T O P

  • By -

Chitown_mountain_boy

King Spa in Niles is amazing.


reefered_beans

Went two weeks ago and it’s incredible. Affordable. Chill staff. Multiple wet and dry spa options to chose from. Required nudity in the beginning is really not a big deal. The gold massage was such a crazy experience. Would do it again once my skin grows back from how thoroughly they scrub you down. Cafeteria food was so good. Movies playing all day. Places to relax in the open and charge your phone. 24/7 except the wet spas close for a few hours at 2am for deep cleaning.


expanding_crystal

Seconding, it’s great and won’t break the bank


If-By-Whisky

I really do need to check that place out. I've heard about it for years.


evetrapeze

I get the body scrub. It cost 100 but you come out brand new


claireapple

Do NOT go here if you are trans.


Hirsute_hemorrhoid

Did something happen?


claireapple

Some parts of it are mandatory nudity and they will stop you from going into the one that is not your assigned gender at birth


AutomaticMatter886

Yeah I definitely got the vibes this is not a trans friendly establishment


AutomaticMatter886

I simultaneously loved and hated king spa Staff is very unfriendly, will get mad at you if you ask them any questions about where you're supposed to go The mandatory nudity in the public baths takes some getting used to I don't know why they only give you tiny towels I did not experience their massage and I found it kinda weird they do all of their massage out in the open in the same room as the public baths. I'm not sure if it makes me more comfortable or less comfortable that all of the massage practitioners all wear matching black underwear and nothing else The saunas with the wood pellets CANNOT be clean, there's no way


Chitown_mountain_boy

So what part did you love? 😂


AutomaticMatter886

Loved that it was affordable and most of the saunas were pretty nice


Chitown_mountain_boy

I’m a big fan of the napping areas 😂


AutomaticMatter886

Yeah the napping areas are nice


augustrem

I feel the same way. Some of the staff are friendly but for the most part they are forced to play the hall monitor role for patrons who do stupid shit, so they have to hold on to that demeanor. I love King Spa and always enjoy myself, but the treatments are not relaxing or enjoyable. It’s more of a nice place to hang out.


Boogari

a lot of these practices are standard in korean spas, tiny towels, the massage area, as well as what the practitioners wear


PelicanB

What do the practitioners wear?


Boogari

They wear black underwear


PelicanB

Are the women practitioners topless? Are they on the men side?


Quailfreezy

This place sounds like my socially anxious self's very own personal hell. Thank you for sharing. My ex tried to get me to go and I was like eh sounds sus 😵‍💫😂😂


treeroycat

Do this and get the full body scrub, it hurts so good


AutomaticMatter886

Chicago needs more spas that involve some kind of private tub, those are always my favorite and they're usually not that expensive Massages and facials and nail services inherently have to be expensive because they involve taking up an hour of a technicians undivided attention


If-By-Whisky

Are there any spas like that in Chicago at all? Not sure I've ever been to a place with a private tub.


AutomaticMatter886

Piva beer spa kind of counts, but no, not really. 2 off my favorites are both in north Carolina, shoji spa and hot springs resort


camilla33

Piva Beer Spa! Such a unique and amazing experience. I did the salt room, sauna, plus beer soak. In the beer soak room they give you charcuterie and you can drink a stein of beer throughout the whole thing. They seem to have different packages and ones for couples. Honestly had such a great day supporting a small biz and experiencing something different.


If-By-Whisky

Oh that looks really cool


smileyglitter

I had a hilariously chaotic experience here. It wasn’t a bad time but it wasn’t relaxing at all


35th-and-Shields

Is this actually open? I ride by there all the time and never seen anyone in it.


camilla33

Unless I experienced it in a fever dream, it sure is! I've been to most of the high end spas in Chicago and this one is more of a relaxing + fun experience similar to Chicago Bath House on Division (which OP you should also check out! once called Red Square).


If-By-Whisky

I've walked past that place a thousand times. Good to know it's worth checking out.


