In 2019, I wrote about Santé in Northwest Portland: “While some of Portland’s spas go in for minimalism or new age spiritualism, Santé leans hard into its luxurious, Pompeii-before-the-volcano vibe.”

After a recent visit to Santé’s high-end subterranean spa, I stand by that assessment. Maybe it’s the twinkling stars above the bubbling hot tub, or the tiled steam room. Or maybe it’s the wine glasses (plastic) for water poolside or the gold foil on the chocolates. Maybe it’s the fact that the spa services here are not based in vibes and essential oils like you might find on the east side of the river. Here they are medical aesthetics. Think injections and lasers and micro needling.

But in the spa, you don’t need to worry about any of that. During my visit, I was the only person availing myself of the facilities, which include the aforementioned tub and steam room, plus a warm UV light room and a cold plunge pool that is far less cold than the pools at Knot Springs and SweatHouz, if you are looking to plunge but want to ease into it.

The quiet here is nice, though it would probably be fun to bring a friend, too. Still, I could have spent at least another hour under the stars reading my book and relaxing.

• Best for: An opulent, and quiet, soak and steam.
• What does it cost? $65 for an hour.
• Do you need your own towels? No. Towels, robes, and sandals provided.
• Will there be nudity? No.
• Is there a cold plunge? Yes.
• Can you make reservations? Yes, make a reservation at 971-407-3066.
• Are reservations required? Yes.
• Are there gender-specific hours? No
• Are people under 18 allowed? Yes, with an adult.