A guide to Sydney's best bathhouses, onsens & hammams

If you want quiet serenity from the busy city life: Nature’s Energy 

Nature’s Energy boasts three bathhouses in Sydney’s inner west: in Glebe, Balmain and Newtown. While each offers refuge with calming, cosy interiors, they all offer slightly different experiences. At Glebe there are traditional Finnish (heats the air) and infrared (uses light to heat the body) saunas; a steam room; a hot spa; and two ice baths surrounded by plants. Balmain features a traditional sauna, steam room, hot spa and cool spa; and Newtown offers a traditional sauna, steam room and hot spa. Additional relaxing experiences such as massages and beauty treatments are bookable at all three.  

Nature's Energy Glebe Bathhouse & Day Spa, Inner West

If you want to bathe with a view: The Skin Bar & Bath House 

This single-hue bathhouse and skin clinic in Rozelle is the place to go if you’d like to bathe in a calming, green space. While the in-house Skin Bar offers an extensive range of skin treatments, the bathing experience is essential-booking if you want to enjoy the hot-cold combo of switching between Swedish sauna (typically a drier heat than a more humid Finnish sauna) and ice bath. Spend time (carefully) hopping in and out of each as you take in the calming view of pitched roofs and swaying gumtrees while you soak.  

The Skin Bar and Bath House, Rozelle

If you like Turkish-style bathing: Ottoman Turkish Bath & Day Spa

Ottoman Turkish Bath & Day Spa offers a traditional Turkish bath (hammam) experience and customs at its bathhouse in Granville. Perfect for a ladies’ day out, here you’ll relax in the spa before lying on the warm central stone to be exfoliated, massaged and encased in bubbles, leaving your skin refreshed and glowing. While Ottoman is a women’s only hammam, couple’s and men’s appointments can be arranged upon calling.  

Ottoman Turkish Bath & Day Spa, Granville

If you want a taste of Palm Springs: The Bathhouse

Millennial-pink loungers, yellow striped sun umbrellas, lush green palm trees – The Bathhouse in Douglas Park (a 20-minute drive south of Campbelltown) is relaxation in sun-drenched heaven. Here guests can sip cocktails by the pool, and drift between the sauna, steam room, heated magnesium plunge pool and hydrotherapy spas. Group Soak Sessions with a grazing platter are available, and you can elevate your experience further by adding a facial or body treatment to your booking.   

The Bathhouse, Douglas Park - Credit: Peter Petinos

For a little bit of everything: Capybara Bathing

Capybara is a modern bathhouse in Surry Hills, complete with terracotta tiling, curved edges and plenty of warm timber touches. A 90-minute session will provide guests with a range of experiences. There’s a hot-stone sauna that reaches temperatures up to 90°C, the scent of warming cedar filling the air; a lounge to gather and relax in, complete with a warm bench (similar to those found at a hammam), ice station and tea; a magnesium-infused communal bath with the water set to 38°C; and a cold plunge pool. 

Capybara Bathing, Surry Hills - Credit: Declan Blackall Photography

If you want a Korean-style bath and scrub: Arisoo Korean Bathhouse & Spa

Feel invigorated, exfoliated and reborn at Arisoo Day Spa, a traditional, women's-only Korean bathhouse with locations in Chatswood and Paddington. Here you can opt to bathe nude, though it’s not compulsory, and every visit entitles guests to a traditional Korean body scrub, a body wash and shampoo, as well as spa entry. Bath-wise, Arisoo offers wet and dry saunas, spas, 39°C herbal baths and cold baths. Spa-entry-only is also possible.   

Arisoo Korean Bathhouse & Spa, Paddington

If you're a regular bather: Xtra Clubs Bondi

Feel as though you may dip into the sauna more than once in a week? Xtra Clubs is for you. This new wellness spot offers entry on a tiered membership scale. While the Finnish sauna (the largest in Australia!), ice baths ranging from 4-10°C, infrared sauna and Turkish-inspired steam room are available to everyone on any level, access times and session durations vary at each level. The Xtra Clubs space is modern and streamlined, with timber-clad walls and saunas, calming navy tiling and soft lighting. Drop-in sessions, without membership, are also possible.  

Xtra Clubs Bondi

If you want a seaside ice bath: Slow House 

Slow House in Bondi offers restorative experiences in a neutral-toned, timber-clad space. Those seeking to recover and recharge can head here for ice baths, traditional and infrared saunas, red light therapy, facials, massages and more. Make a whole wellness day out of your visit to Slow House by following up your bath with a dip in Bondi Beach, followed by the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk.  

Slow House, Bondi

If you want a Moroccan experience: Moroccan Hammam

You’ll feel transported to the medina of Marrakesh stepping into Moroccan Hammam in Parramatta, an authentic women’s-only bathhouse. Set inside a traditionally decorated space, the Deluxe Hammam experience begins with a body soak in hot water and Moroccan beldi (black) soap. You’ll then receive a body exfoliation, followed by a rinse to cleanse and refresh your skin. Next is a nourishing clay body mask, infused with detoxifying coffee and argan oil, and the experience concludes with a final wash using organic soap. Upgrade with extra foot scrubs, hair masks, massages, and tea and sweets to finish. 

Moroccan Hammam, Parramatta

Just outside of Sydney 

If you want a Japanese onsen-style experience: Japanese Bath House Blue Mountains 

While Japanese Bath House is not exactly in Sydney, it’s a great weekend getaway option. The onsen experience here in the misty Blue Mountains is particularly special in winter – snow may fall and the yukata (Japanese robe) feel extra cosy. Here, guests leave their shoes at the door before wading through a warm, ankle-deep pool to enter. Bath-wise, there are many that guests can dip into – some with mountain views, some tucked into alcoves, some set to slightly warmer temperatures and some available for private use. Spend time flitting between each, and be sure to spend time in the scented sauna, before retiring to a pre-booked Japanese-style room, totally unwinding with a massage or dining at the on-site tea room.  

Japanese Bath House Blue Mountains, Lithgow

If you want a traditional Finnish experience: Blue Mountains Sauna 

At Leura’s Blue Mountains Sauna, there’s a session or style to suit any bather. Whether you like to bathe in silence, in a clothing-optional space or in a single-gender session, your preference will be catered to. Here there is a communal Finnish-style sauna heated to 90°C, plus a plunge pool. Feel your muscles soften and mind clear as you alternate between the two, then relax in the outdoor area, breathing in the fresh mountain air.    

Blue Mountains Sauna, Leura - Credit: Declan Blackall Photography