Manhattan's Best Hotel Spas

Spa by day and bar by night, the G Spa has a hair salon, 24 hour gym, three hydro soaking pools, and a steam room. They also offer the usual massage, soaks, wraps and … facial services in their three treatment rooms. See our earlier rreview. [link]

Open only to guests and members at Soho House, the Cowshed Spa offers a whole menu of advanced treatments, wraps, facials, manicures, and massages. They also have … eucalyptus steam rooms and offer a killer body treatment (the "Cowgroom") which includes a foot soak and exfoliation, forehead pressure point massage, shoulder massage, facial, eyebrow grooming, mani and pedi, and light makeup application for $300. [link]

Famed Swiss brand La Prairie's only stateside spa offers the ultimate treatments for premium prices. Special treatments here include jet-lag therapy, caviar intensive eye … treatments, and cellular hydrating facials. They also offer the perfect New York City service called the "Changing Room." For $310, guests take a steam and a shower, get an hourlong facial, manicure, pedicure, and makeup application while their clothes are steamed in the next room. It's great for women who have to go straight from work to an event. [link]

Of course the Four Seasons, one of Manhattan's most luxurious hotels, has one of the best (and most expensive) spas in the city. It's a fraction of the size of the … Peninsula's spa, but the aestheticians perform more than the usual facial or massage. For example, they offer "acupressure with walking bar" which involves your therapist basically walking on you while they support themselves on ceiling bars. There's also a special emphasis on aromatherapy, shiatsu, hot stone massage, and soaks and wraps with natural products like milk, roses, and avocados. [link]

Taking up 14,500 square feet of the Mandarin Oriental's 35th floor, the hotel's spa has a stone jacuzzi, gorgeous eucalyptus-scented amethyst steam rooms, "vitality … pools," and a new Thai Yoga massage room. The bamboo and gold leaf accents and the tea room and healthy menu round out the whole experience. And if you're really serious about having a spa weekend, rent out the VIP spa suite, which comes with incredible views, an elevated bath, dual massage tables, and a fireplace. [link]

I had a lovely and affordable massage at this Midtown spa inside the Affinia Hotel. They have all the usual services -- facials, massage, beauty treatments -- at … relatively low prices. Every guest gets a locker, robe, and slippers, and the waiting area is appropriately candlelit and relaxing. The adjacent gym looks pretty high tech and is free to all hotel guests. [link]

The top pick for city views, The Peninsula Hotel's spa takes up three of the building's top floors and encompasses 35,000 square feet. The highlight here is the … glass-enclosed pool (complete with healthful poolside lunch) which offers incredible skyline views. The spa also has large locker rooms, separate steam rooms for men and women, and 14 private treatment rooms for deep tissue massages, papaya body scrubs, and lemongrass lavender foot treatments. [link]