Sanctuary Spa

New Yorkers make the pilgrimage across the George Washington bridge into the New Jersey Palisades for this 24-hour spa, and with good reason: With several floors offering a variety of spa and sauna options, from men- and women-only whirlpools, to a traditional Korean Hwangtoh (yellow mud) Room, to an infrared sauna accommodating several people at a time, it’s the mother of all spa complexes. The Korean noodle bar and over-the-top kitschy decor—fake palms included—are the icing on the cake.

This mini-chain of mega spas offers something called Sauna Valley: You’ll find every conceivable temple—gold, Himalayan Salt, infrared, far infrared, color therapy—and an equal number of pools to match. The Texas outpost is open twenty-four hours a day, while the Queens location is open from 6 a.m. to midnight, making this a fun pilgrimage (and a good girls-day activity). There’s an on-site cafeteria and even a kiddie pool.

Dr. Ilan Bohm is our man and the founder of OIM, which advocates looking beyond—while still using—Western medicine for well-being. Keeping in mind that every patient is unique and not one-treatment-fits-all, Dr. Bohm sees patients on an individual level and aims to prevent rather than just treat illness by incorporating acupuncture, nutritional therapy, and chiropractic into any healthcare routine. They facilitate detoxes, and also offer hydrocolonic therapy.

Dr. Richard Ash, who tragically passed away in 2015, has set up an enduring integrative medicine center in New York City, where you'll be shepherded through an extensive series of tests. After they'll create a totally customized, preventative, and restorative roadmap to optimum health. While it's not necessarily about detoxing, their steps to a healthier lifestyle often involve just that.

As its name implies, Gravity East Village specializes in gravity-based colonics, which means that the in-flow and out-flow of water is simultaneous. Gravity also has a far infrared sauna, which is a nice complement for a full detox.

While hydrotherapy colonics are the specialty here, SanaVita also offers lymphatic massage, acupuncture, and Reiki. They even have an on-staff astrologer.

Beyond the extensive list of yoga classes offered by husband and wife Stephan Kolbert and Ingrid Marcroft and their team, UWS Yoga offers meditation classes and sessions in their infrared sauna. You have to pre-book, so try and snag an appointment right before or after a yoga or meditation session for an extra detox boost.

Founder Tracy Piper brings more than twenty years of experience in Chinese herbology and colon hydrotherapy, which she believes can aid in everything from digestion to skin health in her one-stop cleansing center. For those in need of a recharge, there's also dry-skin brushing, a lymphatic draining detox wrap, and infrared sauna sessions.

WeWork—the round-the-world network of comfy, breezy (decidedly un-corporate) workspaces rented out to people and businesses—has always been an ideal HQ with its meditation rooms, retreats, and fitness class offerings. And now with Rise by We, its new holistic wellness club in NYC's financial district (more locations to roll out down the line), the brand’s dreamed up a respite from the swivel chair where you can get up and move in any number of workout classes (from kickboxing to yoga to personal training sessions), as well as stoke some serious relaxation vibes at their Superspa. There are steam and sauna rooms, amazing massages, a circulation-rousing cold water plunge, and a communal—and coed—hammam area. The spa’s café makes killer juices—and come evening, healthy-ish cocktails. And if you can’t commit to a full-on membership, Rise’s $100 four-class access pass option is a solid option.

Perhaps the chicest yoga studio in NYC, Sky Ting was designed in part by Courtney Applebaum—who collaborated with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen on The Row's Melrose Place store—and has an airy, effortlessly cool aesthetic. The foundation of their signature Sky Ting class is pulled from Vinyasa, Katonah, Iyengar, Kundalini, and Hatha yoga traditions—but each instructor brings their own perspective, so no two sessions feel the same. They also offer specialty classes including infrared-heated and candlelit sessions. The studio also has an on-site spa, featuring two infrared saunas, a cold plunge, and a relaxing lounge with three day beds.

Whether you need to recover from a tough workout or detox after an especially indulgent weekend, there are a variety of high-tech treatments to try alone or build into a package. Try combining a CVAC session, where you sit inside a hyperbaric chamber while the barometric pressure is adjusted to reportedly support circulation and detoxification, with a nap using the NuCalm device, which claims to be a miraculously restorative 30-minute snooze. Finish with a session inside the Sunlighten mPulse Sauna, where you can customize the ratio of near, mid, and far infrared rays.

The duplex spa is enormous and luxurious, with high ceilings, plush couches, and a posh aesthetic that manages to be both modern and comfortable. There’s a hair salon, nail studio, and fourteen treatment rooms where you can get a variety of skin-perfecting therapies like the Fix-It-All facial, an over-the-top combination of micro-current, microdermabrasion, LED therapy, and more to lift, tighten, and smooth. A facial with founder/skin-whisperer Danuta Mieloch is transformative—her touch is exquisite, and you emerge looking beyond glowy.

There are tons of treatment options at this wellness hideout inside the penthouse on a particularly hectic block of Midtown. From a targeted acupuncture and cupping session with founder Joel Granik to a float inside a sensory deprivation tank (that's thought to mimic the body’s experience in the womb) to Reiki healing and yoga classes taught in a gorgeous white room with a glass ceiling, everything here aims to balance and restore the body’s chi. There’s an infrared sauna and a salt cave; the walls of the latter are made from hundreds of pounds of Himalayan salt bricks, which infuse the air with negative ions while you relax on a massage bed.

This urban sweat lodge has three locations in the city and one in East Hampton, all with the spa’s signature infrared sauna wraps. After putting on the provided uniform—a light cotton top and pants—you’ll be snugly bundled inside an infrared blanket (the material it’s made of feels similar to the bib you wear for x-rays at the dentist) and left to watch Netflix while you seriously sweat. The far infrared waves gently warm the body, increasing the core temperature. You emerge from the cocoon 55 minutes later completely drenched. If that isn’t enough, schedule a consecutive lymphatic drainage session, where you’re wrapped in a full body suit that applies targeted pressure to points on the arms, legs, and waist to encourage circulation and detoxification.

This spa inside the swank 11 Howard hotel has somehow managed to make sweating in an infrared sauna sexy. You get an entire hotel room to yourself, with a spacious personal sauna kitted out with music and even chromatherapy (everybody looks better in a red-tinted light) that combines near-, mid-, and far-infrared waves to heat the body from the inside out, resulting in a major detoxification sweat. The rooms have private bathrooms, so you can rinse off in the shower and start (or end) the day feeling utterly renewed.

The space is an eco-haven, designed with renewable, sustainable flourishes (the walls are made of cork, seagrass, and recycled wood)—and the facials are healing, pampering, and just: beyond. The Custom Superfood Facial floods skin with nutrients from tamarind, acai, turmeric, and manuka honey, while the Light “Isun” facial features a miracle trifecta of microcurrent, LED light, and nurturing essential oil blend that thoroughly revives skin. The infrared saunas are each tucked into a cozy private room with a shower—and they aren’t hooked up to Bluetooth, which means the promise of a genuine digital detox, too.

Infrared saunas are an incredible way to get a great sweat. At Breedlove Beauty Lab, each sauna is customizable, so you are in complete control of your experience. We love sweating it out in the Sunlighten 3-in-1 mPulse infrared saunas, and Breedlove has three of these. There is also chromotherapy—or light therapy—which draws on the hypothesis that color affects how we feel. Before you leave, check out the bright and airy apothecary—it stocks plenty of aromatherapy, beauty, and wellness products.

