Shangri-La Bath & Sauna

Alexandra Sadovska

★★★★★

a month ago

For my mom’s birthday, we decided to save some money and opted for this Korean sauna instead of going to Hard Rock—and honestly, I have zero regrets! Yes, you do have to be fully naked in certain areas, but the initial awkwardness fades after about 15 minutes, and then you can truly start enjoying everything the place has to offer. The experience was amazing! Everything was super clean, and I could even smell the bleach, which reassured me that the facilities were properly sanitized. And let me tell you, the restaurant in the common area is incredible! The food was amazing, and they even had soju, which can sometimes be hard to find. We loved it so much that we’re already planning to come back more often with the whole family. Highly recommend it!

Meghan “Fitz” Fitzgerald

★★★★★

a week ago

I was invited to Shangri-La Bath & Sauna by a friend who had been to a Korean spa before—but only in South Korea. I, on the other hand, had never been to one. I knew it would be a new experience, but I didn’t realize just how much I would love it. Before I left for the spa, another friend insisted: Do not leave without getting a Korean body scrub. I had heard of body scrubs before, usually as part of massages or salon packages, but nothing in the world could have prepared me for this. The Layout & Experience The spa is divided into two main areas: • The gendered wet area – This includes a cold pool, a hot pool, a steam room, and an area where body treatments take place (where I had my scrub). I can’t speak for the men’s side, but this was my experience in the women’s area. • The co-ed common area – Here, you wear a spa uniform (mine was pink—probably the most pink I’ve worn since I was a baby). This space includes a clay sauna, a salt sauna, a small three-foot-deep pool, a large relaxation room, and more private relaxation rooms for men, women, and families. There’s also a restaurant, which I’ll get to in a bit. I arrived around noon and didn’t leave until 5 p.m. I started in the wet area, then joined my friend for lunch. She had a full meal while I opted for a carrot juice since I had my treatment coming up. After spending some time in both saunas—which, notably, were much milder than most saunas I’ve experienced (a relief for my Celtic skin that doesn’t always love extreme heat)—it was time for my treatment. The Korean Body Scrub The treatment area is in the wet section, where you’re completely nude. I opted for the Green Tea Scrub (1 hour and 45 minutes)—one of many options available. I imagine all the treatments include the scrub, but I can only speak to the one I experienced. Honestly, I don’t even know how to describe it beyond this: Just go and do it. It’s an experience that defies explanation, but I walked away feeling completely renewed. The Food Immediately after my treatment, I made a beeline for the restaurant and ordered the Dolsot Bibimbap. It was served in the traditional hot stone crock—only about a two-dollar difference from the regular version, and absolutely worth it. The dish arrived sizzling, which was both a gratifying experience and a practical one—it stayed warm the entire time I was eating. It came with classic side dishes, including sprouts, kimchi, and daikon radish. Perfection. A Small Note on Presence One thing I do wish was different: I would have loved for people to be more present in the common areas. Phones aren’t allowed in the wet areas, but once I stepped back into the co-ed spaces, seeing people glued to their screens felt a little jarring—especially after coming out of the otherworldly experience of the body scrub. It’s not a dealbreaker, just something that stood out. Final Thoughts Everything—the treatments, the facilities, the food—was far more reasonably priced than any spa I’ve been to. If you’re even remotely considering it, go. Trust the review. Trust the process. Get the scrub. Do all of the things. Life is short. Indulge in yourself.

Laura

★★★★★

2 months ago

I had a great experience here, the bath is so clean, well-facilitated. Such a good place to relax. Warm service.

Crystal Santiago

★★★★★

3 weeks ago

Perfect treat after traveling! This is one of Tampa's best-kept secrets. It was my first time experiencing a Korean-inspired bathhouse, and I felt welcomed, safe, and comfortable. I was grateful for the spacious lockers to store my travel bags. I opted for the Gold package, which included: body wash, shampoo, a fresh cucumber face mask, hydrating oil, and a milk rinse. Everything about this experience exceeded my expectations. I left feeling relaxed and renewed. I will certainly be back and highly recommend Shangri-La Bathhouse and Sauna. Thank you to the wonderful staff at Shangri-La Bathhouse and Sauna!

L E

★★★★★

a week ago

Pretty pitiful overall. Firstly, the first impression. It sits right on a busy highway in a junky looking part of town. The outside looks like absolute trash. There's equipment lying around, electrical cords hanging from the roof, 'flower' beds in front are full of weeds. Awful. To be fair, it seems pretty clean inside but feels old, shabby and tired. They have trashy paper signs plastered all over the place. The lady at reception was very nice though. If you've ever been to a nice modern Korean spa, this place will feel terrible. Obviously the management Is either oblivious or just doesn't care. The least they could do is clean up the outside.