When I was first learning about spas courtesy of several ISPA subject-matter experts and board members, one of the first things I was told was that spas were all about water. One person even went so far as to say that if there wasn’t water, it wasn’t a spa.

While there are those who would argue with that statement, no one could argue that the AIRE Ancient Baths fulfills the definition of spa at its most basic and its most sophisticated.

There are only two AIRE Ancient Baths in the United States—one in Chicago and one in New York. The others are in Seville, London, Copenhagen, Barecelona, Sevilla, Almeria, and Vallromanes. My mother and I visited AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago in late 2021.

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Here’s what you’ll love about AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago: 

• You’ll be hard-pressed to find more luxurious and unique experiences than what AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago offers. You can soak in a tub of wine—by yourself or with a loved one. They offer several rituals for individuals or for couples that incorporate everything from warm Amethyst crystals to rich sandalwood oils.

• The communal bathing experience is done at your own pace and you can fully customize how long you spend in each of the nine different bathing experiences (including six thermal baths, an indoor/outdoor pool with waterfall, and two steam rooms with aromatherapy).

• AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago is in an old, restored factory from 1902. It’s designed so you can see the exposed brick, wooden beams and industrial columns. Candles are scattered throughout, providing a serene or romantic experience, depending on your mood.

AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago is tucked away not far from the West Loop, but down a cobbled street. It would be easy to miss except they have a porter standing out on the sidewalk, ready to guide you down the alleyway that leads to the historic building’s entranceway. 

We arrived by Uber, but if you drive there, they have valet parking for $18.

The lobby is a huge open space with high ceilings and long couches that you’ll sink into and struggle to stand from. You can enjoy juice cocktails, tea or water as you wait for your session or service to begin.

We were there for the 90-minute Ancient Thermal Bath Experience. The experiences start every hour. Slightly before the hour begins, you are taken to the locker room, given a locker and shown around the spacious room. Bathing suits are required and they provide slippers that must be worn at all times.

The locker room, like everywhere else at AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago, is luxurious, spacious and beautiful. The lockers are tall, there are showers, bathrooms and a large mirrored area filled with amenities for when you are ready to re-enter the world. There are numerous, attentive locker room attendants who will provide you with water, plastic bags, towels, and will take your swimsuit and dry it when you are ready to get dressed.

But I jump ahead.

Once you are in your swimsuit, you’ll travel down a series of stairs to the bathing area. There is a desk where you check in and are given a tour. The attendants will explain each of the tubs, the temperatures and the policies. When we were there, masks were required for walking between the pools, but not while you were in the pool. After an hour and 15 minutes, a soft bell will ring and then another will ring after 90 minutes, letting you know your time is up.

Each of the baths have Latin names, hearkening back to the ancient Roman tradition. There is:

• The Flotarium, a salt water bath

• The Caldarium, a hot bath at 102 degrees

• The Frigidariums, a cold bath at 57 degrees and and an ice bath at 50 degrees

• The Tepidarium, a warm bath at 97 degrees

• The Balneum, a bath of a thousand jets

• The Vaporiums, two steam rooms with different aromatherapy scents

In addition to those baths, there is one where you can swim under a door and go outside. The water temperature is adjusted dependent on the weather. It also has a waterfall with a bench under it so you can sit and enjoy the water pounding on your shoulders, back or head.

Behind one of the Vaporiums is a place where you can scrub yourself with Himalayan salt and then immediately step into a shower. The self-exfoliation (though some guests had a partner to help them) is a wonderful treat while going between baths.

We took our time and I made sure to experience each bath. We started with the Flotarium, a long pool near the entryway. Filled with salt and pleasantly warm, you can close your eyes and float away to a world of your imagination. 

I was especially fond of going from the steam rooms (one had lavender and the other had eucalyptus) to the adjacent cold plunges. One of the baths was a straight dip while the other you could do a quick walk across it. I found it bracing and refreshing. 

Everything about the ambiance contributes to the experience. There are candles surrounding each of the pools and high ceilings with wooden beams that beckon you back in time to a place where technology meant running water and aqueducts were modern marvels. 

In fact, I was unable to take photos because cell phones are strictly forbidden in the bathhouse.

While you share the experience with many other people, while we were there people spoke in murmurs and the atmosphere was serene and peaceful. You must be at least 18 to enjoy services and at this time they do not allow pregnant women to use the baths.

There is a rest area where you can drink tea or cold water and sit on marble stone.

Each bath was its own experience—from bracing to steamy, from restful to invigorating. We found that 90 minutes was just about right. We were able to make rounds of all the baths and return to our favorites a few times before we were ready to return to the locker rooms. 

Once you are in the locker rooms, you can take whatever time you need to shower, dress, dry your hair and prepare to return to the outside world. Attendants are watchful and ready to provide you with whatever you might need. 

It was an incredible visit and one well-worth repeating. 

Cost: $120 for a 90-minute Ancient Thermal Bath Experience

Insider Tip: They run all sorts of specials with unique experiences ranging from a wine bath to ancient Argan massage. Sign up for their newsletter and you’ll get notifications of their specials. They also make it easy to gift an experience.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Address: 800 W. Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60642

Phone: 312-312-9610

Email: chicago@beaire.com

For more information and to book a service, visit the website. Follow on Instagram: @aireancientbaths_us

[Images by Bridgette Redman]

Bridgette Redman, who is a second-generation journalist, fell in love with spas and travel while working as a writer and editor for 16 years at the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. As a freelancer for the International SPA Association, she co-wrote two textbooks, nine workbooks and numerous case studies on spas. Her freelance career began in the 80s and she has written for publications in Michigan, Arizona, California, and Texas along with several regional and national publications. She is a committed storyteller who loves sharing narratives which improve people's quality of life and build community. Born and raised in Michigan, she currently lives in Lansing with her husband and son. See more of her writing at www.bridgetteredman.com