AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago has won Illinois’s Best Day Spa 2026 at the World Spa Awards, the industry’s leading awards program for spa and wellness, now in its twelfth year. Industry professionals, media, and travelers cast the votes behind the award, and this year, AIRE Chicago came out ahead of every other day spa in the state.
What is AIRE Ancient Baths
The philosophy of AIRE traces back to the ancient bathing traditions of Rome, Greece, and the Ottoman Empire, reimagined inside restored historic buildings across cities including Barcelona, Seville, London, Copenhagen, New York, or Toronto. AIRE Chicago, set inside a restored 1902 factory in the River West neighborhood, is one of the largest AIRE Locations, spanning nearly 20,000 square feet.
The thermal bath tour
At the center of every visit is the thermal bath tour, a series of pools, each at a different temperature, that guests can move through at their own pace. The Caldarium is a hot pool designed to open the body and ease tension, while the Tepidariums are a set of warm pools meant for lingering and slowing down. The Balneum uses jets to massage the body, and the Frigidarium offers a cold plunge that leaves the body feeling awake and refreshed, alongside a steam room infused with aromatherapy scents. Chicago also holds a feature unique to this location: the Palestra, an indoor/outdoor heated pool set that also has a waterfall, open to the sky above the city.
Baths Only
For guests who want the thermal circuit on its own, without any massage, Baths Only gives full access to every bath in the tour. It is the simplest way to experience AIRE, and often the starting point for first-time visitors.
Relaxing Massages
This category pairs the thermal circuit with a massage, ranging from classic full-body treatments to more specific techniques targeting particular areas of tension. Every massage experience begins with time in the baths, so the body is already relaxed before the treatment starts.
For Two
Built for couples, friends, or family members who want to share the experience side by side, For Two includes private treatment time set within the same thermal circuit. It is a popular choice for anniversaries, birthdays, and visits from out of town, though guests can book it for any occasion, or none at all.
Singular Experiences
Singular Experiences covers AIRE’s more distinctive rituals, often built around reagional ingredients, for guests looking for something beyond the standard visit. These experiences tend to reflect what is unique to each AIRE location.
A recognition years in the making
The award adds to a growing list of recognitions for AIRE Chicago since it opened, and it reflects what the location has aimed for from the start: a space where the details, from water temperature to the relaxing feeling of each room, are built so guests can focus entirely on rest.