Seoul Zimzilbang — Local services in Toronto

Very big, spacious, and welcoming facility. Lots to do!!! If it's your first time, set aside at least three hours to explore all of the amenities this paradise has to offer. If it's also your first time, don't be shy to ask the attendant about proper Jimjilbang (Korean sauna) etiquette. Or do your research, as I did!

Starting at the front door, you take off your shoes and place them into an available small locker on either the right side for men or left for women. Afterward, you lock the locker, give the key to the attendant at the front desk, and pay the admission fee, which is $30 + tax. This is for unlimited time, and they are open 9 AM-12 AM. You are given a uniform for the co-ed area and a bracelet with the matching number as your key. This is for your locker within the gender-separated area.

After putting away your belongings, you go fully nude and hop in the wet sauna area and shower. This is a must before stepping foot in any wet or dry (co-ed) sauna facilities!!! Following this, you can use the wet sauna area, which has a cold pool, hot jacuzzi, and steam room, OR go ahead to the co-ed clothed area for the dry sauna

There are also various procedures available such as a traditional Korean body scrub and massage, facial (women only), and more. I had this done during my first visit (1h) and LOVED it. KAI, who was working on me, is amazing at what he does, and I felt reborn after. As you're scrubbed vigorously, you're doused with almost hot water to wash off the dead skin. Following is a pretty intense massage with cooling oil. Don't be alarmed, as this is also a fully nude massage, which is custom in Korean saunas. Do be aware that you have to make an appointment in advance and make sure to soak in the wet sauna at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time.

Now, you can choose to enjoy the wet sauna area by first submerging yourself in the jacuzzi for 10-15 mins, then plunging yourself into the cold pool or getting a cold shower and then hopping into the steam room for 10 mins, cold pool and repeat, or do whatever you like. After enough time there, you can get clothed and make your way to the dry sauna area. Everyone is clothed here, and there is an area for socializing, relaxing, working out (they have two treadmills and some other gym equipment), and even having a snack or a meal!! So, if you have half a day to set aside, this is perfect. There are imported Korean snacks, drinks, and in-house meals! I had the Bibimbap with beef and Mokgeoli (Korean rice wine), and it was very tasty and filling. They also have a good selection of beer available, many cool imported drinks, and an insane selection of frozen Korean snacks as well. You only need to provide your bracelet number and pay after giving it back at the end of your visit.

Going a little further into the co-ed area, you have the actual sauna portion, which is separated by doors. This area is always quiet, and you need to respect the peace as sauna goers sometimes relax and sleep here. The temperature is much higher here due to the various dry sauna rooms, of which there are six of varying temperatures and gemstones for different conditions and uses. There is information at each sauna door available as well as the temperature above it. This area also has an ice room - quite literally a small room with quite a comical huge block of ice! You go here when you wish to reset your body temperature before going to one of the dry sauna rooms.

You can start at a low temperature, use the ice room, and go to a higher, or whatever you like. I used the two hottest rooms, which at their highest were 60c and 103c, respectively. I could only spend about five to ten minutes in the highest room, after which it became unbearable and dangerous. In this area, there are also mats provided and head blocks, which you can use in the lower temperature rooms or the space outside the dry sauna rooms. You can sleep here, rest, or stretch.

All in all, a 10/10 experience for anyone wanting to experience a small part of Korean culture or simply relax and...

A no-frills Korean spa experience that is a bit confusing but very affordable and relaxing! The website is pretty barebones so here’s everything I wish I knew before I arrived:

Do bring a water bottle, shampoo, conditioner, flip flops, your favourite entertainment items (a book, magazine), exfoliating mitts, your favourite moisturizer, hair tie if you have long hair

Don’t bring a swimsuit or a lock 🔒

When you enter the first thing you’ll do is put your shoes in a locker in the hallway. Men on one side, women on the other. A shoe locker key is provided. Choose an odd-number shoe locker. You’ll eventually be given a changing room locker key that corresponds with your shoe locker and the odd-number lockers are at waist height so don’t require crouching down to store or get your things.

You’ll then go to the front desk and buy an entry pass. $30 plus tax for adults or $20 plus tax for kids (3-12 years old).

If you want, you can also buy a body scrub experience for $30 - $100 based on what body part you want scrubbed. This cost is in addition to the entry fee.

