I have been a frequent patron of this spot for over fifteen years. For most of that time , I would have described this banya as heaven on earth. However, new ownership seems intent on slowly ruining this treasured institution. When I heard that the owner of Red Square had taken the Sweatlodge over, I braced myself. I no longer patronize that place due to experiencing a rapid decline in the quality of service and facilities. It turns out my apprehension was valid. In short order, Sweatlodge started going downhill ... - The satellite radio was the first to go. No more chill blues or jazz, but a local radio station that plays obnoxious commercials half of the time. - The wood in the saunas was replaced with much cheaper material. No more pleasant smell of cedar when you walk in. Also, there are exposed screw heads throughout the benches of the dry sauna, which have burnt me numerous times. - The zero gravity chairs that were perfect for a nap have been replaced with uncomfortable wooden chairs. Word is that the owner grew tired of fixing them. But somehow this wasn't an issue for the nearly 20 years they had previously been there. - The ice machine was taken out, and the water tank replaced with a fountain that is often lukewarm. - The sand filtering in the cold plunge was replaced with chlorine. The pool is often much warmer than it should be, especially in warm months. - The food portions are much smaller while meals grow more expensive. For example, I got the chicken soup most of my visits for a decade and a half. It was the best in the city. Now, it is a medium bowl of thin broth. featuring an anemic chicken leg and thigh with a few slices of carrot and potato thrown in - for $17. It was previously served with a small, fresh baked loaf of bread. Not anymore. - The cafe hours have been limited to save on payroll. It doesn't open until well into the afternoon. - Last time I was there, a sign proclaimed that you could request only one extra towel. (This was a classic Red Square tactic. Nickel and dime bullshit.) - 10% service charge added to all services. - One of the TVs had disappeared from the wall last time I visited. All of this while the admission price steadily climbs. I have still visited, but much less often than I used to. An unpleasant surprise has awaited me every time. I will probably pop in once in a while, as the heat is still good, and the plunge still satisfies (when it is cold). The staff is friendly and competent. This is the only reason for my second star. However, I am sure it won't be long before the penny pinching results in an underwhelming experience I refuse to pay for. Many men have been patronizing this joint for even longer than I have, but I would would imagine that they have their limits and will begin to drop off as well if this continues. Really disappointing and a true shame that new owner is ruining this magical place. read more

This place is relaxing and friendly with fantastic food. There are higher end and more modern saunas outside the city but this place always delivers. The service is great, pricing is very fair and the ambiance is extremely relaxing. The only minor complaint is that it could be remodeled a little bit as the facilities are starting to show their age. It's always like having a vacation at the Sweat Lodge read more

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Such a nice experience. Didn't try the food, but the ability to casually sip a beer is nice. Lots of folks that clearly know each other, but it's not awkward. Small, simple, clean and friendly. read more

Decent place to visit for some relaxation. Pretty quiet. People are respectful, and the saunas work very well. Love the cold pool and cold showers. read more

Sauna was outstanding, the cold plunge just tops it off with a big bowl of chicken soup afterwards kick back in a lounge chair, watch some sports take a little nap and do it all over again. I went home, feeling rejuvenated best I felt in years I recommend this place 100% and no it is not a gay bathhouse, This is the real deal This is where men go to relax get away from the stress of every day life and just chill. read more

I have been living In the area for over a year now and I always walk past this spot with the dog. Decided to finally check it out and I was not disappointed what so ever. The customer service was excellent. The atmosphere was chill and calm and cool. You need a place to decompress and just let some stress out and also at an affordable price, come here. I will be back. Update: I have been coming here on a weekly basis now. Thanks. For all you men out there, this place will decompress you. Give it a shot. It's amazing Update 2: if you plan to come here and hit on ppl, lemme tell you, you're gonna get what you deserve right back if you keep playing around. We don't play those games here. Have some respect for others. Just a fair warning. read more

