Welcome to Vogue’s first-ever spa guide—a compendium of the 100 best spas worldwide, pulling from the expertise of our global editors. There is a lot out there in the world of wellness, and we are here to sort the cryo from the cold plunge, the infrared light treatment from the IV infusion. Or if your path is a more holistic one—there’s something for you here as well.
Why go here?
Incorporating wellness with healing arts and a culinary program by a Noma founder, all set amid bright and cozy Japanese-inspired minimalist spaces, Shou Sugi Ban House is the Hamptons’ first destination spa and wellness retreat. It’s located in Water Mill, about a two-hour drive from New York City. Beyond a robust selection of facials, massages, and body treatments, they have extensive, culture-spanning healing-arts offerings and life-enhancing therapies—including sound, aromatherapy, crystal healing, shamanic sessions, Reiki, shiatsu, Watsu therapy, craniosacral therapy, reflexology, Thai massage, polarized light therapy, and pressotherapy (mechanical lymphatic drainage). For the complete holistic experience, these treatments can be combined with yoga, meditation, fitness classes, nutrition workshops, guided beach walks, and plant-forward meals.
Photo: Courtesy of Shou Sugi Ban House
What’s the vibe?
The Hamptons beach vibe meets natural, Japanese-inspired aesthetics and a touch of the New Age, starting with the imposing Buddha that greets you at the entrance. (A remnant of the site’s previous incarnation as a sculpture garden, the eight-ton statue was blessed by local monks before the property opened.) Expect a combination of ancient healing arts, movement classes, and local, seasonal, healthy eating and drinking. For example, opt for an early-morning meditation or beach walk, followed by a challenging stretch-and-balance class, before relaxing at the 90-degree saltwater pool and then sampling custom blends at the Tea Barn. There’s something for everyone, says director of special events Taylor Rose Berry, and “most guests discover something they didn’t even know they were looking for.”
Photo: Courtesy of Shou Sugi Ban House
The history?
Opened in 2019, the property was named after the ancient Japanese technique of charring wood in order to preserve, waterproof, and render it more resilient. This paradoxical process of transformation to build strength and resistance aptly applies to wellness—and echoes the history of the property, which sustained an electrical fire during construction. Shou Sugi Ban House’s spaces and philosophy were influenced by the Japanese principles of wabi-sabi, with an appreciation for the beauty and healing properties of the natural world. The main spa has five luxury treatment rooms, and due to demand, another five were recently added in another building.