First Look: A Modern, 7,500-Square-Foot Bathhouse Is Coming to Wynwood

Is an upscale wellness boom brewing in Miami? Weeks after the official opening of North Miami's Hürrem, the largest authentic Turkish hammam in the U.S., real estate developer and entrepreneur Nathan Kaplan has announced he'll open a modern, social bathhouse concept in Wynwood.

Expected to open this fall, the Grotto Social Baths will be situated at 325 NW 28th St., across from the zebra-striped Wynwood building. The property is said to span 7,500 square feet, including a 5,000-square-foot indoor space and 2,500-square-foot, alcohol-free outdoor café selling juices, mocktails, and mezzes.
Wellness options will include saunas, a steam room, and three distinctive baths: a thermal pool, a cold plunge, and a mineral pool. The space will also offer meditation classes, breathwork sessions, aufguss sauna rituals, and leaf ceremonies.

The construction of the Grotto will be overseen by City Construction in partnership with FormGroup, the team behind Gekko, Uchi, Andres Carne de Res, and other high-profile hospitality concepts in Miami. Creative agency Cohere conceptualized the design with Stokes Architecture.
In a statement announcing the new development, the brand said the Grotto arose out of a need for restorative spaces in the city. "Miami ranks among the nation’s fittest cities, with 80 percent of residents working out at least once a week. Yet, despite its flourishing wellness culture, the city lacks recovery-focused spaces and social alternatives to balance its party-centric image."

The introduction of the Grotto comes at a time when development is only accelerating in Wynwood. The once-scrappy district is barely recognizable as hotel brands like NoMad Residences and dining concepts such as Pastis move into the neighborhood, signaling a new era and evolving identity for the area.