If you ever find yourself in Seattle with an afternoon to kill or $30 to blow, you should check out Banya5 on 9th Avenue. Banya5 is a traditional Russian sauna that offers visitors a chance to experience a wonderful old world tradition in a relaxing, modern, and might I add clean environment. Unlike the sauna at your gym, the banya reaches temperatures that range from 200 - 220 degrees, in part due to the 20 tons worth of Cascade Granite, which have been heating for over a month.
Visitors to Banya5 start out in the Russian sauna until, as the website puts it, you know you’re ready to leave. After the sauna, you then jump immediately into a cold water pool that’s kept at a chilly 55-degrees. Believe it or not, after putting yourself through a few hot/cold cycles, the water eventually begins to feels refreshing and the heat, in turn, feels rejuvenating. I might also add that the banya makes your skin look *awesome.*
If alternating between super hot and super cold isn’t your thing, Banya5 also has a milder Turkish steam bath, a hot tub, and a warm saltwater pool. Above the banya pool area, there’s also a relaxing tea lounge that overlooks a city park. The post-sauna lounge offer incredible herbal tesanes served Russian-style with berry jam to replenish the minerals your body lost during the big sweat.
Thirty-bucks gets you an all-day pass, which I assure you, is a major deal. I’ve had $80 hour-long massages that pale in comparison to how I felt after I spent two hours at the sauna. The staff is super-friendly and helpful, especially if it’s your first trip to the banya.
Banya5: Reason #573 of why I wish I lived in Seattle.
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