Bathhouses and beyond: Singapore wellness players usher in new era of retreats and recovery for 2026

SINGAPORE – In the former barracks of Dempsey, one might not expect to find hot pools of epsom salt.

Stepping into contemporary bathhouse Nowhere Baths, the troubles melt away. Guests shuffle back and forth between hot pools, a cold plunge, and a Finnish-style sauna and steam room – in search of joint relief, recovery and a good time with friends.

On an outdoor deck in the back, some take a breather in the still air. It is as close to forest bathing as you can get in the urban jungle of Singapore.

Co-founders Sarah Chan, 35, and Derick Foo, 38, fell into bathhouse culture in 2022. Bona fide experts in wet wellness – the couple are also behind flotation therapy joint Palm Ave Float Club – they were inspired by their research that found bathing could go beyond the functional.

That set in motion a plan to build a new kind of bathhouse in Singapore, one prioritising quiet and stillness.

The Dempsey unit surfaced as an option and ultimately won – “because nothing could beat the nature, vibe and privacy”, says Ms Chan. “We envisioned that it would be a great space for people to enjoy a half-day retreat away from the city bustle. There are a lot of people in Singapore who want a quiet space that’s restful; it’s quite hard to find.”

Bathhouses are on their way to being the next big wellness fad in Singapore. At least 10 venues focusing on recovery have sprung up over the last two years – from familiar names such as Trapeze Rec Group to newer but fast-growing entrants like The Ice Bath Club and Rekoop.

Offering a range of services such as saunas, hot-cold therapy, ice plunges and more, they run the spectrum from performance-focused to holistic.

In November, international developer and operator of wellness projects Therme Group announced that it had won a tender by the Singapore Tourism Board to develop the country’s first dedicated wellness attraction in Marina South. Slated to open by 2030, the $1 billion project will feature saunas, steam baths and water slides.

With stiffening competition, some are going above and beyond to open design-forward concepts.

Newest to the scene is Capybara Bathing, a Sydney-born bathhouse arriving in Singapore’s Tras Street in February. Inspired by the world’s most relaxed social animal, the capybara, the 3,000 sq ft studio – which takes up two ground-floor shophouse units – aims to bring back the social aspect of bathing, all while evoking the senses.

Through curated zones, guests can experience magnesium mineral baths (38 to 40 deg C) and cold plunges (4 to 8 deg C), heated lounges and steam rooms and a Nordic-inspired hot lounge with shaved ice scrub. Picture terracotta tiles, calming curves and a play on textures setting the scene for intimate, ritualised bathing and reflection.

You can expect nothing less from a founding team of designers. Capybara Bathing was the brainchild of a six-person team comprising architects, an art collector and a ceramicist. All still hold day jobs.

Australians Natalie Cheung, Rebecca Qin, Daegeon Song, Justin Lo, Nicholas Souksamrane and Sebastian Tsang met in architecture school in Sydney. As they grew into their 30s and out of their partying phase, they began longing for a wellness space related to their upbringing in Sydney, which centred around the beach and water activities.

Against a rising global trend of bathhouses, sauna and contrast therapy, an idea began to take form. They opened Capybara Bathing in Sydney’s Surry Hills in April 2024.

“We wanted somewhere to hang out outside a typical alcohol-related activity,” Mr Lo, 36, tells The Straits Times over video call. Their customer pool has widened in the past year, with more who work in fast-paced environments looking to bathhouses to get their mental break or reset, he adds.

“What’s changed (with bathing culture) is that we can bring these facilities to be more accessible in a dense city like Singapore or Sydney. You don’t have to go out of the way or make a hotel booking to get access and make it part of your weekly routine.”

Designing wellness

This aesthetic-first approach is extending to wellness spaces with a medical slant too.

Opened in June, Prologue Centre for Women’s Wellness is instantly striking on the fifth floor of Ngee Ann City, its green lime-washed walls standing out from the neighbouring beauty and wellness service operators.

The centre is the latest concept under the SL Aesthetic Group, which includes Singapore skin and hair brands such as SL Aesthetic Clinic and TrichoLab. Incorporating a mixed-gender general practice clinic and women’s wellness centre, Prologue offers treatments that span from body contouring to postpartum recovery.

It fills a gap at the intersection of preventive clinical healthcare and holistic wellness, says Dr Kelvin Chua, founder and medical director of SL Aesthetic Group.