For thirty-odd years, this Santa Monica institution has been focused almost singularly on colon hydrotherapy (to the extent that they train and certify practitioners). There is also an on-site infrared sauna.

The first thing you'll notice when you walk into this sauna studio is how spotless it is. Impeccable, in fact. That can be said of the décor, as well: A streamlined, all-white aesthetic reigns—up until you enter one of the sauna suites. Here, you can choose to cast a colored light based on your mood (we chose orange for its mood-elevating, stimulating, feel-good effect) during your sweat. Then you sit back and do just that—sweat—for forty-five minutes. Each suite comes with an iPod and a vitamin C–infused rain shower. Given the potential benefits of using an infrared sauna, there are plenty of reasons to come here. But what keeps us hooked is simple: We always leave feeling calmer, clearer, and just all-around better. (An added perk: HotBox just started carrying goopglow.)

You can book infrared sauna sessions at this Mar Vista studio in either thirty-minute or one-hour increments–we like the full hour, so you can take advantage of the in-room shower. The private-room lighting can be adjusted to pitch black, and the saunas themselves are high-tech enough to connect to a playlist on your phone via Bluetooth. Also cool: The main event here are the “float pods," which are personal sensory deprivation tanks you can book for an hour at a time. There’s a small parking lot in the back, plus really easy street parking at night.

Deenie Leon Robbins's locale is a well-kept secret among members of LA's serious cleansing scene. A drive out to Tarzana proves worthwhile for a session in her high-tech infrared dome—it looks like an MRI scanner—which fans somtimes complement with a colonic or lymphatic massage. Those wanting to take it to the next level might consider her twenty-one-day cleanse in combination with a series of treatments.

This spot is famous for its custom-made infrared saunas. In the personal pods, which look super futuristic, you lie on a bed of jade stones while your body is bathed in red infrared light. Your head is outside of the pod during the entire the forty-minute session, and the surrounding air is diffused with a custom blend of aromatherapeutic oils. The lymphatic compression massage and unique Magnesphere machine, which aims to improve your balance and sleep by way of deep relaxation, are so very worth exploring.

This spa is fairly no-frills, yet totally transportive once you walk through its Santa Monica doors. There’s amazing Reiki, traditional Thai massage, and they have a small infrared sauna you can use before or after your treatment. Everyone who works here is kind and accommodating: They’ll offer you tea, dates, or apple wedges if you want to stay and relax for a bit before heading out.

Surya Spa is no joke—in fact, it's one of only a handful of Panchakarma spots in the States (now, up and running at the beautiful Proper Hotel in Santa Monica). That said, it takes a pretty intense level of commitment that's a bit out of reach unless you have the vacation time and budget: It requires three to four hours a day, for three, five, or seven days (we recommend the full week, though it's tough, as you have to abide by the very ascetic menu that they prescribe). The house-made organic food and authentic Panchakarma treatments reach far beyond what you'll find in a traditional wellness spa (people come here for help with parasites, for instance). The results—which can range from better skin to weight loss—speak for themselves. Beyond being a wonderful detox resource, mothers, babies, and mothers-to-be are in for a treat with Surya Spa's special approach to pregnancy and babies' first six weeks.

With full-on wood paneling throughout most of the space, this Hollywood spot has a hip sweat-lodge vibe. You can book the infrared saunas here solo, or with a friend (at a slightly cheaper rate). They also have hot (infrared) yoga classes—at varying levels of intensity.

Tikkun is the next level when it comes to Korean spas, combining high-tech far-infrared heat with traditional Korean sauna therapies. So if you want to lie down in a Himalayan-salt-brick-tiled sauna or sit in a Hwangto clay room, you get the added benefit of far-infrared heat. And in addition to the sauna rooms, there's a long menu of massages and kick-ass body scrubs to complement the sauna time. We're burying the lede though, because the real golden ticket here is the Mugworth V-Steam: You sit on what is essentially a mini throne, and a combination of infrared and mugwort steam treats you to an energetic release. If you're in LA, you just might have to try it...

Veda's approach centers around the ancient healing modalities of Ayurveda and Panchakarma in space that evokes a modern and organic aesthetic. Appointments start with an in-depth consultation for Veda’s experienced practitioners to assess what treatment will best serve you. We loved experiencing Shirodhara—streams of warm oil pour onto the portion of the forehead known as the “third eye”, which is said to help stimulate an overall sense of calm. Conveniently there are post-treatment showers in the back, but, we like to keep the oil on for an added nourishing dose of calming aromatherapy.

It’s hot and dark, and it can get crowded—but honestly, because of the candlelight-only policy, plus the booming soundtrack of Drake and Cardi B, you can neither hear or see other yogis. It sounds a bit corny, but we’re saying it anyway: It’s incredibly fun. Between the beats and the wildly encouraging teachers, an hour flies by. Prepare for a serious sweat—the infrared heating system gets the room between 80 and 90 degrees—and stretch. Mats and towels are available for rent at the desk, the lockers are the combination kind (so you don’t need a lock), and there are showers (as well as deodorant, face wipes, and hair ties to freshen up) on the premises. Y7 now has a location in Silver Lake, too, as well as the original outposts throughout New York.

Fans of traditional Korean spas—kids included—tend to feel right at home here, with its clean, meditative "Jimjilbang" communal room, it's spacious, super hot saunas, and its no-nonsense massages and body scrubs. Head to the sauna, get a massage, and your nails done, too.

We were sad to see Triyoga's beautiful, Primrose Hill location go but are more than satisfied with its new airy, Camden replacement. Beyond the well-known yoga and Pilates classes—by far, some of the best the city has to offer—it's also worth checking out the infrared sauna sessions, craniosacral massage, intuitive readings, and nutritional, EFT, and CBT therapy (depending on what you're after).

The Grace is a boon to womankind as far as we're concerned: A private, women-only club in one of London's upper-crust neighborhoods, it's as great to hit for a business meeting as it is for a spa break, a green juice, a healthy lunch, or any number of holistic treatments with some of the city's most renowned healers. It's a one-stop shop for everything from colonics to IV infusions, and those who have the spare cash might consider the three- to five-day Intensive Cleanse, which includes a nutritional plan and everything from lymphatic drainage to Acqua Calda hammam treatments. It's a pretty great place to kick-start a health and wellness regimen.

Dr. Joshi's clinic is one of our first ports of (detox) call in London. In addition to colonics, Dr. Joshi also offers a pretty in-depth list of other wellness-centric services including personal training, massage, Endermologie, and his signature twenty-one-day nutritional plan, which are all designed to help detox. The clinic also offers a spectacular Moroccan riad retreat for the weary.

While you're pretty much guaranteed a solid facial at any of the Four Seasons, it's the Organic Pharmacy treatments at the Park Lane outpost that leave skin incredibly soft and glowing. Packed with anti-aging rose and diamonds, the products shine in particular during the signature Rose Diamond Anti-Age and Lifting facial, which starts with deep exfoliation from diamond powder and an enzyme peel and ends with an intensely lifting massage.

While the gym and restaurant are open to members only, the spa at Chelsea's KX is open to the (well-heeled) public who might visit for a wax or face sculpting. We would recommend heading there for a functional medicine consultation with Dr. Georges Mouton. If colonics are your thing, see Michelle Laud. The easy-to-use app makes it easy to book on the fly, too.

