A local couple is hoping to bring a new method of rest and relaxation to Arlington: Finnish saunas.
Entrepreneurs Steven and Kira Hu are currently scouting locations to launch Arlington Sauna, a “pop-up village” with wood fires and cold plunges based on a popular practice in Finland.
“It’s still new to a lot of people, but it’s starting to enter the mainstream conversation in a big way,” Steven Hu told ARLnow. “It gives people a unique third space to reconnect, lower stress, and improve their health in a simple 30 to 45 minute session.”
The couple envisions a roughly 1,000-square-foot outdoor space “within the downtown Arlington corridor” where people can step into a 185-degree sauna, come back into the cold winter air, and either jump into a cold plunge or return for more time in the heat. They’re currently looking at different mobile saunas, in the hopes of launching in the first half of 2026.
“We’re refining how to curate a space that feels fun, intimate, and family-friendly,” Hu said. “Our primary focus is intentional and we really want to deliver great sauna experiences and give people a place to unstress and catch up with friends and family.”
Hu’s interest in saunas came out of a stressful time in his life, when he was starting his first job back in 2010. What started as an addition to his fitness routine later became something much more, he said.
“Meeting up with friends for a sauna gave me a real reset during the week,” Hu said. “That regular sauna ritual helped me manage stress, focus better, and honestly just feel happier and more balanced overall.”
Arlington Sauna intends to offer a limited number of monthly memberships ($100 for a single, $200 for a family) as well as day passes starting at $45.
The couple is currently “in conversations with a few potential locations,” but likely won’t have a concrete update for a few months.
In the meantime, people can join Arlington Sauna’s waitlist to receive regular updates. Hu said the list already has over 700 members.
