Sense of Self is showing Sydneysiders how to truly slow down

A second home to switch off, unwind and return to yourself.

How often do you find yourself really, truly switching off? In a culture of climbing screen time, predictive algorithms and obsessive self-optimisation, slowing down often feels like a frivolity. Sense of Self bathhouse is determined to change that. 

With its soaring ceilings, glass-tiled mineral baths and tranquil ‘Mediterranean Brutalism’ aesthetic, Sense of Self’s Collingwood warehouse has become an institution for Melbourne city-slickers seeking a moment of respite. Now, after five years, owner Freya Berwick is ready to extend the invitation to Sydneysiders – with the October opening of a second, character-filled home in Surry Hills.

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Located on South Dowling Street, this iteration of Sense of Self promises the same inclusive bathing experience – think hot pools, a cold plunge, sauna, Scrub Station, massage and hammam – but with added offerings to encourage true rest and relaxation. 

“From the very beginning, Surry Hills felt really natural for us, it’s a destination in its own right,” says Freya. “It’s a beautiful suburb with amazing dining, retail, community and creative offices around it, so it’s somewhere that has an exciting flurry of activity and energy.”

“It’s also a through suburb and very close to the city. This is important because we don’t want to create a Sense of Self in every suburb. We want to be somewhat singular, a place people come for celebrations and occasions, as well as somewhere they visit regularly.”

But the philosophy behind Sense of Self predates any physical space. Freya’s particular brand of ‘healthy hedonism’ was conceived after a particularly life-changing experience in Norway, redeveloping a boutique hotel on the side of a fjord. “My time in Norway shaped my relationship with myself, with my body, with my sense of who I am and my place in the world and in nature,” she tells me.

“I spent a lot of time running, hiking and walking, then jumping into these incredible, clear bodies of water, which left me feeling so alive and present. The other part of my time in Scandinavia was witnessing a culture that felt like it had a grounding and maturity to it, in its design, and community. 

“That wasn’t only because of bathing culture, but I could see how bathing, sauna and time in nature contributed to that grounding. All of these threads have been woven into Sense Of Self.”

Phone-free by design, the bathhouse encourages guests to switch off distractions, turn down the noise and tune into themselves. “We live at a very fast pace with endless options, so slowing down has a lot to do with intentionality: being really deliberate about how we use our time and energy… but there’s also a mindset shift around being a little less serious and less controlled. More agile. You do have to surrender a bit,” Freya says. 

“We have to be deliberate in how we architect our lives to make sure there’s time for slowness, but we also need to be responsive to our needs around it. The ultimate piece of self-care is being able to take it when you need it, not just when you’re given permission or when you’ve planned it.” 

At the new Surry Hills space, that philosophy will take a more immersive form. One of its new offerings is the Deep Listening Room – an amplified music meditation space for a deeply sensory audio experience.

“We’re super excited to meet our Sydney guests, and for our Melbourne friends to experience a second home. We really want Sense of Self to be a place people are proud to have in their neighbourhood, where they can continue to bring themselves and their loved ones for years to come.” 

To book now for October, head here.