This was a great Banya experience! $60 for 4 hours is totally worth it when you break down the hourly cost and all that you get. Four different steam rooms, two single person cold plunges, a jacuzzi, and an ice room. Your phone gets stored securely and so do your belongings, as you get a key for each locker. You get 6 rather thin towels, but I found that to be plenty. They also have showers and some soap for you to shower off after your relaxing day. There's even a lot. I'm sure it can get tight and filled up quickly, but there was even some street parking on a Sunday morning. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

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Extremely rude, nervous front desk woman. OMG, the woman on the front desk (I don't know her name, for the reference we were there on Tuesday) is emotionally unstable, toxic and just plainly hates everyone. With the front desk person like that I don't know how they still stay in business. She does her best to scare away customers. This message is for owners(or managers): change the from desk person for someone who at least like people and has some customer service skills! It will make wonders for your business. You cannot go wrong with anyone other than this toxic that you have right know. read more

I love coming here at least once a week Great steam rooms with a crispy strong hot air help me to maintain keeping my body clean and happy inside and out! Amazing ice cold plunge my must have banyas experience and in mermaid they take a really great care of it. The hygiene of this place is always A+ I also like the logistics in this place so it never gets overloaded with crowd as the experience is pretty intimate and they manage it well so each guest gets enough personal space for time of stay. Love seeing all service people here as with a time they became like a family for me! read more

Mermaid Spa - Day Spas Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Love this place ! Would recommend . Great for your mental and physical health. Friendly and dedicated staff .

I love coming to this banya! It's always an amazing experience. The saunas are incredible, the customer service is outstanding, and the food is consistently delicious. If you haven't been yet, you should definitely come. read more

Run don't walk to at least experience once this authentic Russian bathhouse. Three saunas, one steam room a Jacuzzi an icebox and two cold plunges. Bookings are done online for 4 hour windows at a time. You must bring your own supplies unless you want to pay for rentals or use what they have. This place is the epitome of self-care and relaxation. The service is OK unless it's crowded in which case the wait is pretty long. The saunas are a good size but become an issue to access when there are a lot of people. You will feel amazing and will sleep like a baby . Highly recommend ! read more

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MASSAGE: 5 FACILITY: 4 FOOD: 2 This is a tough one to write because I've been going to Mermaid for a number of years now and do believe it's the best banya within the five boroughs, but I've seen a number of declines of late that are worth pointing out. In addition, this is a tough review to write because there are so many different elements going on here -- between the three noted above. So, let's save the worst for last and dive in with the best first. The undeniable highlight of recent visits has been the massage and stretch work I've done with Ella Nosonova, Mermaid's relatively new massage therapist. She is exceptional. First, she has a warm and welcoming bedside presence. She truly listens to your concerns and has a fine-tuned attentiveness to the way your body moves as she begins to loosen joints and observe tightness around ligaments. I instantly extended my first session from 30 min to an hour and plan to seek a session with her each time I'm at Mermaid. With sports injury-induced lower back issues and a number of other wear and tear problems, it was a miracle to walk out after only an hour feeling a noticeably drastic sense of relief in painful areas. DO NOT SKIP A MASSAGE SESSION WITH ELLA when you're at Mermaid! On to the facility. Mermaid is by far the cleanest of the Russian or Turkish-style banyas I've been to in the five boroughs. I also really like the layout of the place where all the communal and small group tables are within the larger atrium with the massive jacuzzi tub and cold plunge, and each of the saunas are just off an adjacent hallway. Other seating areas often feel like an afterthought and are jammed into a corner or randomly placed upstairs and away from things. The bummer though, is if you don't happen to get a table in this main room, and you're placed in a drafty back room with little sunlight. It's like getting the overflow dining room at a cool restaurant -- completely changes the experience. And it would be nice if they replaced the ratty, torn cloth coverings on the inside handles of the sauna doors. The food! Let's first say, I'm aware this place is a banya first before it's a food-serving establishment. Funny enough, I was there yesterday and sent back a (supposed to be) hot soup that was not room temperature, but ice cold. I chuckled when I overheard a few guys at a nearby table saying in Russian, "he knows it's not a restaurant, right?". I do indeed. But if you're charging $17 for a bowl of 9 pelmeni, and $16 for what looked like a pint's worth of mushroom and barley soup, let's at least have some base standards here. Why I even care to write this is because the food at times has been surprisingly fantastic. The kharcho, a hearty herb-laced beef and rice soup, has been outstanding. And I love their assorted pickled vegetable plate. read more

