Make wellness a priority during your summer travels. New York City offers myriad ways for visitors to recover from jet lag while seeing the sights. Enjoy fresh cuisine, custom fitness training and spa time while focus on health with these tips from Linda Pham, attache at The Quin.
Breakfast Boost
“For any Midtown guest looking for a detoxifying weekend, I would suggest starting the day bright and early with freshly pressed … refreshments from Juice Generation to replenish the body [with] nutrients and create a palate for healthy food options,” Pham suggests. A favorite of stars from Kate Upton to David Beckham, this chain of a dozen shops around Manhattan offers cold-pressed juice, smoothies, acai bowls and veggie-based meals like collard-wrapped enchiladas and cashew cheese ravioli. Drinks range from Hail to Kale, packed with greens, to fruit blends. (979 Eighth Ave.; 212-767-0309; juicegeneration.com)
Work it Out
“Proceed the day with an on-site personal fitness instructor from Vitals,” Pham advises. Private coaching and small group classes are offered at The Quin hotel as well as CompleteBody 57 and Velocity Sports Performance centers. Trainers will also come to almost any indoor or outdoor space to design a customized program that works for you. Additionally, coaches are on hand to provide nutrition counseling and craft a plan to establish good eating habits. (The Quin: 101 W. 57th St.; 212-245-7846; thequinhotel.com) (CompleteBody 57: 301 E. 57th St.; 212-777-7703; completebody.com) (Velocity Sports Performance: 133 E. 58th St.; 212-593-3278; velocitysp.com)
Seasonal Servings
After working up an appetite, continue the day’s health theme with a nutritious lunch. “Fill up on well-deserved farm-to-table fare from Dan Barbers’ West Village outpost of Blue Hill,” Pham recommends. Located in a former “speakeasy” near Washington Square Park, the eatery serves flavorful dishes made with ingredients from local growers. Choose from a daily tasting menu or the Farmer’s Feast, a six-course seasonal meal based on that week’s harvest. Past dishes have included grass-fed lamb, sea scallops and a kohlrabi and mushroom burrito. (75 Washington Pl.; 212-539-1776; bluehillfarm.com)
Serenity Session
Spend the afternoon revitalizing at Aire Ancient Baths New York in Tribeca. “Embark on [a] relaxation journey … with full access to the amenities of saunas, pools and [a] steam room,” Pham says. Unwind by soaking in tubs of warm, hot and then cold water, followed by a calming massage to relieve tension and increase circulation. For even more pampering, float in the saltwater pool or indulge in the Red Wine Ritual’s bath of antioxidant-rich tempranillo grape concentrate from a Spanish winery. (88 Franklin St.; 212-274-3777; ancientbathsny.com)
Culinary Clarity
“After a long day unwinding at the spa, [enjoy an] upscale evening dining at … Michelin-ranked Betony,” Pham suggests. The restaurant—named after a mint-like herb known for its healing properties—prepares creative, healthy prix fixe and tasting menus, which have included cured hamachi with spring onion and black rice, and poached lobster with blood orange and tarragon. In between courses, let your mind wander as your eyes explore the soaring ceiling covered in ornate relief sculptures and the brick walls punctuated with photos of city street scenes. (41 W. 57th St.; 212-465-2400; betony-nyc.com)
—Written by Kirsti Correa
