SC has the best day spa in the US, a new USA Today ranking shows. Here’s where, why it’s great
When you think of great spas you might think of big cities like Chicago and Denver or resort areas like Palm Springs or Orlando and to be sure there are spas on USA Today’s 10 Best list in those places.
But the number 1 best spa in the country? It’s in Greenville, South Carolina.
The Altar Spa, located in a 1918 Beaux Arts-style building that also houses M. Judson Bookstore in downtown Greenville, was described as “a luxurious escape where wellness meets sophistication.”
It is owned by Karen Sobocinski, whose husband Carl is widely credited with ushering in Greenville’s restaurant revolution with Soby’s New South Cuisine, also a favorite of best of lists. His restaurant group is Table 301 and includes five other restaurants and a soon-to-be eatery adjacent to The Greenville Drive baseball stadium.
Karen Sobocinski could not be reached for comment Friday but she told The Greenville Journal in 2023 just before the space opened she wanted the spa to be a place to relax and practice self-care.
The name came about because “an altar is a place where you come to set intentions and really find peace,” Sobocinski told the paper.
“We’ll learn and teach practices that have been around for thousands of years, whether it’s meditation or dry brushing,” she said. “All these little, fun, holistic things that people have been doing around the world for thousands of years.”
The day spa offers scrubs, facials, manicures, hair and healing practices in a 6,000 square-foot space beneath the bookstore. The building served as the Greenville County Courthouse until 1950 and as Family Court until 1991.
“Tucked beneath the vibrant streets of downtown Greenville, The Altar Spa offers a luxurious escape where wellness meets sophistication,” USA Today said. “Specializing in customized massages, rejuvenating facials, advanced aesthetics, and restorative body therapies, the spa is a destination for those seeking elevated self-care.”
The spa features exclusive skincare lines like Biologique Recherche and Augustinus Bader.
“We’re beyond honored, and it’s all thanks to you, our amazing guests and supportive community,” the spa states on its Facebook page. “To celebrate, we’ve curated a limited-time collection of Summer Spa Specials, featuring discounted facials, massages, and body peels, plus a complimentary glass of champagne with every service.”
Other spas on the list include:
2: The Spa at Séc-he in Palm Springs, California
3. Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver
4. Sway in Denver
5. My Beer Space in Orlando, Florida
6. AquaVie Spa at AquaVie Fitness + Wellness Club in San Diego, California
7. Lilikoi Day Spa at Balian Springs in Alexandria, Virginia
8. Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary in Freestone, California
9. Burke Williams in Santa Monica, California
10. AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago in Chicago, Illinois