With icy temps in full swing, New Yorkers are searching for the best way to warm up this winter. Luckily, there’s been a recent boom of bathhouses opening across the city. But these aren’t your grandpa’s Russian shvitz centres – these are stylish and modern spas. Most have several types of saunas, as well as hot and cold baths of various temperatures (and buoyancies). Some even offer spa treatments, too. So, if you’re looking for an experience that won’t just rejuvenate and revitalize you, but also reheat you, these are the best new bathhouses in NYC.
QC NY, Governors Island
In 2022, this Italian-owned spa on Governors Island opened its massive outdoor pool with various bubbling and massage jets, plus several saunas, steam rooms, and hydrotherapies. And at the end of 2024, it launched its brand-new Building 111 with several new water experiences, including a cascading waterfall and eight relaxation rooms (think waterbeds and an ice room). A salt room and the Soil and Sea Rooms – two saunas that will vary in temperature – are slated to open later this year. The final addition is Casa QC, a 5,000-foot casual restaurant with skyline views.
112 Andes Rd, Governors Island, NY 10004
Bathhouse, Flatiron
The original Bathhouse in Williamsburg almost immediately outgrew its small space. So, last year, a new Flatiron location opened in a former parking garage (although you’d never know it). The sleek facilities of this bathhouse epitomise New York’s modern bathhouse age, with low lighting, neon pink accents, and lots of grey cement. There are multiple pools at various temperatures, two large saunas, a steam room, and a sizeable treatment area where you can get scrubs and massages. Try to experience a traditional aufguss ritual, held in the largest sauna several times a day.
14 West 22nd Street, NY 10010
AIRE Ancient Baths New York, Upper East Side
AIRE Ancient Baths, the beloved wellness destination in Tribeca known for its romantic setting and top-quality facilities, is introducing its second NYC destination this winter. Set on a quiet block of Manhattan's Upper East Side, the new location is housed in a historic building that was formerly a MoMA warehouse. Spread across two floors, AIRE Ancient Baths Upper East Side has an intimate feel, welcoming no more than 15 guests at a time – all of whom have free rein of the pools of varying temperatures, massage rooms, and a suspended flotarium (the brand’s first).
305 E 61st St, NY 10065
Othership, Flatiron
This new communal wellness space in the Flatiron District debuted with a 90-person performance sauna – the largest in New York City – and several cold plunges. This means that, unlike some other bathhouses, it never feels cramped or crowded here. Othership is all about encouraging social and communal interaction. It offers various group sessions, many of which incorporate live music and breathwork – but you can also attend a free flow, which allows use of the facilities at your own pace. There are also evening socials for more community-building and a tearoom with a fireplace to unwind in front of.
23 W 20th St, NY 10011
Akari, Williamsburg
This sleek space opened at the very end of 2023 in Williamsburg, sporting a Japanese aesthetic and lots of natural wood. You have to be a member to visit – or the guest of a member. But once inside, you’ll find two saunas – a smaller one that fits 6–8 people and a larger, hotter sauna that fits 10–12 people. If you’re seeking a little more solitude, there are also two small cold plunges, a cold rain shower, and a tea lounge to relax in.
202 Grand St, NY 11211
Elahni, Midtown
Elahni, which opened at the end of 2023, calls itself New York’s first wellness speakeasy. Aside from encouraging wellness through contrast therapy, it also aims to foster community through social experiences. It offers a signature, small-group temperature contrast session of one hour, which flows between the Finnish sauna and cold plunges. Guests are guided through breathwork and best practices during each session, which is offered several times a day. There’s also an adaptogenic tonic bar and evening sessions are especially social.
12 W 27th St, NY 10001
Winter Spa at The William Vale, Williamsburg
Once again, The William Vale hotel in Williamsburg has transformed its fourth-floor patio into a Scandinavian-inspired outdoor spa haven with epic city views. Open through March, its Winter Spa has cosy barrel saunas with windows onto the panoramic view of Manhattan’s skyline and deep-soaking red cedar hot tubs to relieve muscle strain, promote deeper sleep, and detoxify. Each 90-minute session is private for up to two people, and includes a complimentary warm beverage at on-site restaurant Leuca to enjoy after your sauna experience.
