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New York City is a city pulsing with life at all hours, and simply one of the best places in the world to go for museums, theatre, fine dining, shopping and nightlife. But when the frantic pace of sightseeing (or hustling to your next meeting) starts to wear on you, it’s time to head to a spa! Fortunately, New York City excels in that department, too—it’s got some of the best hotel and day spas in the country, if not the world. And while it was hard to narrow them down, we’ve done the homework so you don’t have to, with this list of the best spas in New York City.
They offer innovative spa treatments, facials using cutting-edge products you won’t find anywhere else, dreamy swimming pools in reclaimed industrial buildings and highly trained estheticians.
If any of this sounds the least bit tempting, you’re in luck. Read on for our list of the best spas in New York City.
La Prairie Spa at the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
50 Central Park South
The very name “Ritz-Carlton” conjures images of luxurious pampering, and the La Prairie Spa at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park certainly delivers. It’s one of just two La Prairie spas in the US and the only one on the east coast. This is the place to head for the luxury Swiss skincare brand’s signature caviar and gold serum facials.
We’d love to combine a couples getaway at this swanky hotel with a series of spa treatments. Note that the spa menu posted on the hotel website doesn’t have prices because if you have to ask…but satisfied clients refer to the experience as “unreal” and “worth every penny.” Because of this, it is considered by many to be one of the best spas in New York City.
Highlights of La Prairie Spa at the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
- The couples massage experience includes 60- or 90-minute massages and a glass of champagne.
- Amenities include a massive fitness center and a studio for yoga classes and other movement arts.
- With a location overlooking Central Park, you can rejuvenate and then have the best of Midtown Manhattan right outside the door.
- Non-invasive treatments include micro-current facial “lifts”
- A La Prairie spa shop, to take the pampering home
Read More: Where to Find the Best Spa in Brooklyn
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AIRE Ancient Baths New York
88 Franklin St.
Transported. That’s how you’re likely to feel when you descend into AIRE Ancient Baths, a subterranean bathhouse in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood that seeks to recreate the Ancient Roman thermal bath experience, for an effect that’s part restorative, part hedonistic.
The bath complex consists of a series of different pools and whirlpools set at different temperatures. Guests complete a “circuit” through the pools during a 90-minute timeslot, and can opt for a pre- or post-bath massage. Keanu Reeves’ fans may recognize the AIRE Ancient Baths from the first John Wick film — in which a bloody shoot-out took place!
Highlights of AIRE Ancient Baths New York
- Set in a historic former textile building
- Underground, cavernous and entirely candlelit
- Weightless floatation experience in a salt bath
- Sexy couples’ experiences include a bath for 2 in Spanish red wine
- The Himalayan Salt Experience features a salt scrub and a 1-hour massage with hot salt stones
Shibui Spa at The Greenwich Hotel
377 Greenwich St.
Zen’s the word at this Japanese-style oasis at The Greenwich Hotel, an eclectic 5-star property in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. The centerpiece of the serene Shibui Spa is a 250-year-old wooden farmhouse, imported directly from Japan — it forms the spa’s relaxation room.
An extensive treatment menu offers facials, massages, scrubs, nourishing body treatments and dry body brushing. In keeping with Chinese and Japanese wellness traditions, treatments are based around the elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
Highlights of Shibui Spa at The Greenwich Hotel
- Long list of famous hotel guests includes Beyonce, Rhianna and Katy Perry
- An Onsen tub menu offers a choice of herbal-infused hot baths
- Complimentary tea, water and dried fruits, plus use of Japanese Yukata robes
- A heated indoor pool
- Expectant moms can book a Little Bean treatment with massage and belly mask
Great Jones Spa
29 Great Jones St.
Set on a busy Bowery street, this popular day spa provides a respite for busy Manhattanites and travelers alike. The focal point of the Great Jones Spa is the Water Lounge, which features a sauna, a light-therapy steam room, a jacuzzi and a cold plunge pool, all set to the soothing sound of a cascading 3-story waterfall. It’s free to use for anyone who books $100 or more in spa treatments, or you can buy a day-use pass.
