A Social Seaside Sauna Experience at Soul Water Sauna Granton, Edinburgh

Soul Water Sauna Granton in Edinburgh combines heat, cold water and a social atmosphere – and this time, I was bringing my fiancé along for his first experience. I wasn’t sure what he’d make of it, but I hoped he’d enjoy it as much as I have.

It was a misty start to the morning, and as we walked down towards the promenade, I wasn’t completely convinced.

First impressions

At first, it felt a bit industrial. Pebble beach, warehouses, not much else in sight. I had a brief moment of thinking, oh no…

But then we got closer.

Discovering The Pitt

We realised the sauna was part of The Pitt, and everything changed. Brightly painted containers, street food stalls, outdoor seating, a bar, even a big indoor warehouse space. It reminded us of places we’d visited in Copenhagen.

There was a real buzz with people walking dogs, cycling past, music and events being set up.

The sauna and cold plunges

The sauna space itself was open and welcoming. You could see people moving between the sauna, plunge pools and showers. There was a big tree at the side with a shower built underneath it, which felt like a really cool touch.

There were two saunas to choose from, cold plunge baths overlooking the sea, and a relaxed seating area. We were chatting to people almost straight away and it felt social and easy.

Inside the sauna, we were given orange slices, and outside there was orange-infused water. Small touches but very thoughtful.

This time, I surprised myself by getting straight in to the cold plunge, using the breathing technique I’d learned before. My fiancé took a bit longer to build up to it, but after talking him through it, he gave it a go and was soon fully in too, laughing by the end.

We got chatting to a mother and daughter who’d tried saunas in Helsinki, including dips in frozen lakes. It sounded intense, but also made me curious to read up on how the Scandinavians do saunas.

The whole session had a really social, open feel. Not private or tucked away, but lively and full of energy.

After the session

Afterwards, we sat in the lounge area with herbal tea, drying off naturally and chatting. I felt warm, relaxed, and in no rush to leave.

How it felt overall

This felt completely different to my previous sauna experiences. Less about quiet escape, more about socialising and fun vibes.

A great option if you enjoy a lively social setting, though it’s definitely more open than secluded.