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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a transatlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
Perhaps you find yourself in Oslo on the Edvard Munch trail, or with a few nights to spare before heading north to see the aurora borealis or Norway’s spectacular fjords—either way, if you’re visiting the Norwegian capital any time soon, Sommerro is the hotel to book. Set in one of the city’s most notable buildings—an Art Deco wonder from the 1930s that previously housed its local energy company—this thoughtfully restored architectural marvel has become Oslo’s buzziest hot spot, thanks to both its rooftop Nordic Japanese fusion restaurant and the ground-floor brasserie, where live jazz plays a few nights a week against the candlelit backdrop of a vibrant floor-to-ceiling mural by the 20th-century Norwegian artist Per Krohg.
Meanwhile, tucked away on the building’s basement floor is the 8,000-square-foot Vestkantbadet spa: an überstylish wellness oasis with a striking indoor pool that features a statement wall mosaic of women swimming, also by Krohg. In lieu of the typical Scandinavian rituals of sauna and cold plunge—although, of course, you can do that here too—the emphasis is on innovative international treatments: everything from Hydrafacials to dermaplaning to ampoules, the highly concentrated skincare serums contained in glass bottles that have become a K-beauty sensation. This is where the Scandi design set head for the region’s most cutting-edge treatments while they’re in town—and where you should, too.
What’s the vibe?
On the design front, you’d be hard pressed to find a spa in the entire Nordic region quite as stylish as Sommerro: As with the hotel’s jewel box interiors, which were overseen by cult design firm GrecoDeco, it artfully balances the rich history of the building with details that are decidedly contemporary. Just take the old-world glamour of the 1930s wood-paneled cubicles in the changing rooms, or the bronze panel of a bear catching a fish that sits next to the cold plunge pool—both transportive and characterful. This isn’t merely a case of style over substance, though. Vestkantbadet offers a high-tech gym, an infrared sauna, a cold plunge pool, and eight treatments rooms kitted out with all of the state-of-the-art beauty tech gizmos you could possibly think of. And don’t forget to book in at their heated rooftop plunge pool—perfect to warm the bones after a long walk around Oslo in the city’s notoriously frigid winter months.
The history?
Vestkantbadet once served as Oslo’s public baths, a sort of community outreach initiative by Oslo Lysverker, the electricity company that was formerly headquartered. Their meticulous restoration—updated details include the original ticket window and fold-out seats in the waiting area—speaks to the care and respect for this history that marks every aspect of the renovation that led to the building’s second life as a hotel. (It only opened in 2022.)
What should you try?
There’s an impressively long list of different facials available—brands the spa collaborates with include Dermalogica, Noon Aesthetics, and Babor—but I opted for a personalized treatment with one of their therapists, who assessed my skin type and prepared to use a series of products across different ranges to best protect my skin against the chill of December in Oslo. After a thorough cleansing (and a triple-checking of any allergies), I underwent one of the more unusual rituals, which involved a nettle venom cream that got my skin all a-tingling, before settling down throughout the day into a truly impressive glow. It might sound a little strange, but the results spoke for themselves.
How environmentally friendly is it?
It’s Scandinavia, so it’s hardly surprising that sustainability factored strongly into how the hotel was built: It uses 100% renewable energy, and the ingredients in its restaurants are sourced entirely from the local region. More specifically, the spa uses an energy recycling scheme to help minimize its carbon footprint.
What else do we need to know?
The spa’s philosophy follows the (oh so Scandinavian) principles of the hotel: that a balanced day should feature eight hours of sleep, eight hours of work, and eight hours of recreation. (They put their money where their mouth is: the staff here are strictly scheduled to never work more than eight hours a day.) They’ve also extended that approach to the spa: Every Thursday, you can book in at a dedicated sleep clinic for a 30-minute session that involves working nerve points to help you relax and lower stress, making sure you’re ready for when those eight hours of slumber roll around.
Who can go?
In a somewhat unusual setup, depending on your room, some guests must pay an additional fee of NOK 150 (around $15) to use the spa facilities—but it’s worth it. Non-guests are welcome to use the facilities by booking day passes, or bundling some spa time in with a treatment.
Booking details for Vestkantbadet at Sommerro
Address: Sommerrogata 1, 0255 Oslo, Norway
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.
