Saunas and Bathhouses in San Francisco
Russian Banya
Four-story Russian bathhouse with 210°F saunas, cold plunge, and rooftop deck on SF Bay.
Boutique Sauna, Modern Bathhouse
Outdoor sauna garden featuring the largest freestanding sauna in the U.S. with cold plunge tubs.
Modern Bathhouse
Japanese-inspired bathhouse with redwood sauna, steam room, cold plunge, and 15-person soaking pool.
Korean Spa
Authentic Korean spa specializing in full body exfoliation scrubs with sauna and steam facilities.
Infrared Sauna
Float therapy, cryotherapy, and private infrared sauna with cold plunge contrast therapy.
Infrared Sauna
Private contrast therapy suites with infrared sauna and cold plunge in the Marina.
Infrared Sauna
Private contrast therapy suites with infrared sauna, cold plunge, and vitamin C shower.
Boutique Sauna
Unique outdoor sauna experience on the SF waterfront with open-water cold plunge.
Day Spa
Presidio day spa near the Golden Gate Bridge with private infrared saunas and massage.
Gym Sauna
Luxury fitness club with sauna, steam room, hot tub, and indoor pool in the Financial District.
Korean Spa
Korean day spa with gender-separated dry sauna, steam room, hot and cold jacuzzis, and body scrubs.
Infrared Sauna
Premium recovery studio with cold plunge, infrared sauna, red light therapy, and compression.
Boutique Sauna
Floating sauna in Sausalito with Bay plunges. Construction from mid-September through November 2026 may interrupt operations; sessions are released as construction allows.
Boutique Sauna
Worker-owned waterfront cedar saunas on the Richmond shoreline with cold plunge directly into SF Bay.
Finnish Sauna
Historic Finnish-style steam sauna built in 1934 with outdoor hot tubs and massage therapy on Solano Ave.
Infrared Sauna
Private full-spectrum infrared sauna suites with red light therapy and chromotherapy in downtown Berkeley.
Infrared Sauna
Boutique self-care studio with infrared sauna, guided cold plunge, red light therapy, and lymphatic drainage.
Day Spa
Neighborhood spa with private outdoor hot tubs, Finnish sauna, steam room, and therapeutic massage since the 1970s.
Korean Spa
Korean fusion day spa with dry saunas, wood sauna, cold pool, body scrubs, and massage in the East Bay.
Korean Spa
18,000 sq ft Korean jjimjilbang with four customized sauna rooms, pools, body scrubs, and Korean food.
Korean Spa
First Aveda concept Korean spa in the Bay Area with herbal dry sauna, eucalyptus steam room, and full body scrubs.
Infrared Sauna
Private full-spectrum infrared sauna suites with red light therapy and chromotherapy in Mountain View.
Infrared Sauna
Private full-spectrum infrared sauna suites with red light and color therapy in the Rivermark district.
Gym Sauna
Sauna in gym locker rooms
About the Sauna Scene in San Francisco
San Francisco's sauna scene reflects the city's cultural crosscurrents: Japanese-style onsen bathing in the Mission, century-old Japantown bathhouses, Russian banyas with riverfront cold plunges, and a growing number of Nordic-inspired contrast bathing studios. The Bay Area's temperate climate makes hot-cold therapy feel especially indulgent year-round.
Compared to NYC, SF leans heavier into Japanese and Nordic traditions and lighter on Korean spa culture. Many venues emphasize mineral hot springs, redwood cedar rooms, and quiet communal bathing over the social-lounge experience. Expect day passes between $45 and $95 depending on the venue.
What to Bring
A Koriboshi Sauna Hat
A sauna hat protects your hair and helps regulate head temperature during longer sessions — a staple in Russian and Finnish sauna traditions. Koriboshi makes a double-layered Japanese cotton sauna hat designed for real bathhouse use.
Shop KoriboshiFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a sauna session cost in San Francisco?
San Francisco sauna day passes generally run from $45 to $95. Japanese communal baths and hot spring spas sit on the lower end, while private-room Nordic bathhouses and mineral spas are pricier.
What's the best sauna in San Francisco?
It depends on the style. For Japanese onsen-style communal bathing, the Mission and Japantown have the most authentic options. For Russian banyas with outdoor cold plunges and platza, the eastern waterfront has long-running venues. For modern contrast bathing, several newer studios have opened across the city since 2022.
Are San Francisco bathhouses clothing-optional?
Japanese-style communal baths and some traditional banyas in SF have single-gender nude bathing sections. Mixed-gender areas and most modern bathhouses require swimsuits. Always check the venue's policy before arriving.
Where can I find a Finnish or Nordic-style sauna in SF?
San Francisco has several Nordic-inspired contrast bathing studios that opened in the last few years, most offering wood-fired or electric saunas paired with cold plunges. Traditional Finnish saunas are also available at some Japanese bathhouses and mineral spas around the Bay Area.
What should I bring to a sauna in San Francisco?
Bring a swimsuit for mixed-gender areas, flip-flops, a refillable water bottle, and a sauna hat to keep your head cooler during longer heat sessions. Most venues provide towels and a locker; nicer spas include robes and toiletries.