There’s something about New York City that throws us all in a tizzy. It’s a fashion capital, shopping, and gastronomical capital of the world. Whether it’s architectural prowess or its penchant for the arts, the city has shown us how to do it. If that wasn’t enough, New York City is an explorer’s delight, with its immensely walkable boulevards crammed with old-world and modern eye candy of all sorts. On the other hand, there’s no doubt that it offers an indulgent side as well. So, you can pamper yourself with the best entertainment, drinks, and food at some of the world’s best restaurants and chicest cocktail lounges. Another facet of New York City’s indulgent side is hotel spas! NYC’s spa hotels are the perfect outpost for the ultimate splurge.
In fact, there’s no better way to unwind than dedicating an entire day to wellness at one of these incredible properties with spas in the Big Apple. From subterranean sanctuaries to sky-high havens, the city has them all. All-in-all, the “Empire City” wears so many crowns that it’s hard to keep track of them sometimes. Explore them all by heading to one of these 11 best hotel spas in New York City.
Where to Stay in New York City?
New York has neighborhoods dedicated entirely to almost every interest under the sun, whether it’s food, nightlife, art, theater, or more. If we were to lay down NYC’s geography, the best way to explain it is that the famous Fifth Avenue divides what New Yorkers call the “West Side” and the “East Side.” Moreover, the city is made up of five boroughs – Manhattan, it’s most famous and happening, the birthplace of hip-hop Bronx, the darling of history buffs ad hipsters Brooklyn, the melting pot Queens, and the greenest one of Staten Island.
So, where does one live in NYC? If you’re in town for sightseeing, then it doesn’t get any better than staying in Midtown. It’s the beating heart of the city and home to some of the Top Attractions In USA For Tourists. What’s more, it’s the birthplace of gay pride, which also makes the city one of the 11 Most Gay-Friendly Cities In The World. It’s also where most of the best hotel spas in New York City are spread out. There’s also the East Village area you shouldn’t miss. If you’re here for a honeymoon, we suggest staying at one of the 11 Most Romantic Hotels in NYC. Foodies will love SoHo and Tribeca, while party monsters and nightlife revelers can head to the Meatpacking District. If you’re a first-timer, experience NYC in all it’s glory by staying in the Theater District or the Upper East/West Side. Finally, culture buffs looking for a trendy neighborhood will love the up-and-coming Bowery.
The Plaza
11
The Plaza Hotel has a long list of admirers, we included. Lying in a historic Beaux-Arts structure, the inimitably classic hotel radiates timeless elegance. Located at the southern tip of Central Park, the hotel is one of the most iconic hotels on the entire planet. With Bergdorf Goodman and the iconic Pulitzer Fountain right outside, an NYC address can’t get any better than this.
The Plaza hotel soothes you right from the outset. A magnificent lobby is peppered with fresh floral arrangements, gilded moldings, and shimmering crystal chandeliers. With a bucketload of amenities, you do not have to leave the premises for anything. Think high-end salons, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a smattering of restaurants. However, what makes it amongst the best spa hotels in NYC is the decadent Guerlain Spa. After all, it’s only fitting that New York City’s ritziest hotel houses one of its best, high-end spas. Stepping in is like experiencing a sea of tranquility amidst the mayhem of Midtown Manhattan. There is an entire menu of treatments, right from body polish therapies to honey-based facials. In fact, there are even specialist services for men. Don’t miss out on the signature four-hand Imperial massage by not one, but two masseuses.
The Plaza’s rooms are no less impressive. All boast lavish interiors, massive windows, and spa-like baths with 24-carat gilded fixtures. If you want to splash out, then the sprawling suites with white-gloved butler services and Central Park views will certainly suit your sensibilities.
The Dominick
10
The Dominick feels like your average luxurious and sleek chichi apartment structure in Midtown Manhattan. Boasting stunning views of the Hudson River and NYC’s skyline, the Dominick ticks all the boxes to become one of the most sought-after luxe hotels in the city. The cherry on top is its perfect location on SoHo’s western tip. Apart from being a stroll from West Village and TriBeCa, you’re a short taxi ride from Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge. Overall, it makes an excellent base to explore the Top 25 Things To Do In New York City.
Interestingly, the hotel derives its name from the eponymous street at its back. The sophisticated two-story lobby has mood-inspired lighting, midcentury-modern furnishings, and rich natural stone and woodwork. The pewter, black, and bronze finishings lend an industrial-chic air that fits right into the neighborhood’s vibe. Fitness fanatics will love the up-to-the-minute gym. Leisure lovers can gran drinks at the sunken lobby bar or sip cocktails by the Italian mosaic-lined pool. However, the crowning glory of it all is the 11,000 square-feet-huge spa, which has one of NYC’s first Turkish hammams! While it has options for deep-tissue massages and exfoliating facials and treatments, do not miss getting a blissful aromatherapy massage. In fact, it’s one of the best hotel spas in New York City, and an experience you shouldn’t miss.
