Set the Scene
It’s hard to believe you’re actually in New York when you walk into the Guerlain Spa occupying the fifth floor of the just-renovated Waldorf Astoria New York. The newcomer to New York’s spa and wellness scene may be the grande dame of them all: the 22,000 square-foot showstopper is the world’s largest Guerlain Spa and undoubtedly impressive in ways that go on.
Before even diving into the amenities, the design, which draws on Guerlain’s Parisian roots and combines them with Waldorf’s Art Deco heritage, is worth more than a pause. Soft whites meet warm woods, sculptural accents play against sleek lines, and custom lighting adds a golden glow. The result is pure sophistication, elegant without being ostentatious.
As for the amenities, this spa is stacked. Highlights include a Cryotherapy Chamber, an infrared sauna, a steam room, a Moroccan hammam, and an Arctic snow cave built for cold-therapy immersion. Between treatments, guests can unwind in one of three lounges stocked with healthy bites and refreshing drinks, or if the mood strikes, champagne.
Now, let’s talk about the extensive lineup of treatments, where a visit here gets even better. You can come for an hour-long facial or massage, or opt for a three-day retreat. Better yet, go all in with a multi-month wellness program that tackles sleep, nutrition, and movement. Top line callout, go to some of the innovative services, like the one-hour Sleep, an insomnia-busting combination of aromatherapy, breathwork, and frequency waves.
And pre- and post-treatment, you can, and should, make a day of it. Circulate between the sauna, steam room, snow cave, and lounges. Read a book in between, take a nap, or simply do nothing and soak in the atmosphere.
Inside the Deep Tissue Massage and Facial
Deep tissue massages are my spa go-to, and my 90-minute rubdown delivered. My therapist worked out perpetual knots and tension–thank you, weightlifting and too many hours hunched over a laptop–with just the right amount of pressure. Her hands were firm but not overly aggressive, a hallmark of a great masseuse. I left feeling loose and light, and best of all, I didn’t have any of that post-massage soreness from a rubdown that’s simply too much.
But I was in a Guerlain spa, after all–a French brand legendary for its skincare–so I would be remiss if I skipped a facial. My skin leans sensitive, so I usually steer clear of spa facials for fear of redness or irritation. The spa director recommended the 90-minute Royal Honey Repair & Renew, featuring products made with the namesake ingredient, which she assured me was gentle yet effective. I cocooned myself underneath a thick blanket on a heated bed, and as my therapist layered serums, creams, and masks in slow, rhythmic strokes, I nodded off. I woke to a radiance that stayed for days.
Fact Facts:
Location: Midtown Manhattan East
Atmosphere: French chic meets Art Deco glamour.
Price Point: $$$$
Amenities: A cryotherapy chamber. Infrared sauna, steam room, Moroccan hammam, arctic snow cave, and three lounges.
Least Expensive Treatment: $189 for a 60-minute Tailor-Made Facial or Imperial Massage.
Priciest Treatment: The two-hour Black Orchid Facial is $600; wellness programs start at $4,800 a person.
Our Favorite Thing About the Spa: It’s hard to single out a standout- the setting, amenities, and treatments are all “wows.”
Recommended Treatment: A Tailor-Made facial. Your aesthetician studies your skin under a bright magnifying light and customizes a treatment to what you need most.
