King Spa and Sauna Chicago

King Spa and Sauna sits inside the Civic Center Plaza in Niles, just outside Chicago proper, and functions as a full-day Korean bathhouse rather than a quick spa stop. The building holds 11 specialty saunas built from materials like oak, charcoal, clay, amethyst, Himalayan salt and 23K gold, each tied to a different heat therapy—from the Ice Room's cold air to the Fire Sudatorium at 390°F and the Bul Ga Ma Sauna, which the spa says reaches 800°F.

The bathhouse side covers the more traditional Korean bathing ritual: hot tubs, steam rooms and cold plunge pools meant for cycling between heat and cold. Gender-specific hours apply here, and the bathing areas operate on a clothing-optional basis, standard for this style of Korean spa. Walk-ins are welcome, and a day pass runs $45, giving access to the saunas, pools and relaxation lounges.

Beyond the wet and dry heat rooms, the property has quiet relaxation lounges for reading or resting between rounds, plus a dining area serving Korean and American dishes along with house-made juices and smoothies—useful since a proper visit here tends to run several hours. The signature treatment is the Korean Body Scrub, an exfoliation service tied to the country's traditional skincare practices; massage, facials and V-steam services are also offered as add-ons beyond the day pass.

This is an adults-only facility, and the price tier is on the affordable end for a spa of this scale. The listed hours show Sunday running the full 24 hours; check directly with King Spa for the schedule on other days, since gender-specific hours may also affect access times.