Best Saunas in New Orleans, United States
Melt Well
Melt Well is a sauna and cold-plunge studio at 234 West Harrison Avenue in Lakeview, one of two Melt Well studios. Guests book private suites rather than a communal sauna: 40-minute sessions in full-spectrum infrared saunas preheated to 140°F and adjustable from 130°F to 165°F, or 60-minute contrast sessions that add a cold plunge. Red light therapy can be added. Open weekdays 8 AM to 8 PM and weekends 8 AM to 6 PM.
Natural Wellness with Nurse April
Natural Wellness with Nurse April is a natural-health practice on West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, just downriver from the Lower Ninth Ward, run by a certified natural healthcare consultant. Besides colon hydrotherapy and lymphatic drainage it offers sessions in a Sunlighten infrared sauna. Hours vary and the practice asks visitors to call ahead; it is open most Saturdays.
Uptown Wellness + Aesthetics
Uptown Wellness + Aesthetics is a recovery and aesthetics studio at 4712 Magazine Street Uptown. Alongside cryotherapy, a cold plunge, halotherapy and red light therapy it runs an infrared sauna kept between 140°F and 150°F for sessions of about 35 minutes, with towels, robes and cold towels provided. A single infrared session costs $39, or five for $155. Open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 3 PM.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans
The Ritz-Carlton Spa occupies the Ritz-Carlton hotel on Canal Street at the edge of the French Quarter. It has separate men's and women's lounges with saunas, steam rooms and a whirlpool, and visitors booking a treatment are asked to arrive 30 minutes early to use them; hotel guests can use the steam and sauna without a treatment for $25 a day. The spa is open daily 9 AM to 5 PM for guests aged 18 and over.
The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans
The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans sits in the hotel at the foot of Canal Street by the Mississippi River. It has eight treatment rooms including a couples' suite, change rooms with steam rooms and a relaxation lounge, and spa guests get access to the rooftop pool. Locals can book treatments, with 20% off for Louisiana residents Monday to Thursday. The spa facilities open Sunday to Thursday 10 AM to 6 PM and Friday and Saturday 9 AM to 7 PM.
Waldorf Astoria Spa, The Roosevelt New Orleans
The Waldorf Astoria Spa is the spa of The Roosevelt New Orleans, the historic hotel just off Canal Street by the French Quarter. Its self-guided Contrast Therapy Lounge has two infrared saunas and a cold plunge tub, booked as a 50-minute contrast therapy session, next to a recovery lounge with anti-gravity loungers. Treatments include valet parking and day access to the rooftop pool, and locals receive 20% off treatments Sunday to Thursday.
Body Shoppe
Body Shoppe is a boutique fitness studio and recovery space on Freret Street, founded in 2019. Besides group classes it books private infrared sauna sessions and 10-minute cold plunge sessions, and members get complimentary recovery sessions; showers are available afterwards. The studio is open Monday to Thursday 6 AM to 8 PM, Friday 6 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM and Sunday 9 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM.
Hype Haus Fitness
Hype Haus is a boutique fitness studio at 730 South Rampart Street in the Central Business District, known for indoor cycling and strength classes. Its private Recovery Room has an infrared sauna with a maximum of 150°F, a cold plunge kept at up to 48°F and a private shower, booked as 45-minute sessions for one or with a guest. New visitors can buy three sauna-and-plunge recovery sessions for $58.
New Orleans Athletic Club
The New Orleans Athletic Club on North Rampart Street was established in 1872 and calls itself the third-oldest athletic club in the United States. Members have steam rooms and dry saunas in both the men's and women's locker rooms, a bookable cold plunge without ice, and a 20-yard indoor pool kept near 83°F. Access is by annual membership; members may bring guests for $10 a visit. Open Monday to Friday 5:30 AM to 9 PM and weekends 8 AM to 6 PM.
Ochsner Fitness Center Harahan
Ochsner Fitness Center Harahan is the 170,000-square-foot flagship club of the Ochsner fitness group on South Clearview Parkway in Elmwood. Its wet area combines a sauna, a steam room, a cold dip and indoor and outdoor whirlpools, alongside six indoor and outdoor pools and more than 70 group exercise classes. Access is by membership; members of the Downtown and Heritage Plaza clubs may use it from Friday noon through Sunday.
