As a busy woman, finding time for yourself can feel like a luxury. Whether trying to balance kids, work, and home life, or if just laser focused on a career the idea of taking a full day can just feel next to impossible. Just living in Manhattan itself tends to instill a frenetic pace that can easily overwhelm.
For me, after weeks (maybe months?) of non-stop juggling I knew I needed to carve out a day to recharge and not one that was simply binge watching on Netflix! I just wanted a full escape from family, upkeep, and work emails... everything. I needed an actual day out all to myself, although I wouldn't have minded having a friend join me either.
So, I planned the ultimate pampering day in the city with a list of stops and approximate times for each and started to make the necessary reservations. For this blog I changed my actual itinerary a bit to add a little bit of flexibility and variety for some of the stops to allow for different preferences and for unpredictable city traffic & metro conditions, but I kept the main attractions.
If you too find yourself longing for a well-deserved break, let me guide you through a day of indulgence. Make sure that you plan your day in advance as some of the stops on your itinerary will need prior reservations and you might need to be flexible on timing. The last thing you want to do is have your stress-free day causing you stress because you are feeling rushed! Just breathe and go with it.
9:00 AM – Soothing Start at Aire Ancient Baths (~2 Hours)
The day of pampering starts with a quiet, slow morning. Spend the first two hours of your "my-day" by heading to Aire Ancient Baths in Tribeca, an oasis inspired by ancient Roman, Greek, and Ottoman traditions. Stepping inside feels like entering another world – one that doesn’t require you to attend meetings, pack lunches, or referee sibling arguments.
I suggest getting yourself the Ancient Relaxing Massage package. This experience consists of a tour at your own pace through thermal baths at different temperatures including the Caldarium (Hot), the Frigidarium (Cold), the Tepidarium (Warm), the Balneum (Bath of a Thousand Jets), the Vaporium (Aromatherapy Steam Room) and the Flotarium (Saltwater) as well as a salt exfoliation area. The baths are a form of the growing trend of Contrast bath therapy which can have many benefits:
Improves mood
Boosts the immune system
Stimulates circulation
Soothes muscles
Your journey through the baths is followed by a 60 minute relaxing full-body massage with their Signature Orange Garden oil. You can pick a shorter length massage as well if an hour is too long for you. The relaxation here is instant and heavenly. I personally find the Flotarium to be my favorite bath as the salty water makes it effortless to float, while the Frigidarium required significant mental preparation in anticipation of braving that plunge!
Cost: $275 for thermal bath experience with 60' massage
11:30 AM – Late Morning Indulgence at Lady M Cake Boutique (~30 Minutes)
After Aire, it’s time for a little treat. Head to a Lady M Cake Boutique for a deliciously decadent pick-me-up. This spot is famous for its delicate Mille Crêpes cakes, and trust me, they live up to the hype.
I suggest trying a slice of the Signature Mille Crêpes or the new Matcha Chocolate Mille Crêpes cake paired with the perfect harmony of rich espresso and velvety chocolate of their delightful Mochaccino. It’s the kind of indulgence you can fully savor when no one’s asking for a bite. Take your time, linger, and enjoy the sweetness of doing absolutely nothing.
Cost: $20 for a slice of cake and coffee
There are several locations to choose from and which one you select depends on what you feel like for your next stop. Use their website to order ahead at the most suitable location and it will be ready for you in 5-10 minutes. Some locations have an area you can sit down in but most are grab and go.
12:00 PM - Choosing Your Next Stop (~2 Hours)
Example 1) Midday Stroll and Shopping in SoHo/East Village/Greenwich Village
Stroll through SoHo’s charming cobblestone streets and pop into a few boutiques. Places like Sezane or The RealReal offer a mix of chic and curated items. Or explore the areas bordering NoHo for an assortment of Vinyl record shops like Stranded or Mercer Street Books and Records if you are looking for something to add to a collection.
