Peninsula New York

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

A first-rate spa with a view, a pool and a posh address to boot.. Twenty-one floors up from the suit-populated, crystal chandelier-topped lobby of the swanky Peninsula Hotel (home of the pricey Pen-Top martini), lies this sophisticated, labyrinthine spa adored by the fabulous set for its superior service, inviting swimming pool with 5th Avenue views, workout facilities, open-air patio, sauna, and steam and wet rooms. Select an oversized cherry-wood locker, slip into a thick terry robe and waffle slippers and follow the never-ending corridor to the treatment rooms stocked with shelves of Babor, Peter Thomas Roth and coveted Epicuren products used and sold in the spa. Customization is key (facials can involve as many as 12 steps), and personalized services are often "invented" to meet clients' unique needs; thus, specialty treatments like bikini facials, lip moisturizers, crocodile feet rehab and even dry elbow rescues have been added to the thoroughly researched roster. A vast array of massages (including pre- and post-natal) are also available.

Recommends

wenxian

Joined 10 years ago

Comfortable environment. This spa doesn't have a highly relaxing decor / strong new age environment. However, it's a great place if you want to take a professional work client or your husband/boyfriend who thinks most spas or fluffy. I like the product line they use for the facials - epicuren, june jacobs, PTR. Services are probably more expensive than most spas in the city.

Doesn't Recommend

udoraodon

Joined 9 years ago

Bad Experience. I had a gift massage. I walked in and saw stodgy decor that was NOT relaxing, and merely screamed "Old money.. VERY old money". With bad need of an update, was it EVER considered spa-quality?

They botched my appointment; Waiting 45 minutes for another therapist, I visited the person in charge of collecting "members", who had all the charm of a used-car salesman (albeit a luxury used-car salesman), several old women passed by and would practically shriek in delight as he told each that they were "simply gorgeous." Sincere? I guess you can buy sincerity.

Tensed up from the mistakes and covering-up, I truly needed a massage. The one I got was average.. felt rushed (was I squeezed into someone's schedule unexpectedly?).

The best part about this spa were the locker-room attendents: genuine and helpful, mismatched to the rest of the experience.

Cornelia apparently does not work there anymore.