Shou Sugi Ban House

Shou Sugi Ban House is a small wellness retreat and spa in Water Mill, in the Hamptons, about 90 miles from New York City. With just twelve guest studios, it suits New Yorkers and visitors who want a quiet, design-led reset built around movement, meditation, hydrotherapy and bodywork.

What it's like

Shou Sugi Ban House is a private, gated compound in Water Mill, on the South Fork of Long Island, about three miles from the ocean and roughly 90 miles from Manhattan. Evergreens and tall grasses screen it from the road, and the mood inside is hushed and minimal.

The name comes from a Japanese technique for charring wood to preserve it, and Japanese ideas run through the design, along with the wabi-sabi appreciation of simple, imperfect things. It's a twelve-room retreat and spa, which keeps it intimate: you'll rarely feel like you're sharing it with a crowd.

Forbes included it among its 2025 wellness destinations, and it was named New York's best wellness retreat at the 2025 World Spa Awards.

Where you stay

There are twelve guest studios, each for one or two people, with a king or queen bed, a gas fireplace and a deep soaking tub. Small touches add to the calm: organic bath products, a seasonal bath soak drawn each night and herbal teas. The property also has standalone residences for longer rentals.

The wellness program

Overnight stays include daily breakfast, a morning movement session and an evening movement and meditation session, plus shared use of the hydrotherapy suite and its thermal circuit. The open Movement Pavilion is yours to use, and private sessions in the Watsu pool can be booked.

Beyond that, there's a long menu of private and small-group experiences:

• Healing arts: sound journeys, crystal sessions, Reiki, energy balancing, craniosacral therapy and qi gong
• Meditation: breathwork, tea meditation and seasonal floating meditation in aerial silk hammocks
• Yoga and fitness: hatha, flow, deep release and prenatal yoga, mat Pilates and custom workouts
• Nutrition: one-to-one consultations and hands-on workshops on fermented foods, juicing and blood sugar

The spa adds massage, bodywork and skin care.

Food

Breakfast is included, and lunch and dinner can be reserved. The property describes its culinary program as a central part of the stay.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

It's ideal for New Yorkers who want a restorative weekend without flying, and for couples or solo travelers who value privacy, design and personal attention.

It's less suited to anyone looking for a structured week-long retreat with a group, or for families wanting kid-friendly facilities. With only twelve studios, it also books up in summer.

Getting there

Water Mill is about 90 miles east of New York City, on Long Island's South Fork. Most guests drive, and the Hamptons are also served by train and bus from Manhattan. Ask the team for current transport suggestions.