It's a nice place as always but they have changed things up when Covid first hit and kind of kept up the rules that are beneficial to them. Towels are limited so if you like to use these up this is not a place for you. It's rations here. So you have to think if this is a good time to dry yourself off or just air dry. They also limit you to 4 hours which is OK if you are used to other spots but I like the whole day type of access. Food menu is limited, shrimp was good fried. They also offer boiled one. The lady at the front door is very rude. Lady acts like she is doing me a favor, allows me to pay them for access to the area. I would recommend Neck Road one as the only one left in Brooklyn where you are not nickeled and dimed and still feel authentic. BTW. I have been coming here for 20+years but it's only getting more and more limited. They do have a nice outdoor area as well. read more

Mermaid Spa - Fried shrimp with beer - Day Spas Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Update with COVID: you need a reservation which you can book online It's $50 entry fee per person now for 4 hours, and an additional $10 if you stay an additional hour They require vaccination card and ID on entry, and you have to sign a COVID waiver. It's kinda nice to be not so packed, but a bummer that the time is limited to 4 hours. I miss the days of lazing around on a cold Sunday afternoon just enjoying the different banyas and eating the food, especially the red borscht. read more

The best banya in New York. They provide excellent facilities and good food. Plenty of parking and a plus located within Seagate community. Keeps out all the migrants and lowlifes in the area. NYC is going to shit especially if socialist assholes run for mayor, at least we can relax at this great spot and try to forget all the bullshit going around us . Try it out and see what I mean . Worth the trip read more

I liked this banya in the past but these covid changes ruined it. You have to make a reservation and it's only good for four hours. Then they make you leave or start charging you hourly. Four hours goes by very quickly. I'd rather pay a higher admission fee and be able to stay as long as I'd like, like their competitors. Feels rushed and less relaxing. read more

We were reading all y'all's comments for fun on the way to Mermaid. Seriously, people, what's wrong with you. If you want to get the best dumplings in Chinatown, do you go to a place where people smile and kiss your ass? No, you go to the grumpiest grandma who doesn't give a shit about you because she knows people will still come to eat her food no matter how she serves it. How can you not see that this is the same? Lena didn't smile at you when you walked in? Poor you! Go to any other spa in any other neighborhood. This place survived COVID -- it will survive your wounded ego. But if you stay, follow the rules, respect the traditions, don't be a problem, then, in a couple years, maybe, Lena might give you the tiniest of smiles -- and that won't be customer service, that will be real. This is how Russia works, people. We hate fakery. Mermaid is an institution, a community, a place of culture and tradition. I literally see people in the comments making fun of the branch-whipping and complaining about leaves flying around. A bit of perspective please? For a small price of 55$ anyone gets to dip into a ritual that has connected Russians to their rivers and their forests for thousands of years. Ask anyone in any of the saunas to tell you more about the veniks and the steaming, and you will get an enthusiastic lecture on history, physics, and traditional medicine. It's part of an oral tradition passed down to us from our grandparents, and to them from theirs -- no one writes down how to use a venik. Think anything you want about it, but it means a lot to us. You are being let into an inner sanctum -- and you are complaining that you didn't get enough towels? Get over yourself. Also, the food is damn great. Kharcho is to die for. Salo is heavenly. Vareniki are perfectly seasoned and come with delicious fried onions. Menus are irrelevant -- come up to the waiters and talk to them. read more

