ORA: Acupuncture Plus

Sleep disorders, stress, chronic pain, allergies, migraines ... ORA founder Kimberly Ross believes any of these ailments – and many more – can be treated with acupuncture. This ancient Chinese practice is given the velvet-glove treatment at her NoHo sanctuary. After an extensive questionnaire reviewing the patient’s medical history and objectives (two or three will be addressed in the treatment), the acupuncturist begins by inserting needles into key points on the body to balance the energy, traditionally known as qi. To amplify its effects, the ORA method includes red-light therapy and a meditation programme to encourage relaxation and the transition into a parasympathetic state. This powerful combination helps balance the nervous system and promotes deep healing.

The Dominick: The Power of Sound

When on the scenic 46th floor of The Dominick hotel, in the heart of SoHo, you’ll generally want to keep your eyes wide open to take in the panoramic views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline. But every Wednesday at 8am, it’s time to look inside yourself under the capable instruction of sound therapist Lucia Luminate, who uses Tibetan singing bowls to help participants transform limiting beliefs to reach a state of mental clarity, surrounded by the sky and skyscrapers. Free for hotel guests and $34 for visitors, the 45-minute session is often held poolside in the summer.

Biograph: Fountain of Youth

A hot-button societal obsession plagued by contradictions, longevity is without a doubt the wellness buzzword of 2025. In a recent report, even the UN announced that a “longevity revolution” is underway, predicting an eightfold increase in the number of centenarians by 2050. But with so many clinics and spas claiming to know the secret to a longer, healthier life, it’s hard to know where to begin. Cofounded by the New York Times best-selling author of Outlive, Dr Peter Attia, Biograph is arguably one of the world’s most advanced diagnostic and preventive health clinics. An initial appointment here includes six hours of advanced testing focused on the “four horsemen” of medicine: cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic dysfunction. The workup also includes an MRI to assess risks of cancer, multiple sclerosis and liver disease, a coronary CT angiogram to evaluate heart health, and a sleep apnoea test, among others. Members then receive ongoing support on all things nutrition and fitness, plus quarterly checkups. You don’t have to be a billionaire to biohack your chances of a longer life, but this is about as close as it gets.

Remedy Place: Smart Massage

Want a glimpse into the future? Head for Remedy Place, the SoHo “social wellness club” created by Dr Jonathan Leary (there’s also a branch in the Flatiron District). Everything from the walls to the decor here is clad in calming shades of grey. Not a treadmill or weight machine in sight – but you will see plenty of cutting-edge fittings, including cryotherapy chambers, hyperbaric oxygen tanks, lymphatic compression gear, ice baths and vitamin-injection rooms. But these days, it’s the new artificial intelligence-assisted massage that’s getting the most buzz. Clad in a special uniform, clients climb into a robotic bed with two arms that scan the body to create a customised massage programme. An hour of compression therapy targets sore muscles and knots in the shoulders and back. An integrated screen allows you to adjust the pressure, skip a move, or spend more time on a particular problem area. Nothing will ever really beat the human touch, but this tech runs a close second. 

Shibui Spa: Japanese Touch

The idea of a “basement spa” doesn’t exactly scream “luxury!” to clued-in New Yorkers, but The Greenwich Hotel’s wellness centre may give even the most trend-jaded Manhattanite a run for their money. No clichés here – this is whisper-quiet luxury inspired by Japanese onsens. In fact, the word shibui implies refined beauty free of gaudy opulence, rooted in the elements (wood, water, stone). It’s precisely this understated aura that draws a steady stream of wellness gurus (including Gwyneth Paltrow), many of whom come for the widely renowned Omakase bodywork ritual designed to release stress and lift energy blockages through a variety of techniques (hot stones, cupping, poultices, dry-brushing) paired with long, sensual movements and firm pressure. A dazzling treat for the body – one best topped off with a swim in the lantern-lit pool, which rests under the roof of a 250-year-old barn imported from Japan.

Continuum: Privacy First

Not a week goes by without a new private club opening in Manhattan. Set in the Federal Archive Building in the West Village, Continuum staked its claim from day one as “the most expensive gym in New York”. The promise? A personalised prescription for wellness based on a battery of tests – including body-composition and bone-density scans, sleep analyses and bloodwork – all powered by AI software. Members receive a custom plan for training, recovery and nutrition to help them meet their goals. Continuum provides everything you need to keep on track: a fully equipped gym, sauna, cold plunge, physical therapy, red-light treatments, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, float tanks and much more. This is the ne plus ultra of discreet luxury, reserved for just 250 select members.