Though the hotel is located right in the center of the city overlooking Piccadilly, its subterranean spa feels miles away from the bustling streets above. The space itself is gorgeous, and spending a couple of hours between the sleek and modern gym, pool, and hammam facilities makes for a pretty spectacular spa day. When you book in with some of the expert healers—a resident Reiki master, nutritionist, etc.—the spa also doubles as the most luxurious practitioner's office ever.

While it's no surprise that one of London's swankiest hotels would have a bejeweled spa and gym to match, it's the treatments on offer that really make the Bulgari stand out. Cupping, Chinese Tui-Na, the Bowen Technique, osteopathy, and even emotional healing with a self-proclaimed "Modern Day Wizard" (price tag to match) are on offer here. In addition, the spa's Trend Room is home to the hottest pop-up wellness concepts and changes every few months.

Hands-down one of our favorite places to stay in London, the Connaught in Mayfair manages to strike a balance between charming and yet totally modern. The hotel's 5,000-square-foot spa (the only Aman Spa of its kind outside of the resort group), is just as incredible as you'd imagine swathed in floor-to-ceiling marble. At just five treatment rooms strong, there's a welcome intimacy here—all treatments start with an herbal infusion to help you unwind and then treatments take from Chinese, Indian, and Thai influences. (Each of the treatment rooms has its own private steam room.) During the week, the spa hosts a 20-minute lunch meditation at 1 p.m. that's free and open to the public.

The Corinthia in Covent Garden is one of those places that generally lives up to all the hype. As soon as you enter the space you immediately understand why: the interiors are dark, it's covered in Italian marble, and the vibe is moody but polished. The ESPA is one of the city's largest with twenty-nine treatment rooms and even a stainless steel swimming pool. Along with a robust roster of treatments—signature facials and massages—there's also a selection of customized treatments that focus on detox, sleep, and pregnancy. The best part? Their day spa offerings include access to everything from the gym and thermal floor to the sauna and steam rooms and relaxation areas.

Recently partnered with the renowned Lanserhof group—which runs exclusive medical retreats in Austria and Germany—expect a completely revamped experience from this longtime-favorite spa. They’ve brought in medical specialists, holistic practitioners, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and fitness experts. Just an hour outside London, it’s ideal for anyone looking for an intense holistic reset, or for those looking to get a glimpse of the state-of-the art Lanserhof methods. Their treatments range from traditional therapies—massages, facials, acupuncture and physiotherapy—to scrubs, floats, and hydrotherapy. We love the stress-busting “Detoxifying Envelopment” treatment.

We couldn’t be happier with this new addition to the KX brand, which combines a bare-bones, super-social gym with detoxifying wellness experiences. Down the street from the membership-only KX Life, KXU has pay-as-you-go group classes, including cycling, barre, and yoga. With the workout, you can add on fantastic infrared sauna or cryotherapy sessions, which can help with muscle soreness. We love the modern, darkly lit, neon-everywhere aesthetic, too.

Allyu (pronounced eye-you) is the Quechua word for community, and this Riverwalk-neighborhood spa's commitment to community spreads far beyond its clients. Sustainability manifests itself in nontoxic beauty products, cabinets made from reclaimed barn wood, and locally made soaps for sale. Besides a range of more traditional services, the incredible facials incorporate healing grape stem cells, rose-quartz massage, and smoothing enzyme masks, plus an amazing chakra balancing treatment.

This British import, located inside the Soho House in Chicago's buzzy West Loop, offers extraordinarily comfy treatment chairs and farmhouse vibes. It's particularly popular for its indulgent manis and pedis (60 and 75 minutes, respectively): Each of the chairs features its own TV and freshly brewed tea served in a teapot is available upon request. There are only five treatment rooms, but they'll do everything from facials (some with SkinCeuticals products) to body wraps, scrubs, and deep tissue massages.

The Peninsula’s ESPA spa is perched high above the city on the 19th and 20th floors of the hotel, and as can be expected from ESPA, the products and services are top-notch. And, since it’s the Peninsula, you won’t be disappointed by the amenities either—there's a eucalyptus steam room and a relaxation room where you can curl up next to a working fireplace. The facials can absolutely stand alone (ask for Sunny), but if you're splurging, invest in one of the famous half- or full-day spa journeys.

The sleek subterranean spa beneath the the Joule hotel offers both traditional and experimental spa treatments in a relaxing environment. Many of the facials use Tata Harper products; body treatments include Swedish massage, cupping therapy, and Thai table massage; and there are brow treatments from threading to microblading by local brow expert Rula Sharkawi. There’s a steam room with a giant amethyst shining in the corner (thought to encourage tranquility), a sauna, showers, and the Vitality Pool, a body-temperature pool with jets that gently massage the skin. Book a 50-minute or longer service and get a free spin, kickboxing, or yoga class at the neighboring Vital Fitness Studio.

This sprawling spa complex operates out of the Hotel Crescent Court, so a full day is well spent here: They offer private yoga and Pilates classes, a health-centric café, and treatments that range from the basic (manis and pedis) to the intense (hardcore lymphatic-draining treatments). We love that the spa is open to kids, too, with a full menu of kid-friendly treatments (and snacks in the café).

This mini chain of mega spas offer something called Sauna Valley: You'll find every conceivable temple—gold, Himalayan Salt, infrared, far infrared, color therapy—and an equal number of pools to match. The Texas outpost is open twenty-four hours a day, while the Queens location is open from 6 a.m. to midnight, making this a fun pilgrimage (and a good girls activity). There's an on-site cafeteria, and even a kiddie pool.

Lisa Breitenwischer opened her yoga studio in 2012. There, she teaches highly individualized classes and runs a program of personalized holistic treatments and nutritional counseling. Among the treatments available at her intimate studio is a new IR sauna, which is gratifying before or after a yoga class. (It's also relatively affordable here.)

This studio takes its mantra of “yoga for all” very seriously. There are ten types of classes, at all different levels, as well as options for kids and teens. Some of the best: deep stretching, an energizing vinyasa flow set to rock music, and sculpt classes warmed with an infrared sauna. There’s even a class for families to take together, where kids sing “Row Your Boat” while parents hold the boat pose.

B-12 shot happy hours, lymphatic massage, rolfing, structural integration, acupuncture, cupping, dry brushing, craniosacral therapy...the treatment menu at this sprawling San Francisco institution reads like a detox how-to. They also offer a host of other options, including facials, waxing, and peels.

Nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate bridge, Fort Baker is spread out over acres of prime Sausalito real estate, which up until recently has been left at the mercy of the elements. Then in 2008 a hospitality group stepped in and teamed up with the National Park Service to completely restore and preserve the area. The resulting 142-room lodge, healing arts center, and spa, are spread out over a cluster of Colonial buildings that meet and exceed all of LEED's sustainability requirement.

(Note: Revel & Rose is currently closed but reportedly opening back up soon.) We think the concept behind this one-stop-shop for beauty and wellness is genius: If you're booking in for colon hydrotherapy or an infrared heat session, why not get your nails done, too? The salon offers everything from waxes to spray tans to intuitive readings, which make memberships here extremely worthwhile, whether you're beautifying, detoxing, or both.

Michelle Bravo is a certified holistic massage therapist (HMT) and certified aromatherapist (CAT), two skills that she expertly combines in her signature treatments, which are all trademarked to her unique EOS technique. She's celebrated for a lymphatic massage that incorporates aromatherapy. Clients also love that Michelle is a kind, intuitive sounding board and love talking to her during their treatments—for the full experience, you can book her for a lifestyle coaching session.

