Checking In With 'Onsen,' The Tenderloin's Japanese Bathhouse And Restaurant

Checking In With 'Onsen,' The Tenderloin's Japanese Bathhouse And RestaurantPhoto: Raquel Venancio Marins Photography/Onsen
Alisa Scerrato
Published on May 25, 2017

Since opening its doors late last year, Onsen—the Tenderloin’s Japanese-inspired bathhouse and restaurant—is thriving.

Business has been strong since the space opened last year, owner Caroline Smith told us. “People have been coming and enjoying the communal atmosphere and opportunity to be social with their peers," she said, noting that the restaurant took longer to catch on than the bath facilities.

Onsen owners Caroline Smith and Sunny Simmons. | Photo: Molly Decoudreaux

One high point was when influential critic Michael Bauer raved about Onsen's restaurant, deeming it “the best kind of happy ending."

"The Bauer review was very supportive and we feel grateful that it was so positive," said Smith, adding that the article helped get the word out to people that might not have considered going to the Tenderloin to dine or go to a bathhouse and restaurant. 

Onsen is now attracting a broad demographic, with younger couples and groups in their 20s and early 30s coming in on weekday nights, and older couples and groups coming in on the weekends. The team—comprised of Smith and her husband, Sunny Simmons—have noticed that more guests from the East Bay and surrounding areas have come out to Onsen, and they attribute it to Bauer's review.

“Now around half of our guests just come to eat dinner,” Smith said. ”We are picking up on weekdays. Weekends are busier and we have seen a lot more guests making reservations ahead of time.”

Their biggest challenge so far has been offering massage treatments. “It's been difficult to get our concept out to qualified therapists," she told us. "We are still looking for therapists wanting to rent our treatment spaces and build their own massage businesses. As of now, we still working to fill our demand for massage.”

Onsen also recently added to its existing offerings—which include a soaking room and alternative medicine treatments—with a new room that hosts private events and sake tastings.

Onsen's new sake tasting room. | Photo: Raquel Venancio Marins Photography

Able to seat up to 12 people, the new space features a tatami mat floor, Japanese style chairs, and a low table made of oak with a couch and display table at opposite ends of the room.

Guests will be able to rent out the space for $325 an hour, with a minimum of two hours. Sake flights are $15 per flight, which includes three different pours, while sake tastings—which require a minimum of six guests—are $70 per person, with nine pours served by Smith. From Wednesday through Sundays, between 5:30-9:30pm, bento box meals will be available for $25 per person.

Groups renting out the space can also reserve the baths, which costs $840 on weekdays and $980 on weekends. 

Sakes at Onsen. | Photo: Grace Sagar

The neighborhood has welcomed the new business. “We have regular guests from the neighborhood and from around the city, who drop in and relax after work,” she said.

She also pointed out that she and Simmons were at 466 Eddy almost every day for four years while building it out. Because of their regular presence in the neighborhood, they were able to develop strong relationships with neighbors and fellow small businesses.

“[They've] shown a lot of support after watching us finally transition into an operating business,” she said.