It may be one of the most expensive hotels in New York, but the feeling of calm amongst the city that never sleeps is priceless. So, is this the most exclusive spa in NYC?
With the spa only open to hotel guests and members of Aman’s ‘by invitation only’ club – a club membership will cost you $200,000, plus a further $15,000 a year – Citizen Femme’s Gemma Louise Deeks gets exclusive access, and shares what it was like to spend the day at Aman New York‘s temple of wellness in the heart of Manhattan.
Those familiar with Aman and the brand’s ethos will know that health and wellbeing lies at its core. Drawing its name from the Sanskrit word for ‘peace’, the luxury hospitality concept is apioneers in the global wellness industry, hitting the mark with its balanced approach and respect for both traditional healing practices and modern science.
The Vibe
Aman Spa New York is an urban sanctuary bringing 25,000 square feet of dedicated wellbeing to the Big Apple. Spread across three floors in the historic Crown Building, the 360 approach to wellness has reached new heights.
At the centre of the hotel, strategically placed to encapsulate you in a relaxation bubble with the utmost discretion, sits the spa, designed by Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston Architects with the same elegant minimalism and Japan-influenced aesthetic as the rest of the hotel. Natural materials are used throughout to create a grounding, calming atmosphere with the special Aman spa scent engulfing you as soon as you enter the reception. There’s a quiet hush, a far cry from outside Manhattan, so much so that even the staff have soothing voices. This hideaway invites you to unwind with the utmost privacy, in unparalleled luxury.
This sanctuary prides itself on offering not only the crème de la crème of treatments, but dedicated floors for each aspect of your wellness. There’s a floor for performance and recovery, a floor for stimulating wellbeing and a floor for optimisation and emotional wellness. You can experience a full body MOT under one roof.
The Treatments
After a seamless check-in experience, it was time to experience the Aman New York Signature treatment. My therapist, a native masseuse from Japan with clearly flawless knowledge, began with explaining the treatment and its benefits – her softly spoken words putting me into a mediative state before the treatment had even begun. The Signature treatment was designed to ensure a sense of stillness and harmony and is only available at Aman New York, as a way of rejuvenating from the multifaceted energy the city brings. The journey starts with the therapist giving you fluorite to hold, a crystal known for clearing negativity and boosting cellular regeneration, whilst singing bowls chime to induce a tranquil state of mind. The first part of the 120 minute treatment is a body scrub, followed by a therapeutic massage that stimulates pressure points to aid rebalancing and alignment, as the soft, fleecy blankets fused with the scent of the oil likely putting you into a deep sleep coma.
The rest of the treatment menu is extensive, comprising of massage therapies, holistic facials and several further advanced aesthetic technologies employing lasers, infrared light, and electromagnetic waves for non-invasive face and body regeneration. These include Morpheus8, Microneedling, Hydrafacial, Lumecca intense pulsed light photo facial, and Forma radiofrequency facial, so beauty buffs will certainly get their fix.
The Facilities
The 65-foot heated swimming pool is a vision of beauty, lined with private day beds each with their own fireplace – understated luxury as can be expected of an Aman. Recline here pre-or-post massage and look out onto views of the Manhattan skyline. The Spa Houses (available for half or full day private hire) are your own secluded temple of wellness to book for a personalised journey. They have either a Hammam – a marble steam room – or a spacious Banya – a wooden-clad sauna – and offer a double treatment room, a spacious living area with a fireplace and a large private outdoor terrace with a hot bath and cold-plunge pool covered by a canopy for year-round use.
The Fitness centre dictates 280 square metres overlooking 56th Street with elite Technogym training equipment and personal trainers available to support each guest. There’s high performance equipment including specialised infrared fitness and lymphatic drainage equipment; a VacuTherm Stepper, VacuTherm Treadmill, and Infrared Body Roll providing the ultimate post-workout recovery protocol. Plus a dedicated Yoga and Pilates Studio with reformer pilates machines that’s unlike anything you’re used to back home.
Beyond lies Functional and Integrative Medicine examination and therapy rooms, where Dr. Robert Graham, a Harvard-trained physician and medical chief, and other practitioners offer their services and assist in formulating Aman Spa New York’s bespoke Tei-An (meaning ‘proposal’ in Japanese) Wellness Solutions and Urban Wellness Immersion Programs.
The Little Extras
It’s likely you will fall in love with the Aman range during your visit, and their collection of goods including skincare, fragrances and ready-to-wear, are available to buy from the spa boutique. Take home a slice of your Aman New York experience with the Alta Fine Fragrance, which evokes the rich architectural history of New York and the imposing drama of its cityscape. Their range of sophisticated scents are inspired by each of their unique destinations and created to echo their distinct characteristics. The Nourishing Body Oil, which was used during my treatment and had notes of Jasmine, was too good to leave on the shelf.
Read about Amanjena, Marrakech here and Amanpuri, Thailand here.
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