Established in 1892 and remodeled in recent years, the three-story tall Russian and Turkish Baths facility in lower Manhattan has an old world charm rooted in ancient Russian, Polish, and Turkish healing traditions. Located on Tenth Street between First Avenue and Avenue A, the baths cater to older European immigrants who have frequented the facility for years, younger hipsters who appreciate the lower spa prices, and tourists eager for a real taste of old New York.
Although certain rooms are reserved for males or females only at specific times, the facility is usually co-ed, with guests wearing bathing suits or shorts. Memberships are available and occasional guests can pay a modest admission fee.
The Saunas and Steam Rooms
The Russian Sauna is one of the most popular rooms. A vast rock laden oven emits an intense heat to the surrounding area. Guests are encouraged to fill one of the many buckets in the area with icy water and douse themselves when the heat becomes too intense. It’s not unusual to see spa guests pouring buckets of cold water over their heads.
For a reasonable price, guests can request a Platza Oak Leaf Treatment in the Russian Sauna. Here, platza specialists will scrub guests’ exposed skin with olive oil soap using a broom made from fresh oak leaves. The leaves have an astringent property which helps exfoliate the skin. Platza therapies are sometimes known as Jewish acupuncture. Other treatments available in the sauna include a black mud treatment, a sea salt scrub, and a soap wash using an aromatherapy soap of your choice.
The Turkish Room is an herbal-scented steam room heated by radiators. Guests can lie on towels on the cool tile floor or sit on wooden benches. Cold showers are available for guests who become overheated. A cherry wood redwood sauna is also available.
The Turkish Bath
In 16th century, Istanbul boasted of having more than 4,000 private and 300 public baths. The baths were an integral part of the Turkish social culture. The Turkish Bath at the Russian and Turkish Baths in New York City deviates a bit from the traditional hammam. Unlike the normal octagon-shaped hammam, the New York version is larger and rounder to accommodate more guests. The hammam is a ritualistic event more than a leisurely bath. In the hammam, the body and its senses are purified in a socialized setting.
The Ice Pool and More
The ice pool is a welcome relief from the sauna and it has a sun deck. The facility also has a restaurant serving Russian cuisine that serves as a regular meeting place for locals in the area. Locals can be found in the lobby drinking glass mugs of tea. The atmosphere in this urban banya is much different from those of the typical dimly lit luxury spa found in New York City, but the emphasis on healing is pervasive. After an Oak Leaf Treatment and a Swedish massage at the Russian and Turkish Baths, guests feel as if they’ve spent a week in an exotic land.
Elaine Moore - I'm a retired medical technologist and medical writer with more than 30 years experience working in hospital laboratories. Currently, I ...
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