Embrace North
Couples sauna, MinneapolisOpen
Embrace North is open. Rated 4.7★ from 137 Google reviews; the newest review is from November 2026.
- 4.7★Average rating
- 137reviews
- November 2026Newest review
Updated 13 November 2026
-
Details
- Mon05:30–21:15
- Tue05:30–21:15
- Wed05:30–21:15
- Thu05:30–21:15
- Fri05:30–21:15
- Sat06:30–20:30
- Sun06:30–18:00
- Status
- Open
- Address
- 811 SE 9th St Unit 3C, Minneapolis, MN 55414
- Phone
- +1612-367-7938
- Website
- embracenorth.com
- Newest review
- November 2026
Something wrong or out of date? Send a correction
Before you go
- Parking
Park in either of the nearby lots or on the street; the main entrance is on the west side of the building.
- Arriving
Look for the First Timers sign at the front desk when you arrive; fill out a short waiver on the iPad and a staff member will show you around.
- First visit
Your first 2 sessions are free via the Embrace North app—no credit card needed. Bring a towel and water bottle; the facility sells these if you forget. A good start is 10–15 minutes in the sauna, then a short dip in the cold plunge, repeated for two or three rounds at your own pace.
- Dress code
Wear a swimsuit or workout clothes (clothing is required the whole time); bring sandals or water shoes but leave outside shoes by the door.
- Prices
Membership is $49.95 per month for unlimited visits at both Minneapolis and Denver locations, or $27.50 per single drop-in.
- Facilities
Three electric saunas, a 9-person cold plunge, changing rooms, showers, plenty of lockers, and water refill stations. The facility is closed the second Tuesday of each month for deep cleaning.
-
About Embrace North
Modern venue building exterior and entrance 
Venue entrance and exterior building facade Google 
Modern venue entrance with blue accent lighting Google Photos from the venue's own website, embracenorth.com. Photos marked Google come from Google Maps contributors. Your photo? Ask us to remove it.
Embrace North is a sauna and cold plunge bathhouse in a converted industrial building in the Marcy Holmes neighbourhood, near Dinkytown and the University of Minnesota. The club's own website says it opened in 2021 with the philosophy that sauna and cold plunge should be accessible like a gym, not a luxury. A typical session lasts an hour: most people alternate between the saunas (at 190–200°F) and the 9-person cold plunge (at 40–45°F) over two or three rounds, moving at their own pace.
The vast majority of reviews praise the welcoming community, friendly staff, and genuine health benefits—members report improved recovery, mood and energy. The facility is straightforward: three saunas, cold plunge, changing rooms, showers and plenty of lockers. Pricing is honest at $49.95 a month for unlimited visits, or $27.50 per drop-in; your first two sessions are free. However, recent reviews raise a serious concern about the owner's handling of a conduct issue, with complaints that the owner dismissed safety concerns and responded dismissively to negative feedback.
The place suits people serious about wellness and community—locals, students, athletes in recovery, and anyone curious about sauna culture. The social atmosphere is warm and encouraging for first-timers. The overall picture is excellent on facilities and value, but the owner's recent responses to legitimate complaints are a red flag worth considering.
- Who goes
- Mix of locals and students, including athletes in recovery, morning regulars, and wellness-focused visitors of various ages.
- How opinion has moved
- Opinion remained very positive through 2026 until two October–November reviews raised serious concerns about conduct policies and owner communication, darkening an otherwise glowing track record.
- Prices mentioned
- Very affordable; free intro packages available
What guests love
- Staff are genuinely kind, helpful and knowledgeable, especially with first-timers and newcomers.
- The health benefits are real and noticeable, including improved recovery from injury, better mood and energy, and relief from sore muscles.
- The pricing is fair and honest compared to other sauna facilities in the Twin Cities, making it accessible like a gym.
- The community is welcoming, supportive and social, with many members bringing friends and family back again.
- The facility layout is well-designed with plenty of space, good amenities (changing rooms, lockers, showers), and the saunas reach the perfect temperature.
- The cold plunge experience, while challenging, is described as exhilarating and mentally strengthening, especially when shared with friends.
What guests complain about
- The space can get very busy and noisy during peak hours (early evening), making it hard to relax or meditate due to warehouse-style acoustics.
