Hidden in the Four Seasons New York Downtown is a stylish spa guaranteed to offer serenity in the heart of one the city’s buzziest neighbourhoods. Next time you stop off in New York book into The Spa for a treatment that will leave you reaching for your slippers rather than your stilettos
Why the hype?
Manhattan’s Downtown district is now officially hip, an influx of tech and media cash pumping new life into staid Wall Street hangouts and seeding low-key, high-style bars and restaurants among the skyscrapers. The Four Seasons New York Downtown, fresh from its opening just over a year ago, offers the slick luxury of a major hotel brand in flawless local camouflage: grey toned, dimly-lit and dotted with moody artwork. When the dot.com darlings and visiting glitterati feel frazzled they stop into the hotel’s chic spa for a reboot.
What to have?
Night arrivals should slub straight in for a Sleep Serenity Massage. You’ll be tucked into warmed blankets and kneaded with long rhythmic strokes using firming body oil, interspersed with inhalations of neroli and rose scented Queen of Hungary Mist, both by Omorovicza. Then you’ll be popped back into your pre-warmed slippers and sent straight to bed. Who says this is the city that never sleeps?
Where to chill?
If anything will keep your eyes open it’s the pool within the spa, which has full-height windows for panoramic views of the cityscape (as well as plenty of loungers to doze on). Once you’ve sweated it out in the steam room and stocked up on goodies in the spa shop, saunter down to the lobby. CUT, the first New York restaurant by superstar chef Wolfgang Puck is a major draw: sit up at the dramatic scarlet and black lacquer bar for a Garden of Eden Cocktail with Skyy vodka, passion fruit and black tea, or delve into the steak restaurant itself for a filet mignon grilled over hardwood and charcoal.
Best by boat
The hotel, which overlooks the spectacular architecture of One World Trade Centre, is a bagel’s throw (or about 500 metres) from IGY North Cove Marina, which takes yachts up to 53 metres. Marina staff offer concierge services, and can help arrange customs and immigration formalities.