Having visited this bathhouse (Banya) on multiple occasions, we've observed frequent changes in rules, a topic often discussed among guests. The shift from unlimited hours and diverse food options to a strict 4-hour limit and table food has sparked conversations. Service-related challenges, such as delays and reluctance to serve food when there's limited time left at a table, have been noted. The venue remains congested, with guests expressing a desire for extended hours, albeit at an extra charge per minute for surpassing the time limit. Unfortunately, the food record-keeping method at each table lacks formality and encounters various issues. Despite these concerns, the rooms, pools, and showers maintain a good standard. Lockers are fair, and towels are consistently rotated from washers to guests. Language barriers, predominantly Russian, contribute to expected conflicts but don't overshadow the overall experience. () , - , . 4- . , , , . - , , . , . , , . , . , , , . read more

People sure like to complain! Sauna not hot enough? 250 degrees seems pretty hot! Locker rooms too small? I disagree! Plenty of room and a separate shower & separate toilet areas! Lots of rules? Good! I hope the spoiled brats who can't follow rules stick to their own and do not return. Please. Surly staff? They are Russians, and you have NO idea about the poverty & trauma they experienced. Shut up and have some respect. Not everyone has to kiss American ass. I welcome the straightforward approach. If they bent over backwards with false syrupy welcomes, and listened to your entitled whinging, THAT wd take 4 hours! Per person! Last year it was cheaper? Did I say COVID? You try paying the costs of heating, insurance etc..without knowing if you'd reopen! Prices went up? They had to survive through LOCKDOWN, COVID, and uncertain times. STILL THE BEST. STILL A BARGAIN. read more

Sauna is very hot which is good but there is no swimming pool at all. Service is terrible. I walked in and asked a question and lady at the front desk started yelling. I asked her not to yell but she continued yelling. I was about to walk away but I already payed on the website and waisted my time coming there. Will not go back. Receptionist ( lady with red hair) should not yell at costumers. No respect, no manners. mermaid spa. , . 2 . . . , front desk . . , . . read more

Went there few times and ever since pandemic they kept adding more restrictions, which is now limiting the towels they are giving to a guest. I would like a fresh towel every time I come out of sauna, but they just won't give you any! The service personnel is good, trying their best, but the owner is extremely rude. They did issues a refund them self, but we won't be coming back there regardless. read more

This place is awesome. You meet people all over the world Everything works 100 perct ' thr staff is great and kind . The food is great and the masseuse read more

I'm a relatively regular customer of this place, the saunas and steam room are good, just as good as any other Russian bathhouse in south Brooklyn. That's why they're getting two stars from me, however the staff including management and food is another story. As usual, we ordered some (highly overpriced) food as always, in general the food is good BUT this time we found a USED BANDAID in the soup. Usually I'm understanding about these things, nobody is perfect and things happen but when the issue was brought up, the waitress instantly said "our chefs don't wear bandages" and went on to basically yell at us and tell us it's impossible. She was implying that somehow we the customers placed a bandage in a brand new soup. She took the soup away and offered another as if anyone wants a soup from a big pot of soup that had a bandaid in. The waitress was rude and unpleasant from the beginning but she continued to be just as nasty and nastier even after this incident. Anyway, we kept ordering food regardless and at the end of our stay we mentioned it to the manager when checking out who was apologetic about the issue which is what should have happened from the beginning and there would have been absolutely no hard feelings. Another manager (this time a woman) came out like a raging bull practically yelling at us telling us that if the bandage was in the soup, it would have been cooked down and shriveled and that there's no way we found it in the soup etc. we showed her multiple photos of the bandaid and we were sitting right underneath a camera and told her to look into it and she basically said that in the past someone caught a fly and put it in their food basically saying we planted a used bandaid in the soup. ANYWAY, to me the way you are treated by staff in a place of service makes and breaks the experience and the staff here absolutely broke a potentially enjoyable place to spend a day in. There are other bathhouses that have very pleasant staff, just as good amenities and better food. read more

Mermaid Spa - Bandaid soup - Day Spas Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This place is simply horrible, to begin with. The first impression even was disgusting. The front desk lady is extremely rude and unprofessional. Not only that but this banya is atrocious, there was just garbage everywhere and I even found bugs in the shower. The service at the restaurant was horrible, everyone has an attitude it doesn't feel welcoming. I ordered something to eat in the restaurant and I was brought the wrong food, I thought it was just an honest mistake so I kindly told them I didn't order that. They had to scream at me telling me I was wrong, they didn't even bring me the right food afterward. Everyone is so rude and it's just horrible. I don't recommend this place at all. STAY AWAY UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR WHOLE SAUNA EXPERIENCE RUINED read more

