The 8 Best NYC Spas, Ranked By Their Food - New York - The Infatuation

"If these sauna walls could talk. The Russian & Turkish Baths opened in 1892, and if you just want to dip your toes into the colorful history of this East Village institution, you can visit the cafe without buying a day pass. But the restorative borscht and wrinkly pierogi are at their most comforting when you emerge hot and hungry from a session in the notoriously high-temp Russian room, and possibly smarting from a platza treatment (a thorough spanking with oak leaves). Like the baths downstairs, the dining area feels like a very social but somewhat dilapidated gym. People drink cranberry kompot or beer, while past visitors like John Belushi and Frank Sinatra look down from articles on the wall." - willa moore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, jonathan smith, anne cruz