The 11 Best Places to Practice Self-Care in NYC Right Now

Self-care’s been a buzzy term for a while now, but these days, it’s having a full-blown renaissance in New York City, with new shops, spas and services popping up every day. From walk-in acupuncture sessions to manicures and meditation (yes, simultaneously), we have rounded up the best places to take some time for yourself.

Chillhouse is all about “modern self-care” and focuses on finding a moment to unwind in our perpetually plugged-in world. There are two new NYC locations: an upgrade of their original outpost on the Lower East Side, which focuses on face and body treatments, and the large flagship location in Soho, which offers body, face and nail treatments. We recommend extending your chill sesh while sipping on a matcha latte at the cafe bar.

Multiple locations; chillhouse.com

Heyday is a perfect spot to experience custom skin treatments without paying the price of a fancy spa. With each 30-, 50- or 75-minute session, you’ll get to personalize your experience with the help of a licensed aesthetician who will guide you based on your specific skincare goals and concerns. Check out one of the many locations around the city and make sure to book an appointment online before you arrive.

Tip: Leave extra time after your treatment to shop their inventory of natural skincare brands, and take advantage of the chance to ask your skin therapist for recommendations.

Multiple locations; heydayskincare.com

Stepping onto the scene as the ultimate multitasker of self-care, WTHN offers acupuncture, cupping and herbal remedies to tackle all your personal wellness needs from the inside out. The brand also offers unique mashups of ancient and modern treatments, like “WTHN Face Time,” which couples facial acupuncture with LED light therapy to help your skin glow. WTHN is also the first acupuncture brand to offer a monthly membership; maybe self-care can be more than a one-time thing this year.

20 W 22nd St.; wthn.com

Sundays is a nail and wellness studio combining nontoxic products and mindfulness services as the perfect package of self-care. The brand’s partnered with a meditation teacher to record meditations that you can listen to while receiving a manicure at one of their three Manhattan locations. There’s also a tea bar that’s complimentary with each service, and to take the self-care experience one step further, Sundays offers a love letter–writing station; guests can write themselves a little love note that Sundays will send them a month later.

Multiple locations; dearsundays.com

This modern health and wellness outpost in Clinton Hill is on a mission to bring holistic healing services to a diverse community. With a focus on inclusivity, the public cafe and studio flow together to create a gathering space that’s welcoming and energizing. Daily classes are available in yoga and meditation, along with workshops on a variety of interesting topics like astrocartography or manifestation. Monthly membership is available if you decide to become a regular, but drop-ins are always welcome.

1082 Fulton St., Brooklyn; healhaus.com

Feel the need to completely unplug? Infinity Float promises an hour of complete relaxation, silence and ... flotation. The float tanks are spacious (NBA and NFL players are regulars) and offer subtle music and low lighting inside. Once you are ready, relax into the warm solution of Epsom salt (don’t worry, it’s only 10 inches deep) and close the tank to remove stimuli like light and sound—and the feeling of gravity—so you can completely let go of the outside world.

224 Fifth Ave., 3rd floor; infinityfloatnyc.com

Meditation can be a critical component for reflection, but sometimes we don’t know where to start. That’s where MNDFL comes in. The drop-in studio caters to beginners and experts alike, offering guided classes in 30-, 45- and 60-minute increments. Reserve your “cushion” online and practice meditation with classes that cater to different techniques.

Multiple locations; mndflmeditation.com

When in doubt, sweat it out. Or at least that’s what Shape House tells us. This “urban sweat lodge” offers a place to lie down, bundle up and heat up using FAR infrared, a radiant form of natural energy that hikes up your core temperature. Sweating for an hour burns calories and helps relieve stress, the company says, and while you sweat, you can watch Netflix or listen to your favorite music. Whatever you do, just make sure to drink a ton of water before and after your sweat sesh, so you don’t get dehydrated.

Multiple locations; shapehouse.com

Looking to rejuvenate yourself from head to toe? This celeb favorite is a one-stop shop for a luxe self-care experience. Stop by the nail salon to try the BioSeaweed Gel treatment (the nontoxic version of gel nails), or if you prefer a little lift, we suggest receiving their trademarked Bio-Lift Facial, which uses noninvasive electric microcurrents to lift, sculpt and firm instantly.

29 E 19th St.; rescuespa.com

Sojo Spa is a unique Korean mega-spa boasting the perfect view of the NYC skyline. Located right across the Hudson in Edgewater, New Jersey (there are free shuttles that run from Koreatown directly to the spa, no car needed), a day pass allows you to pamper yourself for hours in their multilevel facility. The spa includes a variety of special saunas, a volcanic sand bath, hot and cold therapy rooms, restaurants and—what it’s arguably most famous for, at least if you scroll Instagram at all—a rooftop infinity pool that overlooks the city.

660 River Rd., Edgewater, NJ; sojospaclub.com