The Tata Harper Spa in San Francisco (the only spa of its kind) is tucked into the back of Credo, a clean beauty shop in Pacific Heights. They offer a variety of treatments using Harper's signature products, including hydration therapy, and even back facials, and in true Tata style, you'll snuggle up under a vintage quilt that's reminiscent of her Vermont farm. There's just one tiny room in the back of the shop, so book ahead, though they will take walk-ins.

The great thing about Psoas is that founders Jennifer Lighthouse and Scott Schwartz bring so many different types of massage under the same roof; they offer everything from neurokinetic therapy to orthopedic massage. They're particularly great for sports massage (Jennifer is a former gymnast and diver) and pre-and post-natal bodywork.

Juliana does acupuncture, cupping, herbal work, and fantastic massage. She's also well known for her excellent bedside manner; she's kind, warm, and a pleasure to be around, which makes the entire experience all the more pleasant.

This minimalist, Korean-style communal bathhouse has two separate spa areas, one for men and one for women. Bathing suits are optional but you'll likely find that most guests opt not to wear them. For an affordable price, you can get a four-hour pass to Imperial's hot jacuzzi, dry and steam saunas, and cold plunge. Their wet spa body treatments focus on various purification scrubs, wraps, and oil massages, while their dry spa fixates on acupressure-focused massages. One great thing about Imperial is the spa stays open late (until 10 p.m., with the saunas shutting down at 9:45 p.m.), so you can head there after the office on days that warrant it.

TMI actually makes getting a colonic not so rough. (For more on the nuts and bolts of colonics, see this colonics Q&A with Dr. Alejandro Junger, and check in with your doctor to see if they're right for you.) In addition to colonic sessions, which is obviously what TMI is known for, they also offer infrared sauna sessions.

An all-inclusive hot yoga studio, Ritual gives you everything you need when you step through the door: mat, towel, yogitoes, water (as well as shampoo, razor, toothbrush, etc.). Ritual classes are choreographed to some pretty rad music—from 90's soul to hip-hop and pop remixes. And each session (50 minutes long) is run by two teachers—one leading the group, and then another providing one-on-one, hands-on adjustments and support throughout the session. Every week, a new "peak posture" move is introduced, so regular students continue to build up their yoga practices. What's even better: Sessions at Ritual end with a neck massage.

All the treatments at Roha are based on ancient Ayurveda practices to help restore energy, detoxify, release stress, and enhance wellness. The downtown San Francisco spot is all about full mind-body rejuvenation, with personalized protocols that include dietary adjustments, herbal remedies, and oil therapy treatments. If you’re not looking to make any lifestyle changes, the nourishing, warm-body-oil massage will leave you immediately relaxed and recharged.

The breathtaking Art Deco stained glass panels, gilded details, and winding wrought-iron staircase at this canal-side sauna were rescued from Au Bon Marché in Paris before it underwent a top-to-bottom renovation—the resulting space is a hybrid of immaculate Dutch craftsmanship and Parisian refinement. In addition to the various baths and relaxation rooms there are infrared saunas, a solarium, and the option to book a private massage. Fair warning: The unisex saunas and baths follow a strict no-swimsuits-allowed policy (towels are okay).

The design at Löyly (which is Finnish for the steam that comes off hot rocks at a sauna) is distinctly Scandinavian, with beautiful hardwood floors and minimalist wooden lounge chairs set around the communal space. The facials, though, are decidedly unminimalist: There are nourishing masks; steamy, aromatic compresses to calm skin; layer upon layer of oils, creams, and hydrosols; detoxifying facial steams; and more. There’s a second location in Northeast Portland.

The Faena Hotel's Tierra Santa is a burst of color: A rainbow-striped rug runs through the spa’s lobby, which is outfitted with bright Juan Gatti artwork and floral-printed poufs. Inspired by an array of South American (and some South Asian) healing traditions, Tierra Santa has a gorgeous Turkish-style hammam and offers a full wet spa experience (waterfall shower, herbal steam room, wet scrub, sauna, and ice parlor); many of the treatments include ritualistic wellness aspects. The Hammam Rose Ritual is one highlight: During the treatment, as you lie on top of a warm marble slab, a therapist will scrub your entire body for what is likely to be the most thorough exfoliation of your life. Following this, you’ll be covered in ridiculously soft foam and then a soothing clay and later treated to a massage. The Tree of Life Vibrations treatment takes place on a heated sand bed and incorporates handmade Himalayan singing bowls into another supremely relaxing massage. Other massage options are more conventional, as are the facials—the Triple Lift Advanced Facial concludes with the Remodeling Face Machine from French brand Biologique Recherche. The Hyper-Customized Facial uses Naturopathica, one our favorite clean, nontoxic brands, and begins with facial steaming and gentle extractions, followed by lymphatic drainage, a congestion-soothing calendula mask, and a glycolic peel. The glow you leave with is...unreal. Led by two doctors, Tierra Santa also has a holistic, preventive medicine program that includes digestion-focused health therapies.

The only 100 percent organic spa in Boston (on pretty Newbury Street, no less), Balans specializes in plant-based treatments. This is a full-service outfit with an adjacent wellness center for nutrition, meditation, and exercise needs. The facials are customized entirely to your skin and accompanied by a complimentary nutrition and health consultation (if you like). Aside from the aesthetic treatments, Balans has a flotation tank to help fully relax the mind, the idea being to remove any kind of stimulant—unless you want to listen to music or a guided meditation. This water is Dead Sea–level salty by way of Epsom salts, to permeate the skin with essential minerals, so floating isn’t something you need to think about—it just happens. The massages can be boosted with body brushing, too.

This super authentic Ayurvedic spa and retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains is both rustic and luxe. Everything here, from the cooking classes to the yoga sessions, aligns with Ayurvedic principles. The beyond amazing, recently renovated spa has tons of different treatments, but we like the Signature Facial. All of the nourishing products are made on the premises and work to bring harmony to your doshas. Bonus: You can add on a warm-oil scalp massage to any treatment.

This onsen in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo sources its pristine waters daily from Naikazu in the Izu Peninsula. Pure soaking pools aside, there's an infrared sauna, as well as bedrock baths. The latter involve lying on beds made of rock salt, said to release energizing negative ions. The massages here are completely worth it, rigorous in a hurt-so-good kind of way.

Whether you’re lounging on the heated marble steps of the enormous, coed Turkish-style hammam, sipping fresh-pressed green juice while the ocean glitters before you, doing serious yoga or Pilates, or all three plus an astrology reading and a pedicure, a few hours here truly takes you out of the everyday. Located inside the Standard, the spa's sleekly modern ashram meets sybaritic retreat has everything. Within the hammam, there are shiny metal tubs for individual pretreatment baths; beyond that, there's a Roman-style waterfall hot tub, a mud lounge, a Finnish sauna, an infinity pool, and an arctic plunge. There’s every sort of massage and facial, plus goopier options, like crystal-infused masks, biopuncture, and workshops on hypnocoaching, sound healing, crystal healing, and more. The food couldn’t be healthier or more delicious, and the on-an-island setting is about as gorgeous as it gets. Photos: Adrian Gaut.

This gorgeous villa in the picturesque spa town of Baden-Baden has only fifteen suites and is the ultimate place to detox in private. The nine-day program starts with a medical examination, followed by a custom regimen of ninety-one treatments created by Dr. Harry Konig that range from bracing lymphatic massages and fitness classes to relaxing mud baths and meditations. If you’re interested in a less-immersive path, you can stay in town and instead purchase a day pass for spa treatments and, if you prefer, simply lounging on the perfectly manicured lawns.