I'm going to start off with saying that there were a massive amount of bugs in the shower. I really don't even think that I have to go on with my review after having said that. But here it goes...This was unacceptable. I really should have snagged a pic just as the individual did in displaying the bandaid soup that she was dealt. I'm going to say that you should probably pass on this place if you want to feel relaxed and if you prefer cleanliness. This place didn't make the cut. Also the hospitality was way off. Service was terrible. It's really a shame because we don't have that many places that offer this experience here in Brooklyn. Hard pass, read more

Spacious place, clean, have Russian bath, hammam, sauna, 2 small ice cold water pools and 1 hot tub jacuzzi. Food and drinks available also chill area it's cool, Ice room must try! read more

I may be in the minority here but love this place. Are they gruff-yes. But I expect that and it's not a problem. I used to come before COVID and I actually love that they have a limit of people-it's crowded but a lot less crowded than it used to be. And I thought it was clean. Definitely will continue to come back. read more

Two men walked into the women's locker room. Nothing was done. It felt very unsafe and there should be stronger measures to keep the locker rooms secure. Great spa overall, but, AS A WOMAN, you have to protect yourself because none of the employees here are looking out for you. read more

I and my friend came to visit this spa to check it out, but the front desk lady was so rude so we changed our mind and left. Not very professional. read more

This is NOT a hardcore sauna. Its more like for little kids. Lockers are small, not enough space to dress or undress. Everything is so tight and small. You must wait for people to leave then you can undress. Saunas are too weak, not enough heat. And if you put more heat people complain its too hot. Well, why are you coming to banya to get cold ? This is not a serious bathing crowd coming here. Sauna must be very hot or you will not get any effect. It must slightly burn your skin, then you can call it a good sauna. Not enough showers. No privacy in the shower. No curtains, dirty water does not go to the drain because its clogged. Workers does not care. Most of the guests are young alcoholics hugging all the seats and its Not enough place to sit down to relax. Only in the restaurant and you must to buy food and alcohol or you can not sit there. This place is only about to rip you off. If you serious about hot saunas, then do NOT go there. Saunas are not hot at all. Sauna must be hot or its not gonna do anything. Most important in bath house is hot sauna. Or its not a bath house but playground for kids. I will never come back again especially when you have to pay admission fee $50 plus $20 for venik ! Take your money somewhere else ! happy 2020 ! read more

Service is terrible. I've visited this place for over 20 years. Their new policy is $50 for 4 hours as opposed to the price of $40 for an entire day pass from last year. I came late to my reservation by 1 hour. After ordering $160 worth of food and beer within 3 remaining hours they came up to us and told us we'd have to leave unless we pay $10 an hour to extend the reservation. Considering that the place had 3 other people in it I would think that spending $50 an hour is reasonable, but they found a way to lose a client over $10. Can't see this place lasting very long. read more

Today was the first Day I came back in close to 2 years due to the pandemic. Prior to arriving I had to make an appointment because they are doing crowd control. Understandable!!! when I arrived they did not have a table for me so I was forced to sit with a complete Stranger at my table for the entire stay!!! So much for Crowd Control!!! Next! 1. they raised the price to $50 just to enter. 2. Before the pandemic there was no time limit you could stay as long as you like. Now it's a 4 hour maximum time limit before they throw you out or charge you additional money to stay in. WAIT IT GETS WORSE! Before there was towel service you could use as many towels as you need during your stay. They had staff washing drying and replacing on site. NOW they give you a 5 towel limit for your entire stay which they hand you at the front desk, Similar to a prison, And god forbid you leave a towel on the hook outside the saunas some guy will snatch it away as soon as possible. I'm curious what would happen if you ran out of towels during your 4 hours? The place supposedly closes at 10pm so I grab a waiter and ask him for a menu at 8:30 and he looks at me like I'm an idiot and says kitchen is closed‍‍ I'd like to go on record and say that prior to the pandemic i was a weekly regular at this Spa and I enjoyed my time there very much. Unfortunately now it's changed for the worse and unless I see any changes from afar I will no longer be attending Mermaid Spa. Very Very Disappointed!!! read more

