Banya Forrest Review: What makes Dubai's first Slavic banya so special?

The soon-to-be licensed location includes saunas, snow rooms and a Slavic restaurant.

Forget about the ice bucket challenge. Banya Forrest has opened on Bluewaters. The new Slavic spa is the first fully equipped traditional Slavic banya in the United Arab Emirates. For those unversed in the tradition of banya, the experience hit the headlines for its ice-cold bucket showers. If you want to channel your inner Wim Hof, get ready to be refreshed.  

Not to be confused with the adjacent Banyan Tree Dubai hotel, Banya Forrest is a social bathhouse experience. Insta gimmicks aside, it offers a way to relax and unwind and represents a vital bonding place in Slavic culture. The venue embraces the forestry of its name, and guests enter into a cosy reception area resembling a log cabin, with chopped timber lining the walls and patches of moss bursting through. This immersion into the ‘wild’ promotes relaxation, which continues into the modern changing room where you’re armed with slippers, cosy robes and hats to help regulate body temperatures once inside the banya. Forget Ravi X adidas or Hello Kitty X Rascals; Banya Forrest’s pixie hats are this spring’s must-have merch.

Banya Forrest’s wet area facilities include the largest banya sauna in the MENA region, a cold plunge pool (set to a chilly seven degrees), traditional ice bucket showers and a snow room where snowflakes tumble gracefully from the ceiling before collecting in clumps on the floor. The space can accommodate 70 guests, although a VIP experience for 20 people is available. Staff are friendly throughout and happy to guide newbies through the banya experience, which involves subjecting the body to extreme heat and cold, also known as contrast therapy.

Banyas are typically made of wood and heated by a wood-fired stove. The heat and steam can help to loosen tight muscles, improve circulation, and relieve pain. Banyas are also believed to boost the immune system and help clear the respiratory system, offering a great way to relax and de-stress. Banya Forrest prides itself on its traditional Eastern European techniques dating back to the 11th century. The in-house banshchik (bath superintendents) will perform a Parenie Ritual, which involves brushing and massaging guests with soaked leaf veniks to help stimulate circulation and improve skin health. These bathhouse masters have been brought to Dubai from Russia for their specialism.

Following a sauna session, guests should douse themselves with water from the suspended ice buckets before plunging into the cool pool and caressing themselves with snow from the snow room. It’s a sharp shock to the system, but it will leave them feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

The process is repeated over the course of several hours, with breaks for lounging. As it is traditional to drink beer in an Eastern European banya experience, Banya Forrest is soon-to-be licensed, and yes, you can drink and dine in your robes and slipper (#lifegoals). The onsite restaurant offers traditional Slavic cuisine such as calf liver with buckwheat porridge (AED 115), signature crayfish with dill and lemon (AED 150) and homemade pelmeni dumplings stuffed with beef and chicken (AED 65). The traditional Borscht (AED 75) is highly recommended, as is the layered Honey Cake with blackcurrant (AED 65).

Above the restaurant lies treatment rooms where guests can make a day of it and indulge in body scrubs, body washes and massages. An outside terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf features woven mats, fringed parasols, low-slung sofas and sun beds. When the sun sets, it’s an ideal spot for dinner and drinks, and congratulating yourself on completing the challenge. 

Go on, take the plunge.  

GO: Visit www.banyaforrest.com for more information.