The Best Spa Hotels to Book in New York City
Gansevoort Meatpacking: a breathtaking place to take a breath | Courtesy of Gansevoort Meatpacking / Expedia
Even visitors to the city that never sleeps can need a break. These NYC spa hotels – bookable with Culture Trip – 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 heavy-limbed. Once you’ve taken in the neon glow of Times Square and soared up the cloud-brushing pinnacle of the Empire State Building, bring yourself down to earth with a day of pampering in a rejuvenating spa hotel.
Courtesy of The Greenwich Hotel / Hotels.com
The Greenwich Hotel’s global influences are highlighted by its Moroccan-tiled bathrooms, Swedish Duxiana beds and hand-loomed Tibetan rugs. The hotel’s Shibui Spa, meanwhile, is focused on Japanese body and skin treatments. Moody lanterns light this underground retreat offering poolside meditation, traditional shiatsu and more. Emerging cleansed, you can return to neutral-toned rooms elevated by soothing sage greens and indulgent amenities including treat-lined minibars and extra-deep soaking baths. Music lovers can also book in a visit to the fascinating ARChive of Contemporary Music, a treasure trove of recordings and memorabilia just a brief walk away.
Courtesy of The Surrey / Hotels.com
This Upper East Side hotel is famous for its art collection, including works by artists such as Jenny Holzer and William Kentridge. 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 an exclusive library. An amuse-bouche cupcake tasting from Cornelia’s own Bouquet Bar caps off the experience.
Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental New York / Booking.com
The most expensive suites at the high-end Mandarin Oriental can cost over $14,000. Luckily, treatments at its acclaimed spa are more affordable, if still on the pricey side. The spa ensures great value by inviting guests to arrive 45 minutes before their scheduled appointment to enjoy its Tea Lounge and heat and water facilities. Treatments such as the 90-minute Jet Lag Cure and Digital Wellness Escape are worth trying.
Courtesy of The Plaza / Hotels.com
Anyone lucky enough to have stayed at this five-star icon will understand why it is synonymous with pampering. Following afternoon tea at the Palm Court, guests can continue indulging at the Guerlain Spa. The centuries-old French brand showcases its luxury products in treatments including the Abeille Royale Honey Repair – using royal jelly from Guerlain’s renowned 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 velvet chairs and regal paintings. Amenities are equally lavish, with blackout curtains ensuring undisturbed rest and a 24-hour butler service for those who’ve splurged on a swanky suite.
Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC
Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC takes a slightly different approach to the hotel spa by including fitness classes. 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.
Courtesy of the Langham / Hotels.com
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, stone and natural skincare products honor traditional Chinese medicine. Treatments such as the Intensive Hair and Scalp Massage and the Chuan Mini Feet Retreat make this spa great for stress relief.
Courtesy of The Dominick Hotel / Booking.com
A towering glass structure in stylish SoHo, the Dominick presents elegant luxury through velvet furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer instantly Instagrammable views of the Hudson River. The Babor Spa provides high-performing treatments ranging from its signature anti-ageing body ritual to its detoxifying Moroccan hammam. Opt for one of the chromotherapy experience showers for a technicolor session of light-based treatment, or take in the glow of golden hour from the cabana of the Terrace on 7 pool. Top off the day with a transporting flight to jalisco cocktail – a tantalizing concoction of crème de violette, grapefruit, lime and tequila – in the Mezzanine restaurant.
Chloe Byrne contributed additional reporting to this article.
These recommendations were updated on October 18, 2021 to keep your travel plans fresh.