Set the Scene
Space and privacy are two of the hardest luxuries to come by in New York, and the new SAINT delivers on both. This discreet spa opened in early May on an unassuming block on West 29th Street in Manhattan and is the brainchild of first-time entrepreneurs and former WeWork colleagues Alex Feldman and Amanda Hensen. They are both passionate about New York’s Russian, Turkish, and Korean spas, but wanted to create something different.
Many of the city’s spas lean social, with communal lounges and pools that can take on a party vibe but Feldman and Hensen flipped the script. With just four private treatment rooms, each one outfitted with a sauna, rain shower, and ice bath, the experience feels personal and meditative. Sessions are meant to be enjoyed alone, or with one other person.
From the outside, you might miss SAINT. Located on the ground floor of a residential building, the exterior is black and sleek, with reeded glass and elegant script. At first glance, it looks like a high-end design store rather than a spa–which is the point.
Step inside and the noise of Manhattan immediately recedes. The compact entrance, with dark grey walls and dark terrazzo floors, envelops like a cocoon. The slim front desk has a simple offering: a tray of four perfect dates.
Interiors by Chelsea-based BoND draw from boutique hotel design, with a long, dark corridor and numbered rooms. Each room is spacious by any standards, not just New York ones. There’s a sink and changing area, with a minibar-style selection of snacks and electrolyte drinks for purchase. Hand products are from St. Paul’s Apothecary. The aesthetic leans masculine, with dark paneled walls, black tile, and bath fixtures that resemble industrial spigots.
The sauna is big enough for two people, with enough room to lie down, along with an adjacent rain shower. The cold plunge bath is set to a more approachable 50 degrees. Guests can control light and sound levels, and there’s a soundtrack of soothing, fun songs.
The Treatment
I booked Saint’s standard one-hour session. The premise is simple: the time is yours to enjoy as you’d like, but there’s a small card with a suggested routine, designed in collaboration with wellness practitioner Lauren McCarthy. She suggests cycles of 10 to 15 minutes in the sauna, followed by a rain shower rinse, breath work, and one to six minutes in the ice bath. Private guided sessions are also available.
At first being alone in a sauna felt strange, but I made a pact not to look at my phone and focus on being present. After two rounds in the sauna, my mind and body started to relax. I’d never tried an ice bath before, and thankfully nobody had to witness me sitting on the edge of the bath tentatively putting one leg in the water. After a few rounds of sauna and showering, I made it to a crouching position in the ice bath.
Once I got into my rhythm of sauna, shower, and ice bath, time melted away. My body felt looser and my mind had stopped racing, calming the chaos of my morning. As my session started to wind down, I took a final shower and appreciated having space and privacy to get dressed, and redo my makeup although I hardly needed any thanks to the post-sauna glow, better than any blush.
Fast Facts
Location: 29th Street and 8th Avenue, New York City
Atmosphere: Stylish, cocooning, polished
Price Point: From $90 per one-hour session. Monthly memberships are also available
Our Favorite Thing About the Spa: Quiet and privacy
Recommended Treatment: Find your own rhythm as you cycle between a sauna, shower, and cold plunge
New York City, New York, United States