Chicago Sweatlodge - Massage Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The bear emerges Once a year from his dark hole. This place is better. A haiku for the most chill spot in the city. Two very well built and well maintained saunas (wet and dry) anchor this glorious oasis. In between is an ice cold pool and rain water bucket-showers. A great supporting actor here is the kitchen. Always tasty and stacked with Eastern European specialities, including salted and pickled fish, pierogis, calamari, and various salads. A good selection of polish and other international beers. Lastly, it's got to be said, this place is CLEAN. Everything smells fresh and not a hint of must. Stay an hour or an afternoon, and emerge ready to take on the world, more refreshed than a spring-time Kodiak. read more

First of all I love the Sweatlodge however the quality has gone downhill since Leon sold this establishment and here is why. The food quality specifically the lack of bread and portion size. Chicken tenders for $17.99 you use to get 5 now you get three is ridiculous. The kitchen opens at 1pm and there is a line to order all because the new owner Sasha does not want to pay his employees to come in so he waits until 1pm. ANY service there is a 10% gratuity added because he does not want to pay his employees so now the onis is on us. That is CHEAP. Also the towel situation is limited there is suppose to be a stack of towels for you to take and there is never any towels laying out so you have to ask the attendant every time you want a towel. (Except when Antonio is working he is ON IT) The cold plunge temperature varies I wish it was consistent which may be because his chillers are old. The ice machine was removed because of the expense so now we have to have room temperature water instead of purchasing a new ice machine. I mean this is a sauna last time I checked get the ice machine back. Ownership has to step up and maintain the facility not just fix it when it's broken. The wet and dry sauna are the best. I think the Sweatlodge is amazing but it could be even better if the made some changes. read more

Chicago Sweatlodge is a perfect way to relax and experience joy. No funny business... just hot sauna's, cold plunge, kitchen, tv's and relaxation. Cheers! read more

Chicago Sweatlodge - Chicken Kebab + Provolone - Sweatlodge is pure class .. love this place - Massage Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolute hangout for the guys. A hot sauna, a hotter sauna, a cold plunge, amazing food and fresh pressed juice. Some guys take this place very seriously, men slapping each other with bushes and massaging each other with soap. It's kind of weird, but when you're there, you just accept it. You even love the camaraderie of it. This place will increase your testosterone and give you a break from women (they weaken legs) read more

What a fantastic experience. An incredible place to relax and unwind. This is a men-only sauna and occasionally there are children present. The food is delicious and the friendly staff keep the place clean. I highly recommend the place. read more

Fantastic. Use to go to Division Street bathhouse since the 70's started going here a while ago because it reminded me of Division Street. The Heat is amazing in the wet Sauna and it's so relaxing. The staff could not be nicer, and I want to give a shout out to Igor and the kitchen staff for their hard work and your always consistent great food. I've read some of the reviews and don't get the criticism and the lame comments and outright BS in some of them. One comment stated that when they were there were kids like 3-4 years of age were present. I've never seen children there and I know for a fact that kids under 14 are not allowed. My advice don't believe some of the reviews this place is nothing less than a 5* review. Best chicken soup in Chicago read more

A nice place to relax and enjoy the company of great people. The facility has a welcoming atmosphere. From the sauna to the steam room and a cold plung in between. Then a tasty selection of food and drinks. Not fancy but nice. read more

Relaxing, food was unique and traditional, consistently busy but the staff will always accommodate you and ensure you are okay. When I'm back in Chitown, I will return for a mini vacation. read more

Always have a great time relaxing at the sauna, food is made fresh as well. Unlike other saunas and spas the customers here and not inappropriate in the sauna or shower area. The mix of cultures is a nice to see read more

Great Service!...Great Spot for Relax ! Great Food ! (My favorite Ukrainian Salad or Tortilla Soup!) Good assortment of Beers! Dry Sauna ,Wet Sauna ,Cold Plunge. Massage ! Sports News TVs ,Table Games,newspapers .Gravity Chairs.Smooth Jazz! Only Man Spot ! Great Healthy Relax!Relax!Relax! Detox!!! Great Place for Nice Time with Friends!(only man !!!cool!;) ! ) read more

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This place is great. Clean facilities, friendly staff, hot saunas and cold pools Not much more you can ask for in a sauna. I went on a weeknight and the place was busy but not crowded. There is a lot of room in both sauna areas. The crowd was a good mix of older and younger people and leaned Eastern European but not so much so other would feel out of place. Food was good and there is a wide variety of booze to choose from at the bar. My only gripe is I wish the beer was colder but I'll live. I'll definitely be back. read more