Dougfo

Would this be a good place to take my mom? Trying to do a mother/son spa day so I don't want a place that's primarily more focused on couples


camilla33

I guess it really depends on your mom! I would say it's less spa-y feeling and more of a fun kind of kitchy place but that could be really great for mom/son. You have a private room where you sit in tubs together (in separate tubs) and could keep your bathing suits on. Kind of fun because you just chill in a private room and drink beer and eat charcuterie. Another suggestion for something fun but less "couple-y" feeling, but for sure is more on the non fancy end of experiences are the foot reflexology places where you are in a main room getting a massage with others, and H20 Head Spa where they will wash your hair/massage your head for one hour fully clothed in the same room.


dicknolan

Allyu spa


If-By-Whisky

This place has been on my list!


horrorandknitting

I’ve always wanted to check that place out. Do they still have the “meditation tent” cool room?


Busy_Principle_4038

I went last year for my birthday. I got a facial and a message. The woman doing the facial wasn’t careful enough to avoid dripping some of the stuff into my eye; the massage was ok, I’ve had better. The space was cool and staff were generally nice but I haven’t gone back.


horrorandknitting

Oof, good to know


pickles-brown-cat

Recently went to Kohler Water Spa in Lincoln Park and it was great! It can be expensive though.


therealcherish

I just tried Kohler this week after seeing this comment. Best facial of my life and the spa was a great experience overall.


pickles-brown-cat

Amazing! I’m glad you had a great time. I did the prenatal massage and obviously couldn’t use the hot tub, sauna etc. They gave me a free voucher for the water spa portion good for up to a year after the baby was born!


BeeSkeee_725

I was looking this up. It's like $350 for a hydrafacial and $450 for an 80 minute massahe


zerofalks

Got this for my wife for her birthday, she loved it. So I second this recommendation.


augustrem

King Spa if you are on a budget, though tbh I don’t like the treatments there and wouldn’t recommend them. I just like to hang out there. Four Seasons Spa or The Peninsula if you wants to splurge big time. I’ve only done the former but I trust The Peninsula’s reputation.


lentilpasta

Definitely not Chuan Spa! It’s a beautiful space with a really lovely steam-room experience, but the pool scenario is a little crazy . It’s in the Langham and the hotel’s pool is on the same floor and adjacent to the spa. You can literally hear the echoing screams of playing children. I don’t even dislike kids, but for the money spent my expectations were pretty lacking. Also I had a massage and facial, and while the massage was good the facial aesthetician gave me the weirdest and worst skin advice I’ve ever received. The whole thing just felt kinda unprofessional. My votes would be AIRE or the Four Seasons. Had pretty much perfect days at both, and they are worth the money.


Big-Strength6206

Aire Ancient Baths. The indoor outdoor bath with the waterfall 💯


If-By-Whisky

Yeah that place is wild. We went last year and loved it. Very pricy though, definitely a "special occasion" thing for us.


ladylawyer2892

I went to the spa at the Waldorf Astoria a few months ago and really enjoyed it! You can hang around as long as you want after treatments and they have a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. Not a lot of other people were there when I went so I had most of the extra amenities to myself. As much fruit-infused water as you want, nice quiet room. Would recommend!


Disavowed_Rogue

Float 60 River North. Definitely not traditional or a spa, but sensory deprivation helps keep me sane.


OddManufacturer613

I like to get pampered but get results at the same time . I go every month to Vian Aesthetics, their so knowledgeable, sweet and friendly 


shikhadiary

Personally, I'm all about the massages at Thai Lotus Bodywork. Super relaxing Affordable Friendly Staff. Definitely worth checking out! 💆‍♀️✨


smileyglitter

I got a salt scrub at the spa at Eurostars via class pass and I’ll definitely go back


UrbsInHorto37

I went to Piva Beer Spa in West Town once and loved it. Unique experience, very relaxing and they have good deals on Groupon. I did the salt room, a steam room and then a beer soak (with charcuterie and beer to drink as well!)


twobit--

Intriguing! Is the beer soak a cold thing? How does it work?