A 2017 renovation has given the thirty-five-year-old hotel a glossy new exterior and a sleekly finished leather-and-glass lobby. Grab drinks at the chic bourbon bar and practice your swing at the indoor golf simulator projected against the walls. The spa and gym now have a couple’s suite, nail bar, and top-of-the-line facial treatments; the mix of guided workout classes will keep you occupied in your downtime. Not to be outshone, the tricked-out guest rooms are done up in a crisp palette of whites, creams, and the occasional splash of blue; plus, there's a collection of “specialty suites” that look more like the inside of a storybook castle than a city hotel. Venture outside and you’re a stone’s throw from the bustling Theater District and a short walk over from Discovery Green and Houston’s best restaurants, including the beloved Xochi.

A stone's throw from the Galleria and the traffic-congested streets of Houston, the St. Regis offers the biggest luxury of all: quiet. For such a sprawling property (232 rooms, plus a pool, a spa, and several restaurants), the rooms feel decidedly homelike, with the fluffiest beds and décor that doesn't feel at all stale or corporate. The hotel relies on simple touches to leave a big impact, like the Texas-shaped chocolates at check-in or the live harpist strumming airy accompaniments on the staircase. On weekends, the hotel's Remington Bar draws a crowd with live music and dancing.

A new addition to Downtown Houston, Hotel Alessandra is a modern, twenty-story building situated near the METRORail, making it the perfect home base from which to explore all of Houston. It's also near the ever-active Discovery Green, and when you're exhausted after a busy day, returning to the hotel's marble staircases and vaulted ceilings is heavenly. The guest rooms are outfitted with all the high-tech bells and whistles, like a tablet for navigating lighting and room service. Bar Bardot will win you over with house-baked pastries, freshly squeezed juices, and small bites offered in the afternoon. But lunch is best enjoyed poolside on the roof, perhaps while taking a break from the spa.

Hotel ZaZa is right at home in Houston's Museum District, where its themed suites—not for minimalists—are as elaborate as any show in the nearby galleries. If you book the Rock Star Suite, expect all leopard print and mirrored walls. The Tycoon Suite has a trophy-size hundred-dollar bill mounted in the living room, and the West Indies Room feels like an island retreat. For all its eccentricities, the hotel never pushes quirk over quality. All the rooms have Italian linens, waterfall showerheads, and candlelight turndown service. The complimentary Magic Car Service will drive you to the best spots in the neighborhood, and ZaSpa has a fantastic infrared sauna. Plus, the outdoor pool is great for cooling down from the heat, and the bar's DJ spins a great set. The eclectic sense of humor is just a bonus.

Businessman Tilman Fertitta, the owner of the Houston Rockets, aspires to provide the global traveler with the ultimate respite with his new hotel, the Post Oak. The thirty-eight-story structure lavishes guests with an extensive wine cellar, a luxury auto showroom, and a library designed in partnership with book publisher Assouline. And that's before you even get to your room, which is likely to have a grand marbled bathroom and killer views of the city. The hotel has nine restaurants, including the state's only Mastro's Steakhouse (consistently ranked one of the best steakhouses in the US), a patisserie with a showcase of pastel-colored macarons, and an opulent cocktail bar. There is even an in-room dining menu for pets, because Texas.

If you're eating your way through Houston, you'll stumble on a fair amount of tacos. From cornmeal-crusted catfish to Austin-style breakfast tacos, Torchy's has earned the trust of Texans statewide. In this city alone, there are five branches, but unlike with most chains, the food and staff are unequivocally beloved at every outpost. Still, this one in the Heights is our personal preference. (It's easier to get a seat, and there's a bar, meaning margaritas.) If we had to narrow it down to three, go for fried avocado, the Trailer Park (fried chicken), and green chili pork.

The word "caracol" means "snail" in Spanish, an ode to chef Hugo Ortega's memories of ceviche de caracol served fresh in his brother's kitchen in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The seafood dishes on the menu follow a familiar route—fresh, sentimental seafood, served with obvious care and love. A custom wood-burning oven allows the house specials to shine: whole roasted fish and wood-grilled oysters topped with chipotle butter. For dessert, the El Coco, a series of chocolates, handmade by chef Ortega's brother Ruben Ortega and served in the shell of a cocoa pod to be cracked open with a little wooden hammer. Finish with guava mimosas—sublime and refreshing enough to suggest a hint of sea breeze on the brow.

Each season, March changes its cuisine to devote itself to a new region along the Mediterranean. It's outstanding tasting menus are matched by incredible wine selections, impeccable service, and beautiful design.

Ranking BBQ in Texas is ill-advised. The topic invites strong opinions and heated debates, and it can get personal. Nevertheless, it's easy to make a case for the Pit Room. The brisket here is simply outstanding. Pitmaster Bram Tripp claims the secret is a strict adherence to high-quality meat—everything served is USDA beef or heritage pork from California—but we think there's something in the sauce. The sides are as carefully crafted as the meat: butter beans with bits of bacon, homemade jalapeño and vinegar potato chips, tortillas fried with lard from the brisket. The only things not made in-house are the bread and ice cream, and judging by everything else, if Tripp had a go at it, he'd nail that, too.

Chef Paul Friedman represents South Africa well, merging Dutch, Portuguese, and Asian influences into perfectly seared meats and seafood, served with a side of lush chutneys and spices. The name, Peli Peli, refers to a little red pepper relied upon to transform marinades in traditional cuisine. To experience its full effect, opt for the Cape Town skillet, a dish piled high with prawns so massive they have to squeeze onto the plate, scallops, sautéed calamari, and more. With a thirty-foot acacia tree as a centerpiece and a ceiling of networked neon lights, the restaurant's interior is as much an attraction as the food.

An ode to contemporary Houston, State of Grace has been appropriately established inside a refurbished shopping mall. The menu feels like an elevated version of the Houston food court. Crawfish hushpuppies—doughy balls of cornmeal, flour, and fish, fried then dusted in powdered sugar—share the menu with K-town fried chicken, cheese enchiladas, and squid ink pasta. It's Texas, in all its multicultural, contradictory glory. The eclectic fare makes it a bit of a hipster haven, but trust that the standards here are pretty classic.

Mala Sichuan Bistro is the crown jewel of Houston's Chinatown, a neighborhood glittering with really good food. The people elected it a winner long before the James Beard nomination was announced—check the consistently packed hall of happy diners as proof. Mala reserves bragging rights as some of the best Sichuan in the country: dan dan noodles, mapo tofu, and spicy, crispy chicken. The water-boiled fish in particular is a winner—the bright-red pot of simmering fish stew is perfect over a bowl of rice. Whatever you order, a side of eggplant cooked to sweet, gooey perfection is just...let's just say you'll be happy.

Hugo Ortega solidifies his status as a city treasure with Xochi (his 2017 follow-up to Caracol), built with his wife to represent the diversity of Oaxacan cuisine. Expect zero compromises on tradition—masas, tortillas, chocolates, cheeses, and moles are all house-made. What's imported are the authentic Oaxacan coffee beans, impossible to find anywhere else. The menu may be intimidating, but a short-course tasting of four moles of your choice and a platter of tortillas is a great place to start. The chichilo mole is an easy favorite, but consider the chaicatana, mixed with dried flying ants. Then delve into the antojitos for a taste of goat tacos or tlayudas, an Oaxacan street food of thin, fried tortilla, covered in beans, lettuce, meat, cheese, and salsa.