The only good thing i can say that is they have really good choices of saunas that is about it. Prices are super high for everything, stuff is really mean and not nice Women's room is not clean Also they charging money for everything even for hot water Kids are not allowed and they telling you that in very mean form read more

The saunas are great , men's lockers and rest of facility is fine . The reason is for two stars is because of how the staff treats their costumers . It's seems there is no upper management that can control their employees correctly. And what's up with 10 pm closing ? Used to be always 11 pm. I only get there at 8 pm because of hectic work schedule . I don't mind paying the $50 entrance but why such a drastic change of hours . PS staff needs to know their place and need to address their costumers correctly . read more

We visited Brooklyn for the weekend (from the DC area) with the Mermaid Spa at the top of our list! We'd read about it in newspapers and magazines and, being of Russian descent, were very interested to check out a banya. Overall it was a wonderful (albeit strange) experience! When you arrive, you give your valuables to the woman behind the front desk who stores them in small lockers. You ALSO get a locker in the locker room for your clothes, which has a key, but perhaps they are not as reliable or safe, hence the two different lockers? They give you a wristband with a locker key and number on it. Any food you buy in the restaurant (more on that below) will be charged to your locker number and paid when you check out, so you don't have to carry any cash (we liked this approach). The women's locker room was small but clean. Robes are $5 and were nice to have during lunch, but otherwise unnecessary. There was no introduction or tour. You pay your money and you go in. We explored and found several rooms with dry or wet heat, an ice room (that we couldn't get into), plunge pools that are "ice fed", hot and cold showers, a large hot tub, and buckets with branches for hitting oneself (or others!). We never got instructions on the branches, so we sadly never used them. We did explore everything else though. We learned that you can use products and scrubs in most of the rooms. There are giant piles of warm clean towels that you can grab as you need. I loved the extreme heat and cold - so invigorating! There's a lovely back patio to get some sun and relax between heat/cold and/or dining. Speaking of dining: the potatoes really are $20. They are delicious and garlicky and it's a generous portion, but wow. We also had beers, coffees, dumplings, borscht, and a cucumber salad. All very tasty but we spent $100 for this lunch for 3 (only 2 beers on the tab). The weirdest part, though, was the fact that the restaurant is inside the spa - just feet from the hot tub. Felt strange to have everything in one room, but we were glad for the good food and drink after the intense spa experience. The service was fine. Not overly friendly, but certainly not unfriendly. I think this is the Russian way. Most of the clientele was male, but we (three ladies) never felt uncomfortable or out of place (er-- out of place because we were women, anyway!). The older men were friendly and chatted with us in the sauna in broken English about what to order for lunch, etc. Don't forget a water bottle (important to stay hydrated with all that heat!) and good flip flops that can stand up to water. Great experience! I would love to return next time I'm in Brooklyn! read more

This place is great for relaxing. - Three different saunas of slightly varying heats and humidities that are regulated by throwing water onto hot rocks. It was a little difficult to tell the difference in heat/humidity levels of these three, but the extra space is goo. - One steam room that had very high humidity. Powerful! - Two ice baths - One ice room - One central jacuzzi - One large area with tables and chairs, where you can relax and order food. Tip: claim a table early. They go quickly! read more

4 hour time limit for all guests meaning they'll just come up to you and tell you to leave. Don't forget a 2 towel per person policy. If you enjoyed the Soviet Union, you'll love this place! read more

Great service, amazing staff and awesome saunas. My only complaint is that they now require reservations and you must leave after 3 hours- they now charge more for less time (it used to be all day!) read more

It's clean. My friend and I didn't understand what to do as first timers. We don't speak Russian but after we asked a food server about the rooms it got more accustomed to it. A patron at the spa showed us how to use the jacuzzi. Once we settled in, we had a lot of fun in the saunas, jacuzzi, restaurant and outside lounge. Very laid back and comfortable. Food prices were reasonable and the staff is nice. A nice relaxing experience. Looking forward to going back. read more