I sweat like a pig to run like a horse. And those tears on my skin are just the body crying. As you walk in to this place, you time-warp back to old school Russia. You see a time when men were men, and sheep were scared. This placed rocked and kicked my ass too. read more

100% what i expected. Great food!!! The cold tank is really cold and revitalizing. A lot of parking. read more

Chicago Sweatlodge - Great calamary - Massage Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Unfortunately, the Sweat Lodge is not what is was pre-pandemic. The wet sauna is not hot, the seats inside it are broken, and the television is blaring all the time in every room. I don't go to a place like this to listen to Fox 32 rant about Covid, Amber Alerts, robbery, rape and murder. This is the opposite of relaxation. Management should pay the extra money and have a little pleasant music piped into the establishment. I won't be going back anytime soon. read more

I THANK GOD FOR THE SWEAT LODGE!! THE STEAM, It helps keep me sane in this Crazy World we are currently living in. I go other places, but I have also been going here for many years, and it is still one of my favorite places to go for SAUNA/SPA/STEAM ROOM & RELAXATION. Last time I splurged for a massage, MR MUHAMMED If remember his name correctly gave a fantastic massage. Consistently clean, great steam room, good food and lunch room. This is one of the best spas that I have experienced in The Chicago area west of downtown, by CICERO & ADDISON. Just wish they had a HOT TUB. Well, two things that would push my future visits over the top, a Hot Tub, and a warm quiet room to take a nap. Those two things are always a plus to any SPA EXPERIENCE. read more

I came to Chicago on a trip. I'd heard of this place prior to arriving and I decided to visit the Sweatlodge Saturday (10/10), and I must say it was the best decision ever. This place is a heaven for us men to be ourselves decompress either on our own or with friends. It was the best experience I've had thus far. There aren't many spots for men to be men and just have some camaraderie with other fellow men. I circulated from the Russian dry sauna, to the cold plunge pool, to the Turkish wet sauna, and back to the cold plunge pool for about 3-4 more times. In between, I'd take a break and rest in the zero gravity chairs and circulate back to the saunas until, I showered. Be prepared to see other naked men in the locker room, saunas, couches or when removing their wrap to go into the plunge pool. It's fine. It's normal. Nothing you haven't seen before or have yourself. Nobody cares what you look like nude, so don't be embarrassed. Nobody will be looking at you so don't fret at what you look like everybody is there to have a good time not be there to judge you. All these men are literally here to relax and have a good time by themselves or with other fellow men to share a good time with good company. I enjoyed this place so much I returned the next day to sweat out my hangover and once again, it was the best decision ever. Thanks to the staff, for being welcoming and professional. Definitely returning here on my next trip to Chicago. I wish my trip would have been longer, that way I could have visited the sweat lodge a couple more times. Overall, this place is five stars! It's the perfect man spot for any man looking to relax, decompress, and best of all enjoy a nice cold beer at the end. read more

This is our favorite friends night out once a month. Dry and wet sauna, cold beer, pretty good food, catching up with friends: great way to spend Friday night. The place became pricey, but worth it for us. It is all about relaxation in SweatLodge. read more

Chicago Sweatlodge - Nice rules! - Massage Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great place to relax and eat awesome food!!! Very clean inside with a professional stuff! read more

First time here and had a good time. Went with a couple of friends and enjoyed the sauna, food and drinks. Small and not as glamorous as the Korean spa in Niles, but this place has them beat by one thing... THEY SERVE BEER! Can't get better than that. Check it out! read more

Chicago Sweatlodge - Massage Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went with my friend today to Sweatlodge. We had a great time. I commend the staff for their friendliness and professionalism and I also appreciate how clean and tidy the space was. I was definitely comparing this spot with King Spa in Niles and they're very similar though I do like how this place gives people sandals; it feels cleaner. We tried the food and it was good as was the beer. We had a great time so I'm pleasantly surprised. I definitely think I'll come back though I do think that the entrance fee is a little bit pricey as is the menu. read more