“Many beauty or wellness brands focus primarily on appearance or quick fixes, while traditional healthcare often reacts to problems after they arise. Prologue helps address early risks, manage chronic conditions and support long-term health, while incorporating aspects of lifestyle medicine and well-being that are often overlooked.”

And no reason not to do all that in style. Along the smooth curved walls, shelves of books on healthcare, perimenopause, body confidence and more, as well as supplements, add to the warm atmosphere – intentionally designed to differ from the typical white, sterile clinic.

Thoughtful space design is an integral part of the health journey that requires understanding the needs of patients alongside clinicians, says Prologue’s chief operating officer Cheryl Han.

“Healthcare architecture is a field of its own – a unique blend of planning, technical expertise and deep understanding of clinical operations to create spaces that are efficient, safe and conducive to healing.

“Consumers increasingly value spaces that feel considered, calming and aligned with their well-being,” she adds.

The price of recovery does not come cheap. Renovations for Prologue, in its prime Orchard location, involved a six-figure investment.

Both Nowhere Baths and Capybara Bathing faced pricey structural challenges in creating a wet environment from scratch. Nowhere’s founders estimate that they spent a seven-figure sum on renovations, which included excavating the floor and constructing pools in a building that had stayed vacant for nine years.

“We went into it thinking it was just an interior project and didn’t realise it was an engineering project, involving a lot of water and electricity. We had to rebuild a lot of infrastructure in the space,” says Mr Foo, who recalls in amusement how the process involved him venturing into the jungle to open up manholes and see where the sewers went.

The unit is currently signed for a three-year lease, of which two years went into renovations and waiting for approval from various parties and authorities.

Capybara Bathing’s Singapore space cost “significant personal savings”, around six figures, excluding the shophouse’s five-year lease, says Ms Nicole Chew, who lives in Singapore and heads Capybara’s Singapore operations as partner and director.

The team also ran into structural challenges due to the building’s conservation constraints.

But they were unwavering in their location requirements. It had to be a shophouse, on the fringe of the Central Business District and on the ground floor, because “walking up the stairs changes the experience”, says Ms Chew, 35.

Mr Lo adds: “We wanted to choose heritage buildings in an urban environment – the building outside would keep its character, but when you walk inside, it’s like a surprise. You wouldn’t typically think there’s a pool inside a shophouse. It feels like our house – that we’re putting our own money into and inviting people in.”

Wellness, Ms Chew notes, is evolving from a trend to being a central part of the way people live.

“People are constantly seeking experiences that are not just rooted in performance or aesthetics, but more about being present; and restoration and balance in their lifestyle. Self-care has expanded beyond isolated activities. It’s more about community and sharing these rituals.”

“That slow living is something we try to invite into our lives consistently – especially after New Year’s, when people forget their resolutions after the first month.”

The Straits Times checks out new wellness spots and treatments to try in 2026.

Nowhere Baths

All curves in natural tones, Nowhere Baths is one of Dempsey’s better-kept secrets.

The modern, minimalist bathhouse which opened in April has become a quiet favourite among those seeking a respite in water. Alongside two hot pools (39 to 40 deg C), there is a cold plunge (13 deg C), steam room (42 to 45 deg C) and sauna (85 to 90 deg C). For $55 for two hours, alternate among them for a shot at recovery and relief of aches and pains.

An outdoor deck facing Dempsey’s natural foliage, where one can relax in between pool dips, is a highlight.

Co-founders Sarah Chan, 35, and Derick Foo, 38, were at a juncture in their lives when they were exploring bathhouse culture.

The two are also behind flotation therapy joint Palm Ave Float Club, which was an early pioneer in the local wellness movement when it opened in 2014. They closed it in June 2025 to focus on Nowhere.

Though they are regarded as wellness pioneers here, the couple, who studied communications in National University of Singapore (NUS), fell into the industry by accident.

Mr Foo started Palm Ave in his final year, fuelled by a start-up fire ignited from his time in the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme. Ms Chan left her job in advertising to join him.

Floating, they found, was a very transformative tool that resonated with them in their 20s. It started with one sensory deprivation tank and grew into a float centre with six tanks at its peak, catalysing their journey in wellness. They learnt to work with and maintain the quality of water – which made the transition to operating a bathhouse smoother.

