Spa Road Trip: Where to Spa in New York City

Spa Road Trip: Where to Spa in New York City

The city that never sleeps is electric with nonstop energy – not to mention constant crowds and traffic – which makes the NYC spa scene all the more significant in helping locals and tourists alike stay relaxed (and sane!). There are plenty of urban escapes to entice even the most discerning of New Yorkers: Check out our picks for great spas in the Big Apple!

Presented by Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria, pictured. Read more about the spa here.

Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria

At the height of New York City’s sophisticated spa scene is the glamorous Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria. High above Manhattan on the 19^th floor of the classic hotel, the en-suite spa dazzles in both design and services. Sleek marble relaxation lounges—where you’ll enjoy complimentary champagne and tartine bites!—set the tone for a luxury experience, and spacious treatment spaces are where personalized Orchidée Impériale body and skincare therapies are performed. The extravagance continues from there, with post-treatment options that include makeup refreshers, garment steaming, and shoe shines.

Learn more about Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria.

Image courtesy of Waldorf Astoria

Cornelia Spa at The Surrey

Don’t let this spa’s intimate feel fool you—every minor detail is designed to be luxurious on a grand scale. The spa pooh-poohs the idea of awkward moments in the locker room, offering treatment spaces that have their own showers and changing areas, while elegant interiors fuse art deco accents and Cornelia’s signature orange hue. Try the Cornelia Massage (60 mins/90 mins; $175-$260), a customized ritual that incorporates Swedish, deep tissue, shiatsu, sports, or trigger point techniques; those who only have a New York minute can select from an entire collection of quickie treatments, known as “Considerable Moments.”

Learn more about Cornelia Spa at The Surrey.

Image courtesy of Cornelia Spa at The Surrey

Red Door Spa at The Chatwal New York

The Chatwal New York offers a fresh 1930s-NYC-meets-modern-day combination in a legendary landmark building within the city’s theater district, so it’s only fitting that the renowned Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa has made its home here. Quiet solitude ensues throughout as there are just three treatment rooms, and private changing spaces with steam showers add an indulgent touch (as do a saltwater pool and Jacuzzi plunge pool). A menu presents Red Door Spa’s famed treatments—my personal fave? The Red Door Signature Facial ($135), enhanced by a collagen eye add-on ($50).

Learn more about Red Door Spa at The Chatwal New York.

Image courtesy of Red Door Spa at The Chatwal New York

The Spa at Trump at Trump SoHo New York

The Spa at Trump is truly a (Turkish) delight courtesy of NYC’s first authentic luxury hammams, made up of beautiful mosaic tiles, Kapiz shell-encrusted ceilings, and Calcutta marble. Said to be designed by Ivanka Trump herself, the exotic two-floor spa features treatment rooms with heated massage beds and indoor/outdoor lounge areas. If the Turkish- or Moroccan-inspired hammam bathing ritual isn’t your thing, you have a wide array of other services, including Kate Somerville facials and signature Gemstone Spa Treatments using gem-infused oils that contain diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.

Learn more about The Spa at Trump at Trump SoHo New York.

Image courtesy of The Spa at Trump at Trump SoHo New York

La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park

La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, is truly, well, ritzy, with lovely, well-appointed treatment spaces and men’s and women’s locker areas with steam rooms, where you can relax prior to indulging in one of the many therapies offered, including advanced facials using La Prairie products (and the Caviar Massage? Sign us up, please!). In-room massage and nailcare services are also available, should you be staying at the hotel.

Image courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park

Sense Spa at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

The four-treatment-room Sense Spa at The Carlyle is another that evokes the essence of seclusion in the Big Apple. The urban escape showcases innovative Sisley services such as the Sisley Anti-Aging Facial ([2 hrs, $500] the spa is the first in North America to partner with the brand) and a whimsical, residential feel (albeit, an extremely high-end, lavish residence, complete with a mosaic-tiled stairwell, faux leather floors, Carrara marble, and English chandeliers). As well, its 1940s Hollywood vibe will make you want to camp out in the spa and daydream forever.