With only 12 rooms per floor, staying at the Dominick is an intimate experience indeed. Even though the entry-level rooms are massive by the city standards, splurge on a suite that boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and extraordinary views. Besides lavish bathrooms, a slew of high-tech mod-cons and sleep-inducing beds are its best features.
The Chatwal
9
The Chatwal is the jewel in the crown of NYC’s theatre district. The boutique hotel oozes both glam and sophistication in equal measure and has a long and rather characterful history. It’s set in a 1905 structure that formerly housed the Lambs Club, the country’s very first Thespian club, and something of an icon. With only 76 rooms, the Chatwal proves that amazing things do come in small packages.
The hotel’s design details hark back to the Prohibition Era – think vibrant pops of red, shiny metal, and warm wood veneers. The showstopper in the lobby is the stunning, two-story sepia mural of the NYC cityscape. Beyond the round-the-clock fitness center, the hotel has an upscale restaurant and bar, a local favorite, complimentary car services, and a heavenly pool. But, what makes the Chatwal one of the best spa hotels in NYC is The Mynd Spa & Salon by Elizabeth Arden. It’s one of the best hotel spas in New York City. The subterranean theatrical space with remarkable visuals and mood lighting is the perfect place to unwind and rejuvenate. Besides body treatments and massages, there’s even a whirlpool plunge bath, a saltwater lap pool, and even a make-up and nail salon.
The hotel’s gilded yet sleek finesse extends to the rooms as well. The glittering granite bathrooms only contribute further to the indulgence. Moreover, all rooms have “maxibars” and soaking tubs in bathrooms. In fact, some of the highest-level suites even have landscaped terraces, which is an absolute rarity in Midtown Manhattan.
Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
8
Sitting deep in the heart of Lower Manhattan, the contemporary Four Seasons Hotel is not your cookie-cutter Manhattan luxury hotel. In fact, its avant-garde architecture adds a dash of sophistication to the innately corporate vibe of the neighborhood. With an endless roster of indulgent services, you literally do not have to step out. In the off-chance that you do, some of the city’s best sightseeing and shopping venues are a 10-minute walk away.
There are very less things about the hotel that’ll not impress you right away. You’ll be particularly awed by the pièce de résistance in the lobby, the ‘Cascade.’ It’s a breathtaking sculpture of glittering black, gold, and mirror rods suspended over the Mondrian-inspired staircase. Besides the fitness center and pool, you need to try out the Wolfgang Puck restaurant that the place is famous for. It might be a steakhouse first, but almost everything on its menu is lip-smacking to the core. Additionally, the Four Seasons Hotel has one of the most luxurious spas in NYC. The high-end sensuous oasis features aromatherapies, skin treatments, massages, and more. The highlight is the mother-of-the-pearl and mosaic lap pool, which is indeed a spectacular sight to behold.
Rooms and suites are archetypal Four Seasons, including high-tech mod-cons and the signature Four Seasons bed. The “spa” theme seems to extend to the lavish marble bathrooms with in-mirror TVs and bathtubs.
Baccarat Hotel
7
The legendary French brand’s New York City outpost, the Baccarat Hotel is much like its crystal – blingy, flashy, and glistening from head to toe. The hotel sits smack dab in the thick of Midtown right across from MoMA. In fact, it’s a hop, skip, and jump from NYC landmarks like Times Square, Central Park, Fifth Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. This makes it a great alternative to 11 Best Hotels in Time Square.
The hotel’s design is dramatic to the core with sumptuous fabrics, lots of crystal, herringbone floors, and mood lighting. If it wasn’t obvious already, a showstopping Baccarat Harcourt glasses installation in the lobby sets the tone for the rest of your stay. The reception area leads to the luxuriant Grand Salon, which is where breakfast takes place every day. Make sure you ask for the poached eggs and avocado toast. It’s not on the menu, and it’s delicious. Aside from usual luxuries like a fitness center and a pool, the afternoon tea at the hotel is something you shouldn’t miss. Above all, the spa de la Mer at the Baccarat is one of the best hotel spas in New York City. Although beauty rituals are the focus here, you can also go for body scrubs, aromatherapy sessions, and deep-tissue massages.
