New Orleans Asks: Straight Answers on Saunas, Cryo and Recovery

Where can I use a sauna in New Orleans without joining a gym?

Book a private infrared sauna by the session. Solo, it’s $30 for 30 minutes or $40 for 45 minutes. There’s no membership, and you can pay after your visit. The room is yours for the whole booking, so there’s no shared bench and no waiting for a spot.

What we don’t have is a steam room or a pool. If you want those in one place, a full-service gym or a hotel spa day pass is the better fit.

Is there a sauna in Uptown New Orleans I can book?

Yes. NOLA Chill is at 6045 Magazine Street in Uptown, with off-street parking in front. We’re open Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm, and open sauna times are in the online scheduler. If your usual gym sauna is closed for a while, this is an easy by-the-session option.

Is an infrared sauna a “real” sauna? Does it get hot enough?

It’s a different kind of heat. Cleveland Clinic says infrared saunas typically run about 110°F to 135°F, while traditional saunas usually run 150°F to 195°F. Infrared lamps warm your skin more directly instead of heating all the air around you.

Many people find it gentler and easier to settle into. If you love a very hot traditional sauna, infrared will feel milder, and that’s worth knowing before you book.

How long should I stay in?

Cleveland Clinic suggests keeping infrared sessions under 30 minutes, and starting with about 5 to 10 minutes if you’re new. You can book 30 or 45 minutes of room time here. Think of it as room time, not a target, and step out whenever you’ve had enough.

Can I bring a friend, or share a package?

Yes. One person books the room for the group. The whole room is $48 or $64 for two people (30 or 45 minutes), $63 or $72 for three, and $72 or $80 for four.

Packages can be shared, too. The 30-minute 10-pack is $200, and two people can use one visit together, so it works out to $10 each. Groups of three or four pay the group room price instead. Packages last 12 months. See the private sauna guide for more.

Planning a cold or rainy day warm-up? See per-person sauna prices and group savings.

Is there a bathhouse or Korean-style spa in New Orleans?

NOLA Chill isn’t one. There are no pools, soaking tubs or shared steam here. What we have is a private infrared room for one to four people, plus cryotherapy if you want cold after heat. For more of a social bathhouse feel, ask hotel spas about day passes.

Where can I cold plunge in New Orleans?

Not at NOLA Chill. We don’t have a cold plunge. We offer cryotherapy instead. Localized cryotherapy aims dry, cold air at one area, like a knee, shoulder or lower back, in a 10-minute appointment for $35.

If you specifically want cold water, some gyms have plunge tubs, and if you’d use one every day, a home plunge can cost less per use. Here’s our cryotherapy vs. ice bath comparison.

Is cryotherapy worth it, or is it hype?

Our straight take: it’s a short, intense cold experience, and many clients like how they feel afterward. The research on recovery is mixed. It isn’t a treatment for any disease, and it isn’t weight loss. If you’re curious, localized cryo on one spot, a 10-minute appointment for $35, is a low-cost way to find out whether you like it. Our evidence library sorts what’s supported from what isn’t.

Does cryotherapy burn 800 calories?

There’s no good evidence for that claim. NOLA Chill doesn’t offer cryotherapy as a weight-loss service, and we’d rather you hear that from us.

Is my head inside the chamber? What if I’m claustrophobic?

Our Trident chamber is electric and surrounds your whole body, including your head, for 3 to 5 minutes. A staff member stays with you the whole time. If enclosed spaces bother you, tell staff before you book.

Localized cryotherapy is another way in. Staff aims cold air at one area, like a knee, shoulder, elbow or lower back, and you never step into a chamber. It’s a 10-minute appointment, $35. Here’s what a session is like, body area by body area.

What do I wear?

For whole body cryotherapy, wear light workout clothes or loose clothes that are easy to change out of. We provide protective gear, and staff goes over what to wear and what to take off before you start.

For localized cryotherapy, wear whatever you like, as long as you can uncover the area. The cold air goes directly on bare skin. Come hydrated either way.

Should I try it right before a race or competition?

If it’s your first time, try it on an ordinary training day so you know how you feel, then decide. After big local races, book ahead, because post-race days fill up. Our marathon recovery plan has more.

Can I do localized cryotherapy after surgery?

Ask your surgeon or physical therapist first, and follow their plan. Our staff screens every client and asks about recent surgery. Localized cryotherapy is a wellness session, not medical treatment.

Where should I go for a spa day, or a spa gift?

For a full day of massages, pools and robes, a hotel spa is the right call. For a one- or two-hour break, here are a few ways people use NOLA Chill:

For gifts, NOLA Chill gift cards come in $100, $150, $200 and $250 amounts, a Cryo Session card, or a custom amount, so the person can choose their own visit.

Where can I get an inexpensive facial?

A CryoFacial here is $40 for about 4 minutes of cold air in a 10-minute appointment, or 5 for $160 and 10 for $250. It’s also included in the Super Chill and The Chillest memberships. It’s a cold-air facial, not a traditional one: no products, no extractions, and any tightened look is temporary. If you want extractions or a peel, a licensed esthetician is the better choice. Here’s what a CryoFacial is like.

Where can I get a massage on a budget? Is hydromassage the same thing?

We don’t have massage therapists. Hydromassage is our closest option: a 30-minute, $30 session on a warm, water-filled bed where you stay fully clothed and dry and control the pressure. If you’ve used a hydromassage bed at a gym, it’s the same idea, booked as a full 30-minute appointment.

Some people find it gentler than hands-on massage. For a knot that needs real hands-on work, book a licensed massage therapist.

Are compression boots worth buying?

The research is modest. The most consistent finding is that people feel a little less sore for a short time after a session, and there’s no good evidence it improves measurable recovery. If you like how it feels, a $30 NormaTec session (3 for $75, or 10 for $175) is an easy way to find out before you buy a pair.

Is there a float tank in New Orleans?

Not at NOLA Chill. The closest quiet option here is NuCalm: 30 minutes, $40, with guided audio and an eye mask, and no water, heat or cold. Here’s what NuCalm is.

Where can I try red light therapy in New Orleans?

Our light therapy option is Celluma Pro LED: a flexible panel over the area you choose, 30 minutes, $35. Its FDA clearances cover specific uses, and staff can walk you through them. More in our red light therapy guide.

I’m in town for Mardi Gras. Can I book a recovery visit?

Yes. Book ahead online and check the scheduler for the exact dates you’re here, since holiday hours can change. We’re at 6045 Magazine Street in Uptown, a short ride from the French Quarter, with off-street parking in front.

What’s something to do on a hot or rainy day?

Everything here is indoors, and most visits take 30 minutes or less. A private sauna for your group, a stay-dressed Hydromassage or a quiet NuCalm session all work. On very hot days, keep sauna to 30 minutes and drink water first. The heat recovery index has more.

Do I need a membership?

No. Every service can be booked once, and you can pay after your visit or prepay. Packages can be shared and last 12 months. If you’ll come often, The Chillest membership ($350 a month) includes daily access to every retail service except CryoSlim.

Can I walk in?

Walk-ins are welcome when there’s space, but booking ahead holds your time.

Are there discounts?

Students save 15%, and military and first responders save 25%, on eligible single sessions and packages. Tell the team at checkout. See the student and first responder details.