In the late 1800s, Adolph Sutro, flush with Comstock silver, spent more than a decade building a three-acre glass hall over a tidal inlet at Lands End, then went to war with the railroad companies to keep the streetcar fare low enough that the people he built it for could actually get there. His inspiration was the Roman bath: a place where San Franciscans could soak, socialize and spend a few unhurried hours together. Sutro Baths became exactly that, a grand civic playground built around the very simple pleasure of getting into the water together. 

Then, over the years, wellness took a detour. Hyper-optimization and personal metrics replaced some of the slowness and softness. Deprivation tanks, silent floats and solo cold plunges became the stuff of social-media lore, gradually turning wellness into something to be accomplished, measured and, often, done alone. 

Fast forward to 2026, and company is chic again. Bathhouses are opening across major cities, doubling as places to socialize and connect, while a growing body of research points to the emotional and physical benefits of communal bathing. Perhaps we simply remembered something the Romans, Sutro and generations before us already knew: some things are better shared. 

During the design of Nob Hill Spa, that idea of community was very much at the forefront. The pool is meant to be soaked in, and in good company. At a pleasant 94 degrees, it sits at the center of the light-filled atrium with plenty of room to spread out. Benches along the edge encourage staying awhile, while plush chaises and a nearby fireplace keep the conversation going once everyone is out of the water and comfortably enrobed. 

The atrium opens south onto a sun terrace, with the sort of sweeping city views usually monopolized by corner offices. When hunger eventually enters the conversation, the spa menu is built for the occasion. The mezze platter arrives with za’atar hummus, beet labneh and warm pita, best eaten with your hands and, importantly, ordered for the table. 

For the optimal group soak, four is about the limit. Any more and hushed conversation starts requiring project management. A mixed and interesting group of friends is ideal; two couples make for a rather good wellness spin on date night; family works, too, provided everyone understands the assignment. 

Plan to arrive early for treatments and leave ample room around them for soaking. The idle crossover time is rather the point. While the day is designed for unwinding, resist the urge to overplan it. Steam or sauna first, then back in the water or by the fire—may we suggest bringing the latest page-turners and magazines along? 

A last note for the truly advanced. Nobody in the history of communal bathing has improved the experience by livestreaming it. Pay homage to the past and leave the phones in the locker.