New York City: Massages
Angel Feet
Reflexology: 60 minutes, $115; 30 minutes, $75
77 Perry St.
212-924-3576
The idea of a massage is sometimes better than the act itself: the incessant drilling of that knot in your shoulders, the oil-matted hair and basted body. Reflexology offers all the pampering with none of the inconveniences. Angel Feet— a tiny storefront with only two oversize chairs—specializes in this incomparably relaxing foot and hand treatment. Our reflexologist was so absorbed in her work that she seemed to enter a trance. We joined her—and the next 60 minutes were a blur of pleasure. Even that knot in our shoulder untangled.
Bliss Spa
Ginger Rub, $270
12 E. 57th St.
212-219-8970
Ginger might be great with sushi, but we were concerned that when rubbed into our skin, it would leave us feeling raw. Our masseuse calmed our nerves as she drizzled an oil containing shredded ginger along our back, assuring us it would merely stimulate blood flow, not burn. (She was right.) She then swaddled us in blankets and left us alone briefly while the ginger warmed our muscles. When she returned, she gave us the longest, deepest massage we've ever had without wincing.
Breathing Room
ROBIN GILLIES
Massage, $100 for 60 minutes
80 E. 11th St.
917-617-1153
Before any massage, we say a prayer that the therapist isn't a chatty, chakra-aligning hippie. Gillies is no such person, and out of a small studio she gives a massage that rivals any big spa experience. She knew precisely where to exert pressure and where to hold back, and she even emailed the next day with advice on treating a bad bruise we'd shown her upon arrival. An answer to our prayers—and much more.
Butterfly Studio
Intense Kérastase Treatment, $100 and up
149 Fifth Ave.
212-253-2100
When a week of dreary weather left our spirits—and our hair—with a serious case of the blahs, we ducked into this airy midtown salon to lift both. Our stylist prescribed a series of rich Kérastase shampoos, conditioners, and masks to smooth our frazzled ends and soothe our irritated scalp (and mind, we hoped). A toe-curling head massage helped the luxurious creams penetrate the hair and scalp, and each gentle squeeze of our neck and shoulders boosted our mood. We emerged with hair so shiny and bouncy that despite the rain, our disposition was nothing less than sunny and bright.
D'mai Urban Spa
Massage, $120
157 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn
718-398-2100
Our masseur explained that he entered the field to help ease his girlfriend's back pain. All tension melted as his hands glided over our torso and legs. He then dug into our shoulders and neck, using Swedish strokes and a muscle-lengthening therapy called myofascial release. Once he demonstrated a few breathing exercises, we found ourselves wishing our own boyfriend could learn from his example.
Deva Spa
NISEEMA DYAN DIEMER
Massage, $150 and up for 60 minutes
425 Broome St.
212-274-8686
We went to this SoHo spa to zone out, but discovered that we needed a more intensive massage when Diemer zeroed in on the knots along our spine. She deftly rubbed out every last one and stretched us by pushing and leaning on our back with just the right amount of force. Next, she treated our feet to a superb rubdown with warm oil. When the hour was up, we felt refocused—both inside and out.
Eastside Massage Therapy Center
Massage, $80 for 60 minutes
351 E. 78th St.
212-249-2927
Sometimes you don't need a foot-washing ritual or oil drizzled on your third eye. At those times, Eastside Massage Therapy Center delivers (at a remarkably good price). We arrived five minutes late for our appointment, and the receptionist let us skip the long questionnaire and get right on the table. There, our masseuse exerted long, firm strokes, crisscrossing our back with her powerful forearms and softening our tension-locked shoulders. She worked silently and efficiently; we'd tell you the details, but we fell asleep 20 minutes into it. There was no aromatherapy, no affirmations—just a comforting, restorative rubdown.
Great Jones Spa
Lemon Verbena Body Polish and Massage, $150
29 Great Jones St.
212-505-3185
After we got past the utilitarian look of the treatment room, we settled in for what turned out to be a very relaxing head-to-toe scrub of jojoba, shea butter, and aloe vera that left us gleaming like sparkling china. But our pampering was temporarily interrupted when our therapist instructed us to put on our robe and follow her up two flights of stairs to the massage room. As soon as she started the Swedish Massage with ginger and lemongrass oil, employing deep-tissue techniques for our sore legs, all was forgiven. Our advice: Skip the scrub and book a massage.
Haven Spa
VLADIMIR ZHADANOV
Massage, $115 for 60 minutes
150 Mercer St.
212-343-3515
We told Zhadanov that we love the benefits of deep tissue but can't endure intense probing. He promptly tackled our stubborn knots in the most humane way possible, kneading our tightest areas with the perfect amount of force and leaving us sighing with pleasure instead of writhing in pain. The only unbearable part of our massage came when it was time to leave. $115 for 60 minutes.
Iguazu Day Spa
JOSEPHINE DAMIANO
Hot River Stone Massage, $138
350 Hudson St
212-647-0007
We love the idea of massage but find the experience itself sometimes annoying: The pressure is either too light and itchy or so probing it brings tears to our eyes. But Damiano delivered a silent, confident massage that would soften even hard-nosed skeptics. She started with long, tingling strokes, then zeroed in on our tense neck and back. At one point, she folded our shoulders together and pressed at the tight areas around our shoulder blades until we felt almost buoyant. One quibble: The stones weren't hot enough. But that seemed unimportant after Damiano left us blissfully calm and grateful.