about us
An Immersive Social, Bathing, & Dining Experience.
Built upon the sun-baked bricks of a 1920’s bank, The Banya is a modern experiential twist on a traditional European bathhouse — a first of its kind in the heart of Mullumbimby.
The Banya’s owner and local Hotelier, Brenden Lawless, wanted to breathe new life into the space while preserving the original building. His strong local footholds, business acumen, and appreciation for old-world style have allowed him to bring this spectacular concept to fruition.
In Europe going to the banya is a social experience, it's a part of the culture. While we might go to a social club, cafe or a restaurant, they’ll go to the banya for a few hours: it's food, it's drinks, it's wellness and connecting" - Brenden Lawless
The Bathhouse features a lap pool, two hot mineral pools, a wood-fired sauna, a steam room and a cold plunge. There are 5 massage treatment rooms and a rooftop sundeck for post-treatment relaxation.
After the Bathhouse, guests are encouraged to stay for a long lunch or enjoy a few drinks with friends. The on-site bar and dining are focused on casual refinement with small share plates and nutritious staples. Wine, cocktails and health elixirs round out the offering — all designed to enhance the bathhouse experience.
FAQ's
Q: What are your trading hours
A: We are open every day of the year — except Christmas Day!
Bathhouse Hours
9:00am–9:30pm daily
• First session: 9:00am
• Last session: 8:00pm
All sessions run for 90 minutes and begin on the hour.
Banya Café & Front Bar
Open daily from 8:30am
• Breakfast until 11:00am
• All day dining from 11:00am to 8:30pm
Kitchen & Bar close at 8:30pm.
Bathhouse Dining Spaces
Exclusive to bathhouse guests, with limited public access as per below times;
• Mon–Thurs: Breakfast until 11:00am & Dinner after 6:00pm
• Fri–Sun: Dinner after 6:00pm
*From early March our breakfast will now be finishing at 11:30am.
Reception Hours
8:30am–8:15pm
Hours may vary during peak periods depending on capacity.
Massage Bookings
We have 5 beautiful treatment rooms.
First booking: 10:00am
Last booking: 6:10pm
All sessions are 60 minutes.
Q: How long is a bathhouse session?
A: 90 minutes of soak time bliss!
If you arrive late, your session time may be reduced to keep things flowing for everyone. We promise not to interrupt your relax mode, so please be mindful of your 90-minute window
Q: How can I make a booking?
A:All bookings are made online. Your card secures the booking, but payment isn’t taken until arrival (unless you’re a no-show). We’re unable to take bookings via email.
Q: I booked online but nothing’s been taken from my card.
A: That’s right! Your spot is saved — payment is made on arrival.
Group bookings are processed in one transaction (we can split one cash and one card payment per booking).
Q: Can I reserve a table in the bathhouse dining spaces?
A: We don’t reserve tables in the bathhouse dining areas — but they are exclusive to bathhouse guests. This means
there is always space to unwind pre or post-soak with something from our delicious menu, a cocktail, or a smoothie.
Q: Do I need to bring a towel?
A: Nope! We’ve got you covered – literally.
Q: Can I bring the little ones along?
A: We’re sorry, but not this time! We’re an 18+ sanctuary, designed for peaceful, adults-only relaxation.
Q: Can I book a private event or a group experience.
A: Absolutely! Soaks, massages, food, day beds & more — we’ll help you create something unforgettable. Visit our Experiences page for details.
Q: Do you run regular events at The Banya?
A: We are introducing movement and breath classes with our 9am bathhouse sessions from early March 2026. We are always dreaming up new ways for you to enjoy our beautiful space!
Q: Can I sip by the pool?
A: For safety (and happy toes), all food, drinks and glassware stay indoors.
Poolside is barefoot and glass-free. We provide still and sparkling water in non-glassware so you can stay hydrated during your session.
Q: What should I bring with me?
A: We suggest to travel light, bring your swimmers, a wide-brim hat, sunnies, thongs or waterproof shoes – we’ll take care of the rest!
Please kindly leave your skin & body products at home – wearing them in our pool can affect our water quality.
Please leave body products and jewellery at home to protect our water (and your sparkle).
Q: Where do I go when I arrive?
A: We have a map on our contact page to help you find your way. Once you arrive at The Banya Bathhouse, head to reception to check in.
We highly suggest arriving at a minimum of 15 minutes before your booking time, particularly for massage bookings to allow for traffic and peak-time check-ins.
Massage booking times are when your treatment begins — so give yourself time to settle in and wind down before your treatment.
Q: Is there parking at The Banya?
A: There is plenty of 1 hour street parking nearby (un-ticketed), but for all-day parking – head past the Australia Post office on Burringbar street, you’ll find unrestricted spots around Gordon Street.
Q: Can I bring food or drink inside the Bathhouse?
A: The Banya is a licensed venue. We don’t allow food or drink from outside including any glassware around the pools so please leave your glass water bottles at home. We provide you with fresh still and sparkling water on tap to use in the pool area for you to stay hydrated during your session.
Q: Do you have lockers?
A: We sure do! They are code set lockers and they are fun sized (about 40cm both high and wide) so we suggest leaving your bigger bags and belongings at home.
Q: Can I reserve an area
A: You sure can! We have options that include food, drinks, and a private spot just for your group. Please email our friendly reception team to enquire about these options.
Q: Is The Banya Bathhouse accessibility-friendly?
A: Our venue offers wheelchair access upon entry. We also have handrails on all 3 of our square pools; the cold plunge and the two hot pools. Our lap pool is accessed via shallow steps which allow a gradual entry. While there is no handrail the step design allows for easy and stable access. Please reach out ahead of your visit if you have any questions.
Q: Do you sell gift vouchers?
A: Yes! A Banya Bathhouse gift voucher is the ultimate gift for relaxation and self-care indulgence. Our vouchers can be purchased online by following this link, or in person with our reception team at The Banya in Mullumbimby.
*Please note that gift vouchers are non-refundable.
Q: Do you allow venue hire or photoshoots?
A: Please contact our welcoming reception team at hi@thebanya.com.au to discuss any details or questions you may have around private events, venue hire, photoshoots and any marketing or collaboration enquiries. As we have multiple offerings in our space, these requests are very carefully curated in a way that aim not to impact our guest experience
Q: I need to cancel or change my booking. What should I do?
A: We treat self-care and wellness as a priority, and we understand that circumstances can sometimes change unexpectedly. While we always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible, we do have a firm cancellation & rescheduling policy in place, and you can find all other information outlined in our Terms and Conditions.
Bookings can be cancelled or amended by logging into your online profile or by contacting us at hi@thebanya.com.au.
Please note:
Massage bookings require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice for cancellations or rescheduling.
Bathhouse bookings require 24 hours’ notice for cancellations and 3 hours’ notice for rescheduling.
If less than 24 hours’ notice is provided for bookings that include a massage, the massage component will be charged in full.
A reminder that we recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early for all bookings.
Our Terms and Conditions must be read and agreed to at the time of booking and can be read here
For any further support, please reach out to our reception team via email at hi@thebanya.com.au.
