Where to Find Saunas and Cold Plunges Under One Roof Around Philly
These spots across the region offer contrast therapy, which sees you alternating between hot and cold temps to improve circulation and healing.
These Philly-area wellness spaces are home to a sauna and a cold plunge so you can enjoy contrast therapy. / Photographs by Jeff Fusco
Contrast therapy is the age-old recovery technique that involves alternating between hot and cold temperatures for the sake of reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and recovering from injuries — and it’s having a moment in the Philly area. Here, most people are practicing it via heating up in a sauna followed by taking an icy dip in a cold-plunge tank, and then repeating the process several times. Below, find a list of spas and wellness studios throughout the region boasting both a sauna and a cold plunge, so you can get your fire and ice on under one roof.
Aura Esthetic Spa & Sauna
98 Buck Road, Southampton
Aura Esthetic’s bath house features a traditional sauna where you can utilize venik — a bundle of leafy twigs — to stimulate blood flow and relieve muscle and joint pain. After, you’ll take a dip in an ice pool. The Southampton spa offers packages for two people and larger groups.
Chung Dam Spa & Fitness
41 West Cheltenham Avenue, Cheltenham
This Korean spa has it all: baths at varying temperatures (including a cold pool and a hot tub), an herbal steam room, multiple sauna-like rooms, massages, and body scrubs. Even better: A day pass is just $33.
CURE de Repos
8439 Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill and 65 Cricket Avenue, #105, Ardmore
You can warm up in an infrared sauna before braving the chill of a cold-plunge tank at either of CURE de Repos’s locations. (We especially love the outdoor “zen garden” in Chestnut Hill.) The amenities are complimentary with a spa service, or you can enjoy them without one — 30 minutes in the sauna runs $35, and 30 minutes in the cold plunge is $25. They also offer monthly packages.
The zen garden at CURE de Repos’s Chestnut Hill spa / Photograph courtesy of CURE de Repos
Fire & Ice X
300 South Lenola Road, Maple Shade
Over the bridge, find Fire & Ice X, which is home to a four-person traditional sauna that reaches 200 degrees, two cold-plunge tanks (one with water between 37 and 47 degrees, and the other about 10 degrees warmer), a two-person steam room heated to about 130 degrees, and two cool-water showers. Your 60-minute booking — starting at $55 — allows you to move between all of them at your own pace. You can also opt for a cold-plunge-only session, by appointment only.
Float SNJ
27 North Maple Avenue, #1, Marlton
Float SNJ boasts five pools for you to float in — they’re similar to sensory deprivation structures, but more spacious — as well as two infrared saunas that can reach 165 degrees, and a six-foot-long cold-plunge tank. You can try all three amenities on their own, or book a combo package for some ultimate contrast therapy.
Formation Sauna + Wellness
305 Brown Street, Northern Liberties
Book any sauna session at this beloved NoLibs wellness space — it’s home to a Nordic-inspired sauna that can fit up to four guests — and get complimentary access to the single-person cold plunge. (Note: The cold plunge cannot be booked as a stand-alone service.) There’s also a cold shower that’s meant to be used after spending five to 15 minutes in the sauna, several times.
The cold plunge at Formation is included in a sauna booking. / Photograph by Shakira Hunt
The Fox Den Wellness
701 Old Valley Road, Exton
This dreamy, woodsy experience features a barrel sauna and cold-plunge pods for contrast therapy in the great outdoors. Come solo or with a group of up to six people (starting at $30 per person), or join for one of Fox Den Wellness’s community events.
The J Spot
501 South 22nd Street, Fitler Square
The J Spot, a recently opened med spa in Fitler Square, has a private room dedicated to contrast therapy. It’s got a halotherapy sauna — in this case, an infrared sauna that generates salt particles for improved respiratory and skin health — and a cold-plunge tank. The amenities can be booked in 20- and 45-minute increments, with or without another spa treatment.
Mainline Float & Freeze
24 West Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore
This boutique in downtown Ardmore features a cold-plunge tank and an infrared sauna that can be booked separately (from $25), or used during the same visit. You and your S.O. can also reserve the amenities as a couple for a nontraditional date night — we suggest adding on a float session for some ultimate relaxation.
MVMNT Center
609 East Passyunk Avenue, Queen Village; 2401 Washington Avenue, Grad Hospital
Spend time in a “recharge room” at MVMNT’s Queen Village and Grad Hospital locations, where you’ll get private access to a cold-plunge tub, an infrared sauna, and a vitamin C rinse shower. Your 40-minute session will cost you $40, but there are various membership options, as well.
An infrared sauna inside one of MVMNT’s recharge rooms / Photograph by Daniel Isayeff
Nirvana Float
171 Market Street, suite 2A, Collegeville
Nirvana Float’s “fire and ice” room can accommodate up to four people, and temperatures range from 52 degrees for the cold plunge to 125 degrees for the sauna.
Remedy Spa & Wellness
1208 North 29th Street, Brewerytown
This dreamy day spa in Brewerytown has it all: body and skin services (massages, facials, waxing, etc.), assisted stretching, IV infusions, and a massive lounge area for larger parties — but there’s also an infrared sauna and a cold-plunge pod that can be enjoyed separately (from $25) or together ($70 for 60 minutes).
The Retreat at the Vault
25 South Morton Avenue, Morton
This Best of Philly winner is where we like to go to recharge, as the recovery studio has two saunas (infrared and traditional), two cold-plunge tanks, a full-body red-light therapy panel, and 6D massage chairs. Drop in for a 60-minute visit for $50 and enjoy all the amenities.
Revive Hive
254 North Sycamore Street, Newtown
At Revive Hive’s Newtown location, find several ways to warm up and cool down. For heat, spend time in the traditional sauna or infrared sauna, and for chillin’, the cold plunge or cryotherapy chamber. Bonus: There’s a totally private room with a sauna, cold-plunge tub, and vitamin C rinse shower ($65 for 50 minutes).
Southampton Spa
141 Second Street Pike, Southampton
Talk about everything under one roof. Southampton Spa is home to a Russian bath (190 degrees), Turkish hammam (170 degrees), salt sauna, steam room, heated swimming pool, cold-plunge pool (47 to 55 degrees), and snow room, plus a restaurant. You can experience it all with a $65 day pass.
Surge Sauna & Cold Plunge
1150 Boot Road, Suite 5, Downingtown
Opened earlier this year, Surge in Downingtown is home to multiple saunas (including traditional barrel and infrared) and cold-plunge tanks that you can enjoy with a $35 day pass. For additional recovery support, opt for red-light therapy or NormaTec compression therapy.
SweatHouz
Multiple locations
The contrast therapy company has several franchise locations throughout the region, including Bryn Mawr, Dresher, and NoLibs. A 60-minute reservation gives you access to a private suite with an infrared sauna, a cold-plunge tub, and a vitamin C shower.
W Philadelphia
1439 Chestnut Street, Center City
The swanky Center City hotel is about to unveil its newest spa amenity: CONTRAST, a self-guided sauna and cold-plunge circuit. Located on the outdoor FIT deck on the 7th floor, CONTRAST will be accessible to anyone who purchases an AWAY Spa day pass (prices vary), but will be dependent on day-to-day availability. Follow W Philadelphia’s Instagram to stay in the loop.
