Entry No. 31 — the Boston file — filed under: outdoor
Moki Sauna
A self-described "winter sauna village" of wood-fired barrel saunas (heated 170–190°F) and cedar cold-plunge tubs, originally a pop-up on the Rose Kennedy Greenway across from Boston Harbor Hotel before settling into year-round outdoor sites — Boston Magazine named it Best Outdoor Sauna.
The story
Before it became a year-round outdoor fixture tucked into South Boston and Allston, Moki Sauna began as a winter pop-up sitting on the Rose Kennedy Greenway directly across from the Boston Harbor Hotel. The concept was simple enough: park wood-fired barrel saunas and cedar cold-plunge tubs right in the middle of a New England winter, heat the interiors up to 170–190°F, and let people sweat in public.
Boston Magazine ended up naming it the city's Best Outdoor Sauna, and the operation expanded into permanent outdoor sites. Stepping into one of their cedar barrels feels like a strange defiance of urban Boston—you are sweating in a wood-scented cylinder off Dorchester Avenue while ambient traffic hums outside, preparing yourself for a plunge into unheated cedar tubs.
What it's like
You'll show up at an outdoor gravel-and-deck footprint surrounded by wood-barrel saunas and cedar plunge tubs. Expect the smell of burning wood and damp cedar. The routine is a simple, grueling loop: roast inside the sauna until you can barely stand it, step out into the crisp air, submense yourself in a cold cedar tub, and reset in the outdoor lounge area. Bring easy slip-on sandals, a water bottle, and double towels—one to sit on inside the barrel and one for drying off afterwards.
The move: Book a shared session, do three full heat/cold rotations together, and finish in the outdoor lounge area — sessions run about two hours and roughly $45–$60.
- 📍 South Boston / Allston, MA
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 385 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02127 (also 267 Western Ave, Allston)
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Shore Leave — Trade the 190-degree cedar barrel for a subterranean 'rum dungeon' sub-level lounge less than a mile away in the South End.
- Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) — Follow up an intense physical sweat with an equally intense mental puzzle by viewing genuinely atrocious, sincerely made paintings under a mile south in Dorchester.
- Boston Fire Museum — Keep the wood-and-smoke theme alive with a quick trip up to this volunteer-run 1891 Romanesque Revival firehouse in Fort Point.
Good to know
How hot are the saunas and how cold are the plunges?
The wood-fired barrel saunas run between 170°F and 190°F, while the cedar plunge tubs hold cold water designed for immediate post-sauna contrast.
How much does a session cost and how long does it last?
Social sessions generally run roughly two hours and cost between $45 and $60 per person.
Where are the locations?
The main South Boston site sits at 385 Dorchester Ave, with an additional outdoor location at 267 Western Ave in Allston.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · wcvb.com · Time Out
last checked: 2026-07-20