Melinda Cotter
Mar 24, 2025 5

Got there right at 9am for our private vaulted room. Check in process was easy and the staff were so friendly, helpful, and happy to be at work. The room had a private bathroom/changing room, open shower, single person cold plunge, and large sauna. There were also two large heated lounge chairs, water and cups, and a menu of drinks. I also loved that there was a hookup for your phone to play music (3 plug in options). Our reservation was for an hour, 45 minutes. We definitely improved in our cycle of the sauna and cold plunge, but never made it to the 3 minute cold plunge mark. Our room was clean and inviting. We would definitely go more often if it was not so far away. Happy that one is opening in Raleigh soon!

Lemon
Feb 27, 2025 4

Beautiful and pretty clean, a great addition to Durham but quite expensive at $50 for a two-hour limited time slot. There are two sauna rooms, two different temp cold plunge pools, and a salt block room (this room is a silent room). A couple heated benches, showers, locker room all are nice. I think there are dry changing rooms but not sure where they are. Like a Japanese onsen, a place to dry my hair etc would have been nice. One of the saunas had an hourglass but not the other, hopefully one is added. I understand wanting to get away from time tracking (trust me, me too) but especially with a two hour limit I found myself frequently looking for the clock on the tea bar table so I didn't go over my time. I think it would be nice for one free cup of tea to be added at the end of the experience to help account for the price tag. Additionally, the floors were slippery near the pools and hot in the saunas. I did not think to bring slippers, however here is a conundrum, because I would not want to bring in outside germs (and I didn't love that other people had flip flops from home, no matter how often the spaces are cleaned). I like the sauna-cold plunge experience, and would like to be able to visit again but it is difficult to justify the price. The price goes down a bit with 3-month memberships. Edit: Thank you to the owners! I love the reduced prices and the guidelines for shoes brought from home.

Josh Walker
Feb 24, 2025 5

Leann Jocius
Feb 16, 2025 5

Manifest Skate Shop
Feb 7, 2025 5

I’ve been twice now and absolutely love this place. The look of everything inside is beautiful, it’s super clean and open, and it feels relaxing just being there. I like how there are two options for both the saunas and plunges, and both times I’ve been I did a little bit of both for varying degrees of hot and cold. I’ve seen people complain in their reviews about talking in the saunas, but I appreciate the option for a cool place to socialize and meet people downtown that’s not a bar. I’ve also seen people mention they aren’t into the coed locker room, but there are a ton of private showers and changing areas available so I don’t see an issue. As a skater and active person it’s great to have a place in Durham that’s dedicated to recovery and relaxation, and I look forward to going back for sure!

Sam Yeseab
Feb 1, 2025 5

Overall great experience! Upon checking in I was greeted with a warm welcome and the check in process was quick and easy. I was given a tour of the facility by Cory, who was very cool and helpful. The layout is pretty cool and the aesthetic is beautiful. Everyone was friendly, you definitely get a community vibe. I left feeling relaxed and centered. Lastly, I appreciated the receptionist informing me of the promotion at checkout which I took advantage of! I look forward to going back to Sauna House!

Happi Adams
Jan 28, 2025 5

Absolutely beautiful—truly, a wonderful experience. The aesthetic, temperature, and vibe are all on point. I’m so glad this exists in Durham. Only one complaint: I was thrown off when I checked out and was asked to provide a tip. This made me feel awkward. As someone who has worked in food industry, I typically tip well. But this was not a service-oriented experience. I certainly want the people working the desk and cleaning the facilities to make a living wage, but I wish the owners would incorporate this into the price. I don’t mind paying for a high-quality experience, but it felt sneaky to be asked for a tip at the end (the screen did not even offer “no tip” as an option). I don’t want to be making the call as to how much the employees get paid—just pay them well, and tell me how much it costs upfront! I’m curious if my expectations are out of touch or if others felt bothered by this, too. But to be clear: I appreciate the overall thought that has been put into creating this space. I had a wonderful first experience, and I plan to return.

Jessica
Jan 26, 2025 4

The space is nice and new. The staff were lovely. I love the decor and layout. I will likely go back. I've been to a lot of spas and saunas over the years and a few issues to me were: 1. No slides/flip flops for guests and it was not made very clear on the website booking to bring my own. They have slides for sale (~$20) but I don't need another pair of shower shoes. I wish I'd read reviews before going to know to bring my own. 2. The locker room area is mixed gender (as is the entire space), which is fine by me, but may not be ok with everyone. I saw 1 couple go into both a shower and a bathroom together while there. This makes the barefoot thing even more off putting. 3. The space can get quite loud and busy. I would love to see quiet hours offered, or perhaps 1 quiet sauna and 1 social sauna. A few patrons were very loud. Most were not loud, though, and nearly everyone was courteous. I understand people wanting to socialize. 4. Please put some timers in the saunas. There are 15 minute hourglass-type timers that are wall mounted and flip, I've used them in many saunas. A few in each sauna here would be great. 5. There's no bathing suit dryer but they do have bags for your wet suit. A couple bathing suit dryers would be a nice option. I am glad a sauna/bath house exists in Durham and I hope to go here again. I was happy with my experience overall.

