Three days of wellness: New York City

By Ianthe Butt

January 31, 2023

Discover a new side of New York, from feelgood fine dining to birdwatching in Central Park.

With its legendary nightlife and always-on-the-go mindset, New York certainly lives up to its city-that-never-sleeps tag. No wonder hardworking locals have developed their own brand of wellness activities for body and soul. From historic parks to new public spaces, eco fine-dining to transformative spa treatments, the city offers visitors myriad ways to recharge and rebalance. Take inspiration for your own wellness-boosting break with this three-day itinerary.

Day 1

Kick-start your day

Mandarin Oriental, New York is just a hop, skip and a jump from the city’s most famous green space, so get some cardio in with a jog around Central Park. For a challenge, tackle the 6.1-mile loop around the entire park, spanning tree-lined drives, Museum Mile and the steep incline up Harlem Hill. If you want to push yourself, or prefer not to run alone, the hotel’s spa can arrange for a one-on-one trainer to accompany you on your jog.

Do something different

If you’re looking for world-class art beyond The Guggenheim and The Met, meander down to the open-air showcase of street murals at Brooklyn’s Bushwick Collective. Ask the concierge at Mandarin Oriental, New York to arrange a guided walking tour of its supersized stencils, hyper-real portraits and slyly subversive murals.

Settle into stillness

Hankering for a dip? Head up to the 36th floor to enjoy the hotel’s sleek, 22m heated pool. One of the city’s most appealing, the pool is backdropped by spectacular views across Manhattan’s skyline and the Hudson River.

Day 2

Kick-start your day

To do the great outdoors in style, make for Little Island, one of NYC’s most exciting new spots. A once-disused pier has been reimagined by Heatherwick Studio and landscape architects MNLA, and transformed into a floating oasis. Designed to evoke a leaf on the water, its 2.4-acre gardens sit atop undulating concrete piles, fringed by cascading vines. Plants have been chosen to attract bees and nurture urban wildlife, while cultural performances take place in its glade and amphitheatre.

Do something different

Take part in a multisensory, ecologically themed art experience in lower Manhattan at Arcadia Earth, created by artist Valentino Vettori. You’ll walk through a series of rooms, where fantastical environments have been created using upcycled materials, interwoven with augmented and virtual reality experiences. Step away from the everyday and take time to reflect on the future of the planet, by seemingly walking on the ocean floor and observing shrinking coral beds.

Settle into stillness

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York is an award-winning wellness sanctuary in the heart of the city, beloved by New Yorkers and international guests alike. Opt for the healing Inner Strength treatment which begins with a heated compress, followed by a nurturing, tension-easing massage. Finally, an uplifting foot massage will leave you feeling utterly grounded.

Day 3

Kick-start your day

Not only is Central Park a sensational spot for running, it also has some perfectly plumed residents. The American kestrel and crimson-hued northern cardinal call it home year-round, and the park’s location on the Atlantic Flyway means migratory birds are constantly passing through, including ruby-throated hummingbirds and owls. Birdwatching can support mindfulness, and there are few better ways to cultivate inner serenity than through a walk with Robert DeCandido, aka Birding Bob, who’s an absolute authority on the subject.

Do something different

Dive into NYC’s vibrant food scene with a wellness-focused dining experience booked for you by the concierge at Mandarin Oriental, New York. Head to abcV for plant-based feasts, masterminded by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, with a menu that might run from mushroom walnut ‘bolognese’ to hemp seed burgers. Alternatively, make for the renowned Eleven Madison Park, which pivoted to a vegan menu in 2021. Chef Daniel Humm has scooped three Michelin stars with his inventive, audacious dishes, from quenelles of umami-rich tonburi to exquisite asparagus tempura.

Settle into stillness

Harness the power of plants with a 50-minute Force of Nature facial at The Spa, fuelled by active, cold-pressed botanical extracts. After a relaxation ritual and deep cleanse – which includes boreal forest barks and natural clays – a raspberry seed-spiked mask and exfoliation leaves the skin radiant and the mind ready to rest.

All offers and experiences available at time of publication. Please contact the hotel team for more information.

About the Author

Ianthe Butt

Ianthe is an award-winning journalist, who has written for the Times, The Independent and Condé Nast Traveller.