Happier Grocery: Natural Selection

Dubbed “the New York Erewhon”, this Canal Street gem draws apt comparisons to LA’s cult-favourite market. Indeed, both emporia boast fresh organic produce, a hot-food counter, nutritious snacks, health-forward drinks, hard-to-find brands and a curated selection of fashion magazines and coffee-table books. But Happier Grocery goes the extra mile. The vision of founder Gabriella Khalil (also the force behind Palm Heights, the iconic Cayman Islands hotel), the cachet of top-shelf products peddled is chosen with an eye towards minimising waste (no plastic water bottles here), including items from the savvily packaged (and aesthetically pleasing) store brand. Make sure to pick up a jar of the jalapeño-almond butter, or its cashew-honey-sriracha cousin.

Spencer’s: Intimate Facial Spa

It’s hard to imagine a place like Spencer's exists among the hustle and bustle along Broadway, but it does, on the fourth floor of a SoHo building. Expect none of the usual spa conventions at this spacious salon: settle into a comfy chair – taking in the sculptures, trinkets and old books – before a therapist leads you to a back room, where you’re invited to swap your shoes for slippers that are neither flimsy nor disposable. Hidden behind white linen curtains, the treatment rooms line up one after another. Opt for invigorating body massages (deep tissue, hot stones, gua sha) or one of its cutting-edge facials, which include deep cleansing and micro-currents to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. An unbeatable bang for your buck in Manhattan.

Off the Island

Three more special mentions, just across the East River.

QC Spa New York: Island Vibes

Back in the 1500s, a tiny island just south of Manhattan was a prime spot for fishing and foraging for the Lenape people. Known then as Paggank – or “nut island” for its abundance of nut-bearing trees – Governors Island remains a haven of tranquillity, reached via a 10-minute ferry ride from Battery Park. Visitors come for art exhibitions at the LMCC Art Center, luxury glamping with Collective Retreats and, most temptingly, to swim in the city’s arguably most spectacular pool at QC Spa New York, a former military barracks-turned-wellness sanctuary. After check-in, guests slip into the spa’s slightly formal robes before meandering their way through a series of saunas, sensory showers, bathing traditions from around the world, and relaxation rooms – each space offering specific benefits and thoughtful touches (a body scrub here, a facial treatment there …). But the true showstopper lies outside, in the grand outdoor pools, especially at sunset when the Manhattan skyline is bathed in golden light. A finale worthy of royalty. 

Hear & There: Omakase Healthy

Two spaces and two different vibes comprise the new Williamsburg gem Hear & There. In one, there’s a lowlit cocktail bar for high-concept elixirs like Green Noise (Cardenxe Sotol de Desierto, green apple, matcha, calamansi) or High Frequency (pisco, shiso, lemon, snap pea), paired with otsumami, small Japanese plates. On the other side, you’ll find a 22-seat omakase counter. Across a slab of deep green quartzite, a feast of nigiri unfolds – though, surprisingly, the star isn’t the fish … it’s the rice. Having previously struggled with blood-sugar issues, the sushi master opts for haiga-mai, a semi-polished grain that strikes a unique balance between the delicate texture of white rice and the nutritional benefits of brown rice. To it, he adds Celtic (a salt rich in trace minerals), activated charcoal, and maple syrup in lieu of refined sugar. The updated take on Japanese gastronomy is also reflected in the soundtrack – a pleasing mix of Japanese pop, funk, soul and house music blend together as the night progresses – and deeply textured interiors inspired by designer Danny Taylor’s many sojourns in Paris.

 

Padel Haus: Game, Set, Match

Forget tennis, squash or even pickleball – these days, New York is all about padel. Born in Mexico in the late 1960s, this racket sport – playable both indoors and outdoors – is winning over more and more urban athletes. Just look at the success of Padel Haus in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighbourhood, where four turf-covered courts are perennially booked for groups of friends and private instruction. Everything here is designed to foster a sense of community, with themed evenings and cold-plunge sessions on the outdoor terrace. The brand has already expanded to Williamsburg and Greenpoint, but summer is the perfect time to book a session at Domino Park. The only challenge? Not getting distracted by the breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline.