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Aman New York Spa — Spa Review

Why go? Open the dictionary, look up the entry for 'urban sanctuary,' and you'll find the Aman New York Spa right next to it. This sumptuous space is a pocket of very necessary respite in the concrete jungle of Manhattan, and a perfect daycation for locals. Set the scene Perched nine floors above the fray at 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, overlooking the tourists looking for St. Patrick's Cathedral and snapping selfies with the Louis Vuitton flagship, the Aman New York Spa is almost literally on another plane of existence. I ducked into the Aman's entrance on 57th Street on a gloomy Saturday morning, gave my name to the front desk, and was whisked away to a piece of paradise quietly hidden in the Crown Building's upper levels. The vibe, in sum: A wealth that whispers without aspirated H's. A few elevator transfers later (some reserved for the Aman residences, others for the hotel and spa-gym-pool) and I arrived at the spa's reception area, which flows into the boutique, boasting bags and cashmere throws that would give Hermès a run for its money. In turn, the shop flows into the lounge area where clients are welcomed with a cold towel and a cup of tea, where I filled out my medical intake form on an iPad. The whole place gave off a feeling of meticulous wellness. At this spa, one is—or aspires to become—the most elegant, streamlined, no-breath-is-wasted version of themself. The backstory The Aman New York Spa is part of, naturally, the Aman New York, the legendary hotelier's second city hotel—after the Tokyo outpost—and the first urban property in the United States. (It's also the launch site for the new, members-only Aman Club, as well as the brand's first batch of urban residences.) Aman's understated, heavily Japanese-influenced minimalism shapes the spa's look: clean design, natural materials like wood and stone, soft lighting everywhere—not a harsh overhead fluorescent to be found. The wellness concept This being an Aman, the spa's wellness offering is a fusion of Eastern and Western modalities: You can opt for a quick lift with an IV treatment, or adhere to more traditional forms of healing, like acupuncture. There are also a number of medical experts on hand, including the Harvard-trained physician Dr. Robert Graham, to assess guests' needs and create short- or long-term programs for them. More recently, the Aman Spa (that is, the spas at various Aman hotels all over the world) has been rolling out wellness programs inspired by its Global Wellness Ambassadors, the tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova. For example, the just-unveiled three-day Detoxification Programme, curated by Djokovic, includes the Signature Aman treatment (a two-hour scrub-massage), a physical activity tailored to the client, and a treatment inspired by the Aman locations, e.g. at Amanbagh in India, an Ayurvedic therapy experience rooted in the heritage of Rajasthan. The standout treatment Rather than a standout treatment, the Aman New York Spa has a standout offering: the two Spa Houses—one centered around a marble-clad hammam; the other, an Eastern European banya (wooden sauna)—where you can spend the day rotating between various therapies in the adjoining double treatment room, followed by dips in hot and cold outdoor plunge pools on your very own private terrace. During my visit, I had the hammam Spa House to myself. I was struck by how well-appointed the space was: On top of the hammam, the treatment room, and outdoor terrace with plunge pools and sitting areas, there was a full bathroom with shower, a dressing area with a closet, and a queen-sized bed. (The TV, in my opinion, is unnecessary. No screens in the spa!) The whole thing was essentially a bonus hotel room of sorts that makes it an incredible option for a staycation—or daycation, as it were—perfect for couples or friend groups. It'd make for the classiest bachelor/ette party ever. The therapists I had a bespoke facial treatment, tailored for me by a thoughtful therapist named Joanna. She examined my face and talked me through her recommendations and the steps of the facial: hydration, extractions, cleansing, and exfoliations. The 60 minutes may have gone in that order or otherwise; I can't remember because I was lulled into utter relaxation, especially by the light neck and shoulder massage that came with the facial. Additionally, two spa attendants named Eddie and Rishma were wonderful. The former took care of me during my very first cryotherapy treatment (three minutes in a sub-zero chamber where—clad only in shorts, mittens, gloves, and socks—I danced to Lady Gaga's 'Abracadabra,' blasting through Bose headphones), and the latter showed me around the Spa House. The service was, as to be expected, Aman-worthy: attentive, well-informed, easeful expertise. Additional offerings The indoor pool is one of the best in Manhattan: 65-feet long and surrounded by fireplaces and poolside chaises. The fitness center is filled with light and latest-generation TechnoGym machines, plus an array of massage guns, infrared body rolls, and a hydrogenated water station for recovery. As far as aesthetic revitalization goes, a John Barrett Salon (a luxury mainstay in New York) is part of the wellness area and offers hairstyling, cut and color treatments, and nail services. On a Saturday morning in New York, no one was around in any of the spaces but me and a few others, presumably guests of the hotel. Membership to the Aman Club earns you access to the facilities, and given the exclusivity, that annual fee may well be worth it. The space The spa's aesthetic vibe is Aman all the way down, giving off a moody peacefulness—Japanese minimalism at its finest with a dash of New York quiet-luxury thrown in. The spa's reception, boutique, and lounge areas are museum-like, carefully curated yet inviting, thanks to the warm textures of the carpets, throws, and upholstered furniture. The locker rooms are large, with always-available attendants and well stocked vanities: Marvis toothpaste and Dyson hair dryers. If you don't book the Spa House, the shared dry sauna and steam rooms are accessible via the changing areas. Given that this is a hotel spa, it's directly accessible from the guest rooms; they share an elevator bank and you can easily make a beeline for your room or your treatment in just a bathrobe. The treatment rooms are plush and not at all clinical, almost residential in feel; it's as if you have a massage therapist over in your own home—where you have a spa wing, naturally. Accessibility Navigating the spa's three levels is a step-free breeze, thanks to the elevators. (Though you are of course welcome to take the stairs for some extra cardio.)