8 NYC Wellness Clubs To Restore And Refresh This Summer

Forbes

2 days ago

Prior to the pandemic, you likely worked at your workplace, worked out at the gym and socialized at a members-only club. But as people continue to work from home and rates of loneliness are on the rise, the boundaries that previously separated these different areas of our life have blurred. Enter: the wellness club. A place where you can sweat and socialize, without the effort of a laborious workout or, in some cases, the commitment of a pricey membership.
Blending spa facilities with the atmosphere of a social club, wellness clubs cater to rising demand for connection and self-care. Othership
While wellness clubs are popping up around the world, New York City is a hotbed, catering to an increasingly stressed out and lonely population. 'New York City is one of the more socially connected places in the world, but social connections are typically occupied by drinking and partying,' says Remedy Place founder Dr. Jonathan Leary. Sarrah Hallock, co-founder and COO of THE WELL, echoes this sentiment. 'In cities like New York, socializing often revolves around late nights, heavy drinking and fast-paced routines. Wellness clubs offer a space where you no longer have to choose between their health and their social life.' Emily Bent, the co-founder of Othership, agrees, 'a lot of people feel stuck between two options: go out and drink, or stay home and be alone. That's the gap wellness clubs are filling—we're creating a third space where people can connect in a real way, without alcohol or tech in the way.'
Blurring the boundary between one's wellness routine and social life, wellness clubs offer a more integrated lifestyle. Moss
By blurring the line between one's wellness routine and social life, these wellness clubs envision a more integrated lifestyle. 'Gyms are great if you want to work on your body and co-working spaces are great if you want to work on your output, but there's nowhere to go when you want to work on how you actually feel ,' explains Bent, who envisions Othership as a place where people can regulate their nervous system, release emotion and connect with others. 'Wellness clubs give a certain set of people who have the time and money to focus on health and wellness on a more comprehensive scale,' says cityWell founder Liz Tortolani. THE WELL founder Sarrah Hallock agrees, 'wellness becomes a shared experience that seamlessly blends into all aspects of life—whether it's starting your morning with a Mindful Movement class, dropping in for a steam and sauna session with a friend, or seeing one of our functional nurses for a vitamin infusion drip to nourish your body at a cellular level and boost overall well-being.'
"Wellness clubs offer a space where you no longer have to choose between their health and their social life,' says Emily Bent, co-founder of Othership. Othership
Acknowledging that self-care looks different for everyone, New York's wellness clubs offer a range of wellness services—from hyperbaric chambers to float tanks to cedar saunas. Recognizing that some people may not where to start, some wellness clubs—like THE WELL and Recoverie, offer expert guidance. 'There's a lack of clear, accessible education around wellness-based lifestyles,' says Recoverie founder Siobhan Peterson. 'We provide the tools and guidance to help them make meaningful, sustainable changes, and because everyone's wellness journey is unique, we work with members to create personalized plans tailored to their individual needs, goals, and rhythms.'
"Because everyone's wellness journey is unique, we work with members to create personalized plans tailored to their individual needs, goals, and rhythms," says Recoverie founder Siobhan Peterson. Recoverie
What sets wellness clubs apart is that treatments don't have to be experienced individually—instead, socialization is encouraged with co-working spaces and communal lounges, group sauna and bathing sessions, and helping guests reserve private parties or date nights. Some clubs even host events, such as The Moss, where art exhibitions, musical performances, supper clubs and evening salons are held in their upstairs space.