- The quiet sauna is positioned between two social saunas, so it does not provide true quiet or isolation from noise.
- The front sauna has a large window facing the cold plunge area, creating an awkward dynamic where people in the plunge are visible to passersby on a bench outside.
- Recent reviews allege that management has failed to address or ban individuals displaying hateful insignia, creating a serious safety and values concern.
- The owner has responded dismissively to low-star reviews raising legitimate safety concerns, rather than engaging seriously with the complaints.
-
Club facts, checked against sources
1 of 7 facts confirmed by two or more independent sources. Each fact shows who says it. Confirmed = two or more independent sources agree. Prices are per night at the door and change, so check the date.
- Membership
- Paid membership Club says Club website ×2 · November 2026
- Open on
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday Confirmed Club website · November 2026Google Maps · November 2026
- Facilities
- Sauna, Lockers, Showers Club says Club website · November 2026
- Parking
- Street Club says Club website · November 2026
- Wheelchair access
- Yes Other sources say Google Maps · November 2026
- Minimum age
- 18 Club says Club website · November 2026
- Closed for good
- No Club says Club website · November 2026
Latest reviews from every source
This place is good medicine. Gabe was so kind and helpful to first timers. The community is kind. Truly an embrace of an experience
Deeply saddened and disgusted by the Nazi insignias they refuse to ban. Never coming back.
Will let a man with a nazi insignia walk around freely in his facility. It tells you everything you need to know. Owner is responding with “you’re not in our system” if you leave a low rating review as well. A grown adult 😂
We went there for the first time last night and we loved it! Clean, very affordable, great staff, hit saunas and cold water!! Thank you!
Thanks to their free first 2session package, I tried ice bath for the first time in my life! The facility is simple and open-spaced, very easy to get into. I wish they expand in other cities too!
Embrace needs another location in Mpls or St Paul! It's got very hot saunas, very cold plunge, nice showers and good community. Overall good value, but a little small/busy at times.
Great sauna and cold plunge establishment- I’ll be back!
I think this place is the best in the twin cities for the reasonable pricing compared to others being absurdly overpriced. I went in the early evening which was a very busy time and I think next time I’ll try a morning / quieter time. It was not a place I could meditate / zone out due to it being very noisy and the warehouse type acoustics making sound travel. The quiet sauna is in between the two not-quiet saunas so…
Sources we checked
- Google Maps 4.8★ from 1365 reviews readnewest July 2026
- Google reviews 10 reviews readnewest November 2026
Review history
Each dot is one dated Google review (15 with stars). The line is the running average. Does the owner answer?
The owner is actively engaged and passionate about wellness (according to older positive reviews), but recent complaints indicate the owner has responded dismissively to serious concerns raised in low-star reviews rather than addressing them substantively.
Rating spread
Written from the venue's newest Google reviews and its own website. We paraphrase, we never quote guests, and we never name anyone.
Sources for this text: Google Maps, Google reviews, the club's own website, every review we hold.
Other clubs nearby
-
1
Ground Zero Nightclub
4.2★415 reviews
Ground Zero is Minneapolis's premier alternative nightclub in Northeast, open Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to 2am. The club's own website describes it as a dance venue with bondage shows, DJs, and performance art in a permanently gothic setting with zombies, gargoyles, and wrought iron.
-
2
Midwest Euphoria
Midwest Euphoria runs hotel takeover events in the Shakopee area, where the venue takes over a hotel for themed weekends that draw couples and singles into a secure, vetted environment.
-
3
Avatan
4.4★75 reviews
Avatan is Minnesota's largest nudist club, set on 40 acres of woodland just 30 minutes north of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
-
4
Two Creeks Campground
4.8★81 reviews
Two Creeks is a 100-acre clothing-optional campground for adults 21+ near Sandstone, Minnesota, set in a secluded northwoods setting with two creeks, tall trees and a strong sense of community.
-
5
Xusocial
XU Social Club is a private, members-only lifestyle community based in Land O' Lakes that hosts curated social events for open-minded adults seeking connection and community.
Join the list
New clubs, closures, the best-rated rooms each season, private event invites and the apps worth your time. We only email when there is something worth saying.