Treatments run the gamut, and including massages, facials, waxing and nail care. As New York City spa prices go, Great Jones Spa is one of the city’s more affordable options.
Highlights of Great Jones Spa
- Featured body treatments include hot stone massages and aromatic hot towel infusion massages
- Popular HydraFacial MD treatments promise instant results
- For a tropical break, try a Pure Fiji Coconut Sugar Glow
- Waxing services offered for men and women
- Spa shop sales name-brand skincare and makeup lines
Haven Spa
250 Mercer St.
Mercer Street runs through the heart of Noho and Soho, and the industrial-chic vibe of Haven Spa blends right into these busy, characteristic New York City neighborhoods. Duck in for a quick mani/pedi, or stay for rejuvenating half-day package that includes a hydrating facial, a Swedish massage, a foot treatment and a manicure.
The treatment menu is extensive, and definitely relatable to the hustle of Manhattan, with spa treatments with names like The Bitch Massage (for PMS symptoms), The Geek Massage (for those sitting at a computer all day) and the Valley Girl treatment for chest and neck.
Highlights of Haven Spa
- Electrolysis and laser hair removal for every imaginable part of your body
- MiniEscapes — quick hit-it-and-quit-it spa experiences of 20-30 minutes
- Mommy & Me, a 3-hour package designed for moms and (adult) daughters
- Affordable single-treatment, package and nailcare rates, especially for Manhattan
The Peninsula Spa at The Peninsula Hotel
700 5th Ave.
It consistently ranks as one of the top luxe hotels in New York City, so it’s no surprise that Peninsula Spa is among The Big Apple’s most celebrated hotel spas. The rarified glam is everywhere here, from the real gold mosaic-tiled wall to the hushed Asian tea room, where guests are welcomed with a traditional tea ceremony.
Non-hotel guests who book two hours or more of treatments are invited to use the indoor pool, outdoor sun terrace and fitness center — arrive up to 60 minutes early to take advantage of these amenities.
Highlights of The Peninsula Spa
- Exclusive treatments with Biologique Recherche French luxury skincare products
- Treatments combine a European approach with Indian Ayurvedic philosophy
- Day Retreat treatment bundles include a spa lunch
- Legendary hotel in a landmark 5th Avenue building
- Storied celebrity guest list, but the hotel is very discreet
Oasis Day Spa
Part of a national chain, this highly rated day spa is just south of Midtown Manhattan, and offers busy New Yorkers and visitors a wellness break or a quick detox. The long list of treatments includes body scrubs, wraps and tanning, laser skin treatments, peels, waxing, Reiki therapy, acupuncture, reflexology and deep tissue massages — whew! The Manhattan location also has a ProsperIV lab, where guests can book IV infusions, to treat everything from migraines and brain fog to the cocktail flu.
Highlights of Oasis Day Spa
- 19 treatment rooms and an event space for a spa party
- Robe and sandals provided
- Body scrub and wrap treatments feature an exhilarating Vichy Shower
- IPL (laser) treatments for wrinkles, sun damage, spider veins or acne
Rescue Spa
29 East 19th St.
This high-end day spa near Union Square attracts leagues of devoted city dwellers and provides a posh, pampering break for clients who appreciate premium products and spa experiences. It’s one a just a handful of spas in NYC to offer treatments with the luxe Biologique Recherche product line, in addition to high-tech treatments like IonixLight facials, hyperpigmentation treatments and gadgets to address a host of wrinkles, fine lines, discoloration and other skin complaints.
There’s also a more traditional menu of full body massages, body scrubs and detox wraps, as well as manicures and pedicures, waxing and brow and lash tinting.
Highlights of Rescue Spa
- Online spa menu lets you choose your esthetician and book in advance
- Full-service hair salon on premises
- Huge range of innovative high-tech beauty treatments
- Extensive spa shop with high-end cosmetics brands for sale
