Until recently, Sydneysiders wanting to experience a modern bathhouse had to travel interstate but that’s quickly changing. With a growing focus on holistic wellbeing, the benefits of contrast therapy and rest as a ritual, bathhouses in Sydney are popping up across the city, offering urban dwellers beautiful spaces to unwind, recharge, and reconnect.
Nature’s Energy, was one of Sydney’s first bathhouse-style day spas, offering contrast therapy for better wellbeing and inner-city escapes focussed on nurturing the body holistically.
Then Capybara in Surry Hills arrived on the scene around a year ago, with their beautiful designed sanctuary and unique wellbeing offerings including Watsu water therapy, breathwork sessions, sound baths and silent bathing.
Now, following the popularity of Soak Bathhouse in the Gold Coast and Brisbane, their recent opening in Alexandria (and soon Bondi) has brought social bathing into Sydney’s wellness culture, and following suit one of Melbourne’s favourite bathhouses, Sense of Self (which has gained cult status down south) is also soon to open it’s doors.
Our ultimate list below offers the best bathhouses in Sydney to date. A mix of intimate, silent sanctuaries perfect for deep solo reflection, and larger, more social bathhouses designed for gathering with friends. Whether you’re craving solitude or connection, this list highlights the ultimate places to soak, sweat, and slow down.
And watch his space as there is bound to be more Sydney bathhouses appearing soon!
NATURE’S ENERGY (Balmain, Glebe & Newtown)
Nestled in Sydney’s Inner West, Nature’s Energy offers a holistic wellness experience across its three locations. Each bathhouse provides a tranquil setting, and each bathhouse location has it’s own unique offerings – Glebe has red light therapy, infrared saunas, traditional saunas, hot spa, ice baths, pail showers and a steam room. Newtown has a traditional and infrared sauna, mineral pool, steam room, ice bath and pail shower. with features like hot spas, saunas, and steam rooms. (as we write this Balmain is closed for renovations). Beyond the bathhouse offerings for wellbeing, Nature’s Energy offer therapeutic massages, beauty treatments, and spiritual healing sessions. They been recognised in the Spa&Wellness Awards, winning People’s Choice, Best Holistic Health Spa and runner-up for Best Day Spa Group, along with other notable spa awards.
CAPYBARA (Surry Hills)
Inspired by communal bathing traditions, Capybara Bathing in Surry Hills is a wellness sanctuary fosters connection and relaxation, a place to find respite and look after self. This beautifully designed and intimate space emphasises shared experiences, encouraging guests to unwind together in the serene environment. There are also times you can bathe in silence, try a unique floating experience called
watsu, or experience healing oils in the sauna with a tradition called Aufguss.
SOAK (Alexandria)
Soak Bathhouse brings a modern twist to traditional bathing rituals. Their facilities boast magnesium-rich mineral pools, hot spas, cold plunges, and cedarwood saunas. This is not a traditional silent day spa, but a social wellness space designed to foster connection, conversation, and community. Born in the Gold Coast, and expanding to a rooftop in Brisbane, their expansive bathhouse offering has recently opened its doors in Alexandria and is the talk of the town. A second Soak in Bondi Junction is also opening in 2025. Both newly built venues expand this award-winner concept into Sydney (and Melbourne’s next on their list!) offering an urban oasis that blends city life with the restorative magic of the natural world.
SLOW HOUSE (Bondi)
Located moments from Bondi Beach, Slow House is a contemporary bathhouse that emphasises the importance of slowing down. Their offerings include mineral baths, cold plunge, infrared, steam and a Finish salt sauna, ice baths, along with a range of face and body treatments.The space is designed to support both solitude and shared connection, making self-care a communal ritual.
THE BATHHOUSE (Douglas Park)
A short drive from the city, The Bathhouse in Douglas Park offers a Palm Springs-inspired retreat. Guests can enjoy facilities like a sauna, steam room, heated magnesium plunge pool, and hydrotherapy spas. And you can upgrade your soap session to a wide range of body and facial treatments, including float therapy, or choose from one of many package options. It’s an ideal destination for those seeking a day of pampering or celebrating special occasions in a serene setting.
SENSE OF SELF (Surry Hills/Paddington)
Set to open in 2025, Sense of Self will be Sydney’s largest indoor bathhouse, spanning over 1,000 square meters. Located i the Surry Hills/ Paddington (exact location not yet revels), this upcoming sanctuary will feature mineral pools, saunas, a hammam, cold plunges, and ample spaces to unwind. It’s poised to become a significant addition to Sydney’s wellness scene.
So if you live in Sydney, travelling is no longer required to experience a modern bathhouse. Whether you’re seeking solitude or shared experiences, take your pick and make a date to immerse yourself in these sanctuaries and discover the profound benefits they offer.
And it’s not just bathhouses that rising in popularity to experience the benefits of contrast therapy, recovery centres (often connected to gyms) are on the rise too. Discover the difference between a recovery centre and bathhouse HERE.
Before you visit a bathhouse make sure you read THIS about Contrast Therapy.
Visiting another Australian city? Discover the best bathhouse experiences across Australia HERE.
Read more Health and Wellness blogs HERE
Compiled by Lisa McLean