Some wellness clubs, like Brooklyn Wellness Club, emphasize community-building over cutting-edge spa facilities. Brooklyn Wellness Club
These wellness clubs draw on the ancient tradition of wellness as a shared experience—for centuries, people around the world have practiced communal bathing—but they are distinctively designed for the modern age, with cutting-edge A.I. technology and in person-experiences that satiate our desire for social connection beyond the screen. While no two wellness clubs in New York look the same, they all aim to leave you feeling less tired and less alone. Read on for the top wellness clubs to find connection and restoration in the city that never sleeps. Othership
The hydrotherapy circuit at Othership. Othership
When co-founder Emily Bent felt burnt out and disconnected, she discovered healing in hot and cold therapy. Recognizing that others felt like her—stressed, overstimulated and craving community—she was surprised with the lack of spaces catering to this need. 'There was nowhere to do it that felt welcoming, intentional, and community-based, so we built it,' says Bent. 'A space to drop in, reset, and be with others—without alcohol, without phones, just real presence.' Guests can choose between a private or shared circuit which includes saunas and ice baths, as well as access to the social commons and expert guides. Essential oils, immersive music and techniques such as visualization and breathwork enhance the experience. 'We're seeing people cry, connect, regulate, heal—all in one session,' says co-founder Bent. 'They're coming back not just for the sauna or the cold, but because it makes them feel something. We've created a space where people can actually process what they're carrying and connect in ways that matter.' Remedy Place
Hyperbaric chambers at Remedy Place. Remedy Place
When Dr. Jonathan Leary created Remedy Place in 2012, he hoped to fill a void he witnessed in conventional medicine of places where patients could take agency over their own health. 13 years later, Remedy Place has exceeded his original vision. As one of the city's original wellness clubs, Remedy Place combines technology-driven remedies and alternative medicine to take a holistic approach to treating the body. Whether you have a specific health concern or are simply seeking restoration, their vast range of services led by knowledgeable practitioners meet you where you're at.
Remedy Place has locations in Manhattan, Los Angeles and Boston. BENJAMIN HOLTROP
Ice baths, hyperbaric chambers, lymphatic compression, AI massages, red light therapy, acupuncture and IV drips—there are few treatments they don't offer. Equally as important as the treatments is the social element, 'Instead of centering around food and alcohol, we offer experiences that amplify not only you, but also the people you share them with,' says founder Dr. Jonathan Leary. 'When everyone is elevated, so are the relationships.' While they have two locations in Manhattan, you can now find Remedy place in Boston and L.A. too. Moss
Moss. Moss
Recognizing the lack of holistic spaces that integrate physical fitness, mental well-being and social connection, sisters Colleen and Hailey Brooks created Moss to fill the gap with a place for finding connection, relaxation and personal development. 'Our inspiration for Moss stemmed from a desire to create a club where members could gather in the shared pursuit of intelligent leisure—our vision of thoughtful, thought-provoking programming—and physical culture—our holistic approach to the individual and social sides of wellness, fitness, and recreation,' says Colleen and Hailey Brooks.
Spanning five floors on the corner of Fifth Avenue in Midtown, the club's wellness offerings are expansive, including three thermal pools, a longevity clinic, hammam, cold plunge, spa, training gym, Pilates reformer studio, and sports courts. The upper two floors are devoted to socializing and creativity, with a library bar, symposium, recording studio, piano lounge, and private dining rooms. While still in its final development stages, the main clubhouse is set to open in the fall of 2025, and the pre-opening space on the 59th floor at 500 Fifth Avenue is already hosting events. cityWell Brooklyn
cityWell Brooklyn. cityWell
If your idea of self-care is a steaming hot bath, this is the wellness club for you. Founder and licensed massage therapist Liz Tortolani was inspired by the ancient tradition of communal bathing to create a bathhouse in Gowanus, Brooklyn, that offered something different from the typical Russian and Turkish bathhouses in the city. 'I wanted to create a space for like-minded wellness seekers to come together and take care of their bodies and minds; and find solace in this demanding city.'