Likewise, the 114 sleek suites and “boudoirs” at the hotel hit the bullseye when it comes to luxury. Aside from a one-touch control system, there’s also Baccarat glassware in the minibar and plush beds. The white-marble bathrooms are like mini-spas themselves, complete with a luxurious gift box of bath products.
Mandarin Oriental New York
6
East comes to the west at the Mandarin Oriental, one of the best spa hotels in NYC that focus on the Asian theme. Sitting on the 35th-54th floors of the Time Warner Center, the hotel is most known for its therapeutic spa and phenomenal views over the city.
The hotel’s Asian accents are palpable in the exotic gilded and purple hues and fresh orchids. They seem to blend in with the retro aspects like tiled walls and Art-Deco furnishings. The magnificent lobby has an illuminated cove ceiling and lots of natural stone, accentuated with pops of lime green and magenta. There’s much to do in the hotel. You can sip on theatrical cocktails at the rooftop Aviary Bar or dig into an all-American breakfast at the Asiate restaurant. A dip in the indoor lap pool is reinvigorating, to say the least. Above all, it’s the two-floored spa with views of the Hudson River that will mesmerize you. It has a bunch of highlights, including a VIP spa suite with a fireplace, crystal steam rooms, and even an Oriental tea Lounge. Go classic with East Asian-inspired massages and treatments, which include a three-hour Thai Yoga Journey.
Rooms are all about spectacular and sweeping views, no matter which floor you’re on. That said, all have floor-to-ceiling windows, Asian-inspired décor, and deluxe bathroom amenities.
Gansevoort Meatpacking
5
The chic Gansevoort Meatpacking is something of a pioneer in the iconic district. It’s the first luxury, full-service resort in the historic and vibrant Meatpacking District, and sits right into the neighborhood. It sits amongst a sea of chic designer boutiques, restaurants, and cafes, and is one of the best places to stay in the area.
A sleek ground-floor lobby naturally extends into the open-plan lobby bar with expansive street-facing windows and elaborate lighting fixtures. The hub of the hotel is the rooftop bar and pool. In fact, it’s amongst the best hotel pools in New York City! After a swim in the long, heated pool, sipping on a sundowner with views of NYC is the perfect way to end the day. The restaurant is run by the masters of molecular gastronomy who serve up American specialties in interesting ways. Rooms at the hotel are equally amazing and overlook the Hudson River and the city. Decked out in gold, plum, and fuchsia, they’re all about space and sleekness. In fact, some rooms even have bay-windowed seating areas with excellent views, so ask for them when you’re booking rooms.
Adding to the luxury of Gansevoort is the Exhale Spa, which also makes it one of the best spa hotels in NYC. Complete with a fitness center, the place offers everything from waxing to treatments to exercise classes. Take a few hours off work or sightseeing and treat yourself to a massage or a facial at this swanky hotel.
The Peninsula New York
4
The Peninsula is another excellent spa hotel in NYC. Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the hotel is the ultimate in neo-classic elegance. In fact, it even lived a short life as the Gotham Hotel and then Hotel Maxim’s de Paris, the influence of which can be seen even today.
A traditional Beaux-Arts exterior holds within its folds a majestic two-story foyer with seasonal florals and a shimmering crystal chandelier. Slide up the magnificent dual staircases to the rest of the space, which is sprinkled with world-class contemporary art. On the other hand, the hotel is full of 21st-century creature comforts. Besides a swanky fitness center, you’ll find solace at the glass-enclosed swimming pool with daybeds. When it comes to food, you have the option of two restaurants and lounges. The crowning glory is the chic Salon de Ning rooftop bar, Midtown’s priciest mind you, with panoramic views. It’s no surprise that it ranks amongst the best hotels in Midtown, NYC.
After all’s said and done, the place you’ll probably love the most is the 21st-floor spa which is a much-needed respite from NYC’s harried pace. You can indulge in a leisurely 3-4-hour treatment. For instance, the Escape From the City package is a facial, holistic massage, and exfoliating body wrap rolled into one. If you’re dying to try Ayurvedic therapies, go for the Podi Signature Journey. It combats inflammation by applying warm-oil-dipped, dried-herb-filled muslin bags to the body. If you arrive an hour before your appointment, you can even unwind in the Asian tea lounge.
The Greenwich Hotel
3
You roam the world as you step into the chic Greenwich Hotel near the Hudson River in the heart of Tribeca. It channels a tropics-meet-Morocco vibe, with Oriental and European elements thrown into the mix – and somehow, it works. For instance, the lobby is akin to a Tribeca loft, but with Moorish tiles, lush foliage, and floral furnishings instead. The hotel offer tons of places to lounge, including the secluded garden courtyard and the carpeted drawing-room. Since the riverside bike path is a few steps away, the complimentary bicycles are quite a perk. Moreover, the Italian restaurant on-site is a terrific hit with locals and visitors, both.
