Russian Baths in New York
Not all of us can afford the luxury of traveling to Eastern Europe for a few glorious bathing sessions. Thankfully, we can enjoy all that the Russian Baths have to offer right here in our very own New York. Some truly replicate an authentic experience, while others are just faking it. Read our reviews to see what everyone is worth*.
Royal Palace / Royal Bath New!
Address: 614 Sheepshead Bay (bw W6th & W8th St), Brooklyn NY 11224
Map: Google, Yahoo
Phone:877 819 2284
Web: RoyalPalaceNY.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-11pm, Sat-Sun 9am-11pm The hours will change
Admission: $40
Venik treatment / Platza: $40
1 hour massage: $110
Facilities: 6(!) different steam rooms: Russian, Finnish, Turkish, Roman, etc. Huge pool, cold plunge, whirlpool, gym (closed for now). Bar, obviously. 8 VIP rooms with separate steam rooms (for 2-12 people).
Robes $5.
Royal Palace Bath has just opened at the end of 2007. It is the biggest Russian Banya in New York, if not in the US. The complete review is coming soon. Advice for now - go there while it is all new and shining and the major crowds are not aware of it yet.
Russian and Turkish Baths on East 10th Street in Manhattan
Pros: Relatively cheap. Good location. Interesting from historical point of view. In the mornings you may get some good steam.
Cons: Ancient decor, worn feel. Very busy. Not a Russian nor a Turkish bath.
Conclusion: This is true New York / Jewish experience that's worth a visit. Just don't think you've got some exotic taste of Russian banya, because you haven't.
Rating:
Address: 268 East 10th Street (b/w Ave A & 1st Ave), New York, NY 10009
Map:
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Yahoo
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MSN
Phone: 212-473-8806
Web:
www.russianturkishbaths.com
,
www.russianandturkishbaths.com
(new site)
Hours:
Coed: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 11am-10pm; Wed 2pm to 10pm; Sat 7:30am to 10pm; Sun 2pm to 10pm
Men only: Sun 7:30am to 2pm
Women only: Wed 9am to 2pm
Admission:
$25
1 hour massage: $60
Russian and Turkish Baths on East 10th Street is oldest Manhattan bathhouse built by Jewish immigrants in 1892. East Village location and a long history make this place one of the busiest banyas in New York. Heat rooms consist of "Russian sauna", "Swedish" and "Turkish" steam room. Or at least that's what the owners would like them to be called in quite an unorthodox classification. The gloomy "Russian sauna" has cold shower, bare cement walls and benches. This may be an authentic Jewish shvitz you would likely to find in Poland, but why call it Russian? Instead of traditional Russian venik (a bundle of leafy twigs), a funny broom on a wooden stick is used for platza.
Turkish bath hammam is supposed to be octagon shaped with a platform in the middle of the room, with heated marble floor and masseur doing marvelous Turkish massage. Having a gym-like steam room with radiator heating is a weak excuse for calling the bathhouse Turkish.
On a bright side the Ice pool is big and cold. There is a sun deck surrounded by residential buildings. Extra services like Swedish/Russian Massage, Platza Oak Leaf, Dead Sea Salt Scrub, Black Mud Treatment and Soap Wash are available for a reasonable price. Some mornings are reserved for single sex bathing, so make sure to check the scheduler before going. The restaurant serves a regular Russian food with sensible prices. The service is open hearted, but unsophisticated.
The bathhouse is a unique New York / Jewish experience. It may be very close to what New Yorkers experienced 100 years ago. It is unfortunate though that in the eyes of many it misrepresents what Russian banya is.
Okeanos Spa on East 51st Street in Manhattan
Pros: Small, no food, spa atmosphere - some are going to like it. No crowds, luxurious feel.
Cons: Small, no food, spa atmosphere - some are not going to like it. No pool or cold plunge - real pity. Small stove. More expensive than the rest.
Conclusion: If you want quality and are willing to pay for it - this is the place to go. Undoubtedly the most luxurious banya in New York. Recommended.
Rating:
Address: 211 E 51st St (& 3rd Ave), New York NY 10022
Map:
Google
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Yahoo
Phone: 212 223 6773
Web:
www.okeanosclubspa.com
Hours: Tue-Fri 12am-10pm, Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-5pm, Closed on Mon
Admission:
$90; free with any spa treatment valued at $120 or more
Special: Ask about $150 1.5hr massage + platza special
Venik treatment / Platza: $50
1 hour massage: from $120
Facilities: 2 Russian banya's, "Turkish" room, cigar room. No pool, no cold plunge, no restaurant.
Think different - Okeanos Spa is not your ordinary banya. No kids running around, no guys swilling down the beer, no ma's with thermoses, no TV's with Russian channels, but just a few people enjoying themselves in a spa with a Russian flavor. Andre Izrailov - a co owner of Okeanos Spa is a pleasure to deal with. And always classy Angela - the spa manager ensures that every client is treated like a celebrity, which can be not far from the truth - some Russian hockey players, ballet dancers and models are regulars there.
