Boston is a city of many reputations: a college town, the cradle of the American Revolution, a sports-obsessed metropolis, and a hub for global business. But wellness capital? That’s one honorific that’s typically reserved for the tropical climes of Florida or the woo-woo hippie towns of the West Coast.
Look a little closer, however, and you’ll see that Boston has all the ingredients for rest and rejuvenation. Our many, many champion athletes need places that cater to their rest and recovery. Our high-performing students and business executives need ways to blow off steam. And as a gateway to skiing, sailing, hiking, and every outdoor activity that New England has to offer, Boston is ideally situated to offer wellness experiences before—or more likely after—more rugged pursuits. And while some folks tend to shy away from this northeastern capital’s harsh winters, locals would argue that the colder months are the best time of year to hunker down and hibernate with wellness classes, restorative spa treatments, and nourishing meals bridging the gap between indulgence and self-care.
Next time you’re in Boston, don’t just tick the Freedom Trail or Boston Public Library off your list—although those are must-dos, too. Here are some of Boston’s best wellness experiences to incorporate into your visit.
The Best Spas in Boston
A vibrant hotel scene has helped Boston’s spa scene flourish in recent years. The biggest, splashiest hotel spa on everyone’s lips these days is the Guerlain Spa at Raffles Boston. One of the few American spas from this French luxury brand, it focuses on high-efficacy facials and deeply satisfying massages which draw on the brand’s extensive portfolio of aromatherapies. The Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street has a similarly fabulous wellness floor complete with a spa, a vitality pool, an infrared sauna, and a whirlpool, much of which is framed by beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Back Bay. Nearby, the Mandarin Oriental, Boston remains a longstanding favorite, offering Asian-inflected rituals and robust multi-day wellness packages. And don’t forget the fabulous Spa at Encore Boston Harbor, which benefits from being just across the city limits in Everett—its truly enormous spa facilities offer spacious relaxation rooms, saunas, and plunge pools that invite guests to linger before and after their treatment.
The Best Fitness Classes in Boston
As a dynamic city catering to a diverse and global population, Boston has a fantastic fitness scene, with a range of options ranging from mild to wild. If intensity is what you seek, check out the big, national heavy-hitters: Barry’s, Solidcore, SoulCycle, and CrossFit all have a presence here. There are some homegrown favorites, too: the subterranean HIIT and bootcamp studio Broncore; the high-energy cycling at The Handle Bar; B/Spoke for a mix of different classes; high-intensity boxing classes at Everybody Fights; and Btone for reformer Pilates.
Need something a little gentler? There is a huge yoga culture here, too, whether it’s in the Boston Yoga Union in Back Bay, any of the locations of Down Under School of Yoga, or Asana in Charlestown.
During the warmer months, you’ll also find an abundance of free outdoor classes—some of which are led by instructors from the studios mentioned above. The Rose Kennedy Greenway, a thin stretch of green space that hugs downtown from the North End to South Station, hosts a particularly good series each summer that’s underwritten by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Over in the glitzy Seaport District, the Seaport Sweat series offers free outdoor classes six days a week—and when you’re done, you’re only a few steps away from some of the best restaurants in Boston for a well-earned brunch.
And don’t sleep on the most Bostonian of all recreation activities: walking. This is one of the best cities in America for it. Even if you’re here for a winter hibernation, nothing beats the fresh air, historic landscaping, and city views of a stroll through the Public Garden, Boston Common, or Charles River Esplanade. On any of these three, you’re never too far from a local café to check out if you’re in need of a hot chocolate to warm up.
The New Wave of Wellness in Boston
Here’s the secret weapon of Boston’s wellness scene: as a global capital of healthcare and education, there is not only an enormous offering of medspas and clinically-trained specialists at the ready, but also a highly discerning clientele constantly challenging them to raise the bar. Consider LexRx, for instance: Co-founded by a duo of charming, highly skilled nurse practitioners, this medspa has scaled across Boston and beyond thanks to their precise, customer-first approach to injectables and other aesthetic treatments. The same goes for Alxs Skn Gym, founded by visionary local skincare guru Alexis Robertson, whose discerning clientele expect so much more than run-of-the-mill facials and products.
An abundance of world-class hospitals has also fostered a number of solid local options for IV therapies. Pay a visit to the brick-and-mortar Boston Direct Health for a Glutathione IV drip to increase energy and boost metabolism (Gwyneth Paltrow swears by them), or the folks from Drip Hydration offer bespoke Vitamin IV Therapies delivered in the comfort and privacy of your hotel.
%2520(1)%2520copy.jpg)
Where to Stay
Wellness in Boston’s hotels doesn’t stop at the spa door. At The Newbury, for instance, fireplaces in select suites overlooking the Public Garden make for about as dreamy a city sojourn as we could imagine. Nearby at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, the staff provide their guests with such a degree of personalized care that you’d be hard pressed to feel anything but relaxed and well looked after. Both of these hotels command sweeping park views and natural light, offering a degree of tranquility in the heart of the city.
Where to Eat
As a walkable city that caters to visitors, students, and high-powered business types alike, there are plenty of great places to grab a quick and healthy bite in Boston. A “Kale Yeah” green juice from local favorite Mother Juice is a flawless way to start the day. Come lunchtime, you’ll need something more substantial: With several locations in and around the city, Massachusetts-born chain Life Alive is a go-to for a healthy power lunch. They “celebrate positive eating through scratch-prepared organic meals that encourage both personal and planetary wellness,” per their website—but we know them as the place that cooks up a mean Green Goddess Bowl drizzled with unbelievable ginger tamari sauce. Fellow local chain Tatte (“like latté” per their coffee cups) is known for equally flavorful and satisfying salads and sandwiches—some more healthy than others—as well as their baked goods. (Obviously, any wellness visit to Boston should be punctuated with a treat here and there.)
Don’t get us wrong—there are so many places to indulge your guilty pleasures in Boston’s restaurants these days. But something we’ve also noticed lately is the city’s renewed focus on mindful eating, ethical sourcing, and flexibility to meet dietary needs and goals. At the forefront of this movement is the fantastic Woods Hill Pier 4, which prioritizes an ancestral diet of ethical, regenerative, small-batch producers and farmers wherever possible. Many ingredients—even some meats—come from the owner Kristin Canty’s farm in New Hampshire. The menu at Bar Mezzana in the South End is similarly light and fresh-feeling, with a coastal Italian menu that emphasizes impossibly fresh seafood crudos. Both of these restaurants offer excellent dinner options as well as a fun scene in the evening, so you can eat in a way that aligns with your nutrition goals but doesn’t sacrifice indulgence or enjoyment along the way. Because as any wellness interlude in this city will illustrate, everything in life can and should be taken in moderation—including moderation.
.jpg)
