How to Have the Ultimate Self-Care Day in Lower Manhattan 

Set that OOO message. It’s time for a self-care day, and Lower Manhattan has plenty of options. You can break a sweat in the sauna, lounge poolside with a drink, book yourself a mani-pedi, get a massage or try a new workout class. Lower Manhattan has plenty of relaxing wellness experiences to make even the most stressed-out New Yorker feel zen. Here’s our itinerary for a day full of pampering and wellness in the neighborhood.

First Stop: Hole in the Wall (15 Cliff St.)

Fuel up for the day at this Australian spot with plenty of intriguing breakfast options, like the wild mushroom toast, pomodoro baked eggs and apple crumble oatmeal. Pair it with one of the smoothies, like the Brekkie Smoothie — made with mixed berries, banana, granola, coconut, honey and oat milk — or if you’re feeling really healthy, the Greened Out Smoothie, made with kale, banana, chia seeds, avocado, coconut, honey and almond milk. 

Second Stop: Warrior Bridge (250 Front St.)

This isn’t your average yoga studio. Warrior Bridge offers unique fitness classes that will teach you how to do acrobatics, inversions and handstands, all while improving your flexibility. Book a spot in one of the Mobility Flow classes, where an instructor will guide you through a sequence of movements drawn from yoga, dance, martial arts and acrobatics practices. It’s way more fun than your usual gym routine, trust us.

Third Stop: Affina Beauty and Spa (125 Church St.)

Getting a mani-pedi is basically synonymous with pampering. If nails are part of your self-care routine, we recommend booking an appointment at Affina Beauty and Spa. They offer a basic manicure and pedicure for $49 as well as options for gel and powder manicures. You can also add a 10 minute massage to any service. 

Fourth Stop: Hideaway Spa and Lounge Wall Street (108 Wall St.)

If you’re looking to truly relax and unwind, book a massage at Hideaway Spa and Lounge. Reviewers on Google describe the treatments here as “truly magical” “exceptional,” “simply the best” and “one of the best massages I have had.” Massages are affordably priced, at $65 for a one-hour Swedish, deep tissue or sports massage. They also offer hot stone, hot oil and aromatherapy massages as well as side-by-side massages for couples or friends. If you’re looking for even more pampering, you can opt for a longer full-body massage lasting 75 minutes for $80 or 90 minutes for $95.

Fifth Stop: Wall Street Bath & Spa 88 (88 Fulton St.)

Keep the blissed-out vibe going at Wall Street Bath and Spa 88. A day pass gives you access to the facilities here, which include a stone heated sauna, an infrared sauna, a steam room, swimming pool, cold plunge pool and more. You can also book treatments including body scrubs, wraps and platza, which is an exfoliating treatment where a practitioner scrubs you with a broom of fresh oak leaves soaked in water. Once you’ve had your fill of soaking, scrubbing and steaming, head to onsite restaurant Matryoshka for a lunch of Russian dumplings, borscht, salads, grilled meats and more.   

Sixth Stop: Pretty Well Beauty (185 Greenwich St.) 

We’re big fans of the wellness offerings at Pretty Well Beauty. This clean beauty shop located inside the Oculus exclusively stocks products that are naturally derived. The majority of brands featured in the shop are founded by an underrepresented minority group and have a focus on sustainability. Grab a luxe body butter, hair mask, cleanser, sleep-enhancing tea or candle to keep the zen vibes going even after your self-care day wraps up. 

Seventh Stop: QC NY Spa (112 Andes Rd.)

Hop on the ferry to Governors Island for one last spa experience to wrap up your day. At QC NY Spa, you can lounge in an outdoor pool heated to a balmy 98 degrees while you watch the sunset. What could be more blissful than that? The property also has saunas, steam rooms, foot soaks and relaxation rooms for you to explore. If you’re getting hungry, there’s a dining option onsite where visitors can enjoy salads, wraps, pastas, soups and other bites. Beer, wine and cocktails are also available. The spa is open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.  

Eighth Stop: Industry Kitchen (70 South St.) 

End your day with a delicious meal at Industry Kitchen, a waterfront restaurant with plenty of delicious and healthy offerings. Cozy up with the roasted acorn squash gnocchi or the honey mustard glazed Atlantic salmon. They have a curated menu of mocktails — or cocktails if you’re eager to reintroduce some toxins to your body after sweating them out all day. We support you either way!    

photo: iStock