The outdoor oasis specializes in hydrotherapy circuits which includes a dry cedar sauna, cold plunge, hot bath, outdoor rain shower and aromatherapy steam. What sets the bathhouse apart from other spas in the city is their $25 community hydrotherapy sessions, which include complimentary towels, snacks and tea, and their massages, which take place in cedar cabins during the winter and outside during the summer, and can be reserved for one or two people. Tortolani's own aromatherapy line of massage oils, body washes and sprays enhances the experiences. Even if you visit outside a communal hydrotherapy session, the safe space encourages community with its LGBTQ+ hydro-sessions, and inviting outdoor lounge space complete with a yoga platform, fire pit, hammock and sun benches. THE WELL
THE WELL. THE WELL
The idea for THE WELL came from co-founder Sarrah Hallock's personal journey battling an autoimmune condition. When she found that combining Eastern and Western medicine worked, she joined forces with Rebecca Parekh and Kane Sarhan to create a collaborative space that could offer personalized, holistic care from expert practitioners and doctors. 'The science behind what it means to be well is advancing rapidly,' says Hallock. 'We're committed to bringing the most effective new longevity treatments, workout and recovery modalities, and emerging wellness technologies that enhance how we heal and perform while honoring the time-tested systems of Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.'
THE WELL. The Well
From IV vitamin drips to acupuncture; health coaching to vibrational energy healing—THE WELL offers a wide range of services, which you can choose from with the assistance of your dedicated wellness concierge. Beyond your personal concierge, a team of experts, led by chief medical officer Dr. Frank Lipman, oversee the programming, offering a level of exerptise and guidance you won't find at your typical gym or spa. 'Wellness isn't just what happens in a doctor's office once a year, it's how we live the other 364 days,' says Hallock. 'People want access to wellness where they live, work, and travel—that's what we're building: communities and environments that support whole-person health as a natural part of everyday life.' Recoverie
Recoverie. Recoverie
The loss of a close family member during the pandemic forced Siobhan Peterson to reflect on her own health. Realizing her physical and emotional wellbeing had declined due to prioritizing work over her health, she began committing to wellness and was so inspired by how her lifestyle change improved her energy, mindset and relationships, she opened the first wellness club of its kind in Brooklyn to offer her own experience to others. With a goal to 'make wellness feel essential, not exclusive,' and emphasize community over prestige, Recoverie's monthly memberships start at $200.
Recoverie. Recoverie
Services range from red light therapy to cryotherapy to infrared saunas, and aim to complement, rather than replace the gym. Wellness clubs are often the entry point for people to begin improving their health across multiple dimensions—movement, nutrition, sleep, recovery, and community,' says Peterson. 'We help our members explore those areas in a supportive environment and even organize group workouts at local gyms to lower the barrier to trying something new.' While Peterson initially envisioned Recoverie as an active, health-conscious community working out in Brooklyn Bridge Park, years later, she finds members return for the mental clarity and emotional relief their therapies provide. 'People are carrying so much, stress, self-doubt, emotional fatigue, and when they find a space where they feel safe, supported, and at home, they open up to the possibilities of what real self-care can do. The Brooklyn Wellness Club
The Brooklyn Wellness Club. The Brooklyn Wellness Club
The co-founder of the first Black, woman-owned yoga studio in the country, Paris Alexandra is expanding her vision to provide a supportive, safe environment for wellness and connection with her latest venture: The Brooklyn Wellness Club. While you won't find spa facilities here, the space acts as more as a wellness hub hosting daily yoga classes and monthly events, such as a Black Men Resting Yoga Class, as well as a co-working space. Their programming also includes offsite events with community partners in Brooklyn. It's this emphasis on community-building that makes owner Alexandra especially proud, 'Seeing the impact on our members and the impact we have in collaborating with our community partners makes this calling well worth it.'
Continuum Club
Continuum Club. Continuum
With over 20 years of experience in the wellness space, founder Jeff Halevy saw the need for a wellness club that utilizes individualized data for a personalized program that delivers measurable results. So he created this members-only club in Greenwich Village that uses the latest AI technology to assess your biometrics and determine which treatments will be most effective in addressing your health concerns. Members programs are powered by wearable health technology connected to the Continuum app, tailoring training, recovery and nutrition to the individual's physiology. From red light therapy to hyperbaric oxygen tanks to cold plunge—you'll find all the latest tech-driven treatments here. A calming oasis that blends co-working, relaxation and socializing coupled with top-notch amenities and a cafe serving a rotating menu of nutritious eats, make the club's air of exclusivity (they cap membership at 250) understandable.