Buried beneath Midtown East scaffolding, Okeanos may elude you in location, but upon descending into the space, you will be pleasantly reassured by this solid and well-appointed Russian club, spa and banya. When I arrived I met a fresh, herbal fragrance along with the serviceable manager, Andre, who led me through serene, modern surrounds to a locker room to change into my robe, bath shorts, and slippers. The bathroom, floored in natural multi-rock mosaic, felt clean and affluent, and after I emerged, an attendant led me past a bar and lounge to the spa area for a Platza treatment and full-body scrub.

To prep, I sipped lemon-ice water while sitting in the handsome dry sauna, barely lit and already roasting with deep, woody aromas, while the therapist, a friendly Russian young man, steamed the sauna walls and brick-oven with a jolt of cold water. The attendant informed me that the Platza practice is based on the old-world Russian tradition of brushing and massaging skin with venik, steeped bundles of birch leaves, then setting off the steamy experience with a plunge into an icy lake or snow. After several minutes prepping I felt released, relaxed, and ready for the treatment.

The therapist alternated fast, tickling motions and deep presses with his mop of steaming leaves as I took in their divinely musky fragrance and mused at the feeling of lounging up in a tree during a summer’s storm. Afterwards, I flushed away the swelter with an icy, and I mean icy, shower. After one more glorious set (back and front sides), punctuated often by breathers with plenty of water and towels, I was ushered into the lounge area and given tea to sip during my break.

I chose chamomile among their several options, and Okeanos also offers Russian crepes with jam or caviar, as well as vodka and champagne among their bar options. While drinking my tea, I flipped through upscale leisure magazines, listened to a rhythmic yet relaxing soundtrack, and observed the placid, ocean-themed décor. For my second treatment, a full-body scrub, I returned to the sauna and relaxed with a cold towel over my head as the therapist massaged my skin with salts and oils. The stimulating sting of the salt was complemented with pillows of soft foam to continue the oceanic experience. After another set of icy showering, my treatment was complete and I felt closer to royalty than ever before.

I retired to the changing room and, despite arriving with no toiletries, I was more than covered as I cleaned up with their line of Molton Brown bath products. When I left Okeanos, my skin was tender and smooth and, even better, I felt definitively awakened, restored and balanced. I would happily recommend this spa for its novelty offerings, attentive staff, attractive design, and an overall finely-tuned service.