Set the Scene
Let’s get three things clear before I even start: anything that Argentine hospitality entrepreneur Alan Faena puts his name to has a decidedly South American touch. Luxurious it is; understated, it’s not. That brings me to his new spa, Tierra Santa Healing House, at his eponymous hotel in West Chelsea.
Spanning 17,000 square feet, it’s a bomb of color and all visual drama with its 12-foot ceilings, botanical wallpaper and surreal mural by the renowned Argentine artist Juan Gatti, and bright South American textiles throughout. In true Faena style, the spa is ethereal and dreamlike. Flamboyant, like Faena himself, Tierra Santa Healing House is arguably the city’s most extravagant spa.
The spa is anchored by a thermal sanctuary featuring five pools: two warm, one hot, one salt, and one cold. This quintet is surrounded by luxurious loungers where you’ll want to settle in. The sanctuary also has dry and infrared saunas, a steam room, and a hammam, where guests are invited to try a centuries-old bathing ritual designed to detoxify the body and promote relaxation.
After your treatment, the relaxation lounge is every bit as dramatic as the entryway, though on a more intimate scale, with snacks and Faena's signature tea inviting you to linger.
The Treatment
The treatments here are rooted in centuries-old South American healing traditions, but that doesn’t mean high-tech isn't part of the picture. Expect everything from body scrubs with herbs and therapeutic massages to LED light therapy, high-tech body sculpting services, and facials using some of today's most sought-after skincare lines, including Augustinus Bader, Valmont, 111SKIN, and more.
I booked the 90-minute Therapeutic Recovery Massage, which uses organic CBD oil infused with clove and cinnamon. The treatment lived up to its name. My therapist combined stretching, trigger-point therapy, and deep tissue techniques to create an experience that left me both revived and relaxed. The benefits extended well beyond the treatment room. In the days that followed, even my digestion improved.
Fast Facts
Location: Manhattan's West Chelsea neighborhood
Atmosphere: Warm, restorative, and dramatic
Price Point: $$$$
Our Favorite Thing About the Spa: The lush, garden-inspired design and thermal sanctuary with five pools.
Recommended Treatment: The 90-minute Therapeutic Recovery Massage
New York City, New York, United States