In 2017, Mr Foo picked up bathing after a transformative Japanese meditation retreat. The pair started frequenting Kallang Wave Mall’s Yunomori Onsen & Spa and diving into bathhouse culture, travelling to Taiwan, Finland and Melbourne to try different bathhouses.

Inspired by the spiritual aspect of bathing, they looked into opening a mixed-gender bathhouse in Singapore that would prioritise stillness and quiet contemplation. At Nowhere, low speaking volumes are encouraged.

Because of different cultures, some bathhouses are livelier than others. But there were already more social bathhouses in the market, says Ms Chan.

“We wanted to create a space for people to look inwards; it’s almost borrowed from our experience with floating. When we designed the space, a lot of it is more felt than heard.”

Bathhouses are not usually this curvaceous, jokes Mr Foo. Drawing inspiration from nature, the curves, in symphony with one another, are meant to evoke a sense of safety.

“Even the baths allow you to sit in one corner where you feel protected; you can let your guard down and really reflect.

“It’s okay to talk; it’s just being aware of other people. Once everyone’s mindful of the space and the volume, everyone has a better time. Maybe this is one reason bath culture has lasted so long in Japan – because of this sense of respecting the community.”

They contemplated different styles – Japanese onsen were ergonomic and space-efficient; Finnish saunas optimised air quality and were built on a philosophy of democracy – and eventually pulled from everywhere to fit Singaporean preferences.

For instance, they went with the “more democratic” Finnish way of incorporating a pail of water for guests to take turns pouring over rocks to release steam – over the German style, where a sauna master enters to pour the water.

Nowhere was built around enjoying nature – something one might otherwise find exclusively in hotel spas with the luxury of space – and this remains its biggest draw. It borrows from the traditional concept of enjoying a sauna in the woods.

“We wanted to make it accessible, but also very poetic and beautiful. Our architects did a great job of highlighting the view in the backyard,” says Ms Chan. “We’re out of the way, but we make it worth it to travel down.”

Capybara Bathing

Design expectations are high going into the February opening of Capybara Bathing’s Singapore location. After all, the minimalist bathhouse from Sydney is the brainchild of a six-person team comprising architects, an art collector and a ceramicist.

In search of a social space not centred around alcohol, Australians Natalie Cheung, Rebecca Qin, Daegeon Song, Justin Lo, Nicholas Souksamrane and Sebastian Tsang, who met in architecture school in Sydney, opened Capybara Bathing in Sydney’s Surry Hills in April 2024.

Set within a 1939 warehouse, the facility comes equipped with features like a steam room, mineral spa and cold plunge pool. They drew influences from the Scandinavian sauna and Japanese onsen.

Mr Lo, 36, was particularly inspired by an onsen in Mount Fuji, with a window looking out into the forest. “A lot of that is recreated in the mountains, but not in a city. We wanted to bring that feeling into the city.”

Heading Capybara’s Singapore operations as partner and director is fellow Australian Nicole Chew, a university friend who now works in construction and real estate.

“All of us having a design background, it was always in our deep passions to explore design, take control of the design process and be our own client,” she says.

Having lived in Singapore for seven years now, the 35-year-old observes the same big-city societal pressure to succeed here that often leads to fatigue and burnout.

“I saw that people wanted to reset the mind and the body. Our focus is on bringing back the slowness and shifting away from the standard quick-fix recovery. Singapore needs more slow spaces like this.”

The upcoming 3,000 sq ft space caters to both social customers and those seeking alone time. Prices will start at $55 for 90 minutes with full access to all facilities.

Their focus is on creating a sensorial experience – from the scent in the air to the touch of contrasting materials of rough and smooth under your feet. It is to simulate walking into a different world in each room, and a sense of journey and discovery, says Mr Lo.

The material palette is kept muted as a quiet backdrop for bathing activities. Changing rooms, showers and even steam rooms are sectioned off into little pods in an intentional choice to cut off one’s sightline and provide spaces for quiet conversation.

Mr Lo describes it as “a bit maze-like”, with a contrast in going from intimate spaces to big open ones.

Unique to Capybara are a hot bench for relaxing on – with an ice scrub on the side as taken from Nordic traditions – and a flexible lounge space for people to take a break in between their programmes. The lounge will also be used to host events and workshops.

From the drawings and procurement of materials to managing the contractors and construction execution, everything was done in-house.

