AIRE Ancient Baths: Urban Oasis in Chicago

I booked a 90-minute couples massage in early April and scheduled it for late May. During the booking, their website indicated that they were undergoing renovations and would reopen on May 31. I ensured that my appointment aligned with their timeline and planned an entire trip to Chicago specifically for this experience. However, two days before my scheduled appointment, I received an email informing me that my appointment had to be canceled due to extended remodeling needs. This was incredibly disappointing, especially since I was traveling from out of town for this experience. I did not receive a phone call or any additional information beyond the notice that my appointment would need to be rescheduled. When I called to request a refund, I was informed that they typically do not offer refunds, opting instead for a voucher valid for one year. I expressed that this was unacceptable, given the short notice of the cancellation was on their end. The initial staff member I spoke with said she would need to discuss this with her manager and would call me back, but I never received that call. I ended up calling again the next day to explain the situation, and finally got my refund approved. I understand that remodeling can be challenging and delays may occur; however, receiving only two days' notice is completely unacceptable. If I had been given proper notification, I would have been able to cancel my hotel reservation, which required one week's notice for cancellation. Although I did not experience the spa, I found the communication to be quite disappointing.

Magical! Baths are the best I’ve ever been to… I’d skip the massage and just enjoy the baths next time. Felt rushed for the amount of time we had. I do wish they had a retail area to purchase products. Loved the juice at the end.

This sexy atmosphere makes it a dream getaway even if you don’t swim. There are several pools no deeper than 2 - 3 feet deep, along with 2 steam room (Lavender & Eucalyptus- with an in ground ice cold plunge), 4 cold plunge pools. Aire was on my bucket list and I’m happy I indulged during my sabbatical for this was a treat. My 45-minute massage was not as good as I wanted. The therapy room was cold & the masseuse had to use a space heater to provide a bit of warmth to it. She warmed the bed to help out. I could tell she was a newer therapist because she lacked in many skills but made up for it in the pressure she used. The therapy room was directly below an office or walkway because the entire time folks were walking over head which drowned out the peaceful spa music she played. After my massage, the therapist gave me a wonderful treat of placing (given to me by the locker room attendant) warmed up swim socks and warmed my swimsuit for me to place back on after treatment! LOVELY❣️ And that was my massage (you have to pre-pay for gratuity). I’m not impressed what so ever. I could have gone to an Asian massage parkour for a better service and quiet. Which puts me to sleep and fully relaxes my muscles. So let me tell you about the place! It’s located in an alley (I arrived at 7pm for my 8pm appointment). My 9pm had to be rescheduled due to maintenance occuring that night. Candles usually line the entrance (but the valet attendants didn’t light them in the gigantic oversized outdoor candle holders). The door attendant just looked at me (from indoors) and let me open the door myself. Candles and a huge mirror welcome you inside to greet you with a wall full of candles flickering, the sound of water and a hostess who’ll get you registered and hand you rubber bracelets (massage and/or pool use). Once your name is called you will then be sent to the locker room attendant, who’ll greet you, get your name again, give you a tour and assist you (tips are welcome). After you put on your swimsuit (I wore mine) you go down the staircase and are greeted by the pool host, (3rd time asked for your name) who’ll then give you a tour of the pools: 1. Salt water float pool 2. Swim in/out pool with outdoor waterfall 3. Alcove pool with 3 areas for romance 4. Massage Jet pool 5. Tepid pool 6. Cauldron pool (I believe there are 8 pools??) A tall pillar of white Salt is provided for a scrub at at the public shower area for extra you (grab handfuls and scrub away). There is aloe Vera salt for an extra fee. The evening I was there many couples were in attendance and a few singles. In the locker room you are provided: Mouthwash, a take home hair brush, Tre’ssame products for curly or straight hair. In the shower your provided L'Occitane items, nail files, towels, hair caps, hair bands, wash cloth. hair dryer, etc. The attendant offered to fry our swimsuits and placed them in bags for convenience. Upon leaving, you are asked again your name and for your last wristband. That’s all. I’d go back just for the swim in-out pool atmosphere. No massage.

The steam rooms aren’t very warm. Other guests kept leaving the doors open which I’m sure doesn’t help. I’ve had four massages here with four different masseuses and they’ve all been pretty low on my list of massage experiences. Ambience is pretty relaxing and luxurious but massages themselves aren’t very good. Will skip them going forward. The baths are nice. There’s mold between the glass and the hinges in the showers in the locker room. Staff are a bit unwelcoming. I do like it here overall but for the price I’d expect a nicer experience.

Extremely Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Hype or the Price I had high expectations for Aire based on its reputation, but unfortunately, the experience fell far short and left me deeply disappointed. This establishment is extremely overpriced for what it offers. The facilities are overcrowded and feel rushed, and the overall atmosphere is far from relaxing. One of the most frustrating aspects is the strict two-hour time limit—which includes your treatment. That means if you book a 60-minute massage, you’re left with very little time to actually enjoy the baths. It felt more like being shuffled through a tourist attraction than indulging in a premium spa experience. To make matters worse, the staff was dismissive and unaccommodating. Rather than feeling welcomed, I felt like an inconvenience. There’s a noticeable lack of hospitality and warmth that you would expect from any high-end spa. While the massage itself was decent, it was not enough to redeem the overall experience. For the price point, I expected a serene, luxurious environment, not a rushed and poorly managed operation. I strongly recommend looking elsewhere—preferably a hotel spa where the environment is more professional, the service more attentive, and your time and money are actually valued.