Entry No. 41 — the Charlotte file — filed under: bathhouse
Sunday Hotsprings
Sunday Hotsprings is a fully immersive, high-end social bathhouse that brings communal thermal bathing culture to Charlotte. The beautifully designed space features a traditional dry sauna, an herbal eucalyptus steam room, a polar plunge, and a heated saltwater leisure pool.
The story
Long before hot-and-cold contrast therapy landed on Palmer Street, the brick structure at 420 West Palmer spent nearly a century housing Charlotte Saw & Knife Co., where workers sharpened industrial saw blades for local woodworkers starting back in 1930. When the space was reimagined as a communal bathhouse, it initially opened as Bathhouse CLT in the summer of 2025 before rebranding to Sunday Hotsprings to clear up confusion with an unrelated New York City bathhouse chain.
The concept stems from a 2012 visit to a Russian banya tucked into an off-grid setup in Portland, Oregon. After relocating to Charlotte in 2021, the founder noticed that South End's wellness options were heavily weighted toward solo infrared sweat pods. Sunday Hotsprings was constructed to bring authentic communal thermal bathing to the Queen City—combining traditional dry heat, eucalyptus steam, cold immersion, and social lounge space under one roof.
What it's like
You pull up to an understated brick industrial building on Palmer Street, check in with your reservation, and step into a dark-toned thermal sanctuary. The move here is cycling loops: fifteen minutes sweating in the dry sauna or taking in the aroma of the herbal eucalyptus steam room, a sudden shock in the polar plunge tub, and a lazy float in the warm saltwater leisure pool. It is designed as a social bathhouse for quiet conversation rather than enforced silent isolation, though you won't find alcohol on tap. Lock in your two-hour pass online in advance—walk-ins are not accommodated—and wrap up your thermal reset at the lounge bar with a cold draft kombucha.
The move: Book a 2-hour full-access pass to alternate between the intense heat of the dry sauna and the polar plunge, then wind down together with draft kombucha at the lounge bar.
- 📍 South End
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 420 W. Palmer St., Charlotte, NC 28203
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Green Room at Lincoln Street — Walk two blocks down the street after your bathhouse circuit to sip a craft cocktail inside Lincoln Street's tiny, plant-filled pocket bar.
- Blume Studios — Pair your thermal reset with high-tech immersive art inside a repurposed pipe foundry warehouse just 0.3 miles away.
- Nebel's Alley Night Market — Follow up an afternoon spa session with an evening stroll under string lights at this nearby South End open-air market.
- Firebird ("Disco Chicken") — Head half a mile north toward Uptown post-plunge to stand beneath Niki de Saint Phalle's 17.5-foot mirrored mosaic sculpture.
Good to know
Do I need to book a reservation in advance?
Yes, reservations are required. Full-access passes are issued in timed two-hour blocks to keep capacity controlled and uncrowded.
What amenities are included with a full-access pass?
A pass includes access to the traditional dry sauna, herbal eucalyptus steam room, polar plunge bath, heated saltwater leisure pool, and the lounge bar.
How much does a two-hour session cost?
A single two-hour full-access pass costs $77. Monthly shareable memberships are also available starting at $165 per month.
Why was the venue previously called Bathhouse CLT?
The venue originally opened under the name Bathhouse CLT in summer 2025, but rebranded to Sunday Hotsprings in late 2025 to avoid brand confusion with New York City's Bathhouse.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Axios
last checked: 2026-07-21