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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
“Basement spa” doesn’t exactly conjure up visions of grandeur and sumptuousness, but Shibui Spa at the Greenwich Hotel is subterranean in the sense that diamond mines or truffle deposits are subterranean. Heaven is in the stratosphere, but paradise is in Tribeca, New York, where Shibui is an oasis modeled on the Japanese onsen. Its treatment rooms are pin-drop quiet, the enormous indoor pool is heated, and the entire scene is framed under a bamboo crosshatch roof that Japanese craftsmen imported and reassembled in a painstaking homage to ancient bathing ceremonies. Even the heated towels are soaked in hot sake.
Other spas boast aerial views or shout about amenities; Shibui whispers, and the result is the world’s most opulent ASMR experience.
What’s the vibe?
So tranquil your heart rate drops the second the elevator doors open. Before “quiet luxury” referred to a set of logo-less labels, it was talking about the actual sonic experience at Shibui. The decibel level is in the single digits, and the mood is elegant, restrained, and relaxed. The front desk staff greet you in silk robes and hushed voices. The masseuses are all business in black uniforms. Treatment rooms are low-lit and outfitted in more bamboo and black stone; some include oversized tubs to accommodate the onsen rituals that pair custom soaks with elaborate massages. Chronically cold people, rejoice: The temperature is kept at what I can only describe as a womb-like degree. Even the toilet seats are heated.
The history?
The Greenwich Hotel opened in 2008, but it feels like a decades-older New York classic with none of the old-school fustiness. Robert De Niro is a part owner, which explains both the fact that his father’s paintings grace several walls and that he can often be spotted taking meetings or reading the paper in the lobby.
What should you try?
For first-timers, the Healing Birch and Drunken Lotus massages are can’t-go-wrong classics. The former is an invigorating deep-tissue massage. The latter makes use of those sake-soaked hot towels to ease weary muscles. The people who work at Shibui take guest preferences seriously, so speak up. You’ll find they’re all happy to customize even set-menu treatments to your wishes.
But experienced spa-goers or those who deserve a particular treat should trust the process and spring for an onsen ritual. I opted for the Shinrin-Yoku, which started with a “clearing soak” in salt- and oil-infused waters. The bath temperature was adjustable, but I like to sit closer to the scalding side of hot and was glad to see Shibui doesn’t skimp on steam. To counteract the heat, a small beverage station was set up tubside, and I sampled a delicious citrus-accented sparkling water while I bobbed.
After 15 minutes, I stepped out, toweled off, and clambered onto a heated bed for a 90-minute massage. The application of a warm mud mask to my hands and feet was only bittersweet because I knew it meant the treatment was almost over. (I saw Cynde, who—fair warning—will ruin you for all other masseuses.)
How environmentally friendly is it?
Disposable plastic is kept to a minimum, right down to the single-use bamboo combs at the styling station in the changing rooms. Products are plant-based and organic whenever possible.
What else do we need to know?
Most of the beautiful things you encounter in an afternoon at Shibui are for sale, including the addictive perfumed incense and its signature kimono-like printed robes. The soaking tub can’t come home with you, but at least a few trappings of place can.
And no matter what treatment you get, an appointment entitles you to a full day of pool access. Bring your swimsuit and a book and clear your calendar. As my masseuse told me when I scrambled to follow her from the pool deck, “There’s no need to rush.”
Who can go?
The spa is open to hotel guests and visitors alike.
Booking details for Shibui Spa at The Greenwich Hotel
Address: 377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013, United States
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.