You can pay by cash or debit. No credit cards.

The front desk person will swap your shoe locker key for a changing room bracelet, keeping the same number. Odd-numbered lockers, chosen for ease, are waist-high, unlike lower ones (even numbered) that require you to stoop. You'll receive your shoe key when checking out.

They’ll also give you a spa uniform at this point (a t shirt and shorts). I’m unsure what size they go up to so if you’re on the larger side you may want to check that they’ll have ones that will fit you.

The changing rooms are split by gender - male and female. Inside each changing room, you’ll find a large changing area with many lockers, washrooms, and a wet area that consists of the showers, steam room, two small plunge pools, and the scrub service room. You have to be entirely naked in the wet area - no underwear or bathing suits.

Through the single gender changing rooms you’ll find the co-ed communal space where you have to wear your spa uniform. There’s a snack bar and coworking space there, a large area with benches to relax, and about 5 dry saunas of varying heats and a heated relaxation room where people read, use their tech, and relax.

There are no signs on the recommended hot cold process but based on my quick googling skills I think you’re meant to do the following:

Undress entirely in the changing rooms and then go to the wet area to shower. Bring only your flip flops, a small towel, a hair tie, and toiletries with you. Wear your locker key on your wrist.

First, use the showers to wash thoroughly. Once showered, tie your long hair up to avoid it getting in the pools.

Start with the cold plunge pool and then go into the hot plunge pool or the steam room. Then back to the cold plunge pool. And so on and so on for about 40 mins. This will soften your skin.

Then exfoliate yourself using your exfoliation mitts or get your professional scrub experience in the scrub room

Then shower off the dead skin and head to your locker to towel dry and change into your spa uniform

Grab your water bottle, entertainment (book/magazine) and make your way to the co-ed saunas. You’ll pass the snack bar where you can go when you get hungry.

You’ll find a number of saunas of varying temperatures of 40 degrees to 91 degrees celcius. I couldn’t find online what sequence you use these rooms in so explore them as you feel! Be sure to keep hydrated in between. There is a water cooler to replenish your water bottle. There is a cold room which you can use to cool off. There are useful mats in the corner that you can use to sit on in the saunas - some of them are very hot and the mats protect you from burning your skin or feet!

When you’re done, head back to the changing rooms for one last shower before getting dressed and leaving. You’ll pay for any food you ate when you return your locker key.

Hope you found this...

Please note:

I have been here a multiple times before the pandemic and I liked it. I’m not from around the area so coming to the location is a special treat.

On this day, I didn’t feel right coming to the Korean Spa. Yes, there were other newer thermal spas that have opened up recently with a wider selection of services and/or menu items such as Go Place, but since I made the drive, I decided to follow through with my usual routine.

At the front desk, I reached for my credit card, but the lady asked for cash. She was not the usual lady so I retrieved my purse and bag from the car. On this day I carried $500 CAD in large bills and couple of small bills and a lot of USD. She, the lady at the counter, was the only person who saw me open my purse because I could not decide to pay either with $100 CAD or a collection of Canadian bills or a mixture of USD. After my treatment, I took out $20 CAD to tip the employee in the wet area. My wallet still showed my remaining $100 bill, $50 bills, $20 bills and a single $5 bill and USD funds at the time. I locked and double checked it was locked before I washed up in the wet room and got ready to go.

Everyone who enjoyed the facilities was really nice to me and I almost wanted to stay longer. Although, I didn’t recognize the golf employee who helped himself to snacks behind the counter nor the lady who prepared food outside the menu posted on the wall. Upon leaving, I saw the usual lady at the counter. I got home a lot later than expected because of traffic on Steeles. When I went to collect my belongings, I noticed my purse seemed thinner. I opened my purse to see only a $5 bill and a few small USD bills remaining in the same slot which looked a lot more empty than when I checked at the Korean Spa. All my large Canadian and US bills were no where to be found.

It’s been a pretty rough few days for me. I am devastated that I came to the Korean Spa to relax and am less relaxed than ever. I should have followed through with my feelings and visited Water Q and Spa.

I would prefer if the Korean spa allowed credit cards like the previous post noted especially after having gone through such an awful aftermath.

I am not saying my locker was opened by someone when I was not there, but when I had my purse in my car during my other visits, I returned home with the same amount of funds after paying for my entrance fee...