Moki Sauna — Local services in Somerville

Let me start by saying that I came here to check it out on one of the first days it was open, and I instantly grabbed the monthly membership. I knew I would be back here regularly while they are here.

Yes, it is rustic and its utilities are a bit limited BUT you don't come here for the shower or a massage. You come here for the pleasure of finding a chance to unwind in a hot sauna and a cold plunge - to step away from your day's travails, warm your weary bones, and share in the joy of a few exhilarating hours at a place you least expected to find. Logistics are great, this couldn't be more centrally located.

I have stopped in several times already and I'll list the main reasons why I love this place.

The sauna cabins are small but they pack a punch. You get an authentic heat experience that is unlike the tepid and useless 'sauna' at your average fitness center or Y

The camaraderie of the clientele is instant. You realize quickly that you are among those who truly share your conviction that the strong hot/cold contrasts are key to one's wellness

The staff is phenomenal in introducing folks to a powerful experience most Americans have little knowledge or understanding of. This is a great place to learn what a sauna experience is really about

I am not gonna lie, I love the smell of a wood fired stove and the heat that envelopes you from it. It taps into that prehistoric lizard part of our brains that is all feeling and no thinking.

So, leave your judgemental, driven, and harried ego outside, step through the portal into this quirky world, and enjoy one of the most unusual and arguably spectacular sceneries you will ever find in a sauna.

I second Anna's encouragement to become familiar with common etiquette and follow some basic rules. Sit on a towel to soak up your sweat, shower when you come in, coordinate with those around you whether they are ok with some water on the rocks, and use your inside voice in a small place like this.

There are a good portion of patrons I have met already for whom this experience is not new. You will find a great opportunity to learn how humanity in far flung places has devised different traditions to use alternating heat and cold challenges as a source of health, emotional balance, relaxation, and wellbeing. The atmosphere is welcoming and folks are willing to share.

Treat yourself to the MOKI experience and join in on the pleasures of simply BEing - as you step into one of the most unexpected and incongruous places in a popup sauna camp in the green ribbon park next to the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Glad we had this...

Great idea, mediocre execution.

We went for two hours with a group of three. I enjoyed the experience, felt better, and would be definitely do it again, just not here.

Issues: There are three bathrooms. These serve as bathrooms, private changing areas, and showers. It's not enough. Especially at the top and bottom of the hour when people are leaving and coming in, a line forms. We went to shower 15 min before our slot ended, and by the time we got out, there was a line of five people waiting to shower/change/use the bathroom. They also get a lot of use, of the three, one toilet wasn't working, one shower handle was functional but broken, and one stall had no shower soap/shampoo.

There are three cold plunge baths. One 1 person, one 1.5 person, and one 2-3 person. Given the 22 slots open at any given time, this means there's often not a cold plunge available. You have to strategically wait in the sauna for one to become available. The temperature also varied quite a bit depending on if they had just been re filled or not. Finally, they have signs asking you show rinse before entering, but there are no showers near the plunges. You have to walk through the changing area, and potentially wait in line (see above). The result, no one rinses before going in.

The saunas were nice, one small (3 people), one medium (6ish) and one large (10 ish). The small and medium ones open directly to the outside. The issue is with people regularly come in and out, and them getting a lot of use, the door opens frequently and does not close tightly. The large sauna has an ante chamber with a second door and was the only way that...

Love this place! We were skeptical because we can be sauna snobs, but from the first visit we were hooked. If you are looking for a relaxing and welcoming space to get some wood fired heat in a convenient location, def check it out! All the employees have been gracious and helpful, even when it's busy. We went so often in such a short time that we decided to get monthly passes which we used at least 2 times a week for all of January and February.

This is a pop up, not a permanent location, so it's not like a hotel spa or Icelandic lagoon. It's kind of like if you complained about a food truck not having tables, well, yeah, it's a food truck not a restaurant. Moki is a pop up, not a brick and mortar business. That said, it's delivering above expectations- nice big waffle towels, slides, and a sitting towel. I recommend bringing a robe with you, but they are available there for $5. The changing area has private lockers to keep personal items safe, and a convenient water refill station.

There are 3 saunas, one small, one medium, one large. The medium one can get REALLY hot and there's a great outdoor shower just outside for cooling down and rinsing off. The big one is always friendly and social, and the little one is good for a cozy hang. There are water buckets for a good steam and they often have an appealing aromatherapy scent like birch or eucalyptus.

There's also a little fire pit to hang out at in between sweat sessions and 3 cold plunges for the brave.

I've brought my mom and friends from out of town who have all really enjoyed it. I hope they find a permanent spot or at least come back...