Besides the multitude of regular massages, wraps and facials Okeanos Spa features some exotic Russian treatments like "Caviar wrap", "Siberian hot stone massage" and a "heated buckwheat wrap scented with rich, exotic Russian spices". So exotic in fact that they are not even known in Russia.
The spa is geared towards men - from masculine stone and wood décor to the selection of treatments. Men can take care of themselves and still feel like men - they are in banya after all! There is also a cigar room that was probably meant to balance the healing effect of the spa. Okeanos has two (only one is opened at the moment) cozy Russian steam rooms (no shvitz thankfully) and a "Turkish" steam room, but unfortunately no pool or cold plunge. Everything is brand new with a pleasant feel of luxury. The platza master knows his business well (ask for Ruslan on Thursdays - he is outstanding) and the stove is usually OK - making enjoyable, not oppressive steam that doesn't burn, but thoroughly warms your body. The stove is quite small though, so the steam room becomes rather cold and wet when place gets a lot of people like Saturday nights.
Okeanos is more a spa than a banya and the owners emphasize that in pricing. It makes more sense to spend $120+ on platza with massage or facial and use the banya facilities with no additional fee, than to pay $90 just for an admission. Okeanos does not serve food, but they do offer tea. And complimentary glass of champagne or a shot of vodka are available with every package. The staff is great - attentive, neat and polite.
Wall Street Bath & Spa (Spa 88) on Fulton Street in Manhattan, New York
Pros: Located in Manhattan, plenty of space, big pool, great stove.
Cons: A bit more expensive than the rest. Shvitz replaced Finnish sauna.
Conclusion: Recommended. High quality Russian banya.
Rating:
Address: 88 Fulton Street (b/w William and Gold St.), New York NY 10038
Map:
Google
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Yahoo
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MSN
Directions: 2,3,4 and 5 trains to Fulton Street.- A, C, J, M and Z trains to Broadway/Nassau
Phone: 212-766-8600
Web:
www.wallstreetbath.com
(
www.spa88.com
- old site)
Hours:
Coed:
Mon,Wed,Thu,Fri 11am to 11pm; Sat-Sun 9am to 11pm; Tue 11am-9pm;
Men only: Tue
9pm-11pm
Admission:
$30
1 hour massage: $80-$90
Venik treatment / Platza: $30-$40
Facial: $40-$100
Facilities: Big pool, Russian bath, steam room (Turkish), Shvitz, Jacuzzi, cold plunge, Tanning salon, gym, Restaurant
Wall Street Bath and Spa formerly known as Spa 88 tries to position itself more as a club and a spa than just a Russian bath. Never mind that, they are still a great Russian bath. They have an authentic Russian room with a stove made with 16 tons of rock heated overnight to radiate intense heat. Fragrant steam room is available for those who like suffocating themselves. A nice Swiss sauna was recently replaced by a Jewish shvitz. Shvitz is similar to Russian banya, but in the same room where people sweat they douche themselves with buckets of cold water. Because of so much water, steam may becomes heavy and less pleasant. But since you can pour cold water at any moment, it seems to be preferred by non-Russian visitors.
Other facilities of Wall Street Bath include a refreshingly cold plunge, an impressively large though shallow pool, foamy Jacuzzi for chlorine-lovers, a spacious and usually empty "Turkish" steam room. The spa offers a variety of treatments like massage, facials, body wraps and waxing. The bathhouse was built in the late nineties and recently renovated, but still shows some signs of wear.
The resting area in Spa 88 has high ceilings and to some it may lack coziness. The place can get quite busy on weekends. The on-site restaurant serves various Russian foods with reasonable by Manhattan standards prices. Remember to keep track of those uncounted pots of tea though - the totals can quickly build up higher than anticipated. The service sometimes has an old-Russian school influence - lack of smiles and attention.
Sandoony USA in Brooklyn
Address: 1158 McDonald Ave, Brooklyn NY 11230
Map:
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Yahoo
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MSN
Phone:718-951-2000, (718) 951-9000
Web:
www.sandoonyusa.com
Hours: 7 days a week 8am-11:45pm
Admission:
$30
Deposit Box/Lockers: $1
Venik treatment / Platza: $30
1 hour massage: $70
Facilities: 2 dry saunas, russian bath, steam room, warm pool, cold plunge, jacuzzi, restaurant. Free parking available.
Sandoony USA seem to be a busy and popular place. Even though I haven't been there, I've heard a lot of good stuff about it and I am sure that other than crowds you would like it.
Mermaid Spa in Seagate, Brooklyn
Update: To our deepest regret this bath burned down sometime during summer 2005. Russian banya has to be heated overnight so no wonder that one night it started a fire. It seems the owners have plans of building a new 2 story bathhouse. But for now we will miss it.
