City guide
Best Sauna & Cold Plunge in NYC: Manhattan, Brooklyn & Queens (2026)
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New York has more ways to sweat and plunge than almost any city in the country. You can book a bathhouse with hot and cold pools, a quiet private sauna suite, a guided sauna and ice bath class, or a traditional banya. This guide covers the best options borough by borough, with real prices from studios' own websites and Google ratings.
The Quick Answer
For the full thermal experience in Manhattan, go to Lore Bathing Club in NoHo. For a private contrast suite on the Upper East Side, go to Rituals by LIV. For a big bathhouse day in Brooklyn, go to Bathhouse Williamsburg. For athletic recovery in Queens, go to Recovery Mode in Astoria. A single visit in NYC runs about $65 to $80.
| Studio | Borough | Best for | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lore Bathing Club | Manhattan (NoHo) | Thermal bathing sessions | 5.0 (147) |
| Rituals by LIV | Manhattan (Upper East Side) | Private contrast suite | 4.9 (93) |
| Bathhouse Williamsburg | Brooklyn | Full bathhouse day | 4.5 (135) |
| Recovery Mode | Queens (Astoria) | Athletic recovery | 5.0 (202) |
How Much Does a Sauna and Cold Plunge Cost in NYC?
A single visit costs about $65 to $80 at studios that publish their prices. Lore Bathing Club, Elahni and Wall Street Bath & Spa 88 each list a $65 visit, and Rituals by LIV lists $80. Rituals also offers an unlimited monthly plan at $350. Bigger spa days cost more: World Spa in Brooklyn lists day passes from $99. Prices were checked on studios' own websites on October 30, 2026, so confirm before you go. For a national comparison, see our sauna and cold plunge prices by city.
Best Sauna and Cold Plunge in Manhattan
Manhattan has the widest range, from design-forward private studios to full bathhouses.
Lore Bathing Club (NoHo). Lore runs 75-minute thermal bathing sessions with a Finnish sauna, an infrared sauna and a cold plunge pool. It's rated 5.0 on Google across 147 reviews and lists a $65 visit.
Rituals by LIV (Upper East Side). A private contrast suite on the third floor at 157 East 86th Street, with an infrared sauna, a steam room and a cold plunge held below 50°F, plus private showers. It's rated 4.9 across 93 Google reviews. Rituals is a Featured studio on Contrast Therapy Finder, which means it pays for a premium listing with us.
Elahni. Elahni calls itself New York's first wellness speakeasy: sauna, infrared and cold plunge in a cozy, hospitality-style setting, by reservation only. It's rated 5.0 across 110 reviews.
Bathhouse Flatiron. Finnish saunas, a steam room, a banya, hot and cold pools, plus a restaurant and bar. It's the go-to if you want a whole afternoon, with 740 Google reviews behind it.
SAINT. A private sauna and ice bath studio with four sanctuaries designed by BOND. Choose it when you want quiet and privacy.
Othership Flatiron. Othership's Flatiron location at 23 W 20th St is built around guided sauna and ice bath classes. Check it's open for bookings before you go.
Also worth knowing in Manhattan: Wall Street Bath & Spa 88 for a classic downtown sauna, steam and cold plunge, Remedy Place Flatiron and Remedy Place SoHo for clinic-style recovery, and Perspire Sauna Studio Flatiron for private infrared suites up to 150°F.
Best Sauna and Cold Plunge in Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the bathhouse borough, with big social spaces and smaller neighborhood saunas.
Bathhouse Williamsburg. Saunas, a steam room, cold plunges, hot and cold pools and a rooftop pool bar. It's a full day out, not a quick session.
World Spa. World Spa bills itself as NYC's largest day spa and banya, with 16 thermal rooms, hammams and onsen pools. It's rated 4.8 across 345 reviews.
Bath Club of NY. A traditional sauna, a Turkish steam room and pools with full-day access, rated 4.4 across more than 900 reviews.
Akari (Williamsburg). A members' neighborhood sauna, rated 5.0 across 58 reviews.
Recoverie (Brooklyn Heights). A private wellness club with an infrared sauna and ice bath. It says it's never crowded.
More Brooklyn options include Brooklyn Bathhouse, Bathhouse Atlantic Ave, Othership Williamsburg and Body Mind Salt.
Best Sauna and Cold Plunge in Queens
Recovery Mode (Astoria). A neighborhood recovery studio with infrared sauna suites, a cold plunge and compression boots. It's rated 5.0 across 202 Google reviews, which makes it the top-rated pick in the borough.
New York Spa & Sauna (Flushing). A large spa and sauna with hundreds of Google reviews.
What About the Bronx and Staten Island?
We don't list a dedicated sauna and cold plunge studio in the Bronx or on Staten Island yet. From the Bronx, the closest options we list are n°lighten, an infrared sauna in Hastings-on-Hudson rated 5.0 across 187 reviews, or the Manhattan studios above. From Staten Island, Enso Sauna Jersey City offers infrared sauna and cold plunge. Run one of these in the Bronx or on Staten Island? Add your studio for free.
Just Outside the City
A short drive opens up more options. King Spa & Sauna in Palisades Park, NJ is a huge spa and sauna with nearly 5,000 Google reviews. On Long Island, Kontra Baths in Carle Place offers a private infrared sauna and cold plunge suite and is rated 5.0 across 163 reviews.
Bathhouse, Private Suite or Guided Class: Which Should You Pick?
Pick a bathhouse (Bathhouse, World Spa, Bath Club) if you want hours of hot and cold rooms, pools and food, and you don't mind sharing the space. Pick a private suite (Rituals by LIV, SAINT, Recovery Mode) if you want your own sauna and plunge on your schedule. Pick a guided class (Othership, Lore) if you're new and want someone to set the timing for you. Not sure about the order? Read sauna before or after a cold plunge.
The Science Behind Heat and Cold
Researcher Dr. Susanna Søberg, whose work popularized ending on cold, explains how heat and cold exposure affect metabolism and mood in this conversation with Andrew Huberman.
For the full picture, see our beginner's guide to contrast therapy.
Tips for Your First NYC Session
- Book ahead. Most popular studios run on timed sessions, especially on weekends.
- Pack light. Many studios supply towels, but check first. Here's what to bring to a sauna and cold plunge.
- Ask about the cold. Plunge temperatures vary. Rituals keeps its plunge below 50°F, while others run warmer.
- Hydrate. Bring water and drink between rounds.
Want a Home Setup Too?
If you love it enough to want it at home, an infrared sauna like the Sun Home Equinox 2-Person and a Sun Home Cold Plunge Vertical make a strong pair, and a Lumaflex Essential red light panel fits in any apartment. See what a home contrast therapy setup really costs.
Find All NYC-Area Studios
This guide covers the standouts. See every sauna and cold plunge studio we list across the New York area on our New York metro page, with maps, ratings and booking links.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a sauna session cost in NYC?
About $65 to $80 for a single visit at studios that publish prices, and around $99 or more for a full spa day pass.
Where can I do a cold plunge in Manhattan?
Lore Bathing Club, Rituals by LIV, Elahni, Bathhouse Flatiron, SAINT and Othership Flatiron all offer cold plunge.
What's the best bathhouse in Brooklyn?
Bathhouse Williamsburg and World Spa are the biggest, and Bath Club of NY is the most-reviewed traditional option.
Is there a sauna in the Bronx?
We don't list one yet. The closest options are in Manhattan or Hastings-on-Hudson.
Wes Francis
Founder of Contrast Therapy Finder, the directory of sauna, cold plunge and contrast therapy studios across the U.S. About CTF
