage therapist was awesome, friendly and really took the time to work on my problem areas. Now the banya, i was amazed how great this was! Different waters are poured over the rocks and you sweat and sweat and sweat. Then they beat you with hot branches, then rub you down with honey... by this point you are praying for the cold water and it feels fantastic. Then your done, so you shower and get dressed to eat some oranges and have some tea. My husband and I had big plans to go out after this to dinner and such, but we were both so relaxed that we couldn't really muster too much excitement as were were on a level of complete happiness already. I would totally go back and do this again! read more

This was the best experience I have ever had. I feel relaxed mind body and soul. You have to check out Monica, she will change your life and make you feel better all in one. read more

WOW,Me and my boyfriend went here for our very first time for valentines weekend.This place has the best customer service i have had in a very long time. When I first called they had to put us on a waiting list(SO POPULAR!). I was happily surprised when Tasha called and had a cancellation and got us right in. I had a billion questions and must have called her 10 times that day she was very sweet,patient and knowledgeable. Tasha great job and THANK YOU. When we arrived we were greeted right away taken back to our room by a big,but friendly Russian man instructed of what to do and was left to soak in a hot but great hot tub. I had a women and my boyfriend opted for the big Russian guy. People I have had massages all over the country and never one as good as at IZBA!!! Thanks Izba and the fruit and tea yummm delicious. read more

I just got home from my first Russian banya experience at Izba Spa, where I indulged in the Deluxe package, and it felt rather like a personal culinary experience - I was boiled, rubbed and seasoned with honey, steamed, tenderized with oak leaves, rinsed, rubbed again, steamed and seasoned again, more tenderizing with the oak leaves, more rinsing, more seasoning with a salt scrub. And I feel GREAT!! I've never felt so supple, both in my muscles and the silkiness of my skin after the salt body scrub. Wow wow wow. I'm sold on the banya experience, and mere massages will never satisfy me again. Dimitri's massage was fantastic, and unlike other male massage therapists I've had, he never made me feel uneasy. He was completely respectful and professional. But ladies, here's some tips: (1) don't wear makeup, or remove your makeup before you go - it'll just melt off in the sauna (I kept thinking of my poor opening pores and that makeup I forgot to take off just slithering down into them), and (2) don't shave your legs if you're going to get the salt rub. Oy! But like I said, my skin feels amazingly supple and moisturized - who knew honey was such a fabulous moisturizer and wasn't at all sticky when wet? (well, maybe some of you did, but I didn't). I'm definitely going back. Some details: parking is on the street unless you want to pay $1/hr in the paid lot right next to the building (I'd recommend that, as the surrounding streets - Colfax, York, 14th - are rather busy for parallel parking). You can include the tip in your credit card charge (some massage places don't let you and you have to remember to bring cash - what a pain!). read more

The massages I've gotten here were good. So much so, that I got a gift certificate for my friend's birthday last August. I went in, paid cash, and a man wrote down the transaction in a notebook. My friend misplaced her certificate, and when she called to see what could be done, was treated very rudely about the situation. I called to see if I could track down the certificate, and was also treated very rudely, by I'm assuming, the same person (he literally laughed at both my friend and me when we told him our problem). When I told him that I couldn't remember the exact package I had gotten for the gift, his response was "you're not helping me here." He said he would leave a message for the owner, who "might" call me back. Never received a call back... I recommend going here if you want a decent massage in a very "unique" atmosphere. Though if you care about customer service as much as your massage, you may want to rethink it. read more