What’s more, the Greenwich Hotel is also one of NYC’s best low-key spa hotels. The subterranean, cavernous, and cozy Shibui Spa is a warm, inviting space. Must-try treatments include the oil-free Japanese Shiatsu, which is performed on the traditional tatami-mat floor. Another excellent option is the Healing Birch massage which uses helichrysum, peppermint, shea, and birch oils to lessen dry skin and inflammation. End the indulgent session by dipping into the heated swimming pool.
It’s the rooms here that take you on a trip around the world. For instance, there are the Courtyard Rooms that are classically European, while the Studio suites are innately Scandi. Some have Italian-inspired decor, while others have Tibetan touches. In the end, all of them boast high-tech mod cons.
The Langham
2
The sky-high, Fifth Avenue glamazon that is the Langham Hotel ticks quite a few boxes when it comes to luxurious living. For one, its rooms are very expansive for a Midtown Manhattan location. Secondly, it boasts a seriously pampering spa that is one of the best hotel spas in New York City. Finally, the service is top-notch to the point of being personalized, which makes this hotel a top pick with long-term guests too.
The ground-floor lobby impresses from the outset with vibrant oil paintings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an imposing winding staircase. The Langham group’s signature ginger scent wafts through everywhere. This cool kid on the block keeps pace with other luxury Midtown hotels with Michelin-star restaurants and his-and-hers Julien Farel salons. The standout is, undoubtedly, the Chuan Body + Soul, whose treatments and decor is inspired by the five elemental forces of traditional Chinese medicine – wood, water, metal, fire, and earth. Personally, we’d recommend the Urban Detox that utilizes bamboo tools to relieve muscle tension. or, you could enjoy some “me” time in the Himalayan salt sauna. The presence of this decadent spa is what makes the Langham one of NYC’s best spa hotels.
Slate-grey accents, Italian wood panels, and oversized windows make the 214 loft-like rooms and suites here a favorite with visitors. In fact, even its bathrooms are bigger than some apartments in the city. They feel like an extension of its spa – in-mirror TVs, rain showers, and huge soaking tubs.
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
1
Even though it was launched in 2017, Hotel 1 Brooklyn Bridge quickly climbed up the ranks to become one of the best hotels in Brooklyn, NYC. It boasts phenomenal Brooklyn Bridge views, but that’s not all that’s distinctive about this hotel. It employs naturally-sourced furnishings and reclaimed materials to sport a unique eco-friendly, industrial-chic style. Everything is topped up with lots of indoor foliage.
Nature rules the roost at this hotel, which blends the inside and the outside and brims with natural materials. This includes everything from the distressed wood in the rooms to the lobby’s living wall. The decor is truly industrial-rustic-chic, with exposed pipes, large metal lamps, and potted plants/indoor trees. Its eco-friendliness is evident since it’s powered solely by wind power and uses everything from low-energy blubs to a rainwater harvesting system. What’s more, there’s even a five-minute sand timer in the showers to indicate water wastage. From its sea of facilities, the one that truly stands out is the rooftop pool with sweeping panoramas of Manhattan. That said, both the lobby and rooftop bars are very popular.
Moreover, its spa is one of the best hotel spas in New York City! The Bamford Haybarn Spa, which lies in the basement, focuses on holistic and sustainable living and features its organic skincare range. From personal treatments to facials and massages to meditation or yoga, anything is possible here. Finally, coming to the rooms, all the higher-category ones have mind-blowing views of the Brooklyn Bridge. Naturally sourced furnishings, high-tech mod-cons, and natural light make for an inviting and luxurious space.
Recommended Restaurants / Bars / Food Tours in New York City:
- Sabrett Hot Dogs: This is one place universally loved by all locals and is usually found in Central Park. Simply head to the iconic yellow-and-blue umbrellas and savor delicious hot dogs for less than $3.
- Brooklyn Food Tour: This walking food tour takes you on a delectable walk down NYC’s culinary history lane.
Recommended Activities In New York City:
- From Manhattan Full-Day Boroughs and Coney Island Bus Tour: Explore the beautiful, diverse neighborhoods of NYC on this full-day tour.
- New York City Sunset Boat Cruise to Statue of Liberty: There’s nothing like seeing the striking Statue of Liberty up close, and that too during sunset. Board this sunset boat tour that offers gorgeous views of the city’s skyline.
- Head on to Niagara Falls on the New York part while you’re here. Stay at one of the best hotels in Niagara Falls, New York.
