THE MARMARA GROUP, a respected Turkish luxury hotel brand, brings an authentic taste of Turkish hospitality to Manhattan with a traditional hammam at the Marmara Park Avenue hotel, located on Park Avenue and 32nd Street. Stepping into the secluded warmth of the Turkish bath feels like an escape from the city’s rush above, transporting you to a quieter, restorative environment.
Founded in 1978, The Marmara Group operates on a philosophy of being “dynamic,” and its eight properties—two in Manhattan and the remainder in Turkey—each offer distinctive character while maintaining consistent service and a distinct Turkish sensibility.
At Marmara Park Avenue, guests can access an all-inclusive, subterranean wellness center featuring an authentic Turkish hammam among its highlights. The hammam provides traditional treatments and a steam-filled sanctuary for relaxation. Trained masseurs and estheticians enhance the wellness offerings, which also include private treatment rooms, an experience shower, a modern fitness center and a lap pool.
Everything at Marmara Park Avenue has been carefully designed and custom-made. Local artisans from across New York’s five boroughs collaborated with New York artist and designer Joe Ginsberg to create many of the hotel’s elements. The property also features three penthouse suites, more than 40 terraces, extended-stay accommodations, event spaces and a lobby lounge that serves drinks and small plates.
The word hammam, meaning “spreader of warmth,” traces its roots to bathing traditions that evolved in Constantinople during and after the Roman era. When the Ottomans arrived around the 15th century, their bathing customs blended with local practices and Islamic ritual, leading to the hammams often found near mosques. Compared with Roman baths, the Turkish hammam typically involves pouring water from bowls to rinse away soap and grime rather than immersing in large pools, and it often ends in a cool room rather than starting there as in Roman sequences.
Hamman © THE MARMARA PARK AVENUE
The traditional hammam ritual typically begins in a warm entrance hall where guests disrobe and acclimate. In the hot room, visitors recline on a raised heated marble slab—the göbek taşı—while an attendant uses a kese, a textured mitt, to exfoliate dead skin. Throughout the service, attendants rinse the body with bowls of clean water and follow with a suds treatment using richly lathered traditional soap.
During a recent visit to Marmara Park Avenue, I was transported from Midtown Manhattan to a timeless bathing tradition. The hotel’s marble hammam, a distinctive offering in New York City, provides a luxurious, steam-filled place to relax and unwind. Open daily to guests, the space offers a restorative experience similar to the calm of a sauna.
I experienced the 45-minute ritual on a Saturday afternoon—a blend of traditional Turkish bathing practices and contemporary spa luxury designed to detoxify and purify. The heated environment encouraged sweating and a sense of deep release even while lying passively on the marble platform. I wore a swimsuit, though disposable options are provided. Expect to get fully wet during the treatment, including hair, and be cautious on the sometimes slippery surfaces when moving or turning.
The ritual followed authentic steps: I rested on the göbek taşı while the therapist exfoliated with an imported kese mitt, visibly removing dead skin. Bowls of water at varying temperatures were poured over my body, with the therapist alerting me before colder pours. After exfoliation, fragrant suds—lemon and cassis in my case—were applied and massaged into the skin. Because I spend much of my day seated, the therapist focused extra attention on relieving tension in my neck and shoulders.
Traditional hammam benefits include increased circulation, stimulation of the immune system and deep physical and mental relaxation. I experienced a lasting calm after the ritual and noticed my skin felt smoother than it had in a long time. The exfoliation can feel vigorous, but the results—a renewed, softer complexion and a relaxed body—are immediate and rewarding.
The Marmara Park Avenue
114 E. 32nd St.
New York, NY 10016
tel 212 603 9000
park.marmaranyc.com