Learn more about Sense Spa at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel.

Image courtesy of Sense Spa at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

Shibui Spa at The Greenwich Hotel

Our next pick leads us to trendy TriBeCa, home to Shibui Spa at The Greenwich Hotel, owned by Bobby De Niro (yes, I said Bobby, as I like to pretend we’re close friends!). Truly decadent in an unassuming way, the spa has a members’-only vibe, as it’s exclusive to guests of the hotel, and is designed to be luxurious yet uncomplicated, with an air of solitude and stillness. Lovely interiors made up of hemlock floors, a lantern-lit swimming pool, and a 250-year-old wood-and-bamboo farmhouse constructed by Japanese craftsmen are magnified by designated treatment areas that include shiatsu and Japanese bathing rooms.

Image courtesy of The Greenwich Hotel

Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York

Transform yourself to a Zen-like state at the Forbes Five Star-awarded Spa at Mandarin Oriental, found on the 35^th and 36^th floors of Mandarin Oriental, New York, in Columbus Circle. Breathtaking interiors mingle Asian furnishings with gold leaf decor, accented by a 75-foot lap pool, VIP Spa Suite for two with bath and fireplace, and Thai Yoga Suite comprising teak wood, stone, and water elements. Once you pick your jaw off the floor, prepare for one of the sensory treatments—from the Opulent Rejuvenesence Facial (1 hr, 20 mins-1 hr, 50 mins; $450-$630) to the signature Time Ritual™ (1 hr, 50 mins-2 hrs, 50 mins; $450-$695), followed by a trip through the heat experience area, which includes an amethyst crystal steam room.

Learn more about Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York.

Image courtesy of Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York

Spa Valmont for Plaza Athenee

The Big Apple is home to Spa Valmont for Plaza Athenee, where you can take services in the privacy of your own suite, complete with a dressing area, lounge chair, and steam shower. The spa is the first in the U.S. to be admitted into the exclusive Valmont V35 club, giving you the opportunity to try Valmont’s prestigious anti-aging treatments and products, known for combining advanced Swiss technological research and glacial spring water.

Learn more about Spa Valmont for Plaza Athenee.

Image courtesy of Spa Valmont for Plaza Athenee

The Peninsula Spa at The Peninsula New York

Located on the top three floors of the Forbes Five Star, AAA Five Diamond Peninsula hotel, The Peninsula Spa will encourage you to forget you’re in bustling NYC—that is, until you lounge in the glass-enclosed pool area, and your view catches the stellar Fifth Avenue and Central Park scenes below. This is another spa we love, and it’s because of its holistic European- and Ayurvedic-inspired wellness treatments and seriously chic amenities: an Asian tea lounge and relaxation spaces with Frette linen-adorned beds and personal sound systems are just some of them.

Learn more about The Peninsula Spa at The Peninsula New York.

Image courtesy of The Peninsula Spa at The Peninsula New York

Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at The Plaza

We’ve referenced Caudalie many times and will continue to do so as the brand is consistently celebrated as being the originator of one of the more innovative spa concepts. The vinotherapy-inspired menu—fashioned of crushed cabernet scrubs, merlot wraps, and red vine baths—upholds the scientific findings that grape polyphenols can help fight aging (and a visit to Caudalie’s French Paradox wine relaxation lounge pre- or post-treatment delightfully extends the spa experience).

Image courtesy of Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at The Plaza

Remède Spa at The St. Regis New York

Aimed at helping you “escape to a sanctuary of indulgence and relaxation,” Remède Spa at midtown’s St. Regis is housed on the hotel’s lower lobby level, though its serene vibe immediately transforms you from the hustle and bustle to calm. Luxe elements include champagne and customized treatments—decadent, indeed!

Image courtesy of Remede Spa at St. Regis

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• Getting in with THE OUT, NYC’s Newest Men’s Spa

• Spa Spotlight: Bright Lights, Big City, Townhouse Spa

• The Setai Club & Spa Wall Street: A New Luxe Treatment That Will Leave You Feeling Like Cleopatra

A special thanks to Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria, pictured. Read more about the spa here.