Few things feel cozier than watching fat snowflakes fall from the sky while you’re toasty at home. But what if you were observing the winter wonderland from a space that’s not just toasty, but downright hot?
Enter the Winter Spa at The William Vale: New York City’s first outdoor infrared sauna experience, located on fourth floor terrace of the boutique hotel in Brooklyn. Created in partnership with HigherDOSE and Terra Glamping, the pop-up spa features six heated glamping tents outfitted with infrared saunas and blankets, where you and a pal can get your sweat on (and reap all the benefits of that wellness-inducing infrared light) for 45 minutes. Heating up the body before heading back into the crisp winter air is a sure-fire way to get a mood boost that lasts throughout the darkest days of the season.
Hot therapy isn’t the only thing on offer at the Winter Spa, though. You can also get a cryofacial, which uses liquid nitrogen to blow minus 225-degree air on your face. The treatment is said to brighten your complexion, minimize the appearance of fine lines and plump your face. If old man winter has wreaked havoc on your skin, the extra chill from a cryofacial will rejuvenate it to its pre-cold weather glory.
After your treatment, spend some time soaking up the Scandinavian-inspired atmosphere in the glamping tents. Illuminated by candles and twinkle lights, these Instagram-worthy spaces set the right mood for a stress-relieving self-care session with plush robes, leafy house plants and shag chairs. Plus, sample complimentary amenities from some of the trendiest beauty and wellness brands, like Tata Harper, Ursa Major, Agent Nateur and Playa. Talk about pampering!
Each private session in the tent lasts 60 minutes. But let’s get real: An hour is barely enough time to truly indulge in relaxation. Fortunately, you can continue chilling out at the R&R tent across the terrace. It offers a range of light bites, cocktails and beverages by Andrew Carmellini’s NoHo Hospitality—perfect to nourish your belly and keep you warm from the inside out.
You don’t have to stay at the hotel to book time at the Winter Spa (open now through early April). But with wraparound balconies, inspiring in-room art and soaking tubs with views of the Manhattan skyline, suites at The William Vale make for a worthwhile place to settle in for the evening. After all, who couldn’t use a self-care staycation this time of year? Snuggling up in a boutique hotel after an outdoor sauna session might be just the escape you need to enliven your body and mind in the dead of winter.