Local Foods has been packed with lines out the door since it first opened in Rice Village in 2011. Perhaps the new downtown locations can disperse the crowds, but it's doubtful considering the love for this sandwich shop runs deep. The secret at Local Foods is to keep it all fresh: You can hear the crisp snap of cauliflower when you bite into the Garden Sammie, a phenomenal veggie sandwich with a rich avocado spread. And make it a point to sample the vegan chili—vegan options abound, but this side is a standout. Otherwise, the undisputed classic is the Crunchy Chicken sandwich, fried chicken topped with crushed kettle chips and nuts, pickled cucumbers, and tomato slices on a salted pretzel bun.

James Beard Award–winning chef Tyson Cole serves small and inventive Japanese dishes using a mix of local ingredients and nonlocal seafood. Order the Hot Rock (they bring Wagyu beef and a hot rock to your table and cook the meat in front of you), and the madai from the sushi menu. If you're a peanut butter person, you have to get the peanut butter semifreddo with apple-miso sorbet for dessert. The combination of flavors may sound strange, but it tastes amazing. If you don't have time for a full dinner, come between 5 and 6:30 for sake social, during which a limited, but noteworthy, selection of the menu is on offer (and for a fraction of the cost).

Despite the wealth of taco options available in Houston, Ramon Soriano Tomka was still craving the tacos he knew from the streets of Mexico City. One man's food craving can become a city's culinary treasure, as is the case with La Calle Tacos. Here, Tomka converted the best-of-the-best taco recipes from all his favorite spots—sampling the translucent tortillas he knew from one or the salsa from another—into one perfect taco. Guacamole, for once, does not cost extra, and the aguas frescas are made with fresh, whole fruit.

Anita Jaisinghani's reverence for the healing power of Indian spices mixed with her creativity makes Pondicheri's menu both new and familiar. Palak paneer is tucked into simmering green omelets, and morning thali (a traditional breakfast platter) is reimagined to include oats, saffron yogurt, and a fried egg atop dosas. The fried chicken is coated in chickpea batter and tossed in garam masala and dried mango powder, and the specialty burger involves a lamb and goat meat patty. A second location has recently opened in New York.

Dr. Andrew Weil's bastion of healthy, balanced eating is a welcome change to the famously rich local cuisine. Open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant serves vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free food with a focus on ingredients that are sustainable and organic. Carnivores will love the grass-fed bison burger, followed by a Double Brown Stout from Dallas brewery Deep Ellum.

Midwest native Chris Shepherd embraces his adopted home, Houston, with deep love, so expect some Southern comfort with your order: deep-fried pickle slices, peanut-butter-and-jelly wings (we weren't sure either, until we tried them, then we were damn sure), and a really solid burger. But the Hay Merchant's pride and glory is its incredible selection of craft beer. In fact, co-owner Kevin Floyd has been known to dump a beer from the menu as soon as it undergoes a major acquisition, resulting in spontaneous fire sales. It's not snobbery—if they believe good production practices are being compromised in any way, they won't support the brewery. Their principles usually mean happy returns for their patrons, like their golden rule that if a Houston sports team is winning the game—like, say, the Astros at the World Series—all eighty-plus taps of beer are offered half-price.

Here's how this works: Every drink purchased at OKRA's Charity Saloon qualifies as a vote toward one of four charities at the polling station against the wall. Charities are always local, and at the end of each month, the bar donates all profits to the organization elected by its patrons. If that spirit of benevolence—the bar has donated over $1 million to charity—doesn't win you over, trust that it's simply a great place to drink. The latticed glass ceiling floods the wooden hall with natural light, a shuffleboard table awaits your attention, and the waffle fries are arguably the best in the business of waffle fries.

The neon sign upon entry warns you straight-up: no pastries. But tamales—and tequila and mezcal—are fair game. They also serve what are arguably the best margaritas in Texas, using premium tequila and inventive twists like mango and chamoy dusted with tajín. Small and simple, with a projector displaying vintage soccer matches in black-and-white against the walls, this bar is a tribute to Mexican drinking culture.

Grab a beer and sip it swinging in the comfort of one of the outdoor hammocks strung across Axelrad's backyard. Intimate as a campsite (note the vintage Airstream), the building is actually over a century old (it was formerly a grocery store) and is now the most laid-back lounge in Houston. Pets are welcome, there's a live jam session every night, and while food is rarely offered, the neighboring pizzeria, Luigi's, serves a solid slice.

Anvil's cocktail menu can be intimidating to the uninitiated. Or for that matter, to the initiated. Biblical in length, there is an actual table of contents just to organize the exhaustive catalog of cocktails—divided into sections like Sour & Short and Tropical & Tiki. Pray for the bartenders, who must master every single one before they earn their rank. If you arrive in time for a bartender's "graduation day," every item on the menu is just $1 as newbies are quizzed on their mixology credentials. Usually there's a line out the door, but this bar is the call when you're ready to venture away from your regular gin and tonic.

Don't come to Public Services expecting the frills and invention of modern experimentation—this is a classic whiskey and wine bar. The leather-bound menu matches the grandeur of its setting in Houston's historic Cotton Exchange building (completed in 1884) with just six essential cocktails. The selection of rare spirits is best experienced through smaller pours, which should allow you to taste your way around the globe, and extend your stay to try the charred eggplant dip.

Common Bond's head chef, Roy Shvartzapel, returned to his hometown with one lofty goal: to build the best bakery in Houston. After assembling an all-star team of globally trained pastry chefs, he opened to lines around the corner, all waiting for his world-class breads, pastries, and viennoiseries (fancy for "croissants"). After a pistachio-cream-filled croissant (trust us on this one), turn your eye to the brunch menu: lavender lattes, chorizo mussels, and classic grits await. Also worth noting: The chocolate chip cookies are likely to rank among the best you've ever had

Espresso-obsessive Matt Toomey has dedicated himself to roasting and sourcing the best cup of coffee possible. A single shot of espresso here is composed of four different coffee beans tested to meld with milk while maintaining their flavor. When fans line up in the morning, they know Boomtown Coffee will deliver. The standout here is the Crüd (a combination of cold-brew espresso, chicory vanilla, and cream), with an additional "crack rock"—a gigantic ice cube of espresso that dissolves over time to slowly release an extra shot. Genius. During the week, food trucks provide a rotating variety of accompaniments for your to-go cup.

David Buehrer was one of the first people to offer top-quality artisanal coffee to the local community back in 2008 via his first business, Greenway Coffee. He then built Blacksmith and doubled his dedication to serving the best coffee in town. Everything is fresh and handmade—down to the caramel and ganache added to flavored drinks. The breakfast menu has a loyal fan base, thanks in no small part to the house-baked, square-cut biscuits, which serve as the foundation for fried eggs, fresh marmalade, and bowls of red-eye gravy.

This is a beloved local ice cream spot with an ever-evolving menu of handcrafted flavors. Fortunately, every choice is the right one thanks to Fat Cat's uncompromising dedication to Texan farmers. Fruit is always seasonal and provided by neighboring farms, and eggs are delivered fresh twice a week. If an ingredient is imported, expect the very best, as is the case with the crowd-favorite Mexican vanilla.

Czech immigrants left their culinary mark on Texas back in the 1800s with the gift of the kolache—a bite-size pastry filled with something sweet or savory. While many local bakeries serve some variation of the kolache, the Kolache Shoppe on Richmond Avenue has held on to its location and clientele for fifty-plus years. Each variation in the display case deserves a try, but for savory flavors, the winning combination is sausage, egg, cheese, with a little slice of jalapeño tucked into the dough. Sweet kolaches look a little different—like thumbprint Danish versus pigs in a blanket, but the cottage cheese kolache at least allows for a moment of feigned healthy eating.

