Brooklyn Banya

really incredible classic bathhouse experience- the incredible owner told us it’s the only female owned banya in the world! established in 1995, you can feel decades of community in these walls, good vibes and great saunas, this bathhouse in queer friendly and gender inclusive, welcoming everyone

Brooklyn Banya is exactly what it says on the tin: a traditional Russian banya with intense heat, strict rules, and a no-frills approach. If you're looking for a spa with aromatherapy and soft music, this isn't the place. But if you want an authentic communal steam experience with 4,000 tons of hot rock doing the real work, this is one of the only spots in NYC that delivers. Yes, the owner Alona has strong opinions about how things should run. That's not "rude"—that's someone protecting a cultural tradition from people who don't understand it. In my experience going to other Russian establishments, what people perceive as "rude" is not really rude, its just Russian that's a cultural thing. Again, not catering to the "spa" soft vibes people mistakenly think it should be. I've seen her be incredibly warm with regulars who respect the space, and to me, who recently and hopefully will stay a regular. and I've seen her shut down people who treat it like a casual drop-in spa. And I support her. The facility isn't pristine—it's not supposed to be. It's a working banya, not a showroom. If you want Instagram-perfect tile work, go somewhere else. If you want heat that actually makes you sweat and a community of people who appreciate the tradition, this is your spot. I'm giving it 5 stars because it does exactly what it's supposed to do, and it doesn't apologize for not being something it never claimed to be. This is a place for people who know what a banya is, and if you don't, maybe do some research before showing up and complaining that it's not a spa.

I hadn't been to this Banya in over a decade, but now I live in the area so I came by on a Saturday with some friends and it's better than ever. I love that this place has a family vibe and the 3 traditional saunas are excellent. We really liked the food too especially the potatoes with garlic and dill. The owner, Alona, has great energy, she made us feel right at home. Also the music videos on the TV were fire. 10/10

Love this place — I’ve been coming to Brooklyn Banya for years. The renovations look beautiful, the heat is incredible, and it’s truly authentic .

Excellent vibe, great food, and LOVELY ownership—very accommodating.

This place is great. Very much an authentic experience. All of the food uses a lot of dill, which I like. Try the borscht. The wet banya went up to 200 degrees. I would give this five stars, however, there was a very drunk Russian woman who was harassing me and my friends. I think she was hitting on us. We were here to bathe!

I have been coming to this place for a while and I always enjoy it. The steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi are excellent, and the older Russian lady who works there is always very kind. The lounge area feels open, relaxing, and has wonderfully high ceilings. Last night there was an incident involving a couple of clients, but the owner called me today and assured me that those individuals will be banned from the spa. She is a very nice lady and clearly takes situations like this seriously. I appreciate that she is on top of her game and wants to maintain a safe, peaceful environment for everyone.