If you are interested in doing a bit of shopping in these areas is your style then the Lady M on Liberty street is likely your best option.
Example 2) Take Some Time Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Maybe you'd rather have time to explore this museum at your own pace, and see the exhibits that you want to see and not ones that you get dragged in to. Afterwards maybe get a little sunshine in Central Park. I do love looking through vintage vinyl for rare finds but I actually get out and do that from time to time at lunch so for this day, I decided to have a kids-free 2 hour wander at the museum. It was so refreshing to be able to spend over an hour in the European Paintings section and take it all in.
The Lady M on the Upper East side will get you closest to the Met.
Example 3) Stop by MOMA and Visit The Strand Bookstore
You could always check out the Museum of Modern Art instead if the classics at the Met don't intrigue you, and then perhaps gradually make your way to The Strand Bookstore to find something new, or really old, for your next read.
The Lady M in Rockefeller is closest for this option.
All in all, the options are pretty numerous to fill up these 2 hours, so find something that you really want to do but just never seem to find the time to do so, and make it happen today. Wherever you start, eventually you'll want to end up around Union Square for the next venue.
2:00 PM – Healthy, Late Lunch at ABC Kitchen (~1 Hour)
Treat yourself to a nourishing yet satisfying lunch at ABC Kitchen located near Union Square. They offer a beautiful selection of organic, farm-to-table dishes, perfect for a light afternoon meal. If you want to stay light, I recommend having a couple of their appetizers; roasted carrot and avocado salad and their oven roasted prawns with a yuzu chili dressing.
If you are up for something a bit more substantial then try the squash blossom whole wheat pizza with sungold tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. All of their menu items are delicious food that don’t leave you feeling sluggish; except for maybe the grass-fed cheeseburger
with herbed mayonnaise, pickled jalapeños, and hand cut fries... but if you are craving that, then get it, you deserve it today.
The menu does change seasonally and focuses on local, sustainable, seasonal produce that does not use pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, or GMOs. Plus, the ambiance here is so chic and peaceful – you’ll feel worlds away from the chaos of your usual routine.
Cost: $40-$60 for lunch
3:00 PM – Refresh at Rescue Spa (~1.5 Hours)
Just a block away from ABC is the Rescue Spa, a serene sanctuary on East 19th Street. Book a Rescue Facial to revitalize tired skin, or if you’re feeling extra indulgent, their "Bio-Lift Facial" is a game-changer. Consider getting one of their add ons too, like perhaps the Eye zone.
Don't feel like a facial? Maybe a mani/pedi is what you are looking for. Or you could always just go for a simple yet fabulous blowout.
Whichever you choose, you'll be looking and feeling great for your final stop.
Costs:
$200 for a Rescue Facial (60 minutes)
$275 for the Bio-Lift Facial (60 Minutes)
$50 Facial Add-on for Eye Zone
$65 for a Gel Manicure (45 minutes)
$85 for a Gel Pedicure (60 minutes)
$95+ for a Blowout
5:00 PM – Rooftop Drinks at Westlight (~1 Hour)
To cap off this blissful day, head to Westlight, a rooftop bar in Williamsburg with stunning panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. Order yourself your favorite signature cocktail (mine is the Purple & Fancy), maybe a nibble (Coconut Curry Cashews are TDF), and watch the sun begin to set.
It’s the kind of peaceful moment that reminds you how important it is to make time for yourself, and let’s be honest – a quiet drink, all for you, feels like the cherry on top of a perfect day.
Cost: $25 for a cocktail
By the end of your day, you’ll be heading home with a full heart and a rejuvenated soul. You’ll be ready to jump back into reality, but with a new sense of calm and energy. Sometimes, all we need is a day of pampering to remind ourselves that we deserve a break, too. New York City offers countless opportunities to indulge, and this itinerary is just a sample of the experiences you can cater to your own personality. So too do other cities across the country. Take a day, and make it your own.
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