Little slice of heaven if you ask me. There might be nothing better than spending a few hours relaxing, taking a sauna, eating good food, and not having a care in the world. That is what the Lodge seems to be all about. From the time you walk in the door, it's laid back atmosphere set the tone for some R&R. Got questions? Not after the quick tour. The team at the lodge was very friendly and helpful. After hitting the sauna/cold bath 3 or 4 rounds...I hit the food counter and again they stepped up with solid suggestions on both food and beer. If you not sure like I was just let them throw you something together. Food was great! Very clean and ton's of options from chairs on a small patio, to nice leather chairs, tv's, board games, gravity chairs and all the facilities to boot. I thought the lockers were great and spacious. No hesitation to return on my next trip to Chi-town and especially if I am rocking a hangover as the sauna is the perfect cure. Great work Chicago Sweatlodge and keep it up! read more

I have never gone to a sweat lodge, so I have nothing to compare it to. It was interesting and an experience that I will not forget (in a good way). The message was amazing!! The naked men sleeping in lounge chairs was awkward, but I think it was normal for this place. Everything was clean and respectable. read more

This place is the perfect way to get away and heal the soul. You really get to test your self in the hot and wet rooms, followed by a nice plunge in the cold pool. They serve great food and fresh squeezed juices as well. Staff is super attentive and helpful. read more

We been their loyal clients for the past 3 years because of : Amazing kitchen,"bania" atmosphere and friendly staff but after our last visit on 10.17.20 we been disappointed in the food quality. Usually we order herring with potatoes,pelmeni(dumplings)and house salad,but now it feels like they are trying to save on the food,because the herring is completely different-nowhere close as it used to be,potatoes are cheap from the pack(not house made) Dumplings might be the same but made with too much spaces. The only entree didn't change was salad. Will be visiting this place in 2 weeks and hopefully their food will be back to amazing as it used to be. read more

Sweatlodge is man heaven. Hot baths, amazing food, good beer, and they always keep about half of the TVs on low-stress events just in case you're not up for politics and sports in the background. Pop into the Turkish bath until you're steamed like a crab, take a cold plunge, then grab a water and lay back in a leather chair while soft muzak drowns out whatever unimportant things other patrons might ramble about. If you get a chance, take some time off work when it's really slow and luxuriate. Just keep a friend around to wake you up if you fall asleep in the relaxation lounge. And the food? The pierogies are to die for. The borscht tastes like if grandma made it. The bread is always perfect. The fish is great, the juice is fresh, and they'll dump vodka in it if you ask. Why not? I've been going to Sweatlodge with weekly for months and almost always with some gay friends, none of us have had a single issue of any description. I'm sure there are some paranoid types who get insecure and scream to management from time to time, but that's going to happen anywhere. I've seen some blatant cruising at King Spa, but never at Sweatlodge. If management are being proactive it seems like an appropriate level to me. Zero issues to report, and zero reason to think that will change. If I had to pick a fault, Sweatlodge is a little small so it can get quite crowded on a busy day. I've never had to fight for facilities aside from having to negotiate opening a spot in the steam room with some body language. This wouldn't be an issue at all if not for roving packs of self-important "brosefs" who sometimes show up in groups and scream at each other endlessly. Dudes, chill out. The rest of us are about to achieve nirvana as soon as you leave the room. read more

Great place to relax. I usually hit it with a friend or two to catch up while steaming in the sauna or grabbing a bite. Parking lot is attached with plenty of space. Stuff is helpful. Love it! read more