Special mosaic tiles were sourced from Japan, fittings from Europe and Australia, lights from Belgium, and ceramic basins and other objects sculpted on commission by home-grown potter Mud Rock Ceramics – because “you can’t complete the story if you don’t extend it to the basins and tapware”, says Ms Chew, who leads Capybara’s focus on collaborating with local wellness practitioners and artists.

The bathhouse has also enlisted Singaporean designer Bessie Ye of womenswear label Rye to design its uniforms. Future programming will include collaborations with local practitioners to host sound baths, singing bowl sessions, and stretch, meditation and breathwork workshops.

Prologue Centre for Women’s Wellness

Taking your health and body goals seriously in the new year? For a comprehensive assessment that spans nutrition support to body contouring, head to this new women’s centre, which aims to help you get started on a clean slate.

Under the SL Aesthetic Group, Prologue comprises The Lifestyle Medical Clinic, a primary care clinic offering health screenings, vaccinations and weight management; and the women’s wellness centre, which focuses on health concerns unique to women throughout all phases in life – from preconception to postpartum to perimenopause.

The centre was born to address a consistent gap experienced by its many female clients who had journeyed with them through different life stages and phases, says founder and medical director Kelvin Chua.

“Changes related to hormones, energy levels, mood, skin, hair, sleep and overall well-being were emerging, yet many women did not seek professional guidance. Some assumed these changes were simply something they had to ‘live with’, while others were unsure where to turn, or were influenced by conflicting information online.

“Many women’s health issues are under-discussed or normalised to the point where they go untreated,” he adds.

Across 1,410 sq ft, the space includes a health coaching room, reading room and Strength Suite for supporting women through hormonal changes and muscle loss.

Says chief operating officer Cheryl Han: “When we named it Prologue, we were inspired by the idea of a beginning – a place to start your health journey across life’s different chapters.”

The design mimics a library, in serene green to foster calmness.

Among the programmes on the menu are those tailored to skin firming and rejuvenation, postpartum recovery and pelvic health, and sleep coaching. The bespoke treatment plans include Embody, a treatment that builds lean muscle and tones the body using HIFEM (high-intensity focused electromagnetic) technology.

Until Jan 31, you can get a two-week access pass, which has a $4,800 value, at a promotion price of $899.

Epion Aesthetics (02-02 Tudor Court, 145 Tanglin Rd)
Glow Code, $380 for 75 minutes

Give your skin a thorough cleanse and reset in this medifacial powered by WishPro Plus+, a patented device and delivery system that sends potent actives deep into the skin.

After a skin consultation, you will be recommended a pairing of oil-based, serum-infused capsules that target concerns like skin dullness and ageing. Using Magnetic Infusion Technology, these active ingredients are infused into the skin via a combination of microcurrents, LED therapy and magnetic pulses delivered through different heads that attach onto the device.

The sonic cleansing is vigorous and the actual treatment painless and luxurious. Cap off your 75 minutes with a deeply hydrating mask.

Estetica Beauty (06-19 Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road)
Advanced Body Wellness 3-in-1 Therapy, $128 for 45 minutes (first-trial promo)

If you like your body treatments delivered with a side of gentle scolding and teeth-gritting sting, try home-grown Estetica Beauty’s offering inspired by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

It combines TCM practices like gua sha (skin scraping) and ba guan (body cupping) with modern technologies to help relieve chronic aches, restore the body’s natural balance and promote healing.

The first of three steps is Deep Electronic Meridian Dredging, which stimulates and unblocks the body’s meridians (or energy pathways) using bioelectric current, pulse wave energy and LED Red Light. Then, mineral-rich Bian stones are used to further unblock meridians to allow vital energy to flow freely through the body, improving blood circulation.

End off with light, electronic cupping that has customisable suction, said to promote lymphatic drainage and faster recovery from muscle pain.

St Gregory at Parkroyal Collection Pickering (3 Upper Pickering Street)
Mindful Reset, $300 for 105 minutes (promotion price until Jan 31)

Get a two-in-one pampering session with St Gregory Spa’s new ritual that realigns body, face and mind for top-to-toe restoration.

It starts with a 75-minute Thalion Intense Revitalisation Massage, which blends deep muscular movements with the restorative properties of seawater (using skincare brand Thalion’s marine-based products) to release built-up tension and restore the body’s mineral balance.

Wrap up with a 30-minute Beauty Enhancer Facial, designed to give tired, dull skin a boost of radiance.