The Michelin hotels in our New York City Guide are distinctive for features ranging from rooftop bars with dazzling views to buzzy restaurants and sleek designs. A handful, however, also house outstanding spas offering a full lineup of wellness treatments along with transportive settings. Whether you're staying here for a few days or just want to escape for a few hours, these five retreats are among the best spas in New York.
Shibui at The Greenwich Hotel
The Greenwich’s subterranean spa's Zen aesthetic is a nod to Japanese culture. The two-story space incorporates interesting design elements such as a roof of a 250-year-old wood Japanese farmhouse that has been reconstructed over the lantern-lit swimming pool and soft kimono-style robes. Other features include a shiatsu room, a bathing room with a tub that’s meant for Japanese soaking rituals and a wet room for guests to enjoy wraps and scrubs. The facials and massages are divine, especially the omakase, which combines therapies such as hot stones and cupping.
Bamford Wellness Spa 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
The British businesswoman Carol Bamford is behind this eponymous spa. Conceived in the English countryside where she owns a large estate, this spa is rooted in holistic treatments such as detoxifying facials using organic products and massages with healing stones. It's an under-the-radar spot that’s a favorite of the cognoscenti.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental New York
The first of the city’s ultra-luxurious spas, Mandarin’s refuge from the cares of the world is 14,500 square feet of total indulgence. Here, East meets West in both the aesthetic and therapies. Spa goers can book a specific treatment such as Inner Strength, a relaxing massage to help with anxiety, or opt for a Time Ritual where therapists customize treatments to the preferences and needs of each guest. Be sure to experience the vitality pool, Asian-inspired tea lounge and amethyst crystal steam room while you’re here.
Sisley-Paris Spa at The Dominick
French beauty traditions come to downtown Manhattan at The Dominick’s Sisley-Paris haven which features facials and body treatments from the namesake and renowned beauty brand. Try the gender-neutral anti-aging facial that incorporates a 20-minute muscle-firming massage or go for the slimming body ritual that combats fat. The Moroccan hammams and two salt chambers are more reason to linger a bit longer here.
The Spa at The Hotel Chelsea
Visiting The Hotel Chelsea’s brand-new spa is like going to the home of a good friend with impeccable taste. This sanctuary is located on the property’s penthouse level and filled with an abundance of natural light. Every detail, from the ambience and the amenities to the English countryside-themed surroundings, is executed to perfection. The treatment rooms are airy and large, the relaxation lounge features a fireplace, and there’s even a terrace garden. Fantastic massages and facials are part of the treatment lineup, but for a different course, try one of the healing arts such as the polarity, a mix of light pressure, high-frequency energy and gentle movements to rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul.
Hero image: © The Greenwich Hotel