My body images issues have been cured!* After a spending an afternoon at the Chicago Sweatlodge, I felt young, fit and perfectly groomed. Actually, it was pretty freeing to just 'be.' To not have to worry about 6-pack abs, perfectly coifed everything and immaculate appearances was so nice. I totally get why this place exists. As funny as it is to say, it's a safe space for guys. Or, it was for me. I hadn't spent much time in this part of the city, so I inched north on Cicero looking for the lodge. I was happy to discover they had their own lot. I parked, took a deep breath and walked in. The window attendant was polite, if not talkative. I paid my money. He gave me my towels, shoes and wrap. I did my homework. I was prepared -- sorta. I opened the door to the back area and... saw a cafe? Yep. They offer food and drink at the Lodge. This isn't just a place to sweat. It's a social hang out. Granted, most of the guys socializing were near nude but what's better than playing chess than being naked while playing chess? The locker area was surprisingly nice. Wooden (like, nice... not rickety) lockers with shelving, leather over-sized chairs and abundant tvs tuned to basketball, football, soccer... and Mexican soap operas. It takes all kinds. I proceeded to drop trou and put on my wrap. I'd planned on wearing my swim trunks but as I was grunted to by the very large man in the corner, "No tuhrunks! Towel only!" Thing is, I didn't know how to wear the thing. It's a shear white wrap about the size of an oversized washcloth with a v split. I put it on like a pair of pants... and got some friendly advice from the guy at the locker next to mine: "Turn it to the side." Oh? Ohhh! Wow. I was sporting a serious wardrobe malfunction. I sort of thought that was the way I was supposed to wear it, what with so much stuff just floppin' in the breeze all around me. Properly adorned, I split my time between the wet steam and the dry sauna. Good God almighty, Eastern (and Southern) Europeans (by the languages I overheard) are hearty people. Both rooms are hot. Like, the devil is about to get you, hot. I had to wear a towel around my shoulders because my nips were getting burned. TMI (this whole review is tmi) I know, but you have to understand how hot it was. Between rooms, most guys went all Blue Lagoon and jumped in the cold pool. I wasn't 'there' so I kept my wrap on, got some water and chilled out in the chairs. I saw more than one guy knocked out in the chairs. They're comfy. They also might have been knocked out because of all the booze. Not only are these guys impervious to heat, they can drink while dehydrated. Amazing physiology! I might have been the only person drinking water (although when I requested it in Russian, I got a big smile and two bottles; what? I can speak a little Russian. I'm a renaissance man). Anywhoo, the more I drank, sat, steamed, and saunaed, I felt my stress, literally, melt away. I felt relaxed, invigorated and peaceful. I was a little apprehensive about the near-nudity thing but, trust -- no one is paying attention to you. Everyone is there to do his thing and get a relax (or business) on. By the time I showered and changed back to my street clothes, I felt like a new man. This experience is going into my rotation. $25 for as long as you want to stay. This includes locker, towel, wrap, and shoe fee. Food, drink and massage are extra. *No, they haven't. read more

So I must admit...This was not one of the top ten things on my bucket list of priorities, however I did enjoy the experience. That said, I am uber glad I went with an experienced sweatlodger. Otherwise I would have been lost, uncomfortable, and not have any clue on what to do. So the experience goes like: 1) They give you three towels a) one to be used for inside the wet Turkish bania b) one to be used to wrap yourself (although mine was having some minor malfunctions) c) one to be used when you are finished There are two banias 1) wet/Turkish bania 2) dry/Russian bania I preferred the wet/Turkish bania because they have buckets of water that you are constantly dipping your towel in to cool off. If that isn't working then you simply throw a bucket of really cold water all over you. It is quite the rush and very relaxing. They also have these scrubbing leaves (forgot what they are called) which are used to exfoliate. I tried them on my back and they were cool, however I was not ready nor participated in full naked exfoliation done by one of your bania peers. That seems a little "over the top" for my own taste. After sitting in the banias for a while we treated ourselves to a cold plunge, which is basically taking a dip in a small pool that is probably about 34 degrees in temperature. After taking an exhilarating dip in the cold plunge I have a new found respect for those that participate in the Polar Bear race in Lake Michigan. Once finished we sat down, watched some college football on tv (they have all kinds of flat screens throughout) and ate some cabasa and perogies which were pretty good. They also serve alcohol (have a wide variety of beer and liquor) and have cards/chess which was a huge bonus. My three complaints: (hence the 4 stars instead of 5) and the fact that I don't want some "connected" Russian showing up on my doorstep for a bad review. 1) They were playing music like Brittney Spears in the back ground which was ugh. Some classic rock or similar would of made it a better experience. 2) The towel with the malfunction 3) Most importantly, when I am eating cabasa I do not enjoy looking at cabasa walking around naked. They provide towels for a reason...I think people should wear them in the cafe/eating area. I can't stand old guys walking around strutting their junk in an area for eating. Just my two cents! Either way, it was a cool and very relaxing experience. I will definitely go back as the weather starts to get cooler and I would/have RECOMMENDED. In addition, facilities were clean and staff was very friendly. read more

