For some, the ideal day off might be spent shopping, taking a day trip, or reading a book from cover to cover. But me? I just want to soak. And steam. And sweat. And sip on cucumber water while wearing a cushy robe, preferably in a dimly lit spa with soothing music and scents wafting from above. There are of course a number of places that offer all these things in New York City, where I live, but none—in my opinion—are as luxurious, serene, and completely transportive as Aire Ancient Baths.
Originally hailing from Seville, Spain, the Aire Experience is inspired by ancient bathing rituals from the Roman, Greek, and Ottoman civilizations. Escaping to one of its cavernous spaces is like stepping into an otherworldly retreat, the frenzy of the city streets quickly becoming a distant memory. Immediately setting these baths apart from others is their atmosphere. "We try to invigorate every sense," says Andrea Trillo, Aire's Global Marketing Director. Each of Aire's nine locations (you'll find the spa in cities like Chicago, London, and Barcelona) features its own meditative soundtrack, illumination from the glow of hundreds of flickering candles, and a citrusy fragrance that evokes the Spanish countryside permeating the air. Each is also housed in a meticulously restored historic building with original features like vaulted ceilings, beams, and exposed bricks.
Aire Ancient Baths' newest space, located on the Upper East Side, dates back to 1900 and was once used by a famous Manhattan museum to store antiques and works of art. Now, in this 9,600-square-foot haven, you’ll find six thermal baths, including a suspended salt bath with translucent walls that hovers between two floors, plus a marble exfoliation bed and cozy treatment rooms.
Unlike other spas designed for a full day of lazing with a group, Trillo says, Aire focuses on privacy. For starters, it limits the number of people it hosts each hour, so you'll never step into a crowded bath or steam room and feel like an accidental plus-one at a bachelorette party. The dearth of other people is one of my favorite perks—it makes the experience feel extra-special (when I entered the bath area, I was even greeted by my first name) and allows me to unwind to the fullest.
I love to start my time at Aire with a few circuits of the thermal baths. First, I take a dip in what the spa calls the Tepidarium (97° F), then I float in the Flotarium (a salt bath with underwater music). Next I test my willpower and switch between the hot Caldarium (104° F) and the icy-cold Frigidarium (50° F). Finally, I hit the steam room and take a break with a green juice before doing it all over again for round two.
And then of course there are the treatments. While you can purchase a basic 90-minute bath pass at select locations, I highly recommend adding on one of Aire's immersive Experiences, which Trillo says are developed with the spa's Mediterranean roots in mind. You can choose from a menu of various indulgent massages and rituals, like the Upper East Side's exclusive Signature Monet Experience—a nod to the history of the building—that includes full-body exfoliation, a body wrap, and a massage complete with aromatherapy inspired by the water lilies at the painter's historic garden in Giverny.
For me, no spa day is complete without a face treatment (I am a beauty editor, after all), so my favorite Aire treatment is the Orange Garden. It's a sensory, head-to-toe journey that starts with a 35-minute massage, followed by a 25-minute gua sha face massage, a cooling hydrogel face mask, and a scalp massage. After this (and my circuits around the thermal baths), I never fail to emerge from the cocoon that is Aire in a state of pure bliss. And even after I've been rudely jerked back to reality on the subway, the newfound glow of my complexion, the looseness of my muscles, and my overall placid mental state prevail.
Aire Ancient Bath's Upper East Side location at 305 East 61st Street opens in March 2025. Click here to book your experience, as well as explore other Aire locations across Europe and North America.