San Francisco is known for its famously chilly weather but is luckily also home to some world-class saunas and spas. From Finland to Mexico, saunas have been used for thousands of years. Beloved for their health and therapeutic benefits, especially popular in colder climates. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spa day by yourself or to sweat it out with the whole squad, there’s a sauna for every occasion.
1. Archimedes Banya
Archimedes is a traditional Russian spa that draws influence from around the globe, creating something truly unique. Most of the complex is co-ed and clothing optional, so expect to see some skin even if you opt to leave your bathing suit on. It’s a communal environment where conversations are frequent, so don’t be afraid to bring a few friends. When you need a break from the heat, visit their rooftop patio that overlooks the bay and an on-site bar and restaurant, specializing in Russian treats like borscht, pierogies, and plenty of smoked fish. If you’re feeling brave, take a trip to the two-story ‘Russian’ sauna, which reaches 190F, for a Venik Platza treatment. During this traditional massage, you’ll be rhythmically swatted and massaged with aromatic bundles of wet leaves, exposing your body to intense heat, before a refreshing plunge in an ice-cold pool. A unique and unforgettable experience.
Location: 748 Innes Ave, San Francisco
2. Reboot
Compared to more traditional spas, Reboot feels like something out of a science fiction movie. An infrared sauna offers penetrating heat that triggers the release of stored toxins, while cryotherapy lowers inflammation and boosts mood using gasified nitrogen at a crisp -220F. They also offer float therapy, where you climb into a private pod filled with body-temp water and 1,000lbs of epsom salt that allows your body to float like a cork. The result is a silent, dark, and pleasantly warm environment that allows your body and mind to fully relax. As they put it “you’ll lose track of where your body ends and the water begins.”
Locations:
- 810 Valencia St., San Francisco
- 1912 Lombard St., San Francisco
- 6239 College Ave, Oakland
3. Kabuki Springs
Kabuki Springs has been an SF institution for the past 50 years, nestled in the center of Japantown. This traditional Japanese spa is an oasis from the outside world with soft ambient music, low lighting, and a strict no talking policy. You’ll find sliced cucumbers for your eyes, salt scrubs, cool face towels, and ample chaise longue to recline on. With a spacious dry sauna, steam room, cold plunge, and hot pool, it checks all the boxes for a day of self-care. Tuesday is the only co-ed day with bathing suits required. Every other day is split evenly between men-only and women-only days, where clothing is optional.
Location: 1750 Geary Blvd, San Francisco
4. Albany Sauna
This authentic Finnish sauna, built in 1934, is one of the oldest publicly accessible saunas in North America. They offer four private sauna rooms that are all heated by a central brick furnace, which can hold up to 4 people per room. This historic spa also features two open-air hot tubs and massage therapy sessions that are available to book.
Location: 1002 Solano Avenue, Albany
5. Good Hot
Located on the shores of SF bay in Richmond, CA, Good Hot has quickly become one of the most sought-after sauna experiences in the Bay Area. Beautiful and unique wood saunas are modern and minimal, allowing you to sweat in style between refreshing dips in the bay, an important counterbalance to the intense heat of the sauna. It’s a great activity for a day trip from the city and a beautiful venue to connect with friends, nature, and a little detox. Good Hot is a worker-owned cooperative, with a strong focus on inclusion, especially in LGBTQIA+ causes, racial justice, and diversity of abilities. They’re walking the talk and have created and maintained a safe space for everyone in need of a good sauna and a breathtaking view. Each sauna is available for private or small-group rental.
Location: 1950 Stenmark Dr, Richmond
6. Almonte Spa
Tucked away in the Marin town of Mill Valley, Almonte Spa has been a wellness haven since the 1970s and is well known in the North Bay. The spa offers dreamy outdoor hot tubs under the redwoods and the option of using a traditional cedar Finish sauna and Infrared Saunas which heat the body directly, rather than just heating the room.
Location: 158 Almonte Boulevard, Mill Valley
7. Noe Valley Spa
Located on bustling 24th St, Noe Valley Spa is a charming neighborhood oasis. They have two private outdoor hot tubs for rent, which include the use of their showers and sauna. They also offer a variety of massage options including Swedish, deep tissue, and foot reflexology.
Location: 4028A 24th Street, San Francisco
8. Piedmont Springs
This East Bay Oasis offers several private saunas and open-air hot tubs to rent for yourself or a small group. The very best move is to book the Combination Room, which includes a deep redwood hot tub and private sauna to move between at your leisure. Your private zone offers high walls and an open roof so that you can gaze up at the stars and enjoy the cool night air between the soak and the sauna.
Location: 3939 Piedmont Ave, Oakland
9. Pearl Spa and Sauna
This women-only spay features a Korean-style jimjilbang bathhouse perfect for relaxing. The spay offers a variety of treatments including indulgent body scrubs and massages that can be enjoyed with their bathhouse and sauna. The spay is by appointment only, so be sure to check out what they have to offer and make your reservation in advance.
Location: 1656 Post St, San Francisco
Featured Image: Dimik_777 on Shutterstock