Hot Spell Sauna in Milwaukee

We welcome back SaunaTimes coorespondent Kev who brings us to Milwaukee for Hot Spell sauna. Welcome Kev!

If Pabst Blue Ribbon is the beer that made Milwaukee famous, Hot Spell Sauna will be the sauna that makes Milwaukee famous!

A little over a year after first reviewing Hot Spell, I returned with a dozen friends to check out the new location and upgrades. While I enjoyed my visit last year, this experience knocked it out of the park. Hot Spell has made significant improvements.

Now located at McKinley Marina on Milwaukee’s Lakefront, they’ve added a second Voyageur Sauna, both waiting on the water’s edge. The aroma of an oak fire invites you to the saunas and relaxation areas that are both beautiful and functional. Stacks of wood surround the outdoor relaxation area, which is interspersed with firepits and seating. A small, converted woodshed serves as drop off for gear and personal belongings.

The two saunas and heat were excellent. It’s a given that when there’s a Voyageur Sauna, the heat and loyly are going to be fantastic. The Kuuma wood-burning stove fires the original sauna I reviewed last year. Another stove was cranking in the new sauna. My crew went back and forth and loved the heat from both.

The crystal-clear waters of Lake Michigan served as cold plunge. A quick walk down the ramp and you’re plunging with views of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan. Hot Spell keeps the walk to the water safe and effortless with heated rubber mats. No ice. No slipping. Brilliant! The day we visited, strong winds pushed waves over the harbor breakwaters, but our little cove stayed protected. It was as calm as a backyard pool.

Our sauna attendants, Rachel and Anna, kept the fires stoked with restaurant-quality kiln dried red oak. When not tending fires, they kept a keen eye on the lake plungers. In addition to being friendly and attentive, they both appreciated…and could talk…good sauna.

Hot Spell Owner Jamie Meyer has dialed in the details. Beautiful location, ample parking, heated mats, kiln-dried high-quality oak, protected and heated changing areas, excellent service, and a spotless sauna were just some of the things that made this experience great. We enjoyed a great afternoon, and I can’t think of anything that would make for a better sauna experience.

My friends, this is a destination sauna. From the heat to the plunge to the outdoor ambiance, Hot Spell ranks as one of the best public saunas I’ve experienced. Milwaukee is an amazing city with great restaurants, breweries, museums, sports, and now top-level sauna. Individual social sessions run $37. Private sessions, multi-visit packages and monthly memberships are also available.