I was very happy with my first visit. We came on a Saturday, and the guy behind the counter was very thorough in making sure we didn't have reservations. "Not George? Not Dave?" I think he went through 4 or 5 names. So they seem to be pretty popular. Most of my review will have comparisons to the Division Street Baths, since that used to be my hangout, but I'm not sure what's going on with them. The amenities are great. While the thin linen towels used at Division are more traditional, the velcro wrap things they have here are a nice touch. Although I had a few wardrobe malfunctions, that's to be expected. Everything is brand new, which is comforting. The lockers are good sized, but the area is a little cramped. Some ass had a 5-minute cell phone conversation right by my locker when I needed to use it. Use the cafe, dude. But, most importantly... the baths. They have Russian and Turkish, and the Russian was right up my alley. The room is a little smaller than Division, and it did get a little crowded. But I'd rather have a small room that gets damn hot than a big room that only gets pretty hot. One warning, beware of splinters on the benches. I caught one before it could do much damage, and let the staff know. The Turkish seems good if that's your thing. The cafe is nice, although a little pricey. They are not BYOB unlike the place on Division. They also don't let you bring in hookers, which the guy at Division said I could do. I'll let you weigh the pros and cons yourself. I must say the reason they only got 4 stars is the goddamn music. It went from Kenny G to Whitney Houston to - get this - Van Morrison. I'm not a huge Van Morrison fan, but he was a massive improvement. I will most certainly be back. read more

I love this place. There is other saunas in Chicago land but this is only place where you can enjoy atmosphere of Russian .

Gents, This is one of the greatest places in Chicago. I LOVE IT, I personally go at least one's every month. I enjoy every moment of it. I will drop close to $100 dollars per visited. Every penny is well worth. read more

If you want to render your junk useless by either extreme heat or extreme cold, this is the place you should do it. I don't mean that in a bad way, but if you've ever been to a bath house, you know what I mean. I think I'm just now getting my feeling back after staying too long in the cold pool. This place is classy! Leather chairs and really cool decor. It's a manly kind of place, but no funny business as far as I could tell. Um, don't let that dissuade you. read more

Sweatlodge is best experienced on a 15 degree mid January Sunday morning. Various groups of men shuffle in and out of the dry and wet saunas, representing Chicago's diverse population. Once thoroughly cooked, jump into the cold plunge pool and feel the water vapor condense in your lungs. Otherwise, just fill a bucket of cold water and toss it on yourself while in the sauna. I like an aggressive massage but my masseur was rough but in a manner which caused more tension rather than relieving it. While in the wet sauna, one of the owners gave me a scrub using sheaths of grass and birch branches. This was far more relaxing. read more

I went here for the first time today because my back had been bothering me for a while. I originally heard about this place on the TimeOut Chicago Blog, and liked the fact that it was not a "shi-shi" kind of place. I went in the middle of the day and there were not very many people there. This place is Classy with a capital "C." When you walk in you are greeted by a host at the door who gives you Two towels, a sheet and a velcro'd towel to wear. They will also give you sandals if you did not bring your own, which I hadn't and appreciated. Once inside, there is a rather large area for eating and drinking which is decorated with information on different cultures' ways of using sweat as a healing method. The locker room is in the center with one side housing shower stalls. There are very comfortable leather chairs and flat screen TVs in the center. There are two saunas, a Turkish style "wet" sauna and a Russian style "dry" sauna. In the middle is a cold pool, and believe me when I say it is COLD! My massage was done in a separate room that housed three massage tables and two massage chairs. It was great. I left feeling like a new man. While I was there I talked to one of the owners who gave me a lot of information about what services they offer, and explained things to me as this was my first visit to any kind of place like this. He was really cool and as I was leaving, gave me some two-for-one vouchers. My only qualms with the place were that it is a little pricey; $25 to get in, but the massage was a reasonable $35 for the half hour. The other thing is that the way the locker room is laid out, it's kind of a tight squeeze to change because the chairs butt up very close to the lockers. I would recommend this place to anyone that needs to relax, or just wants some time to themselves. Now I just have to find a friend to go with me next time. read more