Key Takeaways
A Burger King in Helsinki has introduced an in-store spa featuring a sauna.
This is the world’s first fast-food spa.
Patrons can order food and drinks directly to the sauna.
The location recently received an award for New Concepts in Food Service.
We’ve all heard of the infamous meat sweats.
But at this Burger King in Finland, they might just kick in from enjoying your Whopper in the sauna.
As nude dining emerges as Europe’s most quirky food trend—evidenced by a London restaurant’s staggering waiting list of 37,000—the Mannerheimintie branch of Burger King has boldly opened an in-store spa.
This innovative concept includes a sauna accommodating up to 15 people, as well as a shower room, lockers, and a media lounge featuring a television and gaming facilities.
Guests can lounge on bright blue and red benches in the sauna, possibly draped in a Burger King towel or robe, while indulging in some gaming or watching TV amidst the comforting steam.
If the heat has stirred your appetite, servers make the rounds in the sauna, ready to take your food and drink orders.
You can savor a meal that’s as flame-grilled as your skin, though your fries might not fare too well in the humidity.
Alternatively, you might find yourself inclined to pour that ice-cold Giant Coke over your head for a refreshing reprieve.
Sounds odd?
In Finland, where there’s one sauna for every three people, this practice is a vital part of the culture.
Saunas serve as spaces for relaxation, socializing, and even conducting business meetings—last year, they even earned their own emoji.
The Burger King spa, designed by Finnish creative Teuvo Loman, has just been recognized with an award for New Concepts in Food Service by Euromonitor, which noted it as “a powerful example of localization.”
So while this spa might seem unusual, it hardly stands as the oddest fast-food innovation this month.
That distinction perhaps belongs to Kentucky Fried Chicken’s new “finger-lickin’ good” edible nail polish.
If you’re contemplating a unique venue for a birthday party, bar mitzvah, or corporate retreat, the sauna is up for private hire at the reasonable rate of 250 euros ($283) for three hours.
Don’t lose track of your towels, though; there’s a 38-euro fee for any that don’t make it back.
Burger King, Mannerheimintie 12, 00100 Helsinki, Finland; +358 20 7701800
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