A black teacup and saucer on a wooden table, with a cast iron teapot out of focus behind it

New here

Your first visit.

Bring a swimsuit and a water bottle. Arrive ten minutes early. Do three gentle rounds. That is honestly all you need to know, but the rest is below.

Book a first visitJump to questions

What to bring

Four things. We have everything else.

Towels, robes, sandals to borrow, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryers and a locker with a charger are all here.

  • A swimsuit

    Required in every room. Board shorts, one piece, bikini, all fine. No underwear, please.

  • A water bottle

    Refill at the cold tap by the pools. Aim for a full bottle across two hours.

  • A hair tie

    Long hair in the sauna gets hot fast. Tie it up and it stays out of the pools too.

  • An empty stomach, almost

    Eat something light an hour or two before. A big meal and 185 F do not get along.

The beginner circuit

Three rounds, one hour, no heroics.

Do it exactly like this the first time. Next time, change one number.

  1. Sauna, 12 minutes

    Bottom bench. Leave early if you want to.

  2. Cold, 1 minute

    The 55 F pool. Thirty seconds is fine too.

  3. Rest, 8 minutes

    Lounge, tea, eyes closed. Then go again.

Three rounds plus 10 minutes to shower comes to 75 minutes, which is exactly the $42 session. Try other numbers in the circuit builder.

Timeline of the beginner circuit: three blocks of sauna, cold and rest, then a shower 1218 75 MINUTES, DOOR TO DOOR

Etiquette

The short list.

  • Shower before your first round and before every pool.
  • Sit on a towel in the sauna. Always.
  • Quiet in the hot rooms, soft voices in the lounge.
  • Ask before you add water to the stones if others are inside.
  • Phones stay in the locker. The lounge clock tells the time.
  • Hang your towel on the hook, not on the stove.

Questions

What people ask the front desk.

Do I have to wear a swimsuit?
Yes, in every room, at every hour. It keeps the house relaxed and comfortable for everyone. If you forget yours, the front desk sells a simple one.
Do you provide towels?
Yes. You get two towels and a robe at check in, and you can swap a wet towel for a dry one any time. Sandals are free to borrow.
How cold is the cold plunge?
There are three pools, held at 45, 50 and 55 F. Start at 55 F. Plenty of regulars never use the 45 and still get everything out of it.
How long should a first visit be?
Book the 75 minute session or the 2 hour session. Three rounds of 12 minutes heat, 1 minute cold and 8 minutes rest fits in 75 minutes with a shower.
Can I come alone?
Of course. Most weekday guests come alone. The quiet rule in the hot rooms means nobody feels left out, and the front desk will walk you through your first round.
Can I bring my phone?
Not past the lockers. Every locker has a charging cable. If you need to be reachable, leave the front desk number, (408) 555-0137, and we will come find you.
Is it safe if I am pregnant or have a heart condition?
Please talk to your doctor before you book. Heat and cold both change your heart rate and blood pressure. If your doctor says yes, keep rounds short, stay on the low bench and skip the steam room.
Is there an age limit?
Guests need to be 16 or older. Guests aged 16 and 17 come with a parent or guardian who stays in the house with them.
Are there lockers?
Yes. Every guest gets a locker with a wristband key and a phone charger. They are big enough for a gym bag and a coat.

Still nervous about the cold?

Book the Tuesday guided session. A guide walks you in on the first round.

See guided sessionsAsk the front desk