Immersion is Imminent: Circle Wellness announces Seattle Debut
Circle Wellness, the Vancouver-born thermal spa concept, will open its first U.S. location this summer at 1326 N Northlake Way, just steps from Gas Works Park.
Blending ancient bathing traditions with modern automation, Circle Wellness offers private, self-guided thermal spa circuits designed to help guests disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with themselves and those closest to them.
In a category increasingly saturated with saunas and cold plunges, Circle Wellness offers something more holistic. The Circle Wellness experience has inspired a cult following in Vancouver, built almost entirely through word of mouth. Guests come back again and again — bringing loved ones, gifting sessions, and spreading the word about Circle Wellness — because of how it leaves them feeling: restored, lighter, and more connected.
More than a decade in the making, Circle Wellness emerged from an exploration of how light, sound, temperature, and materiality can shape the human experience. Inspired by the bathing cultures of Japan, Korea, and Northern Europe as well as the experiential aspects of the music and art scene, that work eventually evolved into Circle Wellness’ private thermal circuit experience, which includes a proprietary multi-sensory sauna design, known as the WellPod at the heart of it.
The concept first emerged in Vancouver in 2020, where a studio specialized in spa design quietly launched the outdoor showroom and prototype as an Airbnb experience. It quickly became one of the platform’s highest-rated wellness offerings. From there, demand grew steadily, leading to a 20,000-person waitlist ahead of the opening of Circle Wellness’ flagship Granville Island location in 2023.
Now, Circle Wellness is coming to Seattle.
“Seattle’s culture of wellness, nature and innovation made it the perfect place for our next chapter,” said Scott Emslie, co-founder and CEO of Circle Wellness. “We’re excited to introduce a completely new kind of spa experience here.”
The Seattle location will introduce the world’s first automated private thermal spa circuit to the U.S. Each session, designed for up to two guests, lasts ninety minutes or two hours. The private circuits are fully reset between sessions; tubs are drained, cleaned, and filled with fresh water for every guest, ensuring a pristine experience.
Hosts greet guests at the door and guide them to their private circuit, which includes a curated sequence of:
Open-air shower
Cedar soaking tub
The multi-sensory WellPod sauna
Cold plunge
Heated riverstones
Circle Wellness Seattle is expected to open in Summer 2026, with reservations opening one month prior. To learn more and sign up for updates, visit circlewellnessspas.com or follow @CircleWellnessSpas on Instagram.
About Circle Wellness
Circle Wellness is a private wellness experience inspired by bathing cultures around the world. Circle Wellness offers private circuits that blend temperature, design, and automation to help guests unplug and connect with themselves and those closest to them. The company’s flagship Vancouver location pioneered the world’s first automated private thermal spa concept. Circle Wellness locations are designed as hidden sanctuaries within city centres, offering immersive environments where guests can slow down and let go. Learn more at circlewellnessspas.com and @CircleWellnessSpas.
Circle Wellness Seattle
1326 N Northlake Way
Seattle, WA 98103
Email: seattle@circlewellnessspas.com