Bania Inc. Russian-Turkish Baths in Kensington on Coney Island Ave in Brooklyn
Update: The place is closed, the phones are disconnected. If anybody knows the details, please let us know.
Russian Baths of NY on Neck Road in Brooklyn
Pros: Unusual Soviet hockey theme cafe.
Cons: Cramped, low ceilings.
Conclusion: Go once; you may feel it is not confined, but cozy
Rating:
Address: 1200 Gravesend Neck Road, Brooklyn NY 11229
Map:
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Yahoo
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MSN
Business address: 1075 Sheepshead Bay Road, Brooklyn NY 11229
Directions: Q train to Neck Road stop. Walk West (street numbers descending) just past 13th Street on Gravesend Neck Road.
Car: Prospect Expwy to Ocean Avenue. Left on Gravesend Neck Road.
Phone: 718-332-1676
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-11pm Sat-Sun 7am-11pm
Admission:
$25 Deposit Box/Lockers: $1
Venik treatment / Platza: $25
1 hour massage: $60
Facilities: big swimming pool, wet and dry russian baths, sauna, outdoor seating area, hockey-themed café, juice bar
This is the oldest Russian Bath in Brooklyn. One interesting feature of this bath is its hockey theme. On the walls hang framed jerseys of famous Russian players and the cafe floor is tiled white with red and blue lines to resemble a hockey rink. There are even goals on either side of the cafe.
The main hall has low ceilings and fluorescent lights. It is dominated by a full-sized swimming pool with contracted passage around it, so visitors have to squeeze themselves to get around.
On weekends it gets crowded there were many families seated around tables with kids splashing in the pool.
The Russian room gets good steam, but also cramped.
Body By Brooklyn
Address: 275 Park Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11205
Map:
Google
Phone:718-923-9400, 866-861-8043
Web:
www.bodybybrooklyn.com
A spa with a Russian Steam Room and Sauna.
Forest Hills Spa in Queens
Address: 5921 Calloway St, Flushing NY 11368
Map:
Google
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Yahoo
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MSN
Phone: (718) 699-1919
Web:
foresthillsspa.com
Hours: Mon-Thu 12am-10pm, Fri-Sun 10am-11pm
Admission:
Mon-Sun $25; Children under 14: $15
Venik treatment / Platza: $30
1 hour massage: $75
Facilities: 3 saunas, big warm pool, cold plunge, jacuzzi, bar, restaurant.
Forest Hills Spa changed ownership and underwent a major 6 months long renovation. It was reopen in February 2007 as a very potent contender. The banya features rich woody décor, huge pool and has a warm homey feel. Certainly worth a visit.
Emerald Spa in Queens
Pros: Cheap, good kitchen, refreshing pool.
Cons: Worn out feel, closed stove doors in Russian Room, crowd, limited towels.
Conclusion: There are far better places to go.
Rating:
Address: 38-15 Northern Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
Map:
Google
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Yahoo
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MSN
Phone: (718) 433-1224
Web:
www.emeraldspa.net
Hours: 7 days a week 11am-11pm
Admission:
$25
1 hour massage: $70-$105
Facial: $35-$65
Facilities: dry sauna, russian bath, steam room, pool, whirlpool, restaurant, bar.
Emerald Spa is conveniently located just across the Queensboro Bridge within a walking distance of all of the trains going to Queens. For folks living in Midtown it may be even closer than Wall Street Spa (Spa 88) in Downtown. But that would matter only if this banya would actually be worth going.
Emerald Spa has one gloomy and worn out Russian Steam Room, barely warm sauna like you'd find in any gym and a tiny "Turkish" steam room. The Russian Room's stove doors are permanently closed, so visitor's completely depend on an attendant to add steam through the sprinklers in the back. If platza master Misha is on site (Sat, Sun) - that's no problem, if he is not - you are at the mercy of an ever-absent attendant. Visitors ingenuously throw the water onto the closed stove and the walls. This doesn't add as much heat as it makes the room unpleasantly damp.
A cold ~15 feet long pool is one of the best things in Emerald Spa: if you managed to get some steam, it is very refreshing to relax there afterwards. Next to it is a whirlpool that seems to be quite popular among less fastidious bathers.
There's an ordinary bar and few chairs and tables next to the pool. A crowd is mixed with majority seem to come from the Southern parts of ex-USSR. They may have different banya customs, but one would certainly appreciate a juicy grilled kebab and other Southern delicacies on the menu.
Lockers and showers are relatively clean. Visitors get only two towels and no slippers.
*Reviews express the personal opinion of the reviewer. All reviews are independent unless explicitly marked as sponsored. This site is in no way affiliated with any of the reviewed baths. No guarantee implicit or explicit about information being correct is made. Please contact us if errors are found.
