S’Thai San Sebastián: The New Temple of Wellbeing Created by Aitor Ocio
S’Thai San Sebastián: The New Temple of Wellbeing Created by Aitor Ocio
It all began in Bilbao, where Aitor Ocio opened the first S’Thai on Rampas de Uribitarte Street. Years later, in 2022, the wellness center moved to its current location at Colón de Larreátegui 41, inside the emblematic Casa Montero (“Montero House”) — affectionately known as Casa Gaudí (“Gaudí House”) for its stylistic resemblance to the work of the Catalan architect. This move marked the beginning of a new vision: transforming S’Thai into S’Thai Collection, making each center not only a wellness space, but also a place of history, art, and soul — always located in emblematic and unique enclaves.
Casa Montero, conceived in 1904 by Luis Aladrén, the architect behind the Provincial Council Palace, is a jewel of modernism and the only building of its kind in Bilbao. The very retail space that now houses S’Thai was the location of La Casa del Libro for decades, the city’s most beautiful and historic bookstore.
In 2024, the project expanded with the opening of S’Thai Vitoria-Gasteiz, reaffirming the essence of S’Thai Collection — a curated ensemble of Balinese spas blending authenticity, calm, and artisanal beauty. Located at San Prudencio 25, on a street steeped in history, the Vitoria-Gasteiz space keeps the local spirit alive: part of the building borders the courtyard that once held the iconic San Prudencio swimming pools, designed by architects Jesús Guinea and Emilio Apraiz — a beloved symbol of the city’s social and sporting life in the 1960s and 1970s.
Today, this establishment’s journey is flowing toward the sea. For nearly forty years, Garibai Street 4 in San Sebastián was home to La Veneziana, the legendary ice cream shop that sweetened the lives of generations from 1980 until its closure in 2018. The building itself, erected in 1866 by master builder José Galo de Aguirresarobe —a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando— is one of the earliest constructions in the Cortázar expansion, preserving its original structure, load-bearing walls, and century-old beams.
In 2026, this historic site will be reborn under the S’Thai Collection seal — a seal which, following Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz, is adding San Sebastián to its wellness map. Here, stone takes center stage, engaging in an organic dialogue with hand-carved pieces crafted by Balinese artisans and personally selected at the source — from the volcanic stone totem that greets guests upon arrival to the intricate mural presiding over the tea lounge, a tribute to the raw power of nature.
The center also features a courtyard bathed in natural light, a serene and exclusive space designed to extend the sensory journey and offer a moment of conscious pause.
Thus is born S’Thai San Sebastián — a sanctuary where history, authenticity, and serenity converge to offer a truly singular wellbeing experience.
S’Thai Collection
Calle Garibai 4, San Sebastián.
Calle San Prudencio 25, Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Calle Colón de Larreátegui 41, Bilbao.
sthai.es