Disguised as a throwback to the ice pops of your youth, Steel City pops are actually a serious upgrade. Expect flavors like strawberry shortcake, vanilla bean (with a cookie in the middle), pineapple, and jalapeño. Ask for your pop dipped in a layer of chocolate, or sprinkled with espresso dust, or drizzled with caramel (or all of the above). If the menu doesn't keep you occupied, the Ping-Pong table will.

Also referred to as "the taco Truck outside West Alabama Ice House," Tierra Caliente is another runner-up for best tacos in Houston. Served in soft, chewy corn tortillas, the famed ingredient here is the addictive green sauce (spicy, be warned); the best order, $1 breakfast tacos. And as for customer service, let's just say the staff kept this place open during Hurricane Harvey. The most winning feature of all is its proximity to the West Alabama Ice House, a Houston institution. Take your order next door to the picnic table and sip a can of Lone Star in the backyard.

Given our loyalty to nontoxic skin care and makeup, it’s only natural that we love a beauty boutique that checks off certain boxes: clean and luxurious products, transparent labeling, and a great overall message. So when Lemon Laine—a modern beauty boutique with an ethos that revolves around natural, effective, and sustainable products—opened in Houston, we were instant fans. Owner Laura Lemon brings her decade’s worth of beauty industry experience to the shop, in which she stocks some of our favorites, including Kjaer Weis, True Botanicals, and our very own goop skincare. Best yet: The design is clean with bright color—and there’s an oil bar where you can mix bespoke beauty formulas to meet your specific skin needs.

The first time you stumble into Sloan/Hall, you might think you're in a museum. The gallery/life space has everything from greeting cards and collector's books to a gold-plated robot beside a twelfth-century Italian chest to a French perfume collection, Etat Libre d'Orange. The vibe here can be ironic, so this is a great place to get a gift for a friend with a sense of humor and edge.

It's such a cliché to say that everything's bigger in Texas, but it's hard not to say it when you're talking about Kuhl-Linscomb, designer Pam Kuhl-Linscomb's nearly 100,000-square-foot design complex, which offers everything from designer homewares to tabletop items to stationery to pet accessories to a full-fledged apothecary. You could easily spend a day in here.

We love a store with a range of price points, and with options ranging from Jerome Dreyfuss purses to Venessa Arizaga friendship bracelets, Saint Cloud certainly qualifies. While it's primarily an apparel store, the accessories (A Peace Treaty scarves, Erin Considine fringed earrings, Lizzie Fortunato gems) can be relied on for consistently good gifts. The fact that they have a great clean beauty selection (Ilia, Grown Alchemist, Olio e Osso) and the sweetest, most creative kids' buy is a major bonus, too.

Biscuit is primarily known for designer Bailey McCarthy's quirky, colorful bedding collection, which incorporates everything from cactuses to arrows to astrology into sweet, soft-as-butter sheets and duvets. The Houston shop also has the best hostess gifts—the store's vignettes are scattered with cool coffee table books, candles, trays, and bar accessories. There are always great little knickknacks, too, like pineapple-shaped golden shot glasses, tin recipe boxes, and embroidered cocktail napkins.

The guy behind Manready Mercantile, Travis Weaver, is as Texas as they come—he grew up in a tiny town in West Texas, and his store drips of that aesthetic, with an enormous American flag hanging in the back, vintage saws, fishing signs, taxidermy on every wall, and an old-school canoe suspended from the ceiling. His brand began with a line of candles he made on the stove top in his apartment—the success of which inspired him to keep making products traditionally marketed to women (bath salts, bubble bath, and more) and making and packaging them for men. Now, he's expanded into clothing, and the brick-and-mortar showcases his own products as well as giftables from like-minded brands like Freenote Cloth, Mollusk Surf, Helm, and Taylor Stitch. During the holidays, it's pretty much a one-stop shop for brothers, dads, and SOs.

When Mickey Rosmarin opened an independent T-shirt shop in the early 1970s, he had no idea he would eventually come to set the bar for Houston's entire shopping landscape, introducing the city to designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Andrew Gn, and Kenzo. Now a resident of the West Avenue River Oaks shopping center, Tootsies is a three-story boutique that draws in the best of American and European couture, ready-to-wear, jewelry, and accessories. Come here for Attico robes, Saint Laurent shoes, and an encyclopedic collection of Chloé handbags. The customer service and attention to detail continue to make Tootsies a luxury-focused destination—and the private dining room for luncheons, spacious fitting rooms, and exclusive trunk shows don't hurt either.

It's difficult to fathom what 2.4 million square feet looks like until you step inside the Galleria. The usual European suspects—Gucci, Céline, and Dolce & Gabbana—all have individual boutiques showcasing the full range of new collections. If you're more of a department store type, Saks, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom all have gleaming outposts in the mall. And since it's not a question of if you'll get hungry but when, there are twelve restaurants, including the only Fig & Olive in Texas. There's also a movie theater and an ice rink. What's not here? Hard to tell. If time allows, sneak a visit to the nearby Waterwall—a sixty-four-foot man-made waterfall that's a quick walk over from the mall.

Wendi Koletar opened this boutique in Austin twelve years ago, and she finally let Houston in on her sharply refined taste with a River Oaks outpost in 2016. On the racks hangs a well-edited selection of under-the-radar international designers. Brands like Kaarem, Demoo, and Priory offer natural silk and cotton fashioned into well-tailored separates. The store takes aesthetic cues from sculptural abstract artists, best reflected via the off-kilter jewelry selection from names like Lizzie Fortunato and ACB.

Since opening in 2007, Found for the Home has been impressing serious collectors and casual enthusiasts with an eclectic mix of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century antiques—presented among a selection of repurposed industrial finds. Owners Aaron Rambo and Ruth Davis have an eye for the whimsical: mid-twentieth-century Italian settees and chairs, birdcages converted into bejeweled chandeliers, handmade brass candlesticks, and marble dinner plates. The space also opens its doors to trunk shows and showcases from innovative designers like lampmaker Christopher Spitzmiller or interior designer Nathan Turner.

We've been fans of the exceptional shopping experience that is Forty Five Ten since we first discovered the original location in Dallas. Founded by Brian Bolke and his late partner, Shelly Musselman, the space corrals some of the world's best designer clothing and homewares all under one beautiful roof. As at its sister store, you'll find Rochas, Marni, Proenza Schouler, and Delpozo on the shelves, along with Diptyque and Cire Trudon candles—and most recently, our very own goop by Juice Beauty skin care.

This small church in the compound of the Menil Collection doubles as a gallery for fourteen all-black tableaux by Mark Rothko. The somber paintings create a haunting, womblike interior that has a way of bringing instant calm to the spirit and the mind. The church is sparsely outfitted with a few wooden benches and a skylight to let just enough natural light seep in without disturbing the peaceful gloominess. There are weekly events for the Zen-minded, like sound meditations and yoga on the plaza, but a moment alone is the best way to experience it all.

Split across seven buildings, Houston's Museum of Fine Arts is one of the largest museums in the US, with a catalog that chronicles over 6,000 years of history. And while you're unlikely to get bored no matter where you begin, the Caroline Wiess Law Building is the main attraction. It is the permanent residence of artworks ranging from pre-Columbian and Oceanic artifacts to modern and contemporary works by artists such as Jackson Pollock and James Turrell. Outside, stretch your legs in the beautifully landscaped Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen sculpture garden, dotted with pieces by Henri Matisse and Louis Bourgeois.

