Even visitors to the city that never sleeps may need to take a break from their vacation. Spa hotels provide opportunities to escape with treatments, fitness classes and even free snacks.
A trip to the Big Apple is often a heady whirlwind of sightseeing, shopping and fine dining that can leave you feeling a little heavy-limbed. Once you’ve taken in the neon glow of Times Square and soared up to the cloud-brushing pinnacle of the Empire State building, bring yourself back down to earth with a day of pampering in a rejuvenating spa hotel.
The Greenwich Hotel’s global influences are highlighted in its Moroccan tiled bathrooms, Swedish Duxiana beds and hand-loomed rugs from Tibet. The hotel’s Shibui Spa, on the other hand, is focused on Japanese body and skin treatments. Moody lanterns light this underground spa offering poolside meditation, traditional Japanese shiatsu (a form of therapeutic bodywork) and more. Emerging cleansed from this deluxe facility, you can return to neutral-toned rooms elevated by soothing sage greens and full of indulgent amenities like treat-lined minibars and extra deep soaking baths. Music-admirers can also book in a visit to the fascinating Archive of Contemporary Music, a treasure trove of recordings and memorabilia just a brief amble away.
This Upper East Side hotel is famous for its art collection, which includes works by artists such as Jenny Holzer and Chuck Close. The Surrey’s other claim to fame is Cornelia Spa, an intimate space known for its near-silent environment. Visitors consult with Cornelia technicians about treatments such as ancient Chinese reflexology and hydrating caviar masks before retiring to a client-exclusive library of luxury publications. An amuse-bouche cupcake tasting from Cornelia’s own Bouquet Bar caps off the experience.
A suite at the high-end Mandarin Oriental can cost upwards of $14,000. Luckily, treatments at its acclaimed spa are more affordable, if still on the pricier side. The spa ensures great value by inviting guests to arrive 45 minutes before their scheduled appointment to enjoy its Oriental Tea Lounge and heat and water facilities. Treatments such as the three-hour Thai Yoga Journey and the Digital Wellness Escape are worth trying.
Anyone lucky enough to have stayed at this five-star icon will know that pampering and The Plaza Hotel go hand in hand. In between afternoon tea at the Palm Court and shopping at the hotel’s boutique, guests can continue indulging at the Guerlain Spa. The nearly 200-year-old French brand showcases its luxury products in treatments like the Abeille Royale Honey Repair, which uses royal jelly from Guerlain’s signature bees, and the two-masseuse Imperial Massage. The rooms take a straightforward approach to classic luxury with a traditional gold and white palette punctuated by baroque-velvet chairs and regal paintings. Amenities are equally lavish, with blackout curtains to ensure a long lie-in and a 24-hour butler service for those who’ve splurged on a swanky suite.
Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC takes a slightly different approach to the hotel spa by including fitness classes in its offerings. Exhale’s barre, cardio and yoga classes are perfect for travelers who don’t let a getaway interrupt their fitness goals. Workout or not, guests at this glitzy West Village hotel will enjoy results-driven massages and facials. Tip: Exhale’s sports and Thai massages are ideal after-class treatments.
Glass-enclosed rainfall showers and televisions built into bathroom mirrors pamper guests at The Langham before they even pass through its spa’s Moon Gate. The indulgence continues inside Chuan Body + Soul, where therapies involving bamboo and stone and natural skincare products honor traditional Chinese medicine. Treatments like the Intensive Hair and Scalp Massage and the Chuan Mini Feet Retreat make this spa great for stress relief.
A towering glass structure set in the stylish haven of SoHo, The Dominick provides elegant luxury in the way of lofty ceilings, velvet furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows boasting instantly Instagrammable views of the Hudson River. The Babor Spa promises high-performing treatments such as its signature anti-aging body ritual and detoxifying Moroccan hammam. Opt for one of the chromatherapy experience showers for a technicolour session of colored light therapy, or take in the glow of golden hour from the cabana of the Terrace 7 pool. Top off the day with a transporting Flight to Jalisco cocktail – a tantalising concoction of creme de violette, pamplemousse, lime and tequila – in the Mezzanine restaurant.
