The Best Korean Spas in New York City

Take a break from the grind at one of the top Korean spas in New York City
Take a break from the grind at one of the top Korean spas in New York City | © PeopleImages / Getty Images
Nick Dauk

Senior Travel Writer

Rushing around the streets of New York City is a thrill, but eventually seeking serenity within a Korean spa has become de rigueur even for true-blue New Yorkers. These retreats from the concrete jungle are scattered throughout the Big Apple, ready to pamper you with the full-body treatments that’ll relax you from head to toe. Take a break from the grind, slip on a robe and give your mind, body and soul the care it deserves at these top Korean spas in New York City.

Spa Castle, for a family-friendly urban resort

Spa

Set against Powell’s Cove Park in Queens, Spa Castle is a dreamy destination worth venturing across the East River for. The urban resort, while family-friendly, is just as good a place for family-free me-time. Modern and traditional spa treatments await you, in between sessions at the four pools, eight saunas, hot tub, sun deck and sleeping zone. The Signature Korean Body Scrub employs millions of bubbles to wash away dead skin and remove impurities, leaving only a glowing complexion. Adorn your face with a regal 24k Golden Mask, because your pearly whites deserve nothing less than a golden frame.

New York Spa & Sauna, for a spa au naturel

Spa

Woman wrapped in towel relaxes in a wood-paneled sauna
© Frederic Cirou / Getty Images

When it comes to indulging at New York Spa & Sauna, this traditional Korean day spa insists on no shirt, no shoes and no other articles of clothing for that matter. The dress code in the gender-separate bathing areas is strictly birthday-suit only. Treat yourself to a soak in the hot tub, a sit in the steam room and a quiet moment in the dry sauna, while enjoying cleansing showers in between. Desire more pampering? Throw on a robe and wander upstairs where invigorating body scrubs and massages, plus Korean food for afterward, are only an elevator ride away.

Juvenex Spa, for late-night spa time

Massage Parlour, Spa

Juvenex Spa is the ultimate Korean spa in New York City. Before you even walk in, you’ll be quite satisfied with its prime Manhattan location surrounded by Korean BBQ joints. Saunter inside the 24/7 spa and, no matter the time of day or night, prepare for four phases of pampering. Your transcendent Jade Journey begins with destressing in the Diamond Herbal Steam Sauna and a dip in the Cold Rainforest Shower. Nourish your body in a Japanese-style soaking tub, choosing any seaweed, ginseng or specialty soak you desire. A final rest in the clay sauna will draw toxins out and leave you ready to treat your chi to an energy-balancing therapy massage.

Aura Wellness Spa, for the therapeutic grottoes

Spa

Woman with closed eyes floating in the pool of a spa
© Paper Boat Creative / Getty Images

Whereas it should be no secret that the best Korean spas in New York City are within Koreatown, you’ll still be surprised at just how transformative an afternoon at Aura Wellness Spa can be. Four unique therapeutic grottoes are designed to soften the skin, remove toxins and boost your metabolism. Find a moment of solitude in a DermaLife pod for a spot of water therapy. Top it all off with a massage designed to improve circulation, and you’ll leave without an ounce of stress.

Spa 32, for a lunchtime spa break

Massage Parlour, Spa

Your lucky number will certainly be 32 when you leave this Koreatown spa. No need to take time off work or reserve a special day on your calendar; this urban wellness retreat stays open after midnight to ensure you can pencil in a facial or body massage on a whim. Let a deep-cleansing facial sink into your cheeks and return with impurities to discard. Feel the hot oil soothe your skin and loosen your muscles during a Shiatsu deep-tissue massage. Even on a busy day, a foot reflexology treatment – complete with a neck and shoulder massage – can turn a lunch break into a spa day.

Tribeca Spa of Tranquility, for the Korean body scrub

Spa

A woman lying on her stomach gets a body scrub by a masseuse
© PeopleImages / Getty Images

The authentic Korean body scrub is justifiably the most popular treatment at Tribeca Spa of Tranquility. But it’s just the beginning. The spa’s alternative wellness treatments are unlike any other in the city. Their exclusive Catio Lift facial defies surgery with its age-defying and smoothing potential. The Ionithermie Body Treatment promises to shed inches from your waistline. From Gold Therapy massages to seaweed body wraps and cucumber masks, this spot delivers transformative results inside and out.

Relax into your New York city break with our treatment menu of places to stay in Manhattan, including Midtown and the Upper East Side – all bookable on Culture Trip.

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This is an updated rewrite of an article originally by Julia Goicochea.

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