Entry No. 21 — the San Francisco file — filed under: banya

Archimedes Banya

A working Russian bathhouse on a scrappy stretch of the Bay shoreline where staff swat willing customers with bundles of birch, oak, eucalyptus, and juniper twigs — a ritual called venik platza that the banya says it's the only place in California offering every single day of the week. Between rounds in the heat you're expected to plunge into an ice-cold pool, then flop on the rooftop yoga deck and watch container ships glide by.

The move: Book a shared venik platza slot, alternate cedar-hot room and cold plunge for a few rounds, then split a plate of pelmeni at the on-site cafe and watch the sun go down over the bay from the roof deck.

• 📍 Hunters Point / Bayview, San Francisco
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Indoor or outdoor

Where: 748 Innes Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Official site · sfgate.com

last checked: 2026-07-20