Breathtaking and romantic, James Turrell's installation on the campus of Rice University is your own private multiverse of color. Let us explain: The sleek steel-and-stone structure projects an LED light sequence from an open ceiling, so you can gaze up and see the muted pastel lights interplay with the changing colors of the sky above. Plan ahead to reserve the most coveted time slots, at sunrise or sunset. During these hours, the inflamed sky melds with Turrell's installation for a hallowed hour of gorgeous light.

Since 1909, the Houston Museum of Natural Science has been committed to making the wonders of science an interactive adventure to pique imaginations regardless of age. Inside, a surreal, glass-encased tropical rain forest protects over sixty varieties of imported butterflies flitting around a cascading waterfall. (Be careful not to unintentionally sneak one out—the butterflies have a habit of taking brief repose on the backs of visitors.) Robotics nerds will find joy in a virtual reality simulation promising to deliver the sensory experience of flying like a bird. Or visit the Burke Baker Planetarium for a 3D introduction to the universe, black holes and solar superstorms included.

Bikers and joggers are forbidden at this nonprofit park dedicated to the preservation of Houston's flora and fauna, but that's okay—the site's quiet, meandering trails are better enjoyed at the slowest pace possible. The two-mile Outer Loop wraps around the park's exterior and is good for a light stroll, but if you're in the mood to explore, bring bug repellent and some water-resistant boots, then head toward the ponds. It's the best place to observe the resident hummingbirds and dragonflies dancing over the Buffalo Bayou.

Bring a picnic basket with the evening's snacks, a bottle of Pinot Noir, and a heavy blanket for the tricky Houston weather—cold on winter nights, damp on summer days. Miller Theatre's performance calendar ranges from kid-friendly musicals to Shakespeare performances, but whatever you plan for, remember to arrive early. Parking is notoriously hellish. To hit the home run of kid-friendly outings, go extra early: The Museum of National Science is right next door.

This urban oasis draws comparison to New York City's Central Park, but when the sun sets behind Rosemont Bridge and the Houston skyline lights up the sky, it's impossible to think of being anywhere else. Joggers and cyclists commit miles to the park, thanks to the generous, ten-foot-wide paths and a landscape peppered with hidden art installations. Look for the lunar lights that change from blue to white in accordance with the phases of the moon, or the breathtaking Tolerance sculptures—hollow human figures constructed of letters by artist Jaume Plensa. But the park's best secret is the underground cistern, which once served as Houston's first underground drinking-water reservoir. Carve out some time on a Sunday morning to book a meditation session over the quiet pool of water.

Across fifty-five acres of once-abandoned industrial concrete, Sawyer Yards has sprouted as Houston's artsy playground. Now this collection of studios, galleries, murals, and boutiques represents the city's finest creative talent. The community has resulted in unexpected ventures like Workspace, a literary arts organization hoping to provide MFA-quality creative writing classes to writers who cannot afford to earn a degree. Or RacePace, an instructor-led running class, equipped with treadmills and usually packed with marathon runners hoping to improve their performance. Plan to come for Open Studios, held on the second Saturday of every month in the Silos, when artists open their studios to the public. Grab a beer on tap from Holler Brewing Co., mingle with the crowd, and introduce yourself to the artists displaying their work.

Imagine thirty acres of art and you begin to get the scope of the Menil Collection. First, get your bearings. The Menil Campus is comprised of several buildings: the Rothko Chapel, the Cy Twombly Gallery, the Dan Flavin Installation at Richmond Hall, and the main building (of permanent collections) designed by Renzo Piano. But put that part out of your mind for the moment—the main building will be closed for next few months for renovations. No matter. You’ll still want an entire afternoon, if not a whole day, here. Good thing there’s also Bistro Menil—perfect for a bite between taking in the exhibitions.

Just across the street from the Menil’s main building, the Cy Twombly Gallery pays tribute to the late modern artist best known for his enormous, graffiti-esque abstract paintings. Opened in 1995, the museum is another Renzo Piano commission, and sticks faithfully to the Menil’s minimalist aesthetic of natural light, wooden ceilings, and white oak floors. Inside, you’ll find a retrospective of Twombly’s impressive career dating, from 1953 to 2004, with a collection of paintings and sculptures handpicked by the artist himself.

Maryam Naderi introduced Houston to the nontoxic manicure in 2016 with Paloma, the very first salon in the city to ditch the chemicals for five-free nail polish (formulas that contain no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, resin, or camphor). Every square inch of Paloma is clean and committed to Naderi's vision of wellness. There's no acrylic or UV lights to speak of, and pedicures are administered over sleek stone basins instead of plastic bins. For those in a rush, the Quick Fix manicure is the way to go, but if you've come to indulge, try the Standard, an eighteen-step nail service that comes with an exfoliation treatment, massage, and your pick of Weleda products.

Instructors at DEFINE are trained to listen to clients' needs and pay particularly close attention to joint and muscle protection—all while toning the body to peak performance. And they throw a few creative tweaks into their standard repertoire of barre, yoga, and spin, like DEFINE bounce, a barre class that makes use of a trampoline to incorporate high-intensity interval training. Cardio is a chore, but you'd hardly think so mid-bounce at the studio. The hammock yoga class teaches ballerina-esque swan dives; the ball yoga class is like a guided foam rolling session to open up tight joints. If your baby is a fan of the carrier, there's even a class you can take together for forty-five minutes of bonding and exercise.

This cycling studio is, in a word, remarkable. The highly trained instructors give you the benefit of intense, focused attention for forty minutes of heart-rate-pumping pedaling. Not to mention a playlist that's better than most clubs and a bike that tracks your performance and sends you the analytics (average rpm, energy burned, miles cycled, etc.) after class. Don't be disappointed when you have to leave your chilled eucalyptus towel behind—you'll be back tomorrow.

Licensed acupuncturist Lori J. Earley thinks of the human body as "just the tip of the iceberg" when it comes to balancing her patients' discomfort and pain. Using this ideology, Phoenix Rising provides a session called Esoteric Acupuncture, which works to expand consciousness and balance the chakras. There's also the option to add a cupping session to aid blood circulation.

Instructor and studio owner Robert Boustany combines his forty years of experience teaching and practicing yoga into a specially crafted practice he calls Pralaya. Relying on a background in academics (he holds a master's in physics), Boustany splices the very best of traditional yogi training with breathwork, resulting in a flow that aims to protect joints and boost energy levels. If you're still struggling with more difficult poses, Boustany is the kind of teacher who challenges you to elevate your practice.

If you're in need of a wax, a fast facial, a mani-pedi, or just about any self-care moment you can imagine, Milk + Honey is the spot. It's great if you have time for only an in-and-out, though we suggest carving out a solid afternoon to yourself. The Spa Partisan packs in a body-polishing treatment, a steam, and a sixty-minute body-butter massage. (It's as good as it sounds.) Facials, which last anywhere from 60 to 120 minutes, call for a customized mix of CosMedix and Osea products, and the aestheticians are happy to spend extra time to make sure your goals for the treatment are met. End your experience by wandering through the smartly curated shop, where you'll find their insane lemon-vanilla body polish and travel-size Davines hair care, which can be tricky to track down—plus, the full range of Osea certified-organic skin care.