Unwind in New York City

Recharge

THE SPAS, RESPITES & ESCAPES

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Book Your Tea Time

700 5th Avenue  | (212) 903-3049

In a city that still readily and abundantly practices the art of the afternoon tea service, The Gotham Lounge and its pastry wizard Deden Putra set a new bar. A tiered tower of treats (Putra always includes complementary fruit flavors and a chocolate something), fresh spreads and of course, tasty teas, both honor the traditional tenets of the ritual and let it be a momentary, modern departure. If you’re lucky enough to sit in Conrado’s section, know he’ll never steer you wrong (we certainly didn’t regret springing for the champagne upgrade). Then, simply sip slowly to the sounds of Sinatra as the world outside rushes on by.

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Find Your Inner Zen

80 Columbus Circle  | (212) 805-8800

A modern oasis overlooking both Columbus Circle and Central Park, the best spa in Manhattan embraces the yin and the yang of modern city life. Building on the hotel’s intention to make you feel ‘at home when away’, the spa focuses on creating a complete experience that transcends your treatment. Their unparalleled vantage high above the treetop canopy shepherds through a rare and perfect stillness, perhaps made all the more sublime in the city that never slows down.

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Deck Out

The Highline  | (212) 206-9922

There are public spaces that simply surprise and delight visitors – The Luxembourg Gardens, Piazza della Signoria, Golden Gate Park – and the imaginative High Line has certainly joined their ranks. Simply traversing the mile-and-a-half walkway is a delight in itself, but the Diller-von Furstenberg Sundeck is its crowning aerie, a sleek triumph of creative city planning. So claim one of the modern teak lounge chairs (with post-Chelsea Market sustenance and a good book in tow) and enjoy your seat in the sky.

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Give It A Rest

421 E. 73rd Street #2 | (212) 249-9144

Whether you visit Jin Soon’s East Village, West Village or UES location (our personal favorite), the game is the same: clean, meticulous treatments in uncluttered, tranquil digs. Nail care isn’t always the most relaxing activity but at these quiet hand and nail spas, you benefit from the celebrity manicurist’s wealth of experience and her zen-luxe aesthetic. The Breath of Milk and Honey treatment is like being handled with care – a rich and pampering reprieve for tired toes.

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Charging the Battery

Battery Park | (212) 344-3491

Another uniquely ‘New York’ treasure, The Battery is our favorite excuse to go downtown. See what’s in season at the Urban Farm, contemplate the quiet at The Labyrinth or simply soak up the Hudson River views from the Waterfront promenade. The combination of sky-high structures against the green space on Manhattan’s very edge is enough to give you a faraway kind of feeling.

Bosque Spring 2008

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Looking for more New York City stories? See the full Gather collection.

© Recharge: Gather’s Guide to New York Spas.