Melt Well
Melt Well is a sauna and cold-plunge studio at 234 West Harrison Avenue in Lakeview, one of two Melt Well studios. Guests book private suites rather than a communal sauna: 40-minute sessions in full-spectrum infrared saunas preheated to 140°F and adjustable from 130°F to 165°F, or 60-minute contrast sessions that add a cold plunge. Red light therapy can be added. Open weekdays 8 AM to 8 PM and weekends 8 AM to 6 PM.
Natural Wellness with Nurse April
Natural Wellness with Nurse April is a natural-health practice on West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, just downriver from the Lower Ninth Ward, run by a certified natural healthcare consultant. Besides colon hydrotherapy and lymphatic drainage it offers sessions in a Sunlighten infrared sauna. Hours vary and the practice asks visitors to call ahead; it is open most Saturdays.
Uptown Wellness + Aesthetics
Uptown Wellness + Aesthetics is a recovery and aesthetics studio at 4712 Magazine Street Uptown. Alongside cryotherapy, a cold plunge, halotherapy and red light therapy it runs an infrared sauna kept between 140°F and 150°F for sessions of about 35 minutes, with towels, robes and cold towels provided. A single infrared session costs $39, or five for $155. Open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 3 PM.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans
The Ritz-Carlton Spa occupies the Ritz-Carlton hotel on Canal Street at the edge of the French Quarter. It has separate men's and women's lounges with saunas, steam rooms and a whirlpool, and visitors booking a treatment are asked to arrive 30 minutes early to use them; hotel guests can use the steam and sauna without a treatment for $25 a day. The spa is open daily 9 AM to 5 PM for guests aged 18 and over.
The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans
The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans sits in the hotel at the foot of Canal Street by the Mississippi River. It has eight treatment rooms including a couples' suite, change rooms with steam rooms and a relaxation lounge, and spa guests get access to the rooftop pool. Locals can book treatments, with 20% off for Louisiana residents Monday to Thursday. The spa facilities open Sunday to Thursday 10 AM to 6 PM and Friday and Saturday 9 AM to 7 PM.
Waldorf Astoria Spa, The Roosevelt New Orleans
The Waldorf Astoria Spa is the spa of The Roosevelt New Orleans, the historic hotel just off Canal Street by the French Quarter. Its self-guided Contrast Therapy Lounge has two infrared saunas and a cold plunge tub, booked as a 50-minute contrast therapy session, next to a recovery lounge with anti-gravity loungers. Treatments include valet parking and day access to the rooftop pool, and locals receive 20% off treatments Sunday to Thursday.
Body Shoppe
Body Shoppe is a boutique fitness studio and recovery space on Freret Street, founded in 2019. Besides group classes it books private infrared sauna sessions and 10-minute cold plunge sessions, and members get complimentary recovery sessions; showers are available afterwards. The studio is open Monday to Thursday 6 AM to 8 PM, Friday 6 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM and Sunday 9 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM.
Hype Haus Fitness
Hype Haus is a boutique fitness studio at 730 South Rampart Street in the Central Business District, known for indoor cycling and strength classes. Its private Recovery Room has an infrared sauna with a maximum of 150°F, a cold plunge kept at up to 48°F and a private shower, booked as 45-minute sessions for one or with a guest. New visitors can buy three sauna-and-plunge recovery sessions for $58.
New Orleans Athletic Club
The New Orleans Athletic Club on North Rampart Street was established in 1872 and calls itself the third-oldest athletic club in the United States. Members have steam rooms and dry saunas in both the men's and women's locker rooms, a bookable cold plunge without ice, and a 20-yard indoor pool kept near 83°F. Access is by annual membership; members may bring guests for $10 a visit. Open Monday to Friday 5:30 AM to 9 PM and weekends 8 AM to 6 PM.
Ochsner Fitness Center Harahan
Ochsner Fitness Center Harahan is the 170,000-square-foot flagship club of the Ochsner fitness group on South Clearview Parkway in Elmwood. Its wet area combines a sauna, a steam room, a cold dip and indoor and outdoor whirlpools, alongside six indoor and outdoor pools and more than 70 group exercise classes. Access is by membership; members of the Downtown and Heritage Plaza clubs may use it from Friday noon through Sunday.