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 for Christmas Day!
Bathhouse Hours
9:00am to 9:30pm
9am is our first bathhouse session of the day.
8pm is our last session of the day.
*All sessions run for 90 mins, and are booked every hour on the hour.
The Banya Cafe & Front Bar
We open at 8:30am daily for smoothies, pastries, and amazing coffee!
We also serve our full breakfast menu until 11am and our full dining menu for lunch and dinner from 11:00am to 8:30pm
Bathhouse Dining Spaces
Our Bathhouse dining spaces are exclusive to bathhouse guests, however we welcome all guests to dine inside the bathhouse dining spaces during the times below.
Monday to Thursday for breakfast until 11:00am, after 6pm for dinner.
Friday to Sunday after 6pm for dinner.
Our reception hours are 8:30am to 8:15pm
These times are subject to change depending on our capacity in the bathhouse and can vary during peak periods.
The Kitchen & Bar close at 8:30pm every day.
Our breakfast menu is served until 11:00am daily and our dining menu from 11:00am to 8:30pm daily.
Massage Bookings
We have 5 beautiful treatment rooms.
Our first booking is at 10:00am and our last booking is 6:10pm
The massage sessions are 60 minutes.
Q: How long is a Bathhouse session?
A: Your session runs for 90 minutes. Please be mindful that if you arrive late for your session, unfortunately that time may come off your session time as we do need to manage our capacity in order for all guests to have a pleasant experience.
*We don’t like to interrupt your relax mode! So may we please ask that you kindly respect the 90 minute time limit. Guests overstaying their allocated time slot can significantly impact the experience for others
Q: How can I make a booking?
A: All bookings are made online. The booking systems will ask for your card details to secure your booking but nothing is charged until arrival, unless you are a no show. Unfortunately we are 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 – but payment is done on arrival. Your card details are securely saved at the time of booking.
*Please be mindful that group bookings are processed in one payment. We can split one cash payment 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 dining spaces within the bathhouse. Our bathhouse space is exclusive to guests who have booked the bathhouse only. (See times above)
This means you can always find a seat to wind down pre or post soak, and enjoy our delicious fresh 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 are licensed at 18+, making The Banya a peaceful, adults-only sanctuary.
Q: Is there parking at The Banya?
A: There is plenty of 1 hour street parking nearby (not ticketed), but for all-day spots – head past the Australia Post office on Burringbar street, there is all day parking without signs around Gordon street.
Q: Can I book a private event or a group experience.
A: Absolutely! From Bathhouse dips to massages, food, day beds, and more – we’ll help you make it unforgettable. Please see our Experiences page for more information.
Q: Do you run regular events at The Banya?
A: Plans to expand our offering are underway, and we are introducing some movement and breath classes with our morning bathhouse sessions from March 2026. We are always looking at ways to expand our offering for you to enjoy our beautiful space in more ways than just a soak!
Q: Can I sip by the pool?
A: For safety, hygiene (and comfy toes), we keep all food, drinks and glassware indoors – outside is glass-free, barefoot paradise. We do provide still and sparkling water on tap in non-glassware for you to 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’ve got the rest sorted!
Please kindly leave your skin & body products at home – wearing them in our pool can affect our water quality. There are some beautiful palms around the pools and plenty of seating for you to enjoy some shade, no matter the time of day.
Q: Do you have lockers?
A: Of course we do! Our lockers are code set lockers and they are fun sized so we suggest leaving your bigger bags and belongings at home, and only bring with you what you need.
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 call to speak to 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 do private events 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, group bookings and any marketing or collaboration enquiries.
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 policy in place, as 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.
Our Terms and Conditions must be read and agreed to at the time of booking.
For any further support, please reach out to our reception team via email at hi@thebanya.com.au.
