Nuansa Spa — Local services in New York

On record, for real, and without question Nuansa is one of two places I go for massage and facial in the tri-state area. For years, I was loyal to and exclusive with Haven. Nuansa knocks it out of the park in every way possible.

I booked a Thai Poultice Massage and The Restorer Facial for my birthday earlier this month. The massage, masterfully provided by Naru, and the facial, perfectly done by Tenzin, were among the best of those services I have ever experienced.

And that ain't the half.

The space, the whole floor, provides a vibe that is calm, happy, welcoming, and true. You can hear a pin drop there. There are no more than 12 lockers there. The shower is bigger than my bathroom (I live in an NYC apartment, and still).

The founder, Nuanchawee, greeted and welcomed me on my birthday. She made tea - individual, custom blends - for every guest that day (which were three people besides me). The tea was amazing.

Among the things that set Nuansa apart from other spas is the staff does not rush you through the procedure, nor are you rushed out when things are complete. There is no hard sell for products, additional services, future appointments, and the like.

Whether that is Nuanchawee's style or there is no need to be aggressive, or both, I appreciate greatly how my birthday this year was mellow and happy. For the first time in months I became somewhat repellent to the noise, fray, crowds, and heat that make summer in New York City what it is.

Before Vanity Fair, InStyle, New York Magazine, Man Repeller, etc. find it, review it, and make it impossible to get appointments, check it out and schedule your first of many massage, facial, scrub, peel, and aromatherapy.

You're welcome. ;=) (This is the same review I...

service: 5/5 cleanliness: 5/5 value: 5/5

On a girls trip to NY and my sister booked this place for a massage. We were able to secure an appointment a few days before and excited to try it out. After we found the spa (it’s a bit hidden and in between two large department store with no sign out front), you take an elevator to the 3rd(?) floor and you are there at the spa. The staff was very welcoming when we walked in and you could feel a sense of tranquility with the lighting and relaxing music - it helped set the mood!

The facility was nice and there were several rooms available - I was surprised at the size! After we took our shoes off and swapped them for slippers, we were escorted to the changing rooms. There is one bathroom and one shower, and about 10 lockers for you to store your personal items. We got changed and went to the waiting room where we were given water and there were snacks to take. The masseuses were quick to meet us and took us back to the rooms to begin the massage.

Overall, the massage was great! I was able to relax and the masseuse was good at working out a lot of knots that I had while using the right amount of pressure. After the massage was done, I was escorted back to the changing to get ready again.

My only complaint is the value of the experience. Usually in other spas, there are other things you can do like the steam or heat room where you can stay for however long you want to relax and there is no rush. I felt a little like once the massage was done that it was time to leave and you couldn’t really sit and relax for a bit.

I probably wouldn’t go back - nothing wrong with the service, just not...

The interior and atmosphere at Nuansa Spa is absolutely amazing. Everything about the service and environment creates an unforgettable tranquil experience. Walking off 5th Avenue and into Nuansa Spa is like being transported to a peaceful retreat away from the hustle bustle of the city. Being treated to tea and snacks while waiting in the beautiful space is a very nice touch. The masseuses are very knowledgable providing traditional Thai Massage. If you are looking for a great spa in midtown to treat yourself then you can't do any better than Nuansa!

Update October 2016: I went back to Nuansa for a facial and it was absolutely amazing. The esthetician took great care to give me a treatment that was tailored to my skin type. I've been to other spas in the city where I got facials that used harsh chemicals and caused irritation and peeling after a couple days.

Nuansa is different in the best way possible. They used a combination of gentle cleaners and a state of the art high frequency machine to make my skin absolutely glow and radiate. I went in because my skin was a little dry and breaking out and I walked out with what felt like a brand new face!

Once again, the tranquility and atmosphere at Nuansa made the facial a unique and incredibly relaxing experience. I'll definitely be returning for another facial and for more massages. I highly recommend this place, it's unlike anywhere else...