My dear husband knows what I like. For Christmas, he gave me a half-day package at Manhattan’s finest day spa: The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York. The spa is on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel at Columbus Circle, conveniently located next to Trump Towers with a phenomenal view of Manhattan and Central Park. To make it even more fabulous, my friend Tifani joined me.
The day began with a pickup via private car at my apartment in Brooklyn. When we arrived at the spa, we received a tour of the facilities, and then moved on the “Heat Experiences” which entailed a soak in the Jacuzzi, a tropical rain forest shower, and a steam in the Amethyst Steam Room. After the steam we were perfectly relaxed, so we retired to the Tea Lounge to wait for our therapy technicians to fetch each of us for our treatments.
The half spa day entails a 2-hour something blissful called a Time Ritual, a bento box lunch, and an 80 minute facial. The Time Ritual began with a footbath, followed by a brushing of the skin with a dry bristle brush to improve circulation and skin tone and an apricot and peppermint oil scrub to exfoliate and rejuvenate. After the scrub was an unbelievably fabulous 80-minute deep tissue massage.
Following the amazing Time Ritual was the bento box lunch. Again, the spa did not disappoint. Lunch consisted of a 5-course meal that included red grapefruit slices, mesclun salad, tomato and fresh mozzarella, scallops and asparagus topped with a pineapple salsa, and a dollop of crème fraiche with strawberries. Served with the Mandarin Oriental’s special chef’s blend antioxidant berry tea. Are you kidding me? It was amazing!!
After lunch, it was my turn for the 80 minute facial. I don’t remember much since it was so relaxing that I slept through most of it. But when I emerged my skin was smooth and glowing like I’ve never seen it.
It was such a luxurious experience and I savored every moment of it. Since the Mandarin Oriental was kind enough to share their recipe for the delicious berry tea with us, I will share it with you so that we can all indulge in a little savory luxury:
Chef’s Tea from the Mandarin Oriental NY
6 cups water
4 tbsp Mountain Berry Tea
½ mango chopped
1 stalk lemongrass
½ cup honey
1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
1 slice of lime
1 slice of lemon
Steep together for 15-30 minutes and enjoy!
* Images courtesy of Tifani, the fabulous photojournalist.
