KOSA Wellness Spa & Retreat

Kosa surpassed our expectations from the start. It is not just a spa, but a full on wellness experience where you are able to truly relax. We loved our private sauna/steam room along with our services. Their space is incredible and so welcoming that you feel relaxed right from the start. This was exactly what we needed after a stressful winter week. Would love to go back!

I recently tried the new Scalp Ritual at Kosa Spa in Madison, WI and it was such an amazing experience! The atmosphere of this spa always leaves me feeling calm and is incredibly relaxing. The Scalp Ritual itself was so soothing and unlike anything I’ve had before. The process felt both therapeutic and luxurious — the scalp cleansing, massage, and nourishing treatments left my scalp feeling refreshed and my hair incredibly soft and healthy. The staff was also extremely knowledgeable and explained each step of the treatment, which made it feel very personalized. I left feeling relaxed, refreshed, and like my scalp and hair had a complete reset. If you’re looking for something unique and deeply relaxing, I highly recommend trying the scalp ritual at Kosa Spa.

My first time in the sauna and steam room at Kosa. The facilities were small but clean and nice with hydration water and a cold essential oil washcloth provided. There is room for no more than 6 people and that would feel close. The reason for my low rating is three fold. When I arrived the attendant at the front desk said she would come and turn on the steam room right away. She never came so about 20 minutes in - I turned it on myself. It was cold so I had to wait for it to warm. Also - I wanted to take a break from the heat and rest for bit before coming back to it but all the chairs in the santuary were indoor furniture with padding so I couldn't sit in my wet swimsuit, even with a robe and towel. I sugget they put some water-ready seating in there for sauna guests. Lastly - there is a forced gratuity of 18%, which seems high as there was noone interacting with me and I had to turn on the steam room myself. What is the tip for? $55 isn't bad for access to the space so I might go back and try again.

I don’t know what National Geographic was thinking when they named this place “Best in the World.” Others have said it, and it’s true - the lounge is awkward, the couches are dirty, and the plants are on the brink of death. I booked their most expensive treatment, the Vata Pacifying Ritual, and it overwhelmingly underdelivered. The practitioner, who was clearly not licensed to perform this type of work, couldn’t regulate the oil temperature. First, she burned me; then, the oil was completely cold. When I shell out $500 and the website lists a massage, complete with a massage intake form - I expect a full massage. Instead, I received a three-minute oily belly rub. I should have realized something was off when the practitioner kept trying to sell me their in-house products at every opportunity. If you’re looking for genuine relaxation or an enjoyable spa experience, go literally anywhere else.. Kneeded Relief, Bergamot, D-Chai, Saunaday, anywhere but here. I shared my experience with the business owner, and after being left on read for over a week, I noticed they quietly changed the service description on their website. When I called them out, they tried to gaslight me by claiming it was all in my head, and even stated that my ear being burned with hot oil was my fault. When I pushed the issue further, the best they could offer was a measly 10% credit, as if I would ever return. A 10% refund doesn’t even cover the mandatory gratuity they force on their guests. The owner came off as dismissive and self righteous.

As a long time resident of Madison and someone who made their career in the customer service industry, customer reviews are extremely important, so here is mine, transparent and unfiltered. Kosa Spa has been brought up numerous times in our social network so my wife and I decided to celebrate our birthdays with a spa day at Kosa. I should also mention that we're very familiar with other spas, pricing, massages, etc. The spa is located in an industrial building which is beautiful, and I love industrial style, but it doesn't feel like a building that was built for a spa, it feels like a spa that was stuck into a building, but you can tell the owner has done their best to create a good energy in it. My wife and I got 75-minute massages and both agreed they felt great. The massage therapist went over which oil would work best with our body chemistry and they were warm and friendly in nature. The massage was very relaxing and they did a great job. The part that isn't so great are the small bumps I got all over my chest and back that are dry and itchy which are now slowly disappearing after 5 days. I'm not allergic to anything and rarely have any skin issues so that seemed odd to me. We went on a Tuesday so we were able to use the sauna & steam room for free, but any other day and there would be a $60 up charge which isn't worth it in my opinion. They were small and nothing out of the ordinary, but the teas they provided were great. The sanctuary is a moderately open size space with a lot of natural night which is nice. If I'm being really honest, the cushions on the couch were very dirty, which makes sense because everyone is sitting down after getting slathered in oils from their treatments, but it's an area that could use attention. I also thought the furniture had the overall aesthetic and vibe but felt like it was from Wayfair, and for the prices we're paying I have high standards. Our two 75-minute massages came to $550, and if we would've gone on a different day the steam room/spa would've pushed it over $600. That's not including any products. This feels extremely expensive for the experience received. I don't want to put down a local business, we're all trying to support each other in our local community, but I have to real. There was a sign by the front door that said National Geographic rated it as one of the best spas in the world in 2024, so I expect a phenomenal experience. My wife had a good experience overall but said she liked certain aspects of Sundara more. And personally, I would rather go to Kohler Spa. So overall, we had a good experience, but not going to be a place we go back to for a long time because of pricing, small steam room/sauna, and lack of a cold plunge.