K M
Jan 12, 2025 4

Had a great experience for a first time visit to sauna house, after several visits to Japan it’s nice to see bath houses becoming popular in the US. The aesthetic is gorgeous and well designed. Some lessons learned for first-time visitors: 1. Bring your own sandals, I naively assumed they provided them with the towels. They do not but have them available for sale. I did not love walking around barefoot and even worse showering barefoot. I wish they’d provide them though, because outside sandals being worn beyond the locker room isn’t bringing in any less dirt and grime than shoes. 2. Locker room is coed and there aren’t changing rooms, just the private shower stalls, so only bring in what you can hang on the two hooks provided. 3. Amenities are very clean, staff was very friendly. 4. As the sauna fills up it gets pretty noisy, I’m not sure what the etiquette is with that, most people kept just above a whisper but plenty did not which took away some of the relaxation but maybe that’s the community feel of a sauna house? 5. Checking out and being presented with a tip screen was off putting, everyone was friendly but beyond explaining the rooms and navigating the building, there’s no additional service being provided so I was surprised to see it. Overall enjoyed our visit, it felt somewhat reminiscent of bath house culture in Japan, and would consider going back for another visit.

Paul
Dec 27, 2024 5

Sauna House in Durham is the perfect escape to recharge your mind and body. From the moment you step in, the serene atmosphere sets the tone for an incredible experience. The combination of the sauna and cold plunge is transformative—you cycle between the intense heat and the invigorating cold. The space is beautifully designed, clean, and calming, with a staff that truly prioritizes your experience. Have been two times since they opened last week and the staff has been absolutely incredible both times. Have not used the private rooms yet however fully intend on renting rooms for private events in the future and attending regularly. An absolutely incredible addition to the Durham wellness community.

Briana Nicole
Dec 22, 2024 5

Thank you, Sauna House! Durham really needed this little slice of heaven. As someone who could live in a sauna, I was beyond excited when I heard Sauna House was opening. But let me tell you, it’s even more beautiful in person! From the moment you walk in, you feel the peace. The space is clean and white, with just the right touch of greenery that makes you feel grounded and balanced. Honestly, if you ever need someone to care for all those plant babies, I’m your girl! 😏 Now, let's talk about the space: the reception desk is round, which gives the whole place a harmonious vibe. The guest service staff greeted me with big smiles, and it's hard not to feel relaxed and happy in that environment. The locker room is open, but I recommend using one of the private rooms for changing (I think there are about four). There are also private showers, which are spacious, though I did miss a little bench to hold my things—just a small detail, but it would have been handy for those of us who don’t want to put our soaps directly on the floor. One tip: don’t forget your slippers! I almost wiped out a few times before realizing how slippery the floors can be. The saunas themselves are divine. I love the darker, painted atmosphere—it adds such a calming vibe. At first, I was worried about sharing the space, but the saunas are so spacious that it wasn’t an issue at all. Plus, it led to some pretty cool conversations with fellow guests. You can add water to the saunas, but it doesn’t create steam, in case that’s what you’re hoping for. I appreciated the little shelves on the walls to keep my water bottle, a small but thoughtful touch. As for the cold plunge, well, that’s not really my thing. I only dared to try the warmer side, and let’s just say there was a bit of a dramatic entrance (I might have screamed a little, which made everyone laugh). But the real highlight of the plunge area is the heated furniture. OMG, it’s incredible. I actually went home and Googled it because I NEED that at home. I wasn’t as into the salt room—maybe it was just the crowd when I went—but that’s a personal preference. They also have a little tea bar, which is a lovely touch if you’re into that sort of thing. I know this review is a bit long, but I wanted to share all the details. Highlights for me: the heated furniture (seriously, it’s epic), the smaller saunas, and the bliss of NO PHONES in the space. Overall, I’m already trying to figure out how I can come here every week. It’s a bit outside my monthly budget, but at least once a month is totally doable. Sauna House is a MUST for your self-care routine. Bravo to the simple yet breathtaking design that nurtures both body and spirit. Book your visit now—you won’t regret it!

Kasper Kubica
Dec 18, 2024 5

I have been waiting for exactly this for a decade. I’ve had sauna experiences in Scandinavia and Canada - magical places where you split your time between the hot dry air of various sauna rooms and the ice cold waters of plunge baths. For the decade I’ve lived in Durham, I’ve hoped to find something like that here - and finally, it’s arrived. I first met the Sauna House team at the temporary pop up near this now-permanent location. Note that some photos of the pop up remain on this listing, but the permanent Sauna House is now open. While the team was incredibly friendly and welcoming in both cases, the permanent facilities put the pop up to shame. Inside are two giant, clean saunas, along with a giant 55F cold pool and equally sized 45F cold pool. Photos of these are not allowed due to the no phones policy, but I was able to get some photos of the adjoining private sauna rooms and plunges. From the moment I entered this place, I was surrounded by a calming and focusing experience unlike any that I (at least) had ever felt before. The facilities are genuinely world-class, and the sauna experience is the best I’ve ever had. Whether you’ve been to onsens the world over or are experiencing the massive relaxing power of contrast temperature for the first time, I’m confident you will leave the Sauna House with a smile lasting days.

Whit Brannon
Dec 16, 2024 5

Sauna House Durham

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