Treatment we had: “Aura”ssage, a massage combining deep-tissue, Swedish, and trigger-point therapies, $95 for 60 minutes.
What we loved: The spa, in DC’s Logan Circle neighborhood, is in the same building (the Metropole) as a hair salon (Bang) and gym (Vida Fitness). For those who live in the area, it’s a convenient one-stop spot for beauty and wellness.
What you should know: This is not a true day spa—there are no locker rooms in the spa (though you can use those at Vida), no lounge to chill in between treatments. It’s tiny—just four treatment rooms, a small waiting area, and a bathroom. And it’s not necessarily relaxing: Despite the soothing music played during my massage, I could hear thumping music from outside the spa as well as slamming doors and voices. The massage itself was fine, though not great.
Bottom line: If you live nearby or belong to Vida Fitness, Aura isn’t a bad spot for a quick service. But it’s probably not worth going out of your way.
Aura Spa, 1517 15th St., NW; 202-588-5557; vidafitness.com/auraspa.php. Aura Spa also has locations in the Renaissance Hotel on Ninth Street in DC.
>> See all 2009 Great Day Spas
Sherri Dalphonse joined Washingtonian in 1986 as an editorial intern, and worked her way to the top of the masthead when she was named editor-in-chief in 2022. She oversees the magazine’s editorial staff, and guides the magazine’s stories and direction. She lives in DC.
