In the fall of 2025, Recess opened a social bath in Montreal’s post-industrial Griffintown neighborhood, partnering with Aesop. A social bath is like a spa, but a little cooler. And the Recess spa is very, very cool.
During the coldest, darkest days of a Montreal winter, it’s very important to warm up as often as possible – and a sauna is kind of the best way to do that. It’s the basis of the Scandinavian philosophy of hot and cold, and a mandatory part of winter in Quebec.
One of our favorite outings is a road-trip to one of our favorite spas-outdoors, in a halo of snow and condensed mist, and indoors in the intense, soothing heat of a sauna that smells of burning wood.
The next-best thing is to spend an hour or two at a spa just down the road – with a cold bath, a sauna, a bit of very hot and very cold…
A Bain Social with an ultra-modern design
The Recess urban spa was designed by Canadian studio Future Simple Studio, with a contemporary design that elevates the baths and sauna to the level of an ultra-cinematic experience.
With simple lines, soft lighting and a vibe reminiscent of a 70s experimental film, the relaxation brought about by the hot-cold social bath calls for meditation.
The circuit to follow in the urban spa, Freeflow, lasts around 75 minutes and moves from a sauna to a hot bath, and on to a meditation and breathing exercise room. Recess calls it “a new ritual for urban living”.
Guided meditation sessions, the Freeflow circuit, a special program for physical recovery after a ski weekend or a really big week at the office – it’s a spa for city life.
Practical Info
Where? Recess Bain Social, 217 rue Young
Where?
Monday – noon-9pm
Tuesday-Friday – noon-10:30pm
Saturday – 10am-10pm
Sunday – 10am-9pm
How do I get started? Recess has several introductory offers: two weeks for $99, 2 sessions for $90, 1 session for $50.
to book online, click here!
Happy winter!