Mermaid Spa is the original best Russian banya in Brooklyn and, with the unsurprising shuttering of Royal Palace (now closed over a year for "renovations") it has legitimately recaptured the title. Since the somewhat suspect "fire" that closed the place for several years in the mid-aughts, the owners came back with a vengeance, keeping the awesome rustic decor and ice chutes in the cold pool, but adding an Ice Sauna (literally, an igloo/human refrigerators that's a unique alternative to the classic cold plunge). The food is a very solid B+ and tops the curve for banya cafes. Service is also very good, pushing Brooklyn Banya and its sweet but frazzled maître d into the bush league. The only [slight] negatives are the $35 fee (higher than other banyas, but worth it) and the "Rock Foot Massage," which if I am correct is a bunch of rocks taped together by the pool bench. If you do have several Radebergers or vodkas and find yourself unable to resist the urge, keep in mind your bare feet are rubbing not just the rocks, but the hundreds of sketchy feet whose brain centers has the same bright idea. But I love Mermaid so much it would be a sin to take off a whole star for such trifles. read more

Greedy. Keep increasing the price and now there is a 4 hour time limit, which you can extend for more money. If you are rich and don't care about money you will have a good time but if you are going to count every penny this place will infuriate you read more

It really should be no stars at all after the horrible experience my family and friends just had. As soon as I stepped into the place I was greeted by a nasty person behind the counter. I am not sure what her function is. Is she a manager? Is she a saleswoman? Is she the Wicked Witch of the West? Right away this person made me feel unwelcome and made me question what I was doing there in the first place. Swallowing my pride because I wanted to see my friends and for my wife who just gave birth to have some relaxing time we were greeted by Yura and Tanya, waiters of the evening and for the entire lifespan of this establishment. When my friend asked Tanya for empty cups, she told him that we were supposed to leave in 30 mins so we were not entitled to cups. My friend asked for a salad as a side dish and Yura simply told him that he couldn't be bothered by it and suggested to take whatever that dish was served with. When I tried to order food for my wife and her friend, Tanya questioned why I was ordering so much. This was pure insanity and nightmare. Everyone at this place was treated like cattle. This is straight up Soviet treatment of customers that we all tried to escape and unfortunately had to deal with tonight. DO NOT GO!!! This place is absolutely atrocious. Prices are high. Food is cold and undercooked and over seasoned. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. read more

Really good clean banya. All but one room was working. The food is pretty good but really expensive. Dumplings Russian style 18.50 are you kidding me there wad like 12 mini dumplings and like four pieces of liver. I will probably start coming to this place now. read more

Came here on a Saturday with a group of friends for my 25th birthday. I called a week in advance to see if they took reservations, which I learned they did not. I was advised to arrive earlier in the day for a better chance of getting a table. The staff also told me about their birch room, which is a private room that sits up to 13 guests in five hour slots. I decided to take my chances, as some of my guests were arriving at different times. I couldn't be happier with the outcome. The hosts were helpful in seating us by combining two tables. The waiters were polite, professional, and accommodated every need of my entourage. After eight hours of shvitzing, delicious eating and drinking, I felt like a new man. I have been to other bathhouses in the New York City area, and this one gets my vote. It may be pricy, but well worth every penny. Do not forget to bring: 1. Slippers 2. Bathing suit 3. Sauna hat (to keep your scalp and hair cool) 4. Venik(s) (for that additional kick) 5. Thermos with tea and some snacks Additional tips: 1. Drink water! 2. Do not dip your head in the ice-bath right after the steam room 3. Do not go on an empty stomach 4. Know when enough is enough (listen to your heart) 5. Have fun! read more

Been here several times but the Price goes up every time for less for your money! Have to pay for flip flops- that's just unsanitary because you have people walking around barefoot The $13 dollar fruit plate is half an apple and maybe two oranges Order tea for several people and they bring exactly four slices of lemon and one container of honey and cherries to share! read